The Most Intelligent Gundam Pilot, Explained

The Most Intelligent Gundam Pilot, Explained



Views: 0

Summary

  • Gundam pilots rely on instincts, but Kira Yamato stands out for his technical knowledge.
  • Kira’s engineering background gives him an edge in understanding and modifying his Gundam.
  • Kira’s intelligence shines when he rewrites Strike Gundam’s OS mid-battle to defeat enemies.

From the genius Amuro Ray to the ruthless Heero Yuy to the brutal Mikazuki Augus, the Gundam franchise has produced so many great pilots throughout its long history. Every Gundam pilot has their own distinct fighting style, but for the most part, they fight based on instincts and reflexes. After all, they have the capacity to analyze their opponents mid-fight while instinctively reacting to the enemy’s movements.

Their innate talents, their tactical prowess, and their newtypes/coordinator ability–and other similar abilities–enable them to rise higher than most pilots. There is, however, one pilot that stands out due to his remarkable technical knowledge. His name is Kira Yamato from Gundam Seed and this is the reason why he is arguably the most intelligent pilot in the entire Gundam franchise.

Related


7 Best Female Pilots In Gundam, Ranked

From Zeta Gundam to Requiem for Vengeance, these are some of the best female pilots across the entirety of the Gundam franchise.

The Most Technical Pilot

An Engineer Turned Pilot

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Kira Yamato Student

Most Gundam pilots either come from military academies, have some level of military training, or attend technical schools where they learn the fundamentals of mobile suits and related technology. There are some outliers like Mikazuki Augus (Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphan) or Domon Kasshu (Mobile Fighter G Gundam), but for the most part, Gundam pilots have some knowledge about mobile suits before they enter the cockpit for the first time.

Kira Yamato is a bit different. Though he attended a military high school, he was actually a student in an Engineering College when he first stepped into Strike Gundam’s cockpit. This means Kira has more technical knowledge than his peers. At the very least, he knows about the inner workings of his Gundam better than other pilots. In a way, he is like a racing driver who also happens to be a skilled mechanic. The series never mentioned which field of engineering Kira focused on during his college days, but we know that he is an incredibly proficient software engineer.

Don’t get me wrong, every pilot can give detailed feedback to the mechanic and the engineers who worked on their mobile suit, especially those who have spent years piloting their Gundam. But as somebody who actually knows engineering, Kira can do the repair and modifications by himself if necessary. This skill and knowledge alone make him a step above his fellow Gundam pilots.

“This is nuts! How do they expect to move complex machinery using this kind of OS?”

—Kira Yamato, Episode 2

Related


Every Gundam In The Witch From Mercury, Explained

From Gundam Aerial to Gundam Calibarn, here’s every Gundam that appeared in The Witch from Mercury.

The Incomplete State of GAT-X105 Strike Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Strike Gundam New

Before we continue talking about Kira’s intelligence, let’s take a brief detour and discuss his first and main mobile suit—the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam—because it is a huge part of showcasing Kira’s intelligence and practical knowledge.

An Overpowered Prototype

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Strike Gundam Grey

In an effort to combat ZAFT’s advanced mobile suits, the Earth Alliance’s Atlantic Federation secretly developed a state-of-the-art mobile suit that is said to be league above other mobile suits currently operational in the universe. There are five of them, one of which is the Strike Gundam.

While it’s true that these mobile suits are well above their competition, they are still prototypes. It’s true that it can move and function better than other mobile suits, but the Operating System (OS) is still incomplete. So in a sense, the body is ready to go, but the brain is still in development.

An Incomplete Operating System

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Strike Gundam Start Up

So why does the OS matter so much, you might ask? After all, as long as it can move around and shoot the opponent, then there shouldn’t be any problem, no? Well, the OS is actually a crucial part of the mobile suit. Think of it this way, you can build a computer rig with the best and most expensive components, but if it doesn’t have an OS—such as Windows, Apple, or Linux—then that rig is nothing more than an expensive coffee table.

You can install a custom OS that allows the computer to perform some bare minimum functionality, but this means you can’t access the advanced capabilities offered by the expensive hardware. This is basically the state of the Strike Gundam when Kira first gets access to the cockpit. An amazing machine with limited capabilities due to an incomplete OS.

Kira’s Technical Skills in Action

Kira Yamato in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

Kira showcases his intelligence and practical skills numerous times throughout the series, but two instances stand out as some of his most brilliant moments. The first one is when he accesses the Strike Gundam’s OS and the second time is when he adjusts the settings of his Gundam while in the middle of a heated battle.

Rewriting the OS of Strike Gundam

The first moment of brilliance comes as early as the second episode. During ZAFT’s attacks on an Earth Alliance’s base, Kira managed to get into the cockpit of the Strike Gundam together with Murrue Ramius, an Earth Alliance’s officer. She tries to use Strike Gundam to fend off the invading ZAFT’s mobile suits. Unfortunately, she is not a skilled pilot and the Gundam itself is hard to control.

That’s when Kira decides to take control of the Gundam from her hand. He quickly realizes the incomplete nature of the Gundam’s OS. So he opens up the built-in keyboard, accesses the system, and starts working on the OS while avoiding the enemy’s barrage of attacks at the same time. He quickly unlocks various features and weapons of the Strike Gundam and even adjusts the settings to make the Gundam much more responsive and move smoother than before. Thanks to Kira’s technical prowess, they successfully use the brand-new yet incomplete Strike Gundam to defeat the enemy.

Adjusting the Settings in the Middle of a Battle

Another shining moment comes in episode 16. In this episode, Kira is forced to fight in a desert against a ZAFT unit that specializes in desert combat. The enemy uses custom-made mobile suits called the TMF/A-802 BuCUE units that can easily and swiftly glide through the sand. Thanks to that, they can attack in complex formations and disperse in seconds.

Since Kira has been fighting in space all this time, suddenly facing multiple opponents in a desert—where his Strike Gundam struggles to stay upright, let alone move—comes as a shocking challenge. Furthermore, hovering isn’t an option because, unlike in space, doing so on Earth drains precious booster energy and turns you into an easy target for the enemy.

So once again, Kira opens up Strike’s built-in keyboard and starts adjusting his Gundam’s settings. He optimizes the balance and stability control, enhances the sensitivity of the sensors, and increases the strength and flexibility of the joints, among other things. And just like in the second episode, he does all of these modifications amidst the nonstop enemy’s bombardment. If that is not the prime example of how intelligent and resourceful he is, then we don’t know what is.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed is available to stream on Crunchyroll.

More


10 Best Gundam Anime With Adult Main Characters, Ranked

These Gundam series stand out for their mature protagonists and nuanced storytelling, deeply exploring the human condition amidst the backdrop of war.

Source link