M.S. IgLoo is a new all-CG OVA that takes place at the very beginning of the One Year War. Currently being produced between 2004 and 2005 by Sunrise, this series gives One Year War fans a new look at some of the battles that lead into the events we are all familiar with from Mobile Suit Gundam. So far the series seems to follow the actions of Zeon's 603rd Technical Unit, based out of the cargo vessel Jotunheim.
Episode 1 (The Serpeant has Vanished in Loum) begins the series roughly 4 days before Operation British. The Jotunheim, and its escort vessels, is attacked by two Federation Salamis cruisers while it is picking up some secret cargo. After a rather quick battle, the surviving Salamis is run off, and the cargo is picked up. We then find out that contained in this cargo are the parts to a huge plasma cannon, the Jormungand, that can supposedly destroy a Magellan battleship in one hit.
While the cannon is being assembled, the crew of the Jotunheim is interrupted by no less an event than the Zeon Main Fleet and a space colony passing them by on the way to Operation British I. The main action of this episode takes place a few days later during the Battle of Loum, where we learn that Zeon High Command leaked details about a repeat of Operation British II to the Federation in the hopes of trapping its fleet at Side 5. The crew of the Jotunheim is lead to believe that the Jormungand is Zeon's secret weapon that will win them the battle. However, with its failure to obtain accurate targeting data, the Jormungand is sidelined in favor of Zeon's real secret weapon, the MS-06 Zaku. The Zakus, lead by Char Aznable, tear apart the Federation fleet, with only one lone damaged Magellan being hit by the Jormungand.
While I wasn't initially impressed by the storyline (Wow. Another Zeon superweapon that will win them the OYW. yawn...). The twist the story takes, and the superb animation won me over. I am fervently awaiting the next episodes in this series.
