The following may contain spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM.
Director / Mitsuo Fukuda
Screenplay / Chiaki Morosawa & Mitsuo Fukuda
Production / Sunrise
Release Date / January 2024
Almost a couple of months after its Japanese theatrical release, I was finally able to watch Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, legally mind you. And while I wasn’t the biggest fan of Gundam SEED or Gundam SEED DESTINY, I still looked forward to seeing the film. If you’re a fan of the SEED series, or at least aware of what’s happening behind the scenes, then you must have some familiarity of how the film went from being released close to the conclusion of SEED DESTINY, to an anniversary production celebrating the 20 or so years of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. The delayed release of the film also catapulted it to nostalgic status which brought more appreciation than criticism of its nuances.
My appreciation of the film was also helped by the fact that I attended a fan screening, and while this doesn’t guarantee all applauses, it did provide a communal sense of enjoyment, something you can only experience with fellow Gundam or SEED fans. If you don’t have time to go through my unsolicited thoughts on the film, then in a nutshell — I really enjoyed it. For the rest, I hope the preceding sentences have provided enough context as I write these thoughts. And so, let’s go back to the Cosmic Era, and the year 2003 (or so), as we check out Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM.
The story takes place in the year Cosmic Era (or C.E.) 75, a year or so after the end of SEED DESTINY and the world is still in chaos. Despite the absence of their figure head, Blue Cosmos is still instigating instability across the globe. Following the agreement between Orb, the PLANTs, and the Atlantic Federation, the global peace monitoring agency COMPASS (for Compulsory Observational Making Peace Service) was established. Among its ranks are veterans of the previous war, including Kira Yamato, Shinn Asuka, Lunamaria Hawke and Agnes Gibenrath. The film kicks off when the Kingdom of Foundation, a newly established nation, seeks the help of COMPASS to help capture Blue Cosmos remnant leader Colonel Michael. However, behind the scenes is a more sinister motive, which involve reviving the Destiny Plan by the late Chairman Durandal.
Despite the political backdrop, the core of the story contains the drama expected from SEED. Focusing on Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne, the film shows that it’s not smooth sailing for the Cosmic Era power couple. This is further reinforced by the retcon that Lacus is an Accord along with main antagonist Orphee Lam Tao and are supposedly meant to be together to lead the world. Add some love triangle elements to the mix and we now have our primary conflict. The film is very much focused on Kira and Lacus though I also appreciated how they made Shinn Asuka a much likable character. In fact, he plays the comic relief with his maturity and supposed dumbness. It’s not forced and based on the audience reactions from my screening, many liked this approach to Shinn. Athrun Zala takes a less prominent role in this film, but you can’t help but cheer every time he appears on screen. He is the level-headed character who helps our folks to get back to their senses, in the most badass of ways.
Agnes Gibenrath is introduced to have known both Shinn and Lunamaria from their military academy days. Much of her backstory is provided by the supplementary mini novel Moonlight Valkyrie, though it isn’t required reading prior to seeing the film as her motives are quite transparent, and quite immature. She also becomes the foil for Lunamaria so there’s that. The rest of the cast appear in different capacities while some are cameos, which is unavoidable given the shorter runtime, but still got cheers and applause regardless.
Supplementary materials are also where details regarding the “Freedom Heist Incident” are fleshed out to which the film briefly alludes with a quick flashback scene. This incident involves terrorists stealing the original Strike Freedom Gundam while it was scheduled to be delivered to the Archangel. The terrorists then used it to attack some facilities and it was through the help of Foundation’s Black Knight Squad that this was averted, albeit significantly damaging the Strike Freedom.
Both SEED and SEED DESTINY have been infamous for their animation quality and the constant reuse of stock animation. Fortunately, the theatrical budget for SEED FREEDOM allowed for significantly better animation across the board. Some mobile suit movements were lifted straight from SEED/SEED DESTINY, but they are made with entirely new sequences, being a mix of CG and traditional animation. I also like how the visuals are consistent with SEED without looking too dated, which adds more to the nostalgia factor.
What this film brought, which was absent from SEED DESTINY, are actual stakes, especially for Kira Yamato. Once he received the Strike Freedom towards the latter portion of SEED DESTINY, he was very much invincible, along with the rest of the Archangel crew. SEED FREEDOM presented real stakes with the first encounter with the Black Knight Squad and while none of the core cast died, there were a couple from the protagonist’s side who perished. Neither the Rising Freedom, nor the Strike Freedom Type II towards the third act, escped unscathed and it took Lacus Clyne joining the battle to level the odds. Let’s not forget how Shinn was ultimately the MVP in the final battle as he decimated the Black Knight Squad and was key in destroying Requiem. Seeing them working together is such a treat.
Director Mitsuo Fukuda was on the record when he mentioned that instead of making a film that will be remembered throughout history, he wanted to create something fans of SEED would enjoy, especially after sticking throughout these 20 or so years. This is very clear coming into the third act of the film, and you can’t blame him for taking this approach. Things got quite ridiculous from how the Destiny Gundam Spec II can produce shadow clones, to Athrun’s Z’Gok doing a Build Fighters Try to reveal a hidden Infinite Justice Gundam Type II inside, and to Lacus Clyne out in space, standing on top of the Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam after docking, while T.M. Revolution’s “Meteor” played in the background. This is pure and unadulterated celebration of everything SEED and we all had fun watching it.
I highly doubt it, but if this is where they conclude things with the Cosmic Era, then I’m fine with it. I don’t think conflict would be totally eradicated in their world, but as long as Kira and the rest continue fighting, hope would remain. As such, I would recommend watching Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM if you have the chance as it is a fitting celebration to arguably one of the most popular areas of the Gundam franchise.
