From deep political discussions to combat, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway brings it on

Sunrise and Netflix joined forces in bringing the new movie Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway right on our screens. It has been more than a decade ever since Char’s Rebellion invaded the Solar System. At present, Mafty leads a movement in the effort to see humanity migrate completely from Earth so that the planet can recuperate from the long period of abuse that it has suffered from Humanity. However, the question lingers: Is Mafty an idealistic dreamer who dreams for humanity? Or is it simply a simple terrorist that risks innocent people’s lives?

The film opens in a space shuttle that makes its journey from space to Earth. Its passengers are composed of Cabinet members, mostly, who are returning from an important political conference. Among the passengers are also a few civilians such as that of the military son Hathaway Noa, along with a mysterious young woman by the name of Gigi Andalusia. However, before the shuttle is able to make landfall, it is invaded by terrorists who plan to take the minister for ransom in order to fund the fight of Mafty against the government.

From the beginning right up until the end, Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway combines deep political as well as moral discussion into intense scenes that take away the glory that one might think of combat, and then showcases how terrifying the future of combat between Mobile suits. This thrill is enveloped in one of the tautest and exacting combat sequences in science fiction that the eye can witness.

After their survival with the terrorists on the shuttle, both Hathaway and Gigi are asked to spend the night at a local hotel so that they can give statements to the authorities the next day. However, during the night, forces of Mafty make an attack on the city. Hathaway attempts desperately to keep Gigi away from harm while the city is ripped apart by the chaos that ensued.

There is a colossal discrepancy when it comes to the size simply between the Mobile Suits as well as the human population that is trapped in their wake, which takes the powerless civilians trapped in a firefight. The combat and explosion scenes provide easily the most intense sequences out of all the animation sequences produced by Netflix, at least recently.

Moreover, the visual style of Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway also captures all the necessary intensity as well as emotions in the biggest scenes that require skill and polish. Although the visual approach of Hathaway may not be that unique compared to other Netflix animations, it is worthy of praise for its focus on the emotions as well as the impact of the conflict, which focuses its narrative very well.