It has been announced that a special limited edition Blu-ray disc box set of "GUNDAM REQUIEM FOR VENGEANCE," part of the popular anime series "Gundam," will be released on August 26th. "Requiem for Revenge" was produced as a "Gundam for the world," employing overseas creators as the main staff, and all six episodes were exclusively streamed worldwide on Netflix in October 2024. It is an unusual and innovative anime for the "Gundam" series, and its unprecedented new approach has attracted a lot of attention.
◇ Expressing reality
"Requiem for Revenge" is an original 3D anime focusing on the European front of the One Year War from the first series, "Mobile Suit Gundam." Eleven months after the start of the One Year War, one of the bases under Zeon occupation in Eastern Europe is captured by the Earth Federation Forces, and a mixed battalion including Ilya Solari and the Red Wolf team, who have just descended from space, is sent to recapture it...
While incorporating traditional Japanese animation techniques, the film aimed for unprecedented visual expression for an international audience. It was produced by a global team, including German director Erasmus Brosdau and American screenwriter Gavin Highnight.
The "Gundam" series has a history of challenging new forms of visual expression, such as the 3DCG anime "Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO" released in 2004, more than 20 years ago. However, "Requiem for Vengeance" embodies a "Gundam for the world" through even more cutting-edge technology.
"Requiem for Vengeance" focuses on the gritty battlefield and human drama of cornered Zeon soldiers fighting for survival, giving it a realism reminiscent of war movies and foreign dramas. In interviews with the staff, director Brosdau revealed his unique perspective and attention to detail as an international creator, stating, "This film will be primarily in English. We need to introduce Gundam to people who haven't seen it before. We tried to make it easy for people overseas, including English speakers, to understand, including the way the characters speak, their gestures, and their way of thinking."
The characters' subtle facial expressions and eye movements are realistically portrayed, vividly conveying the harshness of war and the nuances of emotions.
Hiroaki Yura, animation producer and sound director at SAFEHOUSE, who worked on the film, said, "We tried to prioritize realism. For example, attitudes towards war differ between Japan and other countries. War is closer to Europe and the United States than it is to Japan. We tried to express that reality."
◇Gundam that looks like a "white devil"
The metal wear, mud stains, dust, and explosions on the Mobile Suits (MS) were rendered with a realistic, almost photorealistic resolution. The movement of the MS conveys a sense of weight and scale, creating a tense atmosphere as if you were thrown into the battlefield.
The MS designs were also groundbreaking. The Earth Federation Forces' Gundam EX appeared as an enemy, depicted as a terrifying presence that instilled fear in those who saw it. The Gundam EX overwhelmed the Zeon forces with its overwhelming mobility and firepower. Because the story is told from the perspective of the Zeon forces, the Gundam EX appears as a "white devil" to the protagonist, Solari. The depiction of the gigantic MS from a human perspective gives the feeling of being attacked by an unknown giant.
Director Brosdaw explained about Gundam EX, "Unlike previous Gundams, we wanted to give the impression that Gundam is clearly the enemy," and "Gundam has a grim reaper-like, skeleton-like design, and its eyes are red to make it clearly recognizable as a villain."
While this film can be enjoyed even by those who have never watched the "Gundam" series before, it also includes elements that will bring a smile to the faces of fans, such as the appearance of Yuri Kellane from "Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team." Although innovative, the fact that it firmly inherits the traditions of the series is also a major appeal of "Requiem for Revenge."
"Requiem for Vengeance" not only impressed existing fans both domestically and internationally, but also cultivated a new fan base, opening a new door for "Gundam to the world." This innovative approach will undoubtedly bring a fresh perspective to future installments of the series. It's a work that hints at the potential for the series' future. (Manami Anima/MANTANWEB)
