After Mobile Suit Gundam SEED aired, it sparked intense discussions online.
Surprisingly, the people talking about the show weren't just the Porter's usual fans. This time, the debate was fueled by a wave of military enthusiasts.
Their main argument focused on one big question: just how practical was a Gundam in real combat?
"I think Gundams are pretty amazing! They have shields, they can run and jump, and they're not limited by roads like tanks are," said one user.
"Exactly! Especially in urban warfare, there are plenty of places to take cover. Gundams can dodge behind obstacles, and then what? The enemy would have to aim right at their heads!" added another.
"People saying tanks would be better? Imagine, by the time a tank's turret rotates to aim, it could've been stomped to bits by a Gundam," someone argued.
"And the idea of using the Gundam's materials to make faster planes? Human bodies couldn't withstand the pressure of those speeds in the cockpit!"
These were the supporters of Gundam's practicality.
But others disagreed.
"Think about the weight on those knee joints. Even if you solved the materials issue, why go humanoid? Why not make something simpler, like a sphere? Way cheaper," a critic replied.
"Right? With the same materials, a non-humanoid design is better—like a fighter jet! Imagine that Gundam armor on a jet. Wouldn't that be awesome?"
"And the humanoid shape requires a complex OS. Fighter jets wouldn't need that kind of complexity," added another.
"Plus, Gundams are huge, basically just big targets," someone else pointed out.
"A giant humanoid machine takes an insane amount of technology and money. For the same cost, you could make way more small-scale equipment. And maintenance on a Gundam would be way more expensive," another user said.
"Exactly. Look at the German Tiger tanks in WWII—they were overwhelmed by swarms of T-34-85s. Losing even one Gundam would cost more than tons of smaller weapons. It wouldn't be long before any country building Gundams went bankrupt!"
The debate raged on, with military enthusiasts arguing over everything from cost to materials, from size to practicality, and entertaining everyone watching.
Many casual readers were surprised by how fierce the arguments got, wondering, "Who knew military buffs could go at it like this?"
Some users even called for Ren, the original creator, to weigh in.
Ren, of course, didn't respond.
Even though Gundams are every man's dream, Ren didn't actually think they'd be that practical. On the battlefield, artillery power matters more. As the saying goes, "Truth lies within range."
What counts is firepower, not shape.
How could two legs be faster than wheels or tracks? And if it's all about thrusters, well, then why not add those to vehicles with wheels or treads?
And if you were fighting a Gundam, you wouldn't even need to target the cockpit. Just aim for the knees and blow them out! That way, you could capture the pilot and take the Gundam as a prize.
In the end, Gundams are humanoid simply to fulfill a fantasy.
Even in the lore of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, there were devices like "jammers" that blocked guided systems, forcing battles to happen at close range.
...
Time flew by, and soon a new year began.
Ren attended several award ceremonies, even serving as a judge himself.
Picca Comics continued thriving, and the technology for Yu-Gi-Oh! gaming gear improved steadily.
"Another year older, huh…"
It was a bright, sunny afternoon. This was one of Jada's rare breaks.
She sat by the living room's floor-to-ceiling window, sipping red tea and taking in the sunlight, which made the late-February chill a bit warmer. Stretching, she sighed in contentment.
Yawning, she took a sip of her tea and looked out the window.
There was Ren, playing outside with the kids. Their little one was riding a red tricycle while Ren and their daughter, Little White, cheered him on.
A smile crossed Jada's face.
It was such a heartwarming scene.
Another year had passed, and their little boy had grown. Compared to last year, he was a bit more obedient—almost as sweet as their daughter used to be.
It was a shame, though. As she grew older, their daughter had become quite the little rascal, moving from a sweet child to a mischievous troublemaker.
But… Jada wondered how exactly their daughter had turned out this way.
Back then, she'd been so polite and sensible, without a hint of pettiness.
Now, she had a ton of little tricks up her sleeve.
"I really need to keep an eye on this kid," Jada thought, watching her son pedal. She made up her mind to teach him well.
Just as she was about to start a video on her tablet, she noticed something odd out of the corner of her eye.
She looked up.
There was Ren, riding a child-sized tricycle, zooming around the yard at high speed, with their daughter and son stumbling after him, trying to keep up.
For a moment, everything looked normal.
Jada went back to her tablet… until it hit her. Ren was riding the tricycle?
Suddenly realizing what was wrong, she raised her head in disbelief.
"???"
What on earth?
She'd asked Ren to play with the kids, not to take over their toys!
Jada felt a vein pulsing on her forehead, her blood pressure shooting up instantly.
Now it was clear. No wonder their daughter had changed. It must've started when Ren began playing with her.
Setting her tablet down, Jada stood up from the couch and headed for the door, grabbing a feather duster on her way out.
"Yaaah~~~!"
From outside came a shriek, like Tom the Cat getting caught in a mouse trap.
Moments later, Ren stood by himself on the sidelines, watching their two little ones riding the tricycle.
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