What is Fanlisting?

The Anime Fanlistings Network states that "A fanlisting is a web clique that lists fans of a particular subject. Unlike most web cliques, a person does not need a web site in order to join. Fans from around the world submit their information to their approved fanlisting and they are then listed to show their love for the subject.".

What is ∀ Gundam?

∀ Gundam (pronounced "Turn A Gundam") is a television anime series that ran for 50 episodes between April 1999 and April 2000 in its native Japan. It later appeared in Manga and Feature Film incarnations, but is yet to appear in any commercial form outside of Japan. An eventual US release is probable, as the Stateside arm of Bandai has expressed a commitment to releasing all Gundam series in some form. Releases in other territories sadly aren't assured, but an optimist can always hope that the compilation movies may one day be seen on shop-shelves.

Turn A follows the exploits of Loran Cehack (or "Roland" or any of the possible romanised variants) in the titular ∀ Gundam, an ancient robotic fighter, concealed on an earth which has long since recessed technologically to the stone-age and back again. Loran, originally from the technologically advanced but overpopulated  Moonrace, uses his newfound Gundam to defend his Earth friends from the invading Moonrace force, Dianna Counter. With the Turn-A as a valuable bargaining chip, the Earthrace finds negotiations with the invaders easier, but someone is influencing decisions behind the scenes, and Dianna is not fully in control of her people...

Turn A is in some ways the controversial black-sheep of the Gundam series. The Mecha designs are unorthodox, and the ∀ draws much criticism on account of it's moustache alone.  It is also distinctly "un-gundam" in some places, focusing heavily on characters and having less fighting than in other series. Finally, as suggested by the '∀' of the title, the series is radically attempting to consolidate all previous and otherwise unrelated Gundam series into one continuum. Nevertheless, anyone willing to forgive Turn-A's faults (or better still, see that these "faults" are in fact, not actually faults) will find a wonderfully compelling anime series that potentially appeals to anyone with or without an interest in "Mecha" Anime.

Staff on Turn A included legendary Gundam series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino, who developed a story that was uncharacteristically happy after the doom and gloom of mid-80s/early-90s Gundam. The design of the Turn-A and a number of other MS was the initial effort of Syd Mead, a veteran of sci-fi movie design work (see Aliens and Blade Runner). Voice talent in the series included Romi Paku (as Loran), who subsequently shot to fame as Edward Elric in Fullmetal Alchemist. Finally, the soundtrack was composed by the widely renowned and multi-talented Yoko Kanno (Escaflowne, Cowboy Bebop)