History Anime / SDGundamForce

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Captain came very close to saying this to Cheif Haro in episode 2, when he told him he wanted to hang out with Shute. But he chickened out at the last moment.

* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies: Chief Haro originally tries to keep Captain away from Shute because his inter-dimensional activity could put the boy in danger. They both decide against it after realizing Captain needs Shute as a friend to activate the Soul Drive.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: At first subverted with [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru's friend, Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru,]] who turns against him because he refuses to follow this trope. Later played straight when [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru is forced to kill him. And later still when Tallgeese sacrifices himself to free Fen from Deathscythe's magical cage]]. And depending on whether you're watching the anime or reading the manga, [[spoiler: Gerbera/Madnug at the end.]]

* RentAZilla: Musha Daishinsho

* ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight: Captain came very close to saying this to Cheif Haro in episode 2, when he told him he wanted to hang out with Shute. But he chickened out at the last moment.

* RedemptionEqualsDeath: At first subverted with [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru's friend, Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru,]] who turns against him because he refuses to follow this trope. Later played straight when [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru is forced to kill him.]] And depending on whether you're watching the anime or reading the manga, [[spoiler: Gerbera/Madnug at the end.]]

* FaceHeelTurn: [[spoiler:Deathscythe]]

** The EvilGenius: Grappler Gouf

--->[[PowerOfFriendship Shute]]: We're never rule or are ruled by anyone! Not ever! We're all friends! Friends living together!

* DefeatMeansFriendship: By the end of the series, [[spoiler: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom, and even Cobramaru have defected to the 'Genki Energy Force.]] Now that I think about it, between of this trope and all the cases of RedemptionEqualsDeath, only the {{BigBad}}s of the series seem to end up dead.

Practically the definition of a LoveItOrHateIt series. When it first aired, ''SDGF'' was flamed to a crisp by some viewers as a LighterAndSofter perversion of ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' that ruined the franchise. However, quite a few ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' fans enjoy it because of the flashes of depth lurking beneath the cutesy exterior, ranging from extended [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to deeper characterization than one normally expects from a kids' show. Two video games were produced, though the {{Playstation 2}} game is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DaScar=], [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved.

-->--{{Toonami}} Promo

* [[MyNameIsNotDurwood My Name is Not Baku]]: Bakunetsumaru. Guneagle spends the entire end of his debut episode trying to get his name right, and Shute's parents don't have much of an easier time with it at first.
** The Zako soldiers can't get it right either.

* {{Gundamjack}} [[spoiler: Essentially what happens when Kibaomaru tries to use Musha Daishinsho. Interestingly, it's the [[HumongousMecha Gundam]] that does the ejecting.]]

''SD Gundam Force'', the SD ''officially'' standing for "Superior Defender", but also for "SuperDeformed", A term used for a long-running series of [[AffectionateParody Affectionate Parodies]], is a [[CelShading CG anime]] series based on the ''{{Gundam}}'' metaseries. It ran for two seasons, but ended on a full course.

The city of Neotopia is a peaceful place, where the humans live in harmony with Mobile Citizens, small robots between three and four feet tall that look a lot like Mobile Suits. A young boy named Shute finds himself at ground zero of an invasion by the Dark Axis, an army of evil (and equally tiny) robots who seem determined to turn everything to stone. He is rescued by Captain Gundam, A robot styled after the Gundams of the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Universal Century]] universe (particularly the [[{{Gundam 0083}} GP-01]]). After beating back the invading forces, Captain suddenly shows up at Shute's house in a civilian guise, saying his commander wanted him to get experience with civilians, and he decided to start by being Shute's friend.

During the battles against the Dark Axis, Captain meets with two other warriors from parallel universes: [[GundamWing Zero, the Winged Knight]], a magic-using warrior from the world of Lacroa, and [[GGundam Bakunetsumaru]], A Samurai from the world of Ark.

Practically the definition of a LoveItOrHateIt series. When it first aired, ''SDGF'' was flamed to a crisp by some viewers as a LighterAndSofter perversion of ''{{Gundam}}'' that ruined the franchise. However, quite a few ''{{Gundam}}'' fans enjoy it because of the flashes of depth lurking beneath the cutesy exterior, ranging from extended [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to deeper characterization than one normally expects from a kids' show. Two video games were produced, though the {{Playstation 2}} game is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DaScar=], [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved.

* {{Expy}}: Locations are Expies of something from a standard ''{{Gundam}}'' timeline.

** Lacroa = ''GundamWing'' + Knight Gundam
** Ark = ''GGundam'' + Musha Gundam

* MythologyGag: Practically built into the premise. Some are more obvious than others, for instance Gerbera's [[spoiler: true identity as Captain Gundam's brother]] is based on the fact that [[spoiler: the [[{{Gundam 0083}} Gerbera Tetra]] was based off of the rejected Gundam GP-04 (and in fact, the Gerbera Tetra Kai IS the GP-04 with armor covering the Gundam-y parts), while Captain Gundam and his various upgrades are based on the GP-01 and GP-03.]]

* DeadLittleSister, or [[TakenForGranite Petrified Princess Rele]]

* HoYay: Played for laughs during this.

* NotSoHarmless: Many of the villains are very comical, but can prove themselves to be very strong. Prime example is Tallgeese, who is comically mocked by Shute when he first appears, but then right afterward curbstomps everyone.

* EvillyAffable: Tallgeese, who is delightfully [[LargeHam hammy]] and at one point does a little dance and song.

->''"Get ready for Gundam like you've never seen it before! [[SuperDeformed...Really cute and tiny!]]"''

->''"Get ready for Gundam like you've never seen it before! [[FunSize ...Really cute, and tiny!]]"''

-->--{{Toonami}} Promo

The city of Neotopia is a peaceful place, where the humans live in harmony with Mobile Citizens, small robots between three and four feet tall that look a lot like Mobile Suits. A young boy named Shute finds himself at ground zero of an invasion by the Dark Axis, an army of evil (and equally tiny) robots who seem determined to turn everything to stone. He is rescued by Captain Gundam, A robot styled after the Gundams of the [[MobileSuitGundam Universal Century]] universe (particularly the [[{{Gundam 0083}} GP-01]]). After beating back the invading forces, Captain suddenly shows up at Shute's house in a civilian guise, saying his commander wanted him to get experience with civilians, and he decided to start by being Shute's friend.

During the battles against the Dark Axis, Captain meets with two other warriors from parallel universes: [[GundamWing Zero, the Winged Knight]], a magic-using warrior from the world of Lacroa, and [[GGundam Bakunetsumaru]], A Samurai from the world of Ark.

* PowerGivesYouWings: Zero Custom, Knight of Silver Wings. [[spoiler: Captain with the power of the Superior Dragon on his side.]]

* DefeatMeansFriendship: By the end of the series, [[spoiler: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom, and even Cobramaru have defected to the 'Genki Energy Force.]] Now that I think about it, between of this trope and all the cases of {{Redemption Equals Death}}, only the {{BigBad}}s of the series seem to end up dead.

** Neotopia = Earth Federation (''MobileSuitGundam'' through ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's Counterattack]]'')

* {{Gundamjack}} [[spoiler: Essentially what happens when Kibaomaru tries to use Musha Daishinsho. Interestingly, it's the [[HumongousMecha Gundam]] that does the ejecting.]]

** Ironically, the subtrope of MechaMooks is subverted. While the Zakos are nearly indistinguishable from each other and act as grunts, none of them are ever portrayed as dying onscreen, and are instead just bashed aside with no harm outside of a concussion and comically missing armor.

** The Zako soldiers can't get it right either.

** Of course, the power of friendship can't stop Zero from [[SomethingAboutARose screwing]] [[{{Troll around}}]] with [[BerserkButton Bakumetsumaru.]]

* RedOniBlueOni: With the proper colors:

* ShoutOut: [[ApocalypseNow "I love the smell of concrete in the morning."]]

** Later on, the Pawn Leos try this with the Pawn Pawn Hour in one episode, and Zakobusshi take over this role when the cast lands in Ark.
* SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism: "Cynicism"? [[SugarBowl What's that?]]

Practically the definition of a LoveItOrHateIt series. When it first aired, ''SDGF'' was flamed to a crisp by some viewers as a LighterAndSofter perversion of ''{{Gundam}}'' that [[RuinedFOREVER ruined the franchise FOREVER]]. However, quite a few ''{{Gundam}}'' fans enjoy it because of the flashes of depth lurking beneath the cutesy exterior, ranging from extended [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to deeper characterization than one normally expects from a kids' show. Two video games were produced, though the {{Playstation 2}} game is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DaScar=], [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of ''[[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam V Gundam]]'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved.

** Neotopia = Earth Federation (''MobileSuitGundam'' through ''[[{{Ptitledob6vpcj}} Char's Counterattack]]'')

* [[FiveManBand Four Man Band]]: The enemies end up this way at the end of the series.

* AdorableEvilMinions - Being a series were most of the characters are '''S'''uper '''D'''eformed, this is a given, zako.
* AlliterativeName - Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom...
** Zapper also tends to do this when insulting people.
* AndTheAdventureContinues - How the series ends.
* ArtifactOfDoom - the Demon Sword Epyon.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking - Chief Haro showing off his fighting ability in the final battle against General Zeong, which involves deflecting missiles with his ''head''.

* BatmanGambit - [[spoiler: Allegedly Zapper Zaku, who pretended to be loyal to the SDG after Commander Sazabi's defeat just to get a chance to destroy General Zeong for mistreating him, his companions and the Zakos.]]
* BattleAura - The Gundams get these when performing team attacks.
* BadassNormal - Shute. Despite having NO combat ability aside from just being annoying(to the bad guys), he manages to help out starting with 1) Rescuing Captain and Zero when they were captured, and ending with 2) [[spoiler:Effectively destroying Zeong's Soul Drive FROM THE INSIDE, among other things.]] And that's not even counting all the times he's been threatened at swordpoint/gunpoint by the Big Bads...and he's only [[ImprobableAge ten years old]]!
* BerserkButton - Bakunetsumaru flies off the handle faster than usual when Zero messes with his swords. Tallgeese doesn't take kindly to his name being made fun of, either.
* BigBad - Several. The entire first season is spent staving off the forces of Commander Sazabi, but then it turns out he was really working for General Zeong.
* BigEater - Most of, if not all of, the Musha Gundams. Bakunetsumaru makes the Daishogun 200 rice balls as a SNACK.
* BlackSpeech - General Zeong.
* PowerGivesYouWings: Zero Custom, Knight of Silver Wings. [[spoiler:Captain with the power of the Superior Dragon on his side.]]
* ButNowIMustGo - [[spoiler: The 'Zakurello Gate' and son does this at the end of the series. With the General destroyed, there's nothing stopping them from going back whatever dimension the Dark Axis stole them from.]]
* CainAndAbel - [[spoiler: Professor Gerbera is Captain Gundam's "brother" Madnug post-brainwashing.]]
* CerebusSyndrome - The series starts out fairly light hearted, but as it goes on it gets slightly darker and more dramatic.
* TheChessmaster - Several, but Kibaomaru comes into focus as he's an avid ''shogi'' player. he even uses a giant board as a plateform in the Dark Axis base.
* ChekhovsGun - [[spoiler: The combonation move Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer come up with, but never get to use? It's what ultimately destroys the General.]]

* CombinationAttack - GUNDAM FORCE, TRIPLE ATTACK!

* CoolAirship - the Magna Musai, which is later reconfigured into the Gundam Musai.
* CoolGate - The Zakarello Gate.
* CoolSword - Zero's Buster Sword, and Bakunetsumaru's katana, one of which is a piece of Ark's Five Sacred Swords.
* CurbStompBattle - [[spoiler: Arguably, Captain's battle with Sazabi. Though Captain gradually loses ''all'' his equipment (and even an ''arm'') he never changes composure and always seems perfectly fine, while Sazabi gradually freaks out.]]

* CyberCyclops - The Dark Axis. [[spoiler: At least the ones that aren't Gundams.]]
* DancingMookCredits - Along with nearly every other main character.
* DeadLittleSister, ie [[TakenForGranite Petrified Princess]]: Princess Rele.
* DefeatMeansFriendship - By the end of the series, [[spoiler: Zapper Zaku, Grappler Gouf, Destroyer Dom, and even Cobramaru have defected to the 'Genki Energy Force.]] Now that I think about it, between of this trope and all the cases of {{Redemption Equals Death}}, only the {{BigBad}}s of the series seem to end up dead.
* DiscOneFinalBoss: We spend the entire first season under the impression that Sazabi is the leader of the Dark Axis, but when he's defeated we discover that he's actually subservient to Zeong.
* TheDitz - Sayla. Come on, the girl pretty much just ignored a pitched intergalactic battle to focus on baking a cake! Although you could take her line at the end of the same episode as a sign of ObfuscatingStupidity...
* EggMcGuffin - the Spirit Egg.
* EverythingsBetterWithPrincesses - Zero has undying loyalty to his ruler, Princess Rele. He even calls Sayla, who he thinks resembles her almost 100%, 'Princess' Sayla.
* EverythingsBetterWithSamurai - Ark is a cross between ''GGundam'' and the "Musha Gundam" sub-line.
* EvillyAffable - Tallgeese, who is delightfully [[LargeHam hammy]] and at one point does a little dance and song.

* {{Expy}} - Almost the entire cast is an Expy of someone (or something) from a standard ''{{Gundam}}'' timeline. Just so speed it up:

* FaceHeelTurn - [[spoiler:Deathscythe]]
* FastballSpecial - Episode 12, Captain and Bakunetsumaru. When you need to get out of an abyss and only one of you has jetpacks...
* FiveManBand - The Gundam Force end up this way at the end of the series.
* FiveBadBand
** The BigBad: General Zeong/Commander Sazabi
** TheDragon: Commander Sazabi/Zapper Zaku

* FourIsDeath - In season one, Commander Sazabi has the Four Doga Commandos acting as his personal Dragons during the Invasion of Neotopia. While Dogas Blue, Purple and Green were each destroyed by a member of the Gundam Force, Doga Grey was personally wiped out by Sazabi himself. In Ark, Kibaomaru has his Kibao Horde, a quartet of Musha Gundams that guard his castle. Those four, however, survive their battles.
* FutureBadass - The BrattyHalfPint Genkimaru grows up to become [[spoiler: the Dai-Shogun of Perfect Virtue.]]
* GadgeteerGenius - Shute; his inventions include robot-strength superglue, a voice imitator, magnetic rollerblades with jet boosters, and a rocket-powered kite.
* GoldfishPoopGang - Zapper's gang end up this way by season 2. In the last 26 episodes, they only menace the Gundam Force three times (And one of those times was by accident), and spend the rest of the episodes being bounced around by fate and circumstance.

* HannibalLecture - Sazabi and Gerbera gives these to Shute and Captain, respectively. Sazabi claims that 'there is only those who rule, and those who are ruled!' while Gerbera's lecture can be summarized as HumansAreBastards. They are both told to ShutUpHannibal;

* HarmlessVillain - QuirkyMiniBossSquad
* HelpingHands - General Zeong just might have the LARGEST Helping Hands in fiction.
* HoYay: Shute and Captain. In the first episode, Shute actually tries ''kissing him awake'' ala SleepingBeauty!
* HulkSpeak - DOM MAKE THEM GO BOOM!
* IncomingHam - Mostly Musha Gundams and certain characters from Lacroa. The Dai-Shogun's is particularly epic.

* InstantRunes - Zero's Magic. Surprisingly solid, too.
* InverseNinjaLaw - The Zako Soldiers, Pawn Leos, and Zakobusshi make up the backbone of the Dark Axis, and yet they're either incredibly incompetent or incredibly weak when met with opponents nowhere close to even a ''twentieth'' of their numbers.
* ItsNotYouItsMyEnemies - Chief Haro originally tries to keep Captain away from Shute because his inter-dimensional activity could put the boy in danger. They both decide against it after realizing Captain needs Shute as a friend to activate the Soul Drive.
* ImpossiblyCoolWeapon: It's ironic this Gundam show is always being accused of ruining the franchise. But if you ask me this series has all the best weapons out of all the {{Gundam}} franchies.

* LighterAndSofter - In comparison to other ''Gundam'' series.
** It does still have some dark points.
* LoveMakesYouEvil - See the FaceHeelTurn spoiler.

* MidSeasonUpgrade - Captain Gundam's Hyper upgrade in season 2.
* MindRape - [[spoiler: The General's specialty.]]
* TheMole - Rare villain-on-villain version: [[spoiler:Zako Red is strongly implied to be nothing more than a dummy body for Sazabi, as seen when Red goes inert after handing Sazabi the Soul Drive and is unceremoniously disposed of.]]

* {{Mooks}} - The Zakos Pawn Leos and Zakobusshi.

* MyHeroZero: ...The Winged Knight.
* MyNameIsNotDurwood - Bakunetsumaru. Guneagle spends the entire end of his debut episode trying to get his name right, and Shute's parents don't have much of an easier time with it at first.

* MythologyGag - Practically built into the premise. Some are more obvious than others, for instance Gerbera's true identity as Captain Gundam's brother is based on the fact that the [[{{Gundam 0083}} Gerbera Tetra]] was based off of the rejected Gundam GP-04 (and in fact, the Gerbera Tetra Kai IS the GP-04 with armor covering the Gundam-y parts), while Captain Gundam and his various upgrades are based on the GP-01 and GP-03.

* NeverSayDie - The English dub tries to hide the fact that Cobramaru attempts ''seppuku'' after his defeat in Season 2.

* NoExportForYou - The second season has been shown in pretty much every country except America.

* NotSoDifferent - Sazabi tries this on Captain near the end of their fight [[spoiler: when it's revealed Sazabi has a Soul Drive like Captain's, only filled with darkness]], culminating in asking Captain to join the Dark Axis. Captain's response?

* NotSoHarmless - Many of the villains are very comical, but can prove themselves to be very strong. Prime example is Tallgeese, who is comically mocked by Shute when he first appears, but then right afterward curbstomps everyone.
* ObfuscatingStupidity - Shute's father, Mark, appears to be a laid-back guitarist with a penchant for bad hippie music, but is strongly implied to be [[spoiler: the leader of the SDG, Chief Haro.]] May also apply to Sayla; there have been two instances of her experiencing the intergalactic battles from the front seat, but she never lets on that she knows what's happening...

* PaperThinDisguise - the Zako soldiers. Put a wig and some camera gear on them and they'll pass for reporters...well, at least to Bakunetsumaru.
* PostScriptSeason - Season 2.
* ThePowerOfFriendship - What Captain needs to activate the Soul Drive, and a major theme of the series.

* PsychoRangers - the Dark Axis trio are generally considered opposites of the main three Gundams (Captain/Zapper, Zero/Grappler, Bakunetsumaru/Destroyer), but it isn't until episode 30 that Genkimaru becomes, temporarily, their equivalent of Shute.
* QuirkyMinibossSquad (Zaku, Gouf, and Dom)
* RebelliousPrincess - Rele. She's a bit of a brat at first and eager to spend time with the Gundam Force, especially Shute.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath - At first subverted with [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru's friend, Kujakumaru/Ashuramaru,]] who turns against him because he refuses to follow this trope. Later played straight when [[spoiler: Bakunetsumaru is forced to kill him.]] And depending on whether you're watching the anime or reading the manga, [[spoiler: Gerbera/Madnug at the end.]]
* RedEyesTakeWarning - The Dark Axis.
* RedOniBlueOni - Bakunetsumaru the hotheaded red samurai, and Zero, the levelheaded blue knight. Both are somewhat short tempered, however, Zero having the longer fuse.
** Also Zapper Zaku, the blustering bulky red robot, and Grappler Gouf, the smooth talking sleeker design.
* RidiculouslyCuteCritter / SmallAnnoyingCreature - Fenn. One second he's all snuggly and cute, the next second he's ruining your hard culinary work or breathing fire in your face.
* RoyalsWhoActuallyDoSomething - Princess Rele, upon being de-petrified, decides that she will ''not'' just sit on the sidelines, and uses her magic to aid the Gundam Force to great effect.
* SecretIdentity - Captain's 'civilian' mode. Zero and Bakunetsumaru don't have any, but the Mayor [[HandWave Hand Waves]] it by saying they're actors. They no longer need the identities after [[spoiler: the Big Zam brings down Blanc Base, and the Gundam Force's existence is revealed.]] It's also strongly implied that Chief Haro is really [[spoiler: Shute's father, Mark.]]

* ShowWithinAShow - The Zako Zako Hour.

* SummonMagic/ SummoningRitual - Tallgeese with the Griffon, and later [[spoiler: Zero with the Feather Dragon.]]
* SupportingLeader - Captain Gundam
* SurroundedByIdiots - Commander Sazabi
* SynchronizedSwarming - The Bagu-Bagu do this.
* TakenForGranite - The Bagu-Bagu turn organic matter to stone.
* TeenGenius - Bell Wood and Shute.
* TeethClenchedTeamwork - Zapper, Grappler and Destroyer.
* TerribleTrio - Zapper, Grappler, and Destroyer become one of these.
* ThatsAllFolks - The ending of the [[GrandFinale final episode]].
* TookALevelInBadass - Shute gets an upgraded arsenal in the second season, with a booster backpack and a glue shooter included.
* UnfortunateNames - Tallgeese (kind of odd considering the names the rest of the Dark Axis run around with) so much that Shute can't resist pointing and laughing when he introduces himself.
* VerbalTic - The Zakos, zako! The Pawn Leos also seem to say 'Pawn' at times, and the Zakarello Gate usually throws in guttural 'rello's to his sentences.

* WaveMotionGun - The cannons on the Magna Musai.
* YouGotSpunk - And just so happens that Tallgeese absolutely ''loathes'' spunk!
* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness - The Commander threatens this trope on Zapper's group, ultimately deciding to stop relying on them as the first season goes on, calling for reinforcements from Dark Axis forces in Ark and Lacroa. Their very last mission results in the three of them getting trapped under Blanc Base. In the second season, Kibaomaru gets fed up with Cobramaru's failures and just discharges him, and in an inversion of this trope, ''refuses to let him have an honorable death''.
* ZenSurvivor - the Dai-Shogun of Perfect Virtue.

[[spoiler:For the PS2 Game see, SDGundamForceShowdown!]]

* XanatosGambit - [[spoiler: Allegedly Zapper Zaku, who pretended to be loyal to the SDG after Commander Sazabi's defeat just to get a chance to destroy General Zeong for mistreating him, his companions and the Zakos.]]

Practically the definition of a LoveItOrHateIt series. When it first aired, ''SDGF'' was flamed to a crisp by some viewers as a LighterAndSofter perversion of ''{{Gundam}}'' that [[RuinedFOREVER ruined the franchise FOREVER]]. However, quite a few ''{{Gundam}}'' fans enjoy it because of the flashes of depth lurking beneath the cutesy exterior, ranging from extended [[MythologyGag Mythology Gags]] to deeper characterization than one normally expects from a kids' show. Two video games were produced, though the {{Playstation 2}} game is more noteworthy for introducing the dimensional pirates of [=DaScar=], [[{{Expy}} Expies]] of ''VGundam'''s villainous Zanscare Empire, as well as more Expies of more machines from the primary three worlds involved.

** [=DaScar=] from the {{Playstation 2}} game = [[VGundam Zanscare Empire]]

* TheAragorn - Captain Gundam