Mobile Suit Gundam Wing

Gundam Wing sets itself apart from American cartoons. The futuristic "mecha," or mechanical fighting machines, and expressive character design are quite sophisticated and outclass any similar animated efforts on American television. The frequent and explosive battle action is also on a scale unseen in any American cartoon, although it's a common feature of the long-running Gundam franchise. For American audiences, the biggest problem may be the excessive militarism and the stubborn prevalence of the Japanese notion that the highest military ideal is to die in the service of one's cause.

The story takes sharp turns, and the animation and design maintain high levels of imagination and spectacle. Fans will welcome the exciting mix of action, melodrama, and political intrigue of Shooting Stars, Vol. 1, while preteen and teens will probably be fascinated by the civil war subject matter in Dark Shadows, Vol. 2, and the character development adds even more drama to the third installment.