The space colonies have grown tired of the oppressive rule by the Earth government, a corrupt organization ruled by people who have no real interest in the colonists or their well-being. Their rule is unjust and unfair, but not unopposed... Resistance forces in the colonies have created five special Mobile Suits (robot-like vehicles) called Gundams. Five young pilots have been selected to sneak these Gundams down to Earth and begin a guerilla campaign that will end the Earth government's rule forever. These pilots appear little more than children, but they carry the hopes and dreams of thousands of people with them as they descend to Earth to fight for their freedom.
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Gundam premiered on Japanese television in 1979 and redefined the "giant robot" genre. It's become one of the longest-running franchises in anime history, with more than a dozen broadcast, original animation video (OAV), and feature versions. The four episodes on Shooting Stars (the DVD contains a fifth episode) opened a 49-part broadcast series that aired in Japan in 1995 and 1996. After a war devastated the surface of the earth, many people left for the Space Colonies. The remaining inhabitants are governed by the United Earth Sphere Alliance, which has oppressed the Colonies. A group of rebels hope to win their freedom by attacking Earth with five teenage pilots in Gundam mobile suits (robotic rocket ships made from Gundanium alloy). Heero Yuy, the brash hero, immediately comes into conflict with the sinister Lieutenant Zechs and Colonel Treize, who are important officers in OZ, an elite mobile-suit unit trained and staffed by the powerful Romefeller Foundation. Heero also inadvertently wins the heart of Relena, the wealthy daughter of a cabinet minister. While Heero insults Relena and fights the forces of OZ, the other four Gundam pilots, Duo, Trowa, Quatra, and Chang (who, oddly, don't know each other) wreak havoc on Alliance factories and military bases. It's a classic confrontation between indestructible good guys with invincible weapons and bad guys who can't hit the broad side of a robot. The DVD contains the "unedited version" of the show that plays on the Cartoon Network. It contains no nudity or sex; the violence is largely restricted to machines attacking each other and is recommended for ages 7 and older. The VHS version has some language changes ("I will kill you" becomes "I will destroy you") and the blood has been removed when characters are injured. There is no difference in running time. --Charles Solomon
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