REVIEW: ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery Of Nymph Circe’ Tells A Nicely Complicated Story

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe (Kidô Senshi Gandamu Senkô no Hasauei Kirukê no Majo), from Sunrise (Cowboy Bebop), directed by Shûkô Murase and written by Yoshiyuki Tomino (Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX), Hajime Yatate (Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance), and Yasuyuki Muto (100 Meters), follows Hathaway (Kenshô Ono, Summertime Rendering) as he continues to participate in Mafty’s fight against the Federation. With a major government conference closing in, all eyes look trepidatiously towards the battle likely to erupt around it. 

War is often presented as a dynamic sequence of events that plow headlong into action. Explosions and firefights fill the days, forging heroes, cowards, and villains out of us all. But while the moments that history always highlights are brutal ones upon the battlefield, far more time is spent preparing for the fights than actually waging them. Plans must be made, troops positioned, and enemies kept in the dark if an engagement is to be successful. The Sorcery of Nymph Circe fully embraces this reality through the bulk of its roughly two-hour runtime. 

Hathaway’s struggles deftly highlight what a fool’s errand his mission is.

While bookended by Gundam battles, the vast majority of the film explores the maneuvering of both sides in the oncoming conflict. Everyone knows where the battle will happen, even if they are trying to act like they don’t, and the subterfuge and plotting are explored in intricate detail. And while this formula doesn’t lead to as much mecha action as many may wish, it is nonetheless engaging.

Mixed with the plotting and preparations for battle is an equally thorough exploration of the human element of The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. Hathaway himself sits at the center of this side of the narrative. His mental space is clouded as he struggles with his feelings for both Kelia Dace (Saori Hayami, Cosmic Princess Kaguya) and Gigi Andilucia (Reina Ueda, Chained Soldier). Not wanting to let “mundane” concerns distract him, Hathaway tries to push his personal problems aside as he looks towards the coming operation. 

Hathaway’s struggles, however, deftly highlight what a fool’s errand this attempt is. No matter how small his emotional concerns may be in the grand picture, they are clearly vital to him. Trying to shove them, metaphorically, out of sight won’t help him focus on his mission; it will only undermine his ability to do that very thing. 

When The Sorcery of Nymph Circe does wade into the firefights, it does so with terrifying effect.

The other central figure in The Sorcery of Nymph Circe is Gigi. With her seemingly precognitive powers of perception, she impacts the events leading up to the battle far more than seems possible. Her close calls and highly accurate suggestions aid both sides, leaving it unclear who, if anyone, she actually sides with. This despite her clear fixation on Hathaway. 

This seemingly supernatural sense strikes a strange tone for an otherwise thoroughly grounded tale. Despite standing out, though, there is just enough murkiness surrounding it to prevent it from feeling completely out of place within the film’s narrative. 

While interpersonal struggles and wartime prep occupy the bulk of the film, when The Sorcery of Nymph Circe does wade into the firefights, it does so with terrifying effect. The opening sequence of the film is shot completely from one individual’s POV as a smoke-filled battlefield swirls around them.

Flashes of explosions can just be seen as troops, vehicles, and even a Mobile Suit all pass them by, failing to collide with the hapless individual due to no force other than sheer luck. The lack of any sort of context or perception of what is transpiring amplifies the terror of battle’s chaos.

The Sorcery of Nymph Circe highlights the horror war imposes on everyone.

The closing battle delivers a high-flying engagement pitting Mobile Suits against each other. While this fight is far more dynamic than anything else in the film, it is clear that the purpose of the conflict is not to be exciting. The deep reds of explosions paint the combatants in ominous hues, creating far more dread than wow factor. The fraying mental state of the combatants as they exchange blows further highlights the horror war imposes on everyone.

While most of The Sorcery of Nymph Circe lands well, it isn’t perfect. Despite how great the drama and strategic planning are, the film’s pace does lag a little bit at times. While this dings the experience a little, the most striking failure comes through the film’s misimplementation of its soundtrack.

There are a couple of sequences, not quite montages but close to it conceptually, where the dialogue takes a back seat to some strange music selections. These moments feel completely jarring as they drop out of left field, bearing no clear connection to the scenes surrounding them.

The Sorcery of Nymph Circe delves deep into the logistics and strategic conflicts, while not neglecting its cast.

Worse still are the film’s final moments. I don’t know who thought ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ was the song to close this movie out and roll credits with, but it’s bizarre. It feels like it’s gotta just be a song that someone in the production has always wanted to use, so they found a spot for it. Great beat, just not here.

For anyone stumbling upon this flick who is unfamiliar with the franchise, it’s not a great jumping-on point. There is little dialogue dedicated to catching up viewers on how the story got to where it is. Even fans of the previous entry may want to rewatch it to refresh their memory on the details for the full effect. However, as long as you can accept things as they are presented and don’t mind learning as you go, even coming in blind, there is plenty to engage with in this film’s narrative.

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe delves deep into logistics and strategic conflicts, while not neglecting its cast. Despite being slow at times and making some head-scratching musical choices, it pays off with enough big moments and meaningful exploration that it is well worth the watch.

Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe is streaming now on Netflix.

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