Gundam 00 follows the exploits of Celestial Being’s crew and Gundam pilots, referred to as Gundam Meisters. Celestial Being is the brainchild of the long deceased Aeolia Schenberg. Celestial Being is an organization armed with Gundams, mobile armor suits (mechs or mecha) that are decades ahead of current war technology. Using these devices the organization stages armed interventions to force the nations of Earth to disarm and stop war. They quickly learn violence only breeds more violence as the Gundam technology is leaked and the nations of the world begin an arms race with each other and Celestial Being. The United Nations join together to end Celestial Being, only to cause a separate set of problems and violence. Of course, all is according to Aeolia Schenberg’s master plan. The dead man’s intentions does not stop with the elimination of war…
Gundam 00 is in the mecha genre of anime. Like most stories in this genre, it focuses on the pilots of the machines: how they grow and develop in the face of their conflicts. Gundam 00 revolves around the 4 Gundam Meisters, Setsuna F. Seiei, Lockon Stratos, Allelujah Haptism and Tieria Erde. Each of them are haunted and driven by their pasts. Setsuna, for example, was a child soldier in a civil war. Each deeply desire Earth to turn away from war for their own reasons. Often those reasons become obsessions. Like most mecha, the machines become extensions of the characters that pilot them. In many instances the machines are inseparable from their pilot (So much so that Setsuna even calls himself a Gundam).
The animation is crisp and colorful. The characters are nicely developed although a bit stereotypical; they change in often drastic ways in response to events. The dialogue is lofty and unwieldy at times: a common problem with the mecha genre. If you can ignore the impossibility of the physics, the combat scenes are fast paced and enjoyable. There are some romantic side stories between some of the characters, but the series stays focused upon the struggle to survive and end war. Episodes are rarely dull. The story is blistering and the crescendos vibrantly violent. As events unfold, viewers have no choice but to ride on the GN particles.
