Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team Review

Synopsis:

A unique, self-contained story taking place during the One-Year War. Shiro Amada, a young but skilled Federation officer, is assigned command of the 08th Mobile Suit Team, itself part of a larger Federation military presence fighting a guerrilla war against Zeon forces in the jungles of South America. He must contend with Zeon mobile suits, a local militia, and the quirks of his own eclectic crew. Along the way he has a chance encounter with a Zeon test pilot, Aina Sahalin, and the two begin a Romeo and Juliet style romance, even as the threat of a massive experimental Zeon super-weapon threatens to destroy their dreams of peace. 

A feature film titled Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Miller's Report was released in 1998, prior to the last few episodes. It served mostly as a compilation of previous events and a set-up to the series finale. A short film, Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Battle in Three Dimensions, was released with the Blu-Ray Memorial box set in 2013. Both films take place roughly between episodes 9 and 10. 

Release Date:

1996-1999 (OVA's)

1998 (Film)

2013 (Short Film)

Episodes:

12 (OVA's)

1 (Film)

1 (Short Film)

Timeline:

UC 0079-0080

My Grade:

B+

Review:

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team is a fan-favorite among the Gundam franchise, and for good reason. In comparison to other timeless anime classics from around the same time like Neon Genesis Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and The Vision of Escaflowne, The 08th MS Team isn't exactly ground-breaking but tells an entertaining, self-contained story with a lot of heart. 

The animation is solid and, thankfully, still holds up today. Character designs are reasonably grounded, though there is a touch of cartoonishness to some, like Eledore and Kiki in particular. This visual mix matches the overall tone of the series appropriately, which moves fairly smoothly between serious war drama, lighthearted moments of levity, and typical anime melodrama. Leah and I found most of the characters to be interesting and endearing (Shiro, Aina, Karen, Terry, etc.), while a few others were downright insufferable (looking at you, Michel). 

There are basically two plots here - the military story of the 08th MS Team combating the Zeon forces and the recurring side encounters between Shiro and Aina, which have more of a romantic space opera feel. Both are done well in their own right, and they increasingly overlap as the series progresses toward its dramatic conclusion. The story is completed by the end of episode 11, though one additional episode serves as a sort of epilogue. Leah and I agreed that this final episode was virtually pointless and did not enhance the series at all, feeling mostly like filler. Without saying too much about the specific details, we thought the slightly open-ended conclusion to episode 11 served as a far better end-cap for the overall series. 

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team doesn't excel in any one area, but it's an enjoyable story with mostly likable characters and a unique setting. Unlike many other Universal Century series, it requires little backstory knowledge on the viewer's part. Add all these traits together and, pound-for-pound, you have one of the most accessible and solid UC Gundam series around.