
All the build up of 38 episodes led to an ackward final 39th.

This left several holes in the plot and a rushed ending. Sadly Space Runaway Ideon would be become a victim of cancelization, most likely due to a lack of ratings not unlike the previous year’s Mobile Suit Gundam. In response, both sides start a conflict showing the darkest side of human interaction towards someone or something that is unfamiliar, or different. They come upon this same planet, which they call Logo Dau and eventually both civilizations meet.

The second faction known as the Buff Clan (yes that is their name) are on a mission to locate the legendary power of the Ide. Beyond the colonization, many of the scientists and researchers have discovered several artifacts from a past civilization including three huge truck like vehicles and a buried spaceship. Earth based humans like us have begun colonization on the planet which they call Solo. Our story concerns two factions that make contact on a planet in the Andromeda galaxy.

And like many Tomino shows, this cast is large. This is power beyond power, almost ‘God’ like, hence why I give the Ideon such respect.īeyond the drama and the Ideon robot itself, Space Runaway Ideon like many of the best mecha shows is about the relationships of it’s cast. Literally… as this is a robot that can split a planet in half. All this from what looks like a mix of a Gundam’s GM and Gun Cannon added together on a heavy dose of steroids. This is not so much for the overall size or power, but more so on the presence a mecha exudes. And what a giant robot indeed (105 meters/344.5 feet for a height), the Ideon is imposing beyond belief and is one of two mechs that literally scare the $h!& out of me (the other being Giant Robo). This of course is a product of ignorance and xenophobia to an extreme that once the negativity reaches a certain point, the only option left is total and complete destruction.Įven with all this seriousness one must remember that Space Runaway Ideon is first and foremost a mecha show. The death and sacrifices are all consequences and actions of conflict and hatred.
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Known often as a series where everyone and everything dies (Kill ’em all Tomino!), the true meaning of this series is so much more. Ideon ventures into unique territory in terms of emotion, intensity and characterization. Gundam is one thing, Legend of Galactic Heroes is another, but Ideon is it’s own animal. Space Runaway Ideon may be the most epic and most importantly, the most sublime sci-fi epic in existence within the realm of Japanese animation. Can space opera encompass the function and consequences of the living universe, call it ‘God’ perhaps, depending on the actions you and your civilization make? After finalizing Mobile Suit Gundam, Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise would gives us an answer in 1980 with Space Runaway Ideon. What if space opera could represent something even bigger than just off hand spaceship battles, or fun times trekking through the deep vastness of the beautiful great void. Themes and characters are bigger than life, but still relatable on some level. Space opera as a genre is also larger than life, but often you can hold it in the palm of your hand.

The universe itself is vast and beyond scope.
