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So where do we go from here? With Japan's economic problems,
G-SAVIOUR stuck in limbo for two years, and no new
announcements, the juggernaut seems to have run out of steam—at least
on its native soil. Meanwhile, Bandai's main focus seems to be on
transplanting the phenomenon to the U.S. where
Gundamania is still in its infancy—and judging by the smash-hit success
of GUNDAM WING on Cartoon Network, has the potential
to burn bright.
The problem lies in finding a worthy successor.
GUNDAM X would be an obvious choice due to its length
and self-contained nature, but the show is as boring as dishwater compared
to the excellent WING. G GUNDAM
is very entertaining, but one has to ask if its national stereotypes would
fly in a culture obsessed with political correctness. And while the first
GUNDAM provides a much-needed entry point to the rest
of the U.C. world, opening the possibility of showing
the cult-classic ZETA GUNDAM and other sequels, could
its outdated look ever fly with an audience already spoiled by modern shows?
Perhaps a remake of the original for the new U.S.
market is in order. While animating the original TV series
specifically for the U.S. market would be a big financial
risk, it is the only way to unlock the rest of the U.C. saga
for broadcast. Theoretically, only need 26 episodes would be
needed—couple that with 0080's 6
episodes and 0083's 13 episodes to
close the One Year War story arc, and you have 45 episodes,
close to what is required for a U.S. broadcasting season.
If Bandai doesn't want to take a risk with showing the 1979
original on TV, a remake is the only viable solution. This
isn't as far-fetched as it may sound—the video game GIREN'S
AMBITION already features a large amount of reanimated footage.
Whichever route Bandai chooses to follow, it seems the fate of the
venerable GUNDAM series will be determined here in America.
Will GUNDAM take flight and live to its fullest potential,
or will it falter and die out, with no worthy successor to GUNDAM
WING? Only you, the audience, can determine the future of
GUNDAM. Let's make it a bright one.
Special thanks go to Mark Simmons for his sharp observations and insights, which
proved invaluable in writing this article. |
