Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.0

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield Blu-ray Movie Review

The origins of Universal Century 0079

A prequel series to the original Mobile Suit Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin returns for another exciting and action-packed collection of worthwhile episodes featuring returning characters and mecha from the Gundam anime universe. Based on the breathtaking manga created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the saga remains a vital one even after more than 40 years. Fans will want to buckle up for a exciting second-installment in the origins of one of anime's most beloved franchises.

The second collection of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin episodes contains the following feature-length episodes set within the expansive saga: Clash at Loum and Rise of the Red Comet. These episodes focus on the Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield. While there was a strong combination of character-moments and action-scenes in the first collection of episodes, the second set has even more adventure for fans to experience. The Principality of Zeon has caused war and things are looking down on the universe. The Earth Federation Forces must stand up to the dangerous advances of Zeon and the turbulent sequence of events has only just begun.

"What? It's already the conclusion?!"

While the first collection of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin episodes focused predominately on the backstory for Char Aznable, fans of the heroic Amuro Ray will be thrilled to see the character get the spotlight for some great moments in these episodes. As a huge Amuro fan, it was a real treat to see the character at the forefront and the final episode of the prequel was especially moving. This set stands as something distinctive from the first collection by shifting the character-focus while still delivering the goods when it comes to kick-ass animation and epic outer-space battles.

Gundam has long been one of the most beloved anime franchises and so much of this is due to the great quality of the animation. The animators involved in the origin series production did outstanding work and truly brought the saga to life once-more. The quality remained consistently high across both of these origin collection sets and that is a true testament to the legacy of the series. The animators of Gundam take it seriously and that is something to cherish and hold on to.

Returning to the directors chair, Takashi Imanishi (Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of Zeon, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ) once again brings to life the well-written scripts by Katsuyiki Sumizawa (Dragon Ball Z, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing). Fans of the Gundam series are passionate about this universe for a reason: the storytelling and filmmaking is consistently creative and visionary. The conclusion to the prequel series hits the right notes to satisfy fans and that is downright amazing. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin could have failed as prequel anime and yet it does the opposite: outstanding animation, exciting storytelling, and creative filmmaking make it worth checking out.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Each episode presentation in the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Chronicle of Loum Battlefield collection is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition in the original aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. The release is native high-definition and isn't simply an upscaled presentation (as is found on some anime releases).

The video-quality on this release is downright superb and there is something magical about experiencing the epic follow-up to the first Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin collection with such impressive detail and clarity. Colors on the presentation are especially robust and the fine artistry of the animators helps the unique stylistic flourishes shine. The release has a healthy encode which is also free from distracting banding and other egregious ailments. While some anime series definetly showcase a noticeable amount of banding, this was not an issue with the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin release.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Blu-ray release comes jam-packed with a variety of different audio options to "suit" the needs of all fans. The discs include English uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo and uncompressed PCM 5.1 surround sound. It also contains the original Japanese language soundtrack in either uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo or 5.1 uncompressed PCM surround sound. No matter how audiences choose to watch the series, the release has a number of enticing options for fans.

However, there is simply no comparison to the lossless surround sound mix and its remarkable vitality. Experiencing the series in the original Japanese language track with an immersive surround design is something that brings the fight scenes to life with startling clarity and excitement. Dialogue is also consistently clear and easy to understand. An impressive presentation of the sound-design. Truly remarkable, crisp, and invigorating lossless audio to bring viewers closer to the action. Amazing.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Disc 1: Clash at Loum

Promotional Video 1 (HD, 1:02), in English or Japanese

Promotional Video 2 (HD, 0:59), in English or Japanese

Disc 2: Rise of the Red Comet

Promotional Video 1 (HD, 1:02), in English or Japanese

Promotional Video 2 (HD, 1:02), in English or Japanese

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

An action-packed send-off to the Mobile Suit Gundam prequel series, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is a worthwhile anime that fans of the franchise will appreciate returning to one last time. The series remains vital and important in the genre. The Blu-ray release is equally commendable with a stellar presentation of the series (with robust animation at every turn in the saga). The release is well worth owning for fans. Outstanding.