Gundam AGE: Boom or Boon?

After a long and arduous couple of months, a new Gundam series has been unveiled recently. Entitled Gundam AGE, this new Gundam series revolves around three generations of protagonists: Furitto Asuno, developer of Gundam AGE-1 equipped with a self-adapting computer called the AGE System; Asemu Asuno, Furitto’s child; and Kio Asuno, Furitto’s grandchild who inherits the Gundam. The main characters pilot the Gundams against an unknown enemy, in order to save the Earth from a One-Hundred Year War. Possible augmentations of Gundam AGE-1 comes in two forms: AGE Titus for strength, and AGE Sparrow for speed.

Game developer, Level 5, responsible for Professor Layton and Danbooru Senki, is at the helm of development in this new Gundam series. Gundam AGE will also be launching “four ultimate works”: a game, manga, cards, and model kits/figures.

Initial reception to the new series has been lukewarm at best. After Mobile Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G, Gundam fans and mecha enthusiasts are expecting more of a Gundam Seed/Gundam 00/Gundam Wing material or some other existing published Gundam work worthy of an anime adaptation. Whether Gundam AGE becomes a hit upon its release depends on its delivery upon release. From the effort assigned to Level 5, it also begs the question: Where is Sunrise over all of this?

Clearly though, the devs/animators are starting to gear up the Gundam series for a more child-friendly storyline with protagonists that the younger audiences can compare themselves to. The fact that this information was released through CoroCoro already says something about its target audience. Gundam AGE will be another departure from the highly-political and mature tones of the other Gundam series.

So what do you think? Boom or Boon?

Sources:
Anime News Network
Otaku.com

Tags: Anime & Manga, bandai, gundam, Gunpla, Level 5, Sunrise