Gundam 00 = "America?"

Discussion

So I'm new to Gundam, although I've watched other anime. I'm watching Gundam 00 now and--while it's a little hard to keep track of all of the characters, I'm enjoying it nonetheless - the animation is really spectacular to watch.

As I was watching the story, it struck me: the characters keep referring to the fictional factions and nation-states, so I hear a lot of "Human Reform League" and such, but then it sounds like one of the factions (or at least a group that seems to be operating relatively autonomously) is "America."

It just struck me as odd that other countries are referred to by their fictional regions but America gets name-checked. As an American, I'm not REMOTELY mad at it (imperialism, colonization, and the military-industrial complex ARE this country's vices), but wanted to make sure I was getting the right message...?

Thanks!

in Gundamby gothamdaily

56%

Greyknight711

Nations are organized into blocs, but still exist as independent entities.

HRL = Russia,China,India

AEU = Europe

Union = North and South America

Though it is implied that the Union is heavily America-centric.

HadesWTF

United States is just part of the Union faction, which is all of the Americas, Japan, and Australia.

Other countries are name checked too. Countries still exist to some extent.

Yamureska

The US still dominates the Union, though. The US president is the de facto leader of the Union (the HQ is still the White house) and in season 1 there's this 1 country that wants to break away due to Anti American sentiment.

That said, the Union gets a more positive protrayal in 00 compared to the Atlantic Federation in Seed (also has its capital in Washington DC, which heavily implies that Atlantic Federation is the successor state of the US). Less Genocidal psychopaths and Military industrial concepts and more iconic units like the Flag and cool characters like Graham.

gothamdaily

OK, got it - thanks, maybe it just jumped out at me because of where I live, lol.

Nova6Sol

There was a scene where the President of USA commented on how Celestial Being is taking over their role as the world’s police. That might be why

Harmonic_Gear

i think japan is independent economic special district or something like that. And they are somehow still more related to the west than the rest of asia, as usual

Nova6Sol

I’m pretty sure they’re part of Union in 00. You can see the map and how the rest of East Asia and Russia are part of HRL, except Japan lol

Taupe88

That’s good to now as I started watching 00 too. Wish it was in English dubs tho. Thanks CrunchyRoll!

OmegaLolrus

Think the dub is on Hulu, of it helps. They've got both seasons, but the movie is only on CrunchyRoll.

Taupe88

Thanks! I’ll look for it!

bangbangracer

In 00, the nations have formed blocks but are still independent nations. For the most part, these blocks have one nation or set of nations that is more equal than the others.

Human Reform League (HRL): Russia, China, India, pretty much all of Asia. Russia and China are the main powers.

Advanced European Union (AEU): Europe and Africa, but the old EU is pretty much running the show

The Union of Solar Energy and Free States (The Union): North America, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and sorta Japan (free economic zone), but the US is pretty much in charge. The US being in charge is even one of the big plot points in the Taribia conflict (a made up nation in South America).

Snukastyle

An interesting bit is that Azadistan was a real country for a part of 1920 in Persia (now Iran)-in the anime it takes up the space of Iran and part of Kurdistan, with the remnants of the latter being Krugis. They do interesting world-building on Earth in a few of the Gundam shows, such as the Sanc Kingdom from Wing being part of Denmark. But that show is it's own brand of crazy.

shinreimyu

It's honestly not that far apart from the current power blocs in our real world. The only real difference is the clear split between the Americas and EU/Middle East/Africa, but that latter trio is a real bloc in certain circles (look at EU LoL)

imaginary_num6er

BD－6Kr

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