Here's some thoughts about how Gundam 00 adapted as a live performance is better than it has any right to be

For some backstory, a few months ago I'd been doing a re-watch of 2007's Mobile Suit Gundam 00 with my kids; for one of them it's a favorite entry in the franchise but for the other it's a Gundam series they hadn't seen yet, and when we got about midway through season 2 I remembered that this is a thing that happened:

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 - Re:Build

If you're rightly wondering how in the FUCK can you do a Gundam show as a stage play, the answer is worth finding out for yourself...like seriously, check out the trailer. It's WILD... but here's a bit of a rundown for you.

After we'd finished both season 2 and the film (2010's A Wakening of the Trailblazer) we picked up the DVD of the 2019 performance of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Re:Build and watched it over the span of two nights (there's a convenient intermission! Stage play! Theatre!) and I was absolutely blown away by a few things:

I have a severe fondness for 00, but I don't feel that it's a particularly beloved entry in the Gundam fandom as a whole. Don't get me wrong, it's popular but it's often kind of an afterthought when people are suggesting AU series to newcomers¹; possibly because it's so "political" (read: it opens with an ethnic conflict in the middle east, has a middle-eastern main character, and you can just tell by watching that this show was in production while Saddam Hussein was on trial and the US was 'rebuilding' Iraq) but I think that's a media literacy issue because all of Gundam is heavily political; 00 is just really up front with the real-world analogies in a way that the other shows tend to make more science fiction. It also doesn't hurt that it takes place in the AD calendar instead of a made-up future calendar, and the United States as military entity exists in the show's world.

Season 1 is strong if not a bit silly, but season 2 falls off pretty hard in terms of “let’s just do the thing again and this time it will work”² trite anime nonsense. What I usually see about 00 online is memes about Tieria in a dress, Setsuna saying “I’ll become a Gundam” and commentary about how every woman in the show is gonna have back problems; I don’t often see people discussing how the actions of the protagonists in their stated goal of "eliminating war" end up enforcing oppressive government hegemony even before the paradigm shift of season 2. Anyway, don't wanna get too lost in the weeds (or spoil stuff for newcomers).

Ribbons' role is heavily expanded in the play and it's better for it; this guy SELLS it

Gundam 00 is often described as "a more serious version of Gundam Wing" which I find kind of laughable but there definitely are Wing comparisons to be made; Both shows focus on the activities of terrorists who have wildly overpowered military hardware compared to the status quo and their existence has profound impact on the global theatre of war. (00 cuts the number of protagonists because they realized 4 is easier to keep track of, and that Wu Fei was a mistake™)

But if I were to be told "A stage play is in production for Mobile Suit Gundam" I don't think 00 would be the entry that comes to mind, which is what makes this so fascinating.

Adaptations are always a bit weird, right? And stage in particular has more limitations than many performance mediums. From outfit changes, to set decoration / rearrangement and severely limited number of cast and crew members, it can be a LOT to pull off a stage production of even some of the most "basic" stories.

What they did with 00 is frankly a work of fucking art.

THE BOYS (and the world's greatest tactics school graduate [because that's a real thing] / alcoholic)

They've toned down the overall number of cast from the show to about 20 total and focus the primary narrative into what the appearance of the organization Celestial Being means to a world in 3 governmental blocs bickering over solar power. This means there are some notable absences in characters (most importantly, Saji and Louise³) but the primary focus on the four gundam boys and the more iconic characters of the various other factions really just works.

Dating all the back to 1979's Mobile Suit Gundam, this franchise usually focuses on showing the cool robot doing the cool thing, sure, but that's always interspersed with cockpit shots to show the pilot's experiences; flipping switches, espousing ideology, screaming incoherently, getting hurt, the telltale 'helmet visor cracked, they're about to die' etc etc. The human at the center of the robot is the key emotional driver in these shows. In fact, it's really interesting how dehumanizing it is when they DON'T show this, especially for enemy pilots - see the first chunk of Gundam AGE for example.

MASHALLAH SETSUNA!

The play takes the gamble that the "cool robot" doesn't need to be seen if the pilots are emoting properly - but they go a step further having them sitting in sick-ass chairs that are being spun around and pushed by stagehands dressed in black to try and remain invisible, and the pilot actors themselves swing swords and aim weapons, recreating the mech combat as close as they can. (The audio crew also deserves a shoutout here because the use of sound effects from the show is key). Comparing it to like, wheelchair jousting wouldn't be too far off tbh.

I forgot to snap a screenshot of Lockon firing with Haro popping up over his shoulder. Solid gold.

It sounds ridiculous, but it fucking works

They nailed the casting and costume design. There is never a time a character is on stage that you don't know exactly who they are and feel the connection to their story arc.

There's something truly magical about a character who isn't super emotive being 'acted well' and Tieria fucking nails it. Renowned dipshit Patrick Colasour steals every scene he's in (just like the show) and you really feel how disgusted Sergei is about Soma's situation. Ribbons (as mentioned) has a severely expanded role in the play vs his role in season 1 but his actor is so perfect that I'd be stoked if he replaced the creep Furuya as both Ribbons and Amuro in any further Sunrise productions where either character is voiced.

Seriously, stop giving that man work.

Anyway, I know I have a bias as a sicko who enjoys 00 but these actors are selling it so fucking hard. I'm constantly grinning that it exists and was successful enough to warrant a second play that follows events of season 2.

Two things - the DVD does not have subtitles so you're expected to speak Japanese, and you're also kind of expected to have seen the show to understand what's going on, buuuut they do a great job of explaining the world state and establishing the characters motivations to where if you've seen the show, you know the plot beats and you know what's happening as the characters emote, regardless of if you understand the language at all.

Plus it's so technically impressive that I'd be really interested to sit down with either a Japanese speaker who has never watched Gundam OR create my own goddamn fansub of this and watch it with like, my playwright brother (who's never watched Gundam to my knowledge) and see what they think because the acting is so goddamn good that I think it kind of transcends (oh here he fucking goes) its source material.

GET HIS ASS

I haven't seen the second play yet but I have the DVD as of this week, just haven't been well enough because of Covid. Excited to give it a shot once health improves and I can make a night (or two) of it with the kids.

Ultimately if you're a Japanese speaker, a fan of Gundam 00, or just someone who wants to see interesting stage shenanigans, this is for you.

Again, I can't believe this exists.