Gundam and Transformers: A look at two robots

A lot of people mistake Gundams for Transformers.

I don’t blame them, there are a lot of similarities between the two, but the difference is also huge.

Artificial Intelligence.  Transformers are sentient beings.  They are another alien race of their own, with mechanical bodies and they came from a different planet.  Gundams are mobile suits.  Well, that term does not really help much, but by the term “suit” – it means that people “wear” them, right? But in the case of Gundams – people pilot them.  My vague memory of the Transformers series tell me that while people can ride the Transformers in vehicle mode, in robot mode, no human are within the robot itself.

More than meets the eye. Who doesn’t remember the theme song of the Transformers series? The Transformers, as the name so subtly suggest, are robots that can transform into something else. The Autobots transform to more civil-themed vehicles, while the Decepticons are more war-like. Now, here is where some people get confused, because some Gundams do transform.  The original Gundam had the mobile suit transform from a fighter plane (Core Fighter) as various parts of the mecha are sent to it. There are some Gundam models, such as Kyrios from Gundam 00 which has the ability to transform to a fighter plane. To the uninitiated to the Gundam franchise, I wouldn’t be surprised if they view this as a “transformer” ability and mistake the robot as another series.

Gundam Kyrios, transformed to Fighter Mode.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Made in Japan.  The original Transformers animation, though it is owned by an American Company, was animated in Japan.  I made the mistake to think of it as a “Japanese Anime” because of the animation style.  It was only a few years ago that I found out that the Transformers franchise is actually American, but was actually animated in Japan. Gundam is 100% made in Japan. Well, at least that is what I know. Unless they ship off some of  the animation to some sweatshop that colors or performs some minor animation outsourcing (which I highly doubt).

Now, why the confusion? Well, thanks to the revival of the Transformers and the movies made by Hollywood, Transformers has become more of a popular culture than Gundam.  Although it is tiring for me to sometimes point out that a certain mecha show that I am watching is not Transformers, I try.  Although at times, I just simply state that it is not Transformers, but Gundam.

I know that there are a lot of similarities and differences between these two animation franchise, but from my perspective, these are the things that I find most notable.  What about you? Do you have anything to add?

Eyeshield 21 Ep 6 – Recovering from Pain

Eyeshield 21, an amateur at American Football, yet a person with a great talent in speed suffered his first tackle.  It was a rather painful one.  It most likely damaged not only his physical body, but also caused some emotional scars.

We have a natural avoidance for pain. (Unless you’re a masochist who prefers to receive pain…) Such is observed when we accidentally touch a hot object and we react with reflex by pulling it away. Once pain is experienced, we would rather not have to go through it again.

I can imagine the fear of possibly going through another painful experience. And that could affect us mentally, which would then affect us physically.  We tend to be more careful, and try to take lesser risks that could result to the pain.

How would Sena react to this turn of events? He’d rise to the challenge, of course!

We fail, we fall, but we must stand up and rise again.  What does not kill us makes us stronger.  Once we overcome that fear of experiencing pain again, we become braver.

I find it timely that I try blogging here again with this episode.  After my previous post, I felt that I should try again. Hey, no pain, no gain, right?

Rise again

In mistakes, we learn.

Image Credit: http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/blu3g/bloodyzoro.jpg

I tried writing an anime blog, and yet as time went by, and as my ability to watch new or good series took a toll from my work, I feel that I have failed.

It is a bit frustrating, but it made me think that it is not about  being perfect and awesome all the time that we can grow – but rather it is in the mistakes we make.  We learn from mistakes, and it makes us stronger.

My hesitation is often my downfall.

Well, I hope I can figure something out with this public blogging issue.  I do like writing, and I do want people to read what I write.

I will try again.

A Homage to Hellsing?

I’ve been reading Hellsing, and am now close to finishing the manga series. It’s a great story about vampires.

Well, anyway, that isn’t what this post is about.

I guess I’m not too keen on noticing authors, eh? I mean, just when I’m about to finish the series, I just noticed that the author of Hellsing is Hirano Kouta.

Hellsing Anime – Initial Impressions

Nothing like a good vampire anime to get the blood flowing! (pun intended)

It’s bloody, a lot of action and has interesting characters. Well, at least that’s what I saw from the first two episodes that I watched.

One Piece 274: Dramatic Reunion

I haven’t watched One Piece in a while.  So, I guess I should start with my impressions of this episode.

Robin didn’t like the idea of the crew going out of their way to save her. 

If you were Kira, you’d hate yourself, too

If you were living in a foreign country during peace times, grew up there, gained lots of friends, then war suddenly breaks out between your native country and the country you are in now, how would you react?

You have friends there, yet they are fighting against your kinsmen.  You don’t want to lose your friends,  yet you’d be a traitor to your own kind.

Toss in the fact that you suddenly found yourself in battle with your best friend before you moved away – if that does not screw with your head, I don’t know what…

Before anything else, this post was written halfway through Gundam SEED.  I hope I don’t spoil anything for you, and I also hope no comments will spoil me.