Space Runaway Ideon is a Lovecraftian Horror Anime

[@Takeshi357]

I think the introduction is a bit inaccurate. From what I remember, Buff Clan wasn't actually _looking_ for Ideon. What they were looking for was something that'd help them fix a crisis they were facing...which was meteors hitting their home planet. Which is exactly what the Ide does in the show. Which suggests it's been manipulating events from the beginning.

[@samnunnink7575]

They where looking for the Ide. They didn’t know that the Ideon used the Ide but they quickly figure it out then want it.

[@Erk1234567]

I'd argue that being "disturbing" is more important to cosmic horror (and horror anime) than being "scary".

[@danielcardenas6473]

I have to agree, the feeling from being disturbed just rubs you a little stranger

[@shawnspencer8157]

Eh I think you're just getting into semantics

[@Erk1234567]

@@shawnspencer8157 I mean, yes? I am? I'm not even trying to be snarky, I just don't understand your point

[@Erk1234567]

@@shawnspencer8157 in the video he talks about Ideon being horrifying even though it's not "scary". I was trying to make a distinction between horror meant to "scare" the audience and a different kind of horror. That kind of conversation necessitates semantics?

[@IRUKANJI]

To this day the black hole cannon half way through the show still is the most disturbing thing I've ever seen since... Disney's Black Hole's ending.

[@frankjaeger2565]

Ideon is complementary to Gundam: in Gundam we see how people can find their places in the world by learning to understand each other (i.e. by becoming Newtypes), in Ideon people fail to to that, so they are brought to the path of destruction.

[@周生生-f1f]

Though if the UC timeline is something to go by, the Turn X (then the Turn A) is pretty much the pinnacle of human insanity and hostility that ended up resetting civilization outside of the moon race, those who managed to run away fast enough in makeshift voyage vessels

[@iamhungey12345]

@@周生生-f1f There's a rumor that Tomino wanted to include Ideon into the Turn A's dark history timeline as well, not sure if it's true but yeah.

[@nicodalusong149]

@@iamhungey12345 There is a non-official (because canon is a non-thing in gundam) crossover manga where the Ideon is called Gigantis.

[@azizkalb8721]

@@nicodalusong149 super robots wars are not canon

[@nicodalusong149]

@@azizkalb8721 How does your comment connect to the manga I am referring to?

[@Godzilla00X]

Random crew member makes a joke Ideon: You're funny, I'll kill you last

[@victorfergn]

When it's about quotes... Commando is the best movie

[@cruzgonzalez7061]

Ideon doesn't get enough love (at least here in the US). When folks give credit to Evangelion for things it supposedly did, I'm over here wondering if they've heard of Mr. Tomino or seen his works.

[@GabyGeorge1996]

Cruz Gonzalez that’s probably because Ideon never got an English dub

[@matteste]

@@GabyGeorge1996 As well as it being night impossible to find and watch legally (or illegally for that matter). Heck, for me who lives in Europe it is literally impossible to watch it legally.

[@h00db01i]

main point for me in anime is visuals, and in that category evangelion got nearly everyone beat, especially the rebuils. but it all wouldn't have been possible without Ideon to improve upon, that's true. just like Matrix stole from dozens of action and sci-fi works previously created. mediocre artists copy, great ones steal. edit: reading this back I made it sound like eva is superior in all departments ("improve upon") which is ofc utter nonsense, NGE has no plot at all. but the visuals tho... makes me think, where is the blame! adaptation? seems too hard to do or story too cryptic. I mean the one film it has is a start, sad CGI anime though, but at least we get a foot in the door there, I guess.

[@raidenthenctzenwithinsomni4961]

@@h00db01i NGE has no plot? TF did you watch? Just Death (True)2?

[@h00db01i]

@@raidenthenctzenwithinsomni4961 what I mean by no plot is no conventional plot. think diebuster, it's what made gainax so great - not much worldbuilding or spoon feeding the audience. you get thrown into one big ride of megalomania, that's busy at all times trying to express the importance of a simple human emotion. always feels to me as if they were simply having fun visualising the revelation to John, flashing some sephiroth circles here and there but I just love their artistic direction

[@crzyboy190]

This show is about afro Amuro trying escape Tomino's kill'em all ending 😩😩😩😩😩

[@crzyboy190]

I like how you actually addressed this lool. I still need to finish the series.

[@CaribouCoon]

​@@crzyboy190yeah I was happy it wasn't just a meme but there was something behind it. Absolutely get to Be Invoked, it's really cool!

[@neonnwave1]

Actually, you're gonna laugh at this: Judau Ashita from ZZ Gundam is said to be the reincarnation of Cosmo Yuki (the protagonist of Ideon). It's in the non-canon manga 'Mobile Suit Vs. Giant God of Legend: Gigantis' Counterattack', where Ideon is brought into the Gundam universe.

[@mocca3633]

Afro Amuro 😂😂 im dead

[@lh137]

Judau that awful protagonist? The worst Gundam protagonist there is Judau?

[@nickwalker4936]

I’ve always considered this a cosmic horror series because of the power of the machine. It didn’t look scary, but planet-killing and universe-ending things scare the hell out of me. No wonder it was inspiration for Evangelion. I should also mention that the blue-haired guy I forget the name of actually referred to how the buff clan has actually fought and utterly wiped out other civilizations before, so it is also implied that the people of earth have never encountered aliens because the buff clan wiped the aliens of this cycle out instead of the ide. This is all very similar to the cyclic wiping of civilization by the reapers in mass effect.

[@arx3516]

Then how do you define Getter Robo, where you have Emperor devouring planets and externinating civilizations while enslaving humanity's minds to his will?

[@xavgui100]

@@arx3516 i'd consider the getter rays in general lovecraftian, along with shin getter robo and getter emperor

[@valorthefox]

Also the brethen moons in the Dead Space universe

[@aninjathtpwndu]

Mecha existentialism before it was popular

[@glazed_waffle5629]

Is it popular?

[@mrbanks456]

@@glazed_waffle5629 *cough* Eva

[@glazed_waffle5629]

@@mrbanks456 Is that it? Mecha series nowadays are more super/real robot than existential.

[@AoiHeartStranger]

Mech existentialism was popular even before eva

[@danwithaplan3742]

cough *Getter Robo* cough

[@itshimwinston670]

Dude, it is extremely cathartic to see this 14 minute video about one of my favorite shows to ever air. Not to mention you spoke with respect, genuine interest, and even inspired a new way to watch it. Will definitely keep a closer eye on your channel. 😉

[@CaribouCoon]

I was discouraged with the flippant tone this show has been treated with on this platform too. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@burningpegasus]

Ideon always gave a sense of hopelessness despite the funky music, ideon destroying countless weird and goofy alien mecha, ground combat with laser guns and lightsabers (Love how those are but another tool that soldiers use like lucas originally planned), the people in the solo ship deal with constant fights with both the buff clan and even their own people who want the power of the ide. You can almost feel the doom of everyone since the first episode, even the opening has Cosmo always looking cautious or nervous, not something a super robot anime opening would normally show. The Ide might be seen as a cosmic horror, problem with that is that in the final episode, the Ide literally gave the two sides a chance to stop fighting. This follows Tomino's anti war message that started with Gundam and btw. Thunderbolt is both cool looking and terrifying. Most Gundam outside of the UC are the ones that forget the themes of anti war and instead focus on spectacle.

[@dragb9284]

Dude thunderbolt can be brutal the child soldier scene was rough. Like those arnt men volunteering for war those are kids being sent into a meat grinder they had no way of surviving.

[@hopscotchoblivion7564]

The Virgin Third Impact vs The Chad Invoked

[@lorddio2737]

Now that got me interested.

[@_MARC0_40]

Ikr? Humans only got turned into fanta in evangelion, while in ideon, the universe fucking gets destroyed

[@eletriky6715]

@@_MARC0_40and even in the third impact, they could come back.

[@alanthieris4447]

What I get from this is that we need a SRW game where the endgame is basically just Ideon fighting Getter Emperor at the end of the universe.

[@dragb9284]

Who would win

[@kindlingking]

​@@dragb9284whoever wins, everyone loses. If Ide wins, the universe will get destroyed and reset back to point zero, where it'll probably repeat the previous cycle. If Getter wins, Emperor will absorb the universe and essentially become Ide 2.0 with huge possibility of him expanding into other dimensions.

[@alwaysangry2232]

​@@dragb9284Mazinger zero

[@GRE61]

There's that old picture of ideon done in that "biotech organic" style. Horrific. Also ideon wasn't the first anime like that. Zambot 3 was. The one that made Tomino earn his nickname.

[@makaiev]

Sounds familiar, is it worth checking it out?

[@WorthlessWinner]

Sheryl seems especially like a Lovecraft protagonist. She knows more about the Ide than anyone else with her research, is the first to talk about it not being in their control and is the one who mostly clearly goes mad over the course of the series

[@drusillathetinsmith]

I only know it from the Super Robot Wars games. I didn't like the robot much: a temperamental, flying brick that at some point would *indiscriminately* blow mechs and ships up. You needed to keep an eye on the damn gauge and pray you could end the battle before the "Ide" got too excited and started killing your forces along with the bad guys. I used to call it "the Ideot." The neighbors probably wondered why they'd hear me yelling "NO NO NO NO STOP!" in the afternoons of the early 2000s. I've obviously been unfair to the series, so I'm going to find some episodes and check it out.

[@andrejg4136]

That's Super Robot Wars F(Final) Ideon. Alpha 3 Ideon is less temperamental in terms of targeting, but you still have to actively manage the gauge. I fully upgraded it and decked it with mid tier MAP attacks to get the gauge to trigger to at least Lv 3, then turned it loose and full healed it once it hit full power.

[@teveshszatcoomoffools4850]

In fairness, "NO NO NO NO STOP" is basically the in-series reaction to the Ide going nuts too, so I'd argue that's a case of the devs getting it exactly right.

[@TylerTheDestroyer97]

Ideon is like genuinely my favorite example of cosmic horror. Everything about it- from the unassuming goofy design to the weaponization of its MotW pacing so it builds dread and terror, is near perfect to me. There is something so much more chilling about how the Ideon is this terrifying cosmic *thing* that, rather than being alien in nature, fully understands our failings and is mad about how we just. Keep. Fucking. Doing. It. Over and over, despite these chances to find peace and understanding. That's so much more scary to me than the "we are like fleas" nihilism of Lovecraft and most pastiches of his stuff.

[@JimFaindel]

That "Hence the title of the video" card made me giggle for a solid minute.

[@Big_E_Soul_Fragment]

Afro Amuro and the GM God

[@INTCUWUSIUA]

*Afro Judau Ashta. Judau Ashta being the reincarnated Cosmo Yuki is a fan theory that has been toyed around with in various spinoffs and AUs.

[@rej3ktstudios986]

Like the visual presentation in this video. The sprawling space void background helps with both the uneasy Lovecraft and classic Mecha feeling. As a Gundam fan I've always wanted to check out Ideon, you've given me a reason to. Thank you.

[@bsdraggon]

Really good video, you've won a subscriber! I've always seen it as a "first contact gone wrong" and "horrors of war" anime, mainly due to all the suffering the crew had to take on them. One point I disagree though, is on humanity being doomed from the beginning. It´s been a long time since I saw it but, from what I remember, the Ide gave humans and Buff Clan chances to have a peaceful coexistence (mainly through Bes and Karala's pregnancy), since it's instinct was only of self-preservation (and preservation of infant lives). Only when it was clear they could not coexist together (when Karala was teleported back to the Buff Clan ship at the end of the series, and they refused to acknowledge her pregnancy), the Ide decided to end everything.

[@CaribouCoon]

This is accurate, I agree. It was just an easier selling point than to be super accurate. I'd say from the beginning only cause it seemed forecasted based on how the story was going, it seemed to me to be the intention to have that ending from the beginning.

[@tetsurobo3103]

If you want to see a pretty accurate depection of Ideon's power and size. I recommend checking out Makoto Kobayashi's concept art of it. Honestly the red box shell around more cartilaginous skeleton really sells the fact that the ide hides a lot of potential.

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

I did. This is some legit HR Giger bs.

[@ennuionme6378]

I'm pretty sure friends comparing Ideon to Lovecraft (as well as Evangelion obviously) was what drew me to watch the show in the first place. Solid summary of the series, I might use this video to sell people on it sometime.

[@AxioProductions]

I don’t see Evangelion as anything Lovecraft, where did you get that idea? I’d actually like to know

[@Kira22558]

Nice kitten pfp.

[@Silvashoots]

Anno's been on record saying he prefers Ideon over his own work, and as I get older I find myself agreeing with him. Definitely not what my 16-year old self would think

[@isn0t42]

Anno would probably prefer anything to his own work.

[@GenesicKaiser]

@Ryan Silva What changed your mind? More patience with more slower developing stories? Preferring a cast that come off as adults and young adults dealing with the situation at hand rather than kids with emotional problems? The more slower building mystery of the Ideon rather than an in your face horror spectacle?

[@zteevydood870]

@@isn0t42 yeah, Anno has historically always been someone who undervalues his own work and talks it down. It's almost like hes someone with low self worth who's overly critical of himself or something. Personally I much prefer Eva, I think I like ideon more conceptually than I actually enjoyed watching it. Still a really good video though.

[@mrbanks456]

I think you had it right the first time.

[@robertvolek8360]

@@zteevydood870 Anno is basically Shinji, of course he sometimes feels he is worthless

[@lucas-kf8ws]

Best Ideon review I've seen in YT. This anime is a fucking masterpiece.

[@Flugmorph]

rewatching this for the fifth time now, my anitube video of 2019. absolute perfection, the editing is divine, script and narration are gripping and entertaining, the music brings it all together.

[@CaribouCoon]

Thanks so much! ^_^

[@enemyofbohemia]

Really nice production on the video. And you point out some interesting elements in the story. But I don't think people will ever really accept it as Cosmic Horror, or even horror. There are horror elements in it, but the story is much larger than that. It's important to note that Be Invoked has some very heavy spiritual themes (even Judeo/Christian ones, what with the child being named Messiah). Even though everyone does die, they are reborn at the end and the finale of the series ends on a hopeful note. It is an interesting perspective to show that humanity's problems can only be solved by outside (divine) intervention. Most people just discuss the death toll and the heavy and oppressive mood leading up to the ending, which is done masterfully I should say. Yet hope is hinted at early on, despite what is going on, with a glimpse of what awaits the characters beyond death. By the end of the film I end up feeling rejuvenated myself. Maybe I'll make my own video on this haha.

[@CaribouCoon]

Thank you! I don't mean to downplay the optimistic ending, though I don't think it should discredit the amount of dread and frankly horror of a sentient all powerful robot and losing control. You're right there's more to it, with what you said as well as everything going on with the characters too beyond the central conflict. I just wanted to underline my favorite element of the show, what I thought was interesting to talk about. I look forward to more videos on Ideon!

[@alfianfahmi5430]

Chad Yoshiyuki "Kill 'em All" Tomino, pre-planned the "They all died" ending in the very beginning and still made it to work even when the show got rushed/cancelled right before the end 😂🤣

[@Flugmorph]

easily one of the best and most rewatchable anitube videos ever made.

[@Kaixero]

You know, I need to get back to work on finishing my release for this. Good video, friend. Really, excellent video. Great use of the excellent soundtrack. You know, to add my take on this show, I truly do believe the intention was to beguile both the solo colonists AND the viewers...and most importantly the Sunrise executives, into believing that this mech is mundane. Sure, it's a 100 meter colossal Titan, but it's made up on easily identifiable vehicles in primary colors. It looks familiar, harmless. And so we as viewers start the show completely nonplussed by it. We feel like we expect it. Unlike conventional wisdom, which says to immediately state what the show's mission statement is early on and demonstrate what makes it unique, Ideon deceives you. It truly does subvert your expectations. The "science can't explain that" moments and "what do you mean our radar was upgraded to view THE ENTIRE GALAXY" moments just start snowballing over time. We as viewers start to realize that something is wrong just about the time the solo ship does: when our friendly, toyetic, red colored truck robot SCREAMS. By then, they start to realize the danger they're in. And by that point, there is already no hope. I and UQ, the translator for the bluray release, discussed a lot of things regarding symbolism and theming in Ideon: The IDE represents the endless cycle of war, starting off with self-satisfied notions of personal justice (we're the good guys, we'll be fine) snowballing into an uncontrollable behemoth that destroys everything in its path until there is no one left to grieve over what went wrong. Or, perhaps, especially The IDE is a dark perversion of the Abrahamic God, or perhaps a gnostic demiurge, with mythic parallels and creation myths to match, that instead of having love for life views all life with abhorrent contempt and has no desire to do anything but end it all. Or perhaps it's just the direct standin for Tomino, an unknowable, unstoppable Force that controls the world from outside of the characters view, only recognizable in it's utter disdain for the sinful, egocentric characters and the devastating effects it wreaks upon the world. Who knows what it directly represents. A lot of papers could be written from multiple perspectives; I'm sure there have been, at least in Japan. What's clear to me, though, is that a show that very clearly seems like it's just Tomino's Star Trek becomes a completely different beast over time, in a way that is never forced, and by the end has a sense of dread, terror, and general hopelessness that few things can match. As such, I think cosmic horror and Lovecraftian designations work really well for this, absolutely. Good on you for speaking up about this - especially when Eva is reentering the Public consciousness thanks to Netflix shenanigans, it'd be nice for more people to know about one of its biggest influences, between Ideon, Ultraman, and Devilman, and how much of a loving sendup it was. Nothing comes from thin air, after all. And perhaps, maybe Ideon might have found some DIRECT inspiration in Lovecraft? Now wouldn't that be interesting to know.

[@CaribouCoon]

Thank you for commenting on my work and the work you and UQ have done with Ideon! Comments like these are a great reminder that it's not how many watch the video, but who. I'm very glad you enjoyed it :)

[@hdninety-seven8167]

Tu comentario terminó siendo más interesante y profundo que el mismo vídeo 👍🏻

[@ThePorpoisepower]

Excellently produced and delivered video essay! Keep up the good work! I'm totally psyched to track this down.

[@009DarkStar]

Never forget when the ideon fought Judau while Dozle’s daughter was piloting it.

[@rageracerriley9590]

Otherwise known as Gigantis...

[@primusvsunicron1]

People need to watch Ideon before watching Evangelion

[@CaribouCoon]

Eh, I came out just fine! If anything I'd say they should watch enough Tomino anime to enjoy Ideon, just to get used to his way of doing things haha

[@mrbanks456]

@The Fantom Convoy Should fix that.

[@kkwyxd6137]

I love your content!!!! I'm sold. Ill watch this along with the first Gundam when I start my mecha journey.

[@Madcapredcap]

What makes horror is the lack of hope, whether or not it is scary

[@comradefreedom8275]

Gundam animes are honestly what turned me into a pacifist. Ideon was sad in that it essentially seemed to hint at this idea that human life is worthless.

[@Ash_Wen-li]

Berserk is definitely Lovecraftian inspired, but it does have themes which may contradict that at times.

[@CaribouCoon]

It certainly has more tentacle per square foot lol

[@eoagr1780]

I think it’s more influenced than inspire in Lovecraftian themes.

[@h00db01i]

it's parallels for me. tentacles have a certain place in Japanese culture apparently, I thought it was because them living with and off the sea/oceans and its creatures. cuttin up the cuttlefish and the conch etc

[@h00db01i]

maybe it's just because I can't stand eatin invertebrates but hey, central EU snobs in da house!

[@ludonymous526]

Regarding "Berserk", that puts "Space Runaway Ideon" to shame.

[@CodeNameX001]

The moment the Ideon screamed as Cosmo weeped, that was the moment you begin to realize there's something so much darker going on.

[@MarilynMalkovich]

I could see this being part of the Turn A timeline, maybe, with the Ideon being produced by whatever absurd interstellar human civilisation produced the Turn X. I know Tomino was looking to include footage before Sunrise shot him down.

[@gespensttype-r68]

I actually watched this show more than a decade ago at this point, being introduced to it via an obscure Mecha anime focused forum. It tickles me to see how long it took for KZbin folk to get a whiff of this show. It's a pleasure to see that you enjoyed it, even with all the jank and flaws the show has. If you're looking for another Cosmic Horror flavored robot cartoon, I'd recommend the Getter Robo Saga. The manga, not the anime, the latter doesn't quite communicate the manga's ideas properly.

[@CaribouCoon]

I've read the first series of Getter, and I'm interested in watching Armaggedon this year! (Though I should probably reread it and read Go)

[@xavgui100]

@@CaribouCoon if you ask me, shin getter robo and getter emperor are pretty clear examples of individual getter robots being lovecraftian, what with shin getter being sentient (at least in the Go manga) and Getter Emperor being such a powerful being the antagonists fighting it (they'd rather NOT be consumed by the big mecha that eats planets for lunch and seems to grow and evolve with no limits with the goal of consuming the entire universe, which is an understandable motivation to oppose something) have no choice but to try to use time travel to destroy getter robo before it becomes Emperor. There's also the getter rays themselves, which are lovecraftian as hell in my opinion, since they've given some of the protagonists nightmarish visions of a future where humanity is completely obsessed with getter rays, causing said protagonists to realize that getter rays are a great danger to everything.

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

Of course there is comsic horror stuff if it's done by Go Nagai.

[@tuskact5776]

Great video dude. Haven't seen a take like this on ideon before

[@michaelhoule2134]

such a happy upbeat opening song. what could possibly go wrong? ......

[@atmmachine11]

This is probably the best Anime-related video I have ever seen. It made me really interested in watching Ideon (which I still haven't watched) but I have watched a lot of classic Gundam including the original + Zeta to completion.

[@Flugmorph]

frick dude what an AWESOME video you crafted here. The sounddesign and musical choices, the editing, the premise and delivery, even the thumbnail, everything is masterful and coalescing into a fantastic viewing experience. Ideon now certainly ranks higher on my ptw list, although im pretty sure it wont do your video justice. much love ovo

[@CaribouCoon]

Thanks man! Hope you get around to Ideon and enjoy it!

[@Flugmorph]

well i actually was so thrilled (heh) about your video that i watched the first episode this morning but then decided to concentrate on the movies while watching some choice episodes inbetween.

[@Flugmorph]

btw i send similar messages 2 times before but for some reason they didn't work despite appearing to be send. not tagging you helped. weird right?

[@neatoman5367]

I was heavily waiting on watching this video, the more the show went on the more fear and hopelessness I felt towards the characters. Putting myself within their situations made me feel scared, I just wanted them to runaway and find a way out before they brought the end towards everything. Good ass video man. Please do review Gundam 0079 with your editing as I feel as if people my age just aren't appealed to older series.

[@st4pps]

if i had a nickel for everytime an only anime was had a giant mysterious over powered planet splitting mech that had plans for humanity that both benefited and harm humanity while being existential horror i would have two nickels.

[@micheljavert5923]

Kinda feels more like an allegory for nuclear weapons, but I can appreciate the Lovecraft approach. Not entirely dissimilar.

[@Sharkey007x]

Thanks for the signal boost, it is now on top of my list

[@chiefbawor_thegr8966]

Angry Firetruck saw how Humanity is such a fucked up creature and decide to end all life Classic

[@peppermillers8361]

I'm glad to see someone else who noticed these elements, since Ideon is basically an eldritch transformer.

[@joehayes9933]

Unicron: Time to eat a new dimension! *sees Ideon* Unicron: I'll be leaving

[@rageracerriley9590]

Bullshit...!

[@korisnthere]

"More yuck than yikes" is a line I'm gonna have to use again. Good use of music mixing throughout, definitely have piqued my interest in Ideon. Not quite sure about your take on Gundam, maybe it's just cus I've only seen a few, but all the ones I saw were pretty dead set on the whole "war is hell" narrative - and any glorification is often subverted later to make you, the viewer, feel bad for taking pleasure in it.

[@CaribouCoon]

Thanks! I was actually kinda worried about the mixing in this one cause some of it was louder than I normally do haha Tbh the only ones I'VE seen do exactly what you describe, which is why I said most, and I guess I was speaking more towards the Gundam I haven't seen that still kinda make the mech fights flashier than they need to be, like Wing and Seed etc. But I do concede it's a weaker point, I should've spoken more broadly with mecha in general.

[@xavgui100]

@@CaribouCoon what are your thoughts on Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans, at least when it comes to the "war is hell" narrative

[@CaribouCoon]

@@xavgui100 I've only seen s1 way back when it came out so I can't really comment. Fine I guess?

[@type-0universe756]

Great video but allow me to elaborate on one thing, the Ideon doesn't just destroy life randomly. The IDE will allow a species to continue along it's course of life until it finds that species being unable to resolve things peacefully, once IDE deems a species unfit to live it will either stop providing it's protection or take it upon itself to reset everything to zero. In the course of the anime it does both as when either side refuses to budge it destroys both their home planets but even with that said what led to their total destruction was their own actions. The buff clan even with their home planet destroyed was still dead-set on pursuing the Ideon which ultimately led to clash of the two forces destroying everything completely.

[@CaribouCoon]

Absolutely, that's why I shortened it to "if invoked" I didn't wanna bog down the video with a summary :) glad you liked it!

[@Jackisboy]

fantastic.

[@CaribouCoon]

thanks man :)

[@TheBreadB]

You should definitely talk more about underrated/unknown anime. Mouryou no Hako for example is an amazing mystery anime that nobody knows of.

[@CaribouCoon]

I'm looking forward to it! I agree, there's a couple way more obscure shows I'd love to talk about, I have a script for Aoi Bungaku for example

[@SSJKamui]

Did you realize that there are some parallels between this and thepremise of the movie forbidden planet? In Forbidden Planet, humans find ruins of an alien civilisation with technology powered by the "id", which is out of control for humans and kills people. Ideon has basically the same premise. Just with an "e" at the end of "id".

[@felipeaguena5289]

Dude you're so right! This anime always disturbed me in a way I couldn't fully figure out why and you nailed it. And I'd argue that the fact it doesn't have a horror look makes it even worse

[@JimFaindel]

Also, I now see a ton of influences from this show informing the creation of the harrowing mecha-existential-horror show Bokurano.

[@CaribouCoon]

Been meaning to get to that one! I should definitely get to it soon! :D

[@JoeZilla87]

I just recently finished watching the show and the movies, I found this story very depressing. I think you make some good points about this being Lovecraftian, I see this more similar to how Gene Roddenberry saw the future was going to be, I think Yoshiyuki Tomino views the future. Not exactly this but like how everyone will die if we can’t trust each other, at least that is how I see it.

[@zayxen9346]

Amazing work

[@RayOfTruth]

The only horror anime to make me feel much fear is Perfect Blue. Not just in the visuals but just as much through that film's themes.

[@BroomPusher2024]

Evangelion: Exists Ideon: P A T H E T I C .

[@FoxyPercival714]

Reminds me of a clip of me watching a super robot war game that had Ideon in it. Basically, if Ideon dies/runs out of HP... It's game over...

[@baron_rau9135]

Ideon looks like a gm from gundam

[@The_Str4nger]

Afro Amuro and his God GM

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

WH40K: 🤨 "The enemy of my enemy DIES SECOND!" Space Runaway Ideon: 😏 "Allow me to introduce myself..."

[@zqfmgb4335]

The Ideon does look a bit scary to me though. Not at first glance of course, but when you take into account the fact that it's fuckhueg, can easily destroy literally everything with super laser death rays and that the entity controlling it hates you, it goes from "kinda goofy super robot" to "red harbinger of cosmic doom" pretty fast. Also, unlike super robots like Mazinger and Grendizer or even real robots like some Gundams for example, which all have very heroic looking heads, the Ideon's face is very minimalistic and unexpressive, which gives it a more foreboding look and makes it impossible to say what this thing is thinking, or what you should think of it for that matter. It fits the cosmic horror definition : a being that isn't good or evil, just incredibly powerful and impossible to understand. Of course, the Ideon's head is really just a slightly modified GM head from Gundam, which kind of downplays the whole cosmic horror thing. Still, I'll remember to treat my GM Gunplas good, just in case.

[@CosmoShidan]

If you look at the visor closely, with all the dashes flashing and streaming when Ideon transforms, it's almost as if the robot possess many eyes. Creepy, no?!

[@GenesicKaiser]

Tbh I thought that Mazinger was a subversion of Tetsujin and Giant Robo. Much like you describe the Ideon having an unimpressive, featureless face, Mazinger didn't have pupils. Plus it had a grill that looked like it had teeth. Not to mention it's manga and later anime versions had it black, white, red and yellow, the colour scheme of a typical villain. Not only that, but the manga had it go on a rampage when Kouji first used it, reminding you that its still a weapon at the end of the day.

[@JalekokRespawn]

I was just going to watch the compilation movie today for the first time, years after watching the show and now here's a video on Ideon. Could this too be the will of Ide?

[@CaribouCoon]

(oh god pls don't let it kill me) lol

[@ZZtheDark]

This is such a depressing anime from what I remembered when I first watched and seen it along with its ending movies these few years ago. Characters aren't heroic,they just wanna end the war and go home. 13:42, See you Again...to the cosmos with you.

[@hayakawaken9493]

I feel like this take on Ideon is sort of a author-is-dead take on the show. It's not what Tomino intended, but still valid as a cosmic horror.

[@tommo4k]

I recently discovered your channel through the Lupin vid. I really like your editing style and take on things, keep it up! 👍

[@CaribouCoon]

Thank you!!

[@MudanTV]

man, I haven't had some good "yikes" in a while

[@MattisProbably]

2:44 Best transition in a KZbin video I have ever seen!

[@bruce3rd156]

I feel people dont give enough credence to the idea of mere concepts being terrifying, I find the mere concept of the ide itself terrifying. Just throwing this out there to build on the comments made in the video about what makes horror, horror.

[@totenkray]

As a kid I'd see Ideon as a sticker on a kids folder, random VHS slip cover now or then and then 35 years later I bought(last week) the Soul Of Chogokin toy and now I'm watching this video going cool, unimaginable space horror...Cool.

[@triggerfingerstudios]

Ide is the Japanese transliteration of Id, or the subconscious self. So, Ideon is the subconscious turned ON.

[@nicodalusong149]

I'm late but I'm pretty sure that no one had the "cosmic horror" take on Ideon because Getter Robo (the manga) was already doing that ahead of Ideon. A robot that is powered by the force of evolution (getter rays) because said force chose to do so but nobody has any idea what it wants from humanity seems to tick all those boxes too. It's harder to spot because it's wrapped in the amazing camp of super robots a good portion of the time but when it gets there, it gets there.

[@CaribouCoon]

yes, but actually, while the original GR came out before Ideon, it doesn't actually do any of the "cosmic horror" stuff with Emperor till Getter Robo Go, which didn't start publishing till 1990. Love Getter though, talked about it in my Gurren Lagann video :)

[@ProfDragonite]

Well, this does explain why maxing out the Ide Gauge in Super Robot Wars is an instant Game Over.

[@mattproctor4327]

There aren't many shows out there that can manage the despair that Ideon does over the course of its run. That our main characters have to rely upon it for their very survival while simultaneously being terrified of it and the power it possesses is quite potent, magnified even further by the fact that the Ideon will sometimes just act out on its own for little to no reason, is truly harrowing, and you can feel that very real sense that they know they are all going to die echoed throughout the latter portions of the series and in Be Invoked. I've been rewatching it recently with a friend who hadn't seen it before, and it remains as strong now as when I first saw it years ago. A true masterpiece.

[@aortaplatinum]

Dude how the fuck do you you show Gundam Thunderbolt clips while talking about how Gundam doesn't portray war horror

[@ludonymous526]

"Space Runaway Ideon" is definitely a lot darker than "Neon Genesis Evangelion".

[@tora6738]

really interesting video enjoyed this

[@anmolt3840051]

The only thing I know about this anime is that it contains the greatest headshot scene ever put to film

[@darknega75]

ideon´s ost slaps harder than bright´s slap

[@Devilman6066]

I first saw Ideon: Be Invoked when I was about twelve on the Starz network. Nineteen years later I watched the TV series and re watched the movies. One problem is that the pacing is off. The TV series is way too repetitious, and the movies skip unevenly and introduce characters too abruptly. All that aside, it's shocking and very original. And the music is done by the man who composed all the music for the main Dragon Quest games and provided the beat for Batty Boyz by MF Doom, which comes from the Ideon anime.

[@flygonkerel781]

There needs to be a space runaway ideon kill count. So GLAD to see ideon content so recently

[@brig.badger2896]

I’ve wanted to watch this show for a long time. Might finally check it out now.

[@someguy4405]

*i know what space runaway ideon is* From a digibro vid

[@nutterbutter9404]

Can't wait till the Phenex fight the Ideon

[@WickedAnimeTroll]

I heard about the show before but hearing what it is actually about made me interested in checking it out.

[@CaribouCoon]

Yup, me too lol I only watched it for it's reputation but wound up really really enjoying it

[@noahsterben5666]

HIS AFRO THROWS KNIFES?! WTF, HIT THE DECK!!

[@Ash_Wen-li]

This'll definitely be the next mecha I watch

[@StephanBayless]

Great analysis! And Zeta Gundam is quite a bloodbath... emotional rollercoaster.

[@CaribouCoon]

I was discouraged with Zeta when I first watched it, it just didn't sit well with me, but I've since seen more Tomino (King Gainer in particular was what won me over!) And I'm looking forward to giving it a a rewatch!

[@frankjaeger2565]

@@CaribouCoon Tomino didn't even want to make Zeta, he was never satisfied with it. Char's Counterattack is much more in his vein.

[@diandrarizvi]

I just finished watching Ideon & its movies, before i finally found this video. I felt genuinely scared and disturbed, yet amazed at this anime and its WTF ness. How brutal and also amazingly original the story was. And also how powerful Ideon is...

[@SBaby]

9:37 - Actually, in Victory Gundam, the reason Tomino did what he did is because he was angry. But all the other ones, it was because he was trying to make a point.

[@jonathanmikarui8931]

Bruh every single Gundam series/ movie is anti-war… every single one.. like the quote says every war story is an anti war story

[@thewingedwoods2620]

Always wanted to see Ideon but sadly once it finally got licensed it was so expensive and now it's out of print

[@SSJKamui]

The ideon is not found on earth. The planet is called Solo. This is why the ship is called the Solo Ship.

[@CaribouCoon]

Sorry if I implied somewhere they unearthed it on earth, I was aware it was on Solo :P

[@awalludinsyam1500]

i am not watching the tv series but straight into be invoked movie. this is the time that i need to pause every frame because the disturbance that being cause of it. i always felt that Ideon is robot war machine that no other creature can handle but hearing someone says that it is a lovecraftian horror story? i can take that. also playing this in SRW@3 and after watching be invoked really feel... wacky. what an ominous experience.

[@niknik166]

The ending of The Ideon be Invoked had me wash my eyes out with cat videos

[@theamazingspooder-manj5737]

I’ve been looking for this anime for years

[@toasega]

I'd already decided on watching Ideon, then saw your video and was like "I'll watch Ideon before I see the video". I would like to not only draw my own mecha manga at some point, but also design my own toys, so watching classic mecha anime seems to be a good idea for getting my head in the game and seeing what the best of the best looks like. Going into it with the idea that it was lovecraftian definitely helped, because I don't think I could have sat through it otherwise. I can only stand that classic, choppy anime look for so long. The story either needs to be seriously on point (like Space Battleship Yamato) or it's almost unwatchable. The only thing that really made this watchable was the realization of, "Oh, wow, they can't actually control this thing, everyone is so dead". Otherwise, I still have not watched "Be Invoked" and have no real plans to do so. After this I'll probably check out Getter Robo and Macross. Watching stuff like Gundam or Transformers is too obvious; I want to see the stuff I never see anyone talking about. For example, no one ever talks about GaoGaiGar, and that's some of the best mecha anime ever made.

[@gray_sunshine7772]

I also had similar thoughts about it´s thematic when i first saw it, cool video btw, hope i can see more of these soon.

[@CaribouCoon]

yeah man! thanks :)