Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December Sky

I grew up watching Gundam Wing as a kid, but I was never really a die-hard Gundam fan. This was my first time diving into the Gundam world in 15+ years, and I have to say, I was very impressed.

The futility of war is really driven home as a theme here, which isn't particularly original, but it's always good to be reminded of the horrors of war so we don't repeat our mistakes. That said, it does explore how bloodlust can infect even the most good-natured among us. How wars can be driven to an unfathomable scope in the loss of life, not only because of the virtues and hatred driving the violence, but how the once innocent people entangled in these wars start to enjoy the killing.

The animation is amazing, although it was hard to tell what was going on sometimes because the action was so fast, hence why I took off a star XD. I know Gundam is supposed to be fast-paced but I was lost quite a few times. It was the first time I've ever had to pause and rewind an action scene!

I appreciate that they pay homage to Cowboy Bebop without completely ripping off of it-the jazz only appears when one character enters the scene, making it all the more engaging. The soundtrack here is rich and encompasses a lot more than jazz, which really helped differentiate it from a typical cookie-cutter anime. If you're a Cowboy Bebop fan, or just looking for a dark, violent anime that will leave you with plenty to think about afterwards, check it out!