Mobile Suit Breakdown: the Gundam Podcast
314 episodes - English - Latest episode: 14 days ago - ★★★★★ - 146 ratingsMSB is a weekly Gundam podcast for new fans, old fans, and not yet fans. Nina (a Gundam first-timer) and Thom (a lifelong Gundam fan) analyze, review, and research all 40-years of the iconic sci-fi anime mega-franchise Mobile Suit Gundam in the order it was made. We research its influences, examine its themes, and discuss how each piece of the Gundam canon fits within the changing context in Japan and the world, from 1979 to today. Part history podcast, part discussion podcast, all Gundam podcast.
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Episodes
3.37: What's the Plan Here?
May 29, 2021 01:30 - 57.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 39 - “The Second Coming of Sarasa” (サラサ再臨), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the story of the Trojan Horse. - An outline of the Epic Cycle poems with English translations of their surviving fragments, by Hugh Evelyn-White. - An annotated version of the Evelyn-White translations that offers additional context about the characters involved as well as the back story of ...
3.36: Maiden Voyage
May 22, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 38 - “The Iron Wall of the Jamru Fin” (鉄壁, ジャムル·フィン), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on blood-type personality theory. Wikipedia page for Type A and Type B personality theory, and a Huffpo article about the Type A personality type. Wikipedia page for blood-type personality theory, and for Nomi Masahiko (能見 正比古). BBC articles about burahara (blood harassment) and an o...
3.35: Long Live the Argama
May 15, 2021 04:01 - 72.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 37 - “Nahel Argama” (ネェル·アーガマ), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on different shuttle-launch methods. - NASA's Space Shuttle Propulsion Trivia page and FAQ about the shuttle program. - Article comparing the costs of different launch methods. - Cost assessments for the different parts of the shuttle program. - What happened to the last surviving external fuel tank from...
3.34: The Pillar of Heaven
May 08, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 36 - “Ple 2 Under Gravity” (重力下プルツー), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the history of cloning technology. - Encyclopedia Britannica page on cloning generally, and a BBC timeline of animal-cloning. - "The History of Cloning" from the University of Utah. - Wikipedia pages for Robert Briggs, Thomas King, Tong Dizhou, and Steen Willadsen. - Explanation of "ce...
3.33: Hero of the One Year War
May 01, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 83.1 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 35 - “Falling Sky” (落ちてきた空), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary on the use of Ireland as a setting in Gundam with special-guest Sarah McCostumes! - Sarah's Twitter account, and the Twitter for the podcast they're a part of, "Wow!! Cool Robot!!!" - Sarah's YouTube video, "What Mobile Suit Gundam Can Teach Us About Fashion Theory." - Articles about the role of women in the Trouble...
3.32: The Relentless Machine
April 17, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 69.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 34 - "Kamille's Voice” (カミーユの声) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research Dublin as depicted in the episode, and the inspiration for Beech Mansion. - General background on Dublin from Britannica and Wikipedia, as well as two overviews of the history of Dublin, a page on the River Liffey, and one about the Protestant Ascendancy. - About O'Connell Street, it's monuments, and ...
3.31: Peace in Our Time
April 10, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 33 - "Afternoon in Dublin” (ダブリンの午後) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on this episode's Animation Director, Kanayama Akihiro (金山明博), and Unit Director, Imanishi Takashi (今西隆志). Pages about Kanayama Akihiro (金山明博) on Japanese Wikipedia, Anime News Network (ANN), and IMDB (the IMDB page is incomplete). ANN article about Kanayama attending Japan Expo USA 2014, and an inter...
3.30: The Last Days of August
April 03, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 32 - "Across the Salt Lake” (塩の湖を越えて) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on pipelines in Algeria. - About the real Chott Melrhir. - Detailed overview of Algeria's hydrocarbon industry from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). - Less detailed overview from OPEC. - Map of the major external pipelines in Algeria. The purple line leading northeast from Has...
Bonus Episode: MSB Presents a Complete History of the Mecha Anime Genre
April 01, 2021 04:01 - 7 minutes - 6.82 MBShow Notes Mobile Suit Breakdown is written, recorded, and produced within Lenapehoking, the ancestral and unceded homeland of the Lenape, or Delaware, people. Before European settlers forced them to move west, the Lenape lived in New York City, New Jersey, and portions of New York State, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Connecticut. Lenapehoking is still the homeland of the Lenape diaspora, which includes communities living in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, and Ontario. You can learn more about Lenapeh...
3.29: King of a Mole Hill
March 27, 2021 04:01 - 1 hour - 69.7 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 31 - "Blue Corps, Part 2” (青の部隊 (後)) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on religion in postwar Japan and the history of Islam in Japan. - Books and articles: Basabe, Fernando M., et al. Japanese Youth Confronts Religion: A Sociological Survey. Sophia University. Tokyo, Rutland, Vt: Charles E. Tuttle, 1968. Roemer, Michael. “Religious Affiliation in Contemporary Japan: U...
3.28: Blue Bloods
March 20, 2021 00:45 - 1 hour - 62.4 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 30 - "Blue Corps, Part 1” (青の部隊 (前)) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the Franks. - Books and articles: Edward James, The Franks, Blackwell 1988. Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Taking stock of the Franks: South Asian views of Europeans and Europe, 1500-1800, Indian Economic and Social History Review, 42, 1 (2005). Jonathan Shepard, The Uses of the Franks in Eleventh-Century...
3.27: Footprints in the Sand
March 13, 2021 01:01 - 1 hour - 84.3 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 29 - "Runaway Roux” (ルーの逃亡) discuss our first impressions, and talk to physics consultant and friend-of-the-podcast Iraj about the physics of the Audhumla's battle with the Sadalahn in Dakar. - Regarding the correction made for our last episode, on the pronunciation of W. E. B. Du Bois name, this blog post quotes Du Bois own letters, and his description of how to pronounce his name. - Zeonic Scanlations...
3.26: My Turn To Be Happy
February 27, 2021 05:01 - 1 hour - 77.9 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 28 - "Leina's Blood, Part 2” (リィナの血 (後)) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on Pan-Africanism. Wikipedia pages for the Pan-African colors and Pan-African flag. Ethiopian history, and a source for the Ethiopian flag as the source of the Pan-African colors: Smith, Whitney. Flag Lore of All Nations. Millbrook Press, 2003. About Theodosia Okoh, the artist and statesperson wh...
3.25: The Demon Judau
February 20, 2021 05:01 - 1 hour - 65.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 27 - "Leina's Blood, Part 1” (リィナの血 (前)) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on Pentax cameras and the mobile suits that appear in this episode. - Pentax Brand overview and a brief history of the Asahi Optical Corporation. - Wikipedia page for Pentax. - A Brief History of Japanese Binocular Production, by Peter Abrahams. _- One example of the kind of thing Asahi Optical ...
3.24: Lonely Hearts
February 13, 2021 05:01 - 1 hour - 67.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 26 - "Masai's Heart” (マサイの心) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the setting: rock formations, architecture, desert trees, inspiration for Masai's name, and just where exactly is the Gundam team, anyway? Petsu-chan's Twitter thread about the Gundam team's route around Africa [SPOILER WARNING - covers episodes not yet covered by Mobile Suit Breakdown]. Papers about ...
3.23: Duel in the Desert pt. Deux
February 06, 2021 05:01 - 61.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 25 - "Rommel's Face” (ロンメルの顔) discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the possible origins of a collection of Gundam names: the Gaza-C, Gallus-J, and Bawoo mobile suits, the character Desert Rommel, and Zeon itself. - Wikipedia and Encyclopedia Britannica pages on the Gaza Strip. _- Wikipedia page for Gazami crab, and the Animal Crossing entry for the Gazami crab from Nooki...
3.22: Never to Return
January 30, 2021 01:35 - 1 hour - 82.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 24 - “Sibling Love Blooms in the Southern Seas” (南海に咲く兄妹愛), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the history of childhood in Japan, and how children and childhood are characterized in the Gundam universe so-far. - Articles: Copeland, Rebecca. “Fashioning the Feminine: Images of the Modern Girl Student in Meiji Japan.” U.S.-Japan Women's Journal, no. 30/31, 2006, pp. 13–3...
3.21: Heart to Heart
January 23, 2021 05:01 - 1 hour - 71.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 23 - “The Burning Earth” (燃える地球) (sometimes also translated to English as “Earth Ablaze”), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the history of childhood. _- Wikipedia pages for “child” and “history of childhood.” _ - Papers: Uno, Kathleen. “Civil Society, State, and Institutions for Young Children in Modern Japan: The Initial Years.” History of Education Quarterly, vol....
3.20: Earthbound
January 16, 2021 05:01 - 54 minutes - 50.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 22 - “Judau, Launch!” (ジュドー、出撃!!) (sometimes also translated to English as “Judau Sorties!”), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the history of recreational ballet and ballet in Japan. - Main paper I consulted about ballet in Japan: Ono, Sayako. “Ballet in Japan: Reconsidering the Westernization of Japanese Ballet.” Journal of Glocal Studies, vol. 3, 2016. https://www...
3.19: Wish You Well
January 09, 2021 03:50 - 1 hour - 75.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 21 - “Crybaby Cecilia (Part 2)” (泣き虫セシリア (後)) (sometimes also translated to English as "Tearful Cecilia (Part 2)"), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the connection between Cecilia's family and historical Japanese emigration. - Books and articles: Masterson, Daniel M., and Sayaka Funada-Classen, The Japanese in Latin America. University of Illinois Press, 2004. Milla...
3.18: Furusato
December 26, 2020 05:01 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 20 - “Crybaby Cecilia (Part 1)” (泣き虫セシリア (前)) (sometimes also translated to English as "Tearful Cecilia (Part 1)"), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the inspiration for the name Milly Childers (and a tangentially related naval disaster), as well as the history of pizza in Japan. - Sources on Milly's life and works: Wikipedia, the National Portrait Gallery (UK), and th...
3.17: Time Over
December 19, 2020 05:01 - 1 hour - 74.9 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 19 - “Ple and Axis” (プルとアクシズと) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the origin of Elpeo Ple's name (pronounced ElPee Puru). This episode comes with a content warnings - the research on the origin of Elpeo Ple's name deals with the history, sociology, and legal efforts to prevent creation and distribution of simulated (ie drawn) child pornography in Japan. The topic is a...
3.16: Ple's Brother
December 11, 2020 22:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 18 - “Haman's Black Shadow” (ハマーンの黒い影) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the origin of Elpeo Ple's name (pronounced ElPee Puru). This episode comes with a content warnings - the research on the origin of Elpeo Ple's name deals with the history of simulated (ie drawn) child pornography in Japan. The topic is also discussed extensively in the talkback. - Books and art...
3.15: Bits and Pieces
December 04, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 17 - “Retrieve the Core Top!” (奪回!コア·トップ) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on maglev trains. This episode comes with content warnings - repeated incidents of strangulation, one of which depicts a character strangling one of his female friends, and a scene depicting an adult woman sexually assaulting a teenage boy. We discuss these scenes extensively in the recap and ta...
3.14: Endra Corps
November 21, 2020 05:01 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 16 - “Melee Aboard the Argama” (アーガマの白兵戦) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on composer Ferdinand Beyer, the rules of war regarding "perfidy," and extramarital romantic and sexual relationships in Japan. - Wikipedia page for Ferdinand Beyer, with references linking his piece to piano-curricula in Japan. - A paper outlining an electronic support system for self-learnin...
3.13: Giants and Messiahs
November 14, 2020 01:36 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 15 - “The Phantom Colony, Part 2” (幻のコロニー (後)) - discuss our first impressions, and discuss Cargo Cults and the "White Gods" narrative with anthropology consultant, Allie! Allie was kind enough to provide us with the following references, with the caution that the older of these articles are very much products of their time - with the casual racism that implies. But they do provide perspective on how peo...
3.12: Lost and Found
November 07, 2020 02:15 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 14 - “The Phantom Colony, Part 1” (幻のコロニー (前)) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on Mesoamerican step-pyramids, shoal zones, and Sweetwater-type colonies. - Wikipedia pages for step-pyramids in general, and Mesoamerican pyramids in particular. - About the Maya city Chichen Itza, and the Temple of Kukulcan (aka "El Castillo"). - Additional detail about Maya a...
3.11: With a Little Help From My Friends
October 30, 2020 23:02 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 13 - “Little Sister!” (妹よ!) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on calcium deficiency, the history of Japanese toilets and the Toto company (東洋陶器), and napkin etiquette. - Symptoms of calcium deficiency (hypocalcemia). - Japanese sources on calcium deficiency and "frustration." - Wikipedia pages for Toto Ltd., the Toto Washlet, and the history of toilets in Japan. - To...
3.10: Hostile Takeover
October 23, 2020 21:27 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 12 - “Leina Vanishes” (リィナが消えた) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the history of women in Japan's news-media industry. - This book chapter provides a good summary, and was the source of most of the statistics referenced in the research this week: Ishiyama, Reiko. “Japan: Why So Few Women Journalists?” The Palgrave International Handbook of Women and Journalism, by C...
3.9: Putting the Pieces Together
October 16, 2020 16:01 - 57 minutes - 52.7 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 11 - “Activate! Double Zeta” (始動！ダブル・ゼータ) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the easter-egg in Beecha's choice of reading material. - An official page about Star Luster from Ninendo for the game's inclusion on the Wii Virtual Console. - Wikipedia pages about Star Luster in English and Japanese. - Very detailed Japanse-language writeup about the game from Game Catalo...
2.53: A Noble Mind - Interview with Dr. Bayley Garbutt
October 09, 2020 16:43 - 53 minutes - 49 MBShow Notes This week, Nina and Thom interview Dr. Bayley Garbutt about Kamille Bidan's psychological development! "Bayley is a longtime fan of Gundam, having started watching it as many his age did when Gundam Wing first aired on Toonami in the US in the early 2000s. He was instantly hooked and sought out as much of Gundam as he could find. During that time he also got into building, customizing and painting the model kits (gunpla) as well. Zeta Gundam remains his favorite series, though ...
What the heck is a Gundam, and why did they build a giant walking robot?
October 02, 2020 23:00 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBShow Notes When footage of the Walking Gundam went viral earlier this week, your loyal podcast hosts received a deluge of questions from friends and family about it. "Did you see this? What is this? Why did they build it? Is this one of those 'Transformers' you podcast about?" We knew what we had to do: it was our responsibility to make a public service announcement explaining Gundam and the Walking Gundam in a short, accessible mini-podcast. So, here's Mobile Suit Breakdown's first Public ...
3.8: Drifting
September 25, 2020 22:01 - 1 hour - 60.1 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 10 - "Sayonara, Fa"/さよならファ - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on what trends and subcultures could have inspired Chara Soon's iconic look. - Articles about Japan's youth-culture, Visual Kei, and Gyaru: Takada, A. (1992), Contemporary Youth and Youth Culture in Japan. International Journal of Japanese Sociology, 1: 99-114. Kawasaki, Ken'ichi. “Youth Culture in Japan.” ...
3.7: A Bunch of Dummies
September 18, 2020 21:00 - 56 minutes - 52.1 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 9 - “Judau in Space” (宇宙のジュドー) - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on home electronics in the 1980s, namely the Sony Walkman and the pocket calculator. - Wikipedia page for Sony Walkman. - Sony corporate website company-history pages about the Walkman and a timeline of personal audio products. - Mashable article about the “retirement” of the Sony Walkman in 2010. - A b...
3.6: Leaving Home
September 11, 2020 21:00 - 1 hour - 82.8 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episodes 7 and 8 - "Gaza Storm" (ガザの嵐) and "The Funeral Bell Tolls Twice" (鎮魂の鐘は二度鳴) - discuss our first impressions, and take a brief u-turn: we are joined by Dr. Shar, of Dr. Sharmander gaming, to discuss the last 3 episodes of Zeta Gundam. You can find Dr. Shar on YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. - Two explanations of dichotic listening, on simplypsychology.com and sciencedirect.com - Social psychology defin...
3.5: No Such Thing as a Free Lunch
September 04, 2020 22:31 - 1 hour - 63 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 6 - "The Zssa Menace"/ズサの脅威 - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the possible influence of the novel Don Quixote on the characters of Mashymre and Gottn. - Wikipedia pages for the novel Don Quixote, the full list of characters from the novel, and character-specific pages for Dulcinea del Toboso and Sancho Panza. - A discussion of "early novels." - The definition of "q...
3.4: Compulsory Education
August 28, 2020 18:01 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 5 - "Judau's Decision"/ジュドーの決意 - discuss our first impressions, provide commentary, and present part 2 of our research on the origin of the term "Shangri-La," and how the book it comes from may have influenced the portrayal of Colony 1, aka Shangri La, in ZZ. The notes continue to be very short! Same source as last week: Hilton, James. Lost Horizon. Macmillan, 1933. Mobile Suit Breakdown is written, re...
3.3: The Chevalier of Axis
August 21, 2020 21:50 - 1 hour - 70.5 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episodes 3 and 4 - "The Knight of the Endra"/エンドラの騎士 and "Hot-Blooded Mashymre"/熱血のマシュマー - discuss our first impressions, provide commentary, and review part 1 of our research on the origin of the term "Shangri-La." Plus, how the book it comes from may have influenced the portrayal of Colony 1, aka Shangri La, in ZZ. - The notes are very short this week! We reference only one source: Hilton, James. Lost Horizo...
3.2: In Over Their Heads
August 15, 2020 02:50 - 1 hour - 57 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 2 - "The Boy From Shangri La"/シャングリラの少年 - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on some aspects of the Japanese economy on 1986: laborforce participation by youth and women, educational attainment, tanshinfunin, migrant labor, and... orange imports. Plus - another Japanese poem. - Chart of youth unemployment rate in Japan, 1970-2020. - Youth employment rate in Japan, 1979-19...
3.1: Zeta Gundam Part 2
August 07, 2020 21:20 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBShow Notes We're back! This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (機動戦士ガンダムΖΖ) episode 1 - "Prelude of ZZ"/プレリュードZZ" - discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on world events 1985-86, and anime industry luminaries contemporary opinions on the state of the anime industry at that time. - Wikipedia lists of significant world events in 1985 and 1986. - Pages on Japan's economy generally, the "economic miracle" of the post-war period (until the bubble bur...
2.52: We'll Meet Again
July 03, 2020 15:09 - 1 hour - 79.3 MBShow Notes This week, we review and analyze Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) as a series, discuss our thoughts about the show as a whole, and provide commentary and research on the number four, as well as post-Zeta interviews with Yoshiyuki Tomino and Akinori Endo. - Wikipedia page for the number four, with a list of things that are in fours (many of them religious). - A paper about the number four, subitization in humans and animals (even bees!), and the number four's apparent signifi...
2.51: All Together Now
June 26, 2020 19:45 - 1 hour - 76.3 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 50 - "Riders in the Skies" (宇宙を駆ける), discuss our impressions, and provide commentary and research on Scirocco's name and the "The-O" mobile suit. - Japanese Wikipedia page for Paptimus Scirocco. - Wikipedia page for the Sirocco wind (aka scirocco, jugo, siroc, xaloc, sciroccu, Σορόκος, siroco, xlokk, shirok, siròc, eisseròc, ghibli, khamsin, شْلُوقْ or شْهِيلِي). - Forbes interview...
2.50: Awakening
June 19, 2020 20:26 - 1 hour - 78.9 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 49 - "Casualties of War" (生命散って), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the "third eye." - Wikipedia page for third eye. - Wikipedia pages for chakra, Vajrayana (Tibentan/Tantric/Esoteric Buddhism) in Japan, and the ajna chakra. - About the parietal eye and pineal gland. - The pineal gland in Western philosophical traditions: pre-Cartesian, Descarte...
2.49: Tabula Rasa
June 13, 2020 00:04 - 1 hour - 61.6 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 48 - "The Mirror of Rosamia" (ロザミアの中で), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on voice actor Gouri Daisuke (郷里 大輔), the voice actor for Bask Om. We also say goodbye to Rosamia Badam. - - Wikipedia pages for Gouri Daisuke/郷里大輔, born Nagahori Yoshio/長堀芳夫 (English, and Japanese). - Gouri Daisuke's IMDB page. - CNN retrospective on the firebombing of Tokyo...
2.48: Goosebumps
June 06, 2020 00:24 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 47 - "A Descent Into the Maelstrom" (宇宙の渦), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on what an Edgar Allen Poe short story has to do with Zeta. - - Japanese Wikipedia Pages for Edgar Allen Poe/エドガー・アラン・ポー and A Descent into the Maelstrom/メエルシュトレエムに呑まれて. - English Wikipedia pages for Edgar Allen Poe and A Descent into the Maelstrom. - Wikipedia pages for ...
2.47: Battle Among Gods
May 30, 2020 03:06 - 1 hour - 69.6 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 46 - "Scirocco Rises" (シロッコ立つ), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the Bolinoak Samahn mobile suit. - - Japanese Wikipedia page for the Bolinoak Samahn (ボリノーク・サマーン). - Japanese Wikipedia page for Mori no kuma-san (森のくまさん). - Detailed (Japanese language) discussion of the song, although the author introduces some less-well-established theories abo...
2.46: The Hammer of Zeon
May 22, 2020 15:49 - 1 hour - 71.9 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 45 - "Coming from the Heavens" (天から来るもの), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the French town of Sedan (and what connection it might have to the Gate of Zedan base!). - - Wikipedia pages for the town of Sedan and the castle (or “chateau”) there. - Webpage for the Castle of Sedan itself. - Famous personages connected to the town: Vauban (military e...
2.45: Stronger in the Broken Places
May 16, 2020 00:30 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 44 - "The Gate of Zedan" (ゼダンの門), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the inspiration for Haman Karn's name. -*- - Japanese Wikipedia pages for Haman Karn and Herman Kahn. - English Wikipedia page for Herman Kahn. - A profile of Herman Kahn in the New Yorker, written as part of a review of a biography of the man: Louis Menand, Fat Man, for New Yor...
2.44: Strange Bedfellows
May 09, 2020 01:10 - 1 hour - 61 MBShow Notes This week, we recap, review, and provide analysis of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (機動戦士Ζガンダム) episode 43 - "Haman's Victory" (ハマーンの嘲笑), discuss our first impressions, and provide commentary and research on the Qubeley (キュベレイ). - - How to pronounce Kybele in Greek (plus help from patron Serperoth). - Wikipedia pages for Cybele/Kybele and Phrygia. - Listings from other online encyclopedias and reference websites (page on theoi.com includes text of associated myths and legends): http...
Interlude: Nina Predicts the Future
May 02, 2020 01:40 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBShow Notes A gallery with pictures of all the covers Nina reviewed is available for your reference at gundampodcast.com/patreon - and don't worry, the gallery is available to everyone. You can subscribe to Mobile Suit Breakdown for free! on fine Podcast services everywhere and on YouTube, follow us on twitter @gundampodcast, check us out at gundampodcast.com, email your questions, comments, and complaints to [email protected]. Mobile Suit Breakdown wouldn't exist without the support...