This OVA depicts a more realistic battlefield than previous Gundam works. Centering on Bernie, a Zeon soldier, and Al, a young colony resident, the story unfolds in a space devoid of heroes, confronting viewers with the harsh realities of war akin to war films.

Such storytelling is possible due to the depth of the world Gundam has created. In this hero-less narrative, Gundams, Zakus, and GMs are mere weapons of war.

The OVA’s stark portrayal of soldier deaths brings a visceral quality to the combat. While GMs are still destroyed en masse, their demise feels different from the typical “disposable mech” trope. Though we don’t see GM pilots’ deaths on screen, we sense the potential drama behind each loss.

After watching, you might find yourself empathizing more with Bernie, the ill-fated Zaku pilot, than with ace Gundam pilot Amuro. Bernie’s relatability highlights the potential of mass-produced units like GMs and Zakus, suggesting that even ordinary soldiers can be compelling protagonists in the Gundam universe.

This OVA elevates the GM from cannon fodder to capable wingman. The GM Custom, often described as “unremarkable,” frequently outshines the Gundam piloted by a rookie. This is due to the skill of the GM pilots.

Veteran pilot Burning, at the controls of a GM Custom, goes toe-to-toe with Zeon aces in superior machines. His performance might leave you thinking, “Hey, GMs are pretty cool after all.” Burning’s skill and character are key to reevaluating the GM’s potential.

While the Gundam is significant, the fact that it teams up with mass-produced GMs (the GM Custom and GM Cannon II) lends a unique realism to the series, preventing it from becoming overly heroic.

Scenes where the GM Custom outperforms the Gundam in simulations or rescues it in battle reinforce the idea that “GMs are the Federation’s mainstay.”

Incidentally, both “0080” and “0083” feature four GM variations each, highlighting OVAs as a treasure trove of GM variants.

This series broke the mold by featuring a mass-produced Ground Type Gundam as the protagonist’s mech. Despite its name, it’s essentially a GM. The 08th MS Team uses all Ground Type Gundams, with two more squads in the Kojima Battalion similarly equipped. Once mass-produced, a Gundam becomes akin to a GM. The Ground Type Gundam is essentially a high-performance GM with a Gundam-like appearance for protagonist appeal. In a universe where mass-produced Gundams exist, the day when a GM proudly serves as the main mech may be near.

The series also showcases GM prowess through the GM Sniper, which pulls off impressive feats like downing a warship and crippling a massive mobile armor. And let’s not forget the GM Head – by simply swapping the head of a damaged Ground Type Gundam, it becomes indistinguishable from a Ground GM, further blurring the lines of the Ground Type Gundam’s position in the hierarchy.