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Gundam SEED definitely is one of my favorite animes of all time. Like all the other Gundam series out there, Gundam SEED has a very intricate plot filled with lots of action. The one thing that makes Gundam SEED stand out is the balance it finds between story, character development, and the blend of genres.

I found this universe to be the most interesting and appealing: a world where genetic engineering has gone to the point of allowing people to choose the genes of their children, resulting in a race called the Coordinators. But because of their abilities, they are heavily ... discriminated against and a war erupts between the two sides. The background story makes a lot of sense as well. Naturals (non-Coordinators) have the advantage in terms of numbers and medicine research while Coordinators have the ability to pilot mobile suits more efficiently and have a faster learning curve with new technology. The background story is probably what sold me on this series and continually makes it my favorite.

The plot is a little unbelievable at first but you learn to just go with it. Kira Yamato gets dragged into the war on the side of the Naturals having grown up in Orb, a neutral colony. The art is great and there is a lot of character development for all the main characters. The action is also top notch, sending chills down your spine even if you have seen Gundam series before.

Unfortunately, during the second half of the series, it does get a little repetitive by repeating parts of past episodes and there are a lot of replay fighting shots (i.e. the same angle on the Archangel as it fires its missiles) and the fact that Kira gets the most flexible type of Gundam (Strike has several different modes it can use) is a little cliche.

Overall, the series is a must see for non-Gundam fans. Veteran Gundam fans should definitely try it out as well, but it is slightly different from previous series. The artwork is a lot more modern (at least comparatively) and the characters may not be as likable for hardcore fans. Nonetheless, Gundam SEED brings a nice balance between action, adventure, sci-fi, and a dash of romance. People looking for a enjoyable mecha anime have found the best one, at least in the opinion of this reviewer.