Kidô senshi Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory

Gundam 0083 is one incredible ride, with top animation (Both the character movement and mecha animation is very fluid, and the detail is astounding)music, and mecha design, done both by Hajime Katoki(One of the top designers for Gundam) and Shoji Kawamori(Creator/mecha designer of such anime classics as Macross and Escaflowne). The characters are well-designed and very realistic, avoiding the "big eye" stereotype. The story takes place between the original Gundam and Zeta Gundam. Following events in the original, new Gundams are being developed by the Earth Federation. However, a remnant Zeon force steals one of the Gundams-one armed with a nuke, no less-and it's up to ensign Kou Uraki to take one of the other units and join in a desperate search across Earth and space-before it's too late. As panic grips the Federation, small conspiracies begin to form on both sides, which ultimately culminate in the events of Zeta. The only problems with 0083 are a few plot holes and the general ineffectiveness of the main character.Gundam main characters have a tendency to be losers, but poor Kou goes way over the top.. There's also a romance that feels rather tacked-on. But apart from that, a good show.

Here is one of the two best OVA's for the real gundam universe (universal century). Only tied with 08th MS team in story and follow through, this is a unique telling of the events transpiring in the year 0083. Whats unique is that it is told from the prospective of a test pilot not trained for combat, Kou Uraki. There is very good character development for not only Kou, but of all of the main characters. Tied in mechanical beauty with 08th, but it is older and falters only a little in this area.

A great series to see, surpasses WING and ENDLESS WALTZ by tenfold. A tribute to anime, so go see it!

Stardust Memory is another great installment of the Gundam Universe. Set in the year 0083 of the Universal Century (UC), four years after the One Year War of UC 0079, it tells the story of the last renmants of Zeon who launch a last all-out attack on the Earth Federation. The Zeon forces, led by Aguille Delaz, send ace Anavel Gato to steal a new Gundam that has a nuclear warhead. On his way (always) is rookie Kou Uraki, an Earth Federation Forces cadet who will do everything he can to stop Gato. There isn't a lot of humor, and the love relationship between Uraki and Nina Purpleton is bland, but it's got the signature of a Gundam series, Drama, and battles of epic proportions, character development, and main characters that die. There are a lot of conspiracies that are hard to understand and one has to remember that this series relates a lot to the original Gundam (past) and Zeta Gundam (future).

I have been a fan of Gundam for almost 20 years and have seen it through it's various incarnations. While I am no authority on anime, I definitely know what I like. I used to think Zeta Gundam was a pinnacle in mecha design and plot twists, but this one brings it all home.

The character design, story telling and music are all A+ #1

It's one thing to just think of them as giant robots, or big tanks, but this series brought out how hard it was to be a pilot of one of these devices, both physically as well as psychologically.

If you can, I advise getting it!

This has got to be 1 of the best of the Gundam series there is. Sure there may be to much romance in it for some people, but deep down you can't help but cheer for the socially awkward but very capable rookie pilot hero Kou Uraki.