An Introduction to Gundam: Where Do I Start?

The Gundam franchise has been running for over 50 years, so it’s no surprise that it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Particularly because the franchise doesn’t have one in-universe chronology you can follow, nor are all the instalments in the franchise related to one another. On top of that, the franchise encompasses animated series and movies, manga, and video games. 

It may seem like understanding it all would take a few months. In truth, it is very difficult to understand the full scope of the franchise without some guidance. And that’s why we wrote this article—we'll give you clear pointers on how you should start delving into the Gundam franchise and explain why everything seems so convoluted. On that note, the first thing we need to discuss is which medium you should start with.

Anime or Manga (or Video Games)?

When it comes to the Gundam franchise, the first instalments were all animated TV series, then manga, and then video games. You can consider anime as the basis of the franchise and manga as supporting sources, while video games are usually separate instalments that don’t factor into the continuity. Consequently, when you are starting out, you should start with the anime, and that is what this guide will be based on. 

Now, this part was rather straightforward, but now we need to dive into the universe/timeline discussion.

The 11 Timelines

The continuity/canon of the Gundam franchise is rather complex. The events of the different series take place across 11 different universes/timelines which are… kind of… stand-alone and independent. As an example, think of the X-Men movies, DC cartoons, and most DC or Marvel comics, although even that is not a one-to-one comparison.

These examples typically feature versions of the same characters, just set in alternate timelines. The Gundam universes all feature entirely different casts and are usually unrelated to each other. The - kind of - above is because some timelines are likely set in the same universe, only many centuries apart (and usually relate to the universe where the original Gundam series was set). 

However, as there are no explicit links, they can be considered separate universes/timelines. Many fans would disagree, but as this article is meant to be an introduction to the Gundam franchise, we can ignore the (likely valid) fan theories for now. In that context, the Gundam franchise can be divided into 11 timelines, with the most prominent one being:  

Universal Century Timeline 

The Universal Century (UC) timeline is the universe where the original, first instalment in the franchise - Mobile Suit Gundam, released in 1979 - takes place. The bulk of the entire Gundam franchise is set in the UC timeline, and many, probably most, Gundam fans consider the UC continuity to be the best one. As such, starting with the UC can’t be a bad choice.

That being said, the UC timeline has 14 or 15 instalments (depending on how you count), and the order they were released in doesn’t follow the in-universe chronology, so even knowing where to start with the UC can be confusing. Those caveats aside, the safe bet is to start with the original Mobile Suit Gundam (a.k.a. First Gundam, Gundam ‘79/0079) series. It has one season with 43 episodes. 

In short, the series is set in a post-space-expansion future where mankind has set up space colonies and revolves around the conflict of those space colonies with Earth. The franchise gets its name from a new type of weapon that is starting to see use - a mech-like, humanoid robot called a mobile suit. The original series follows the lives of two mobile suit pilots - Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. 

An equally good option is to start with Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy, released in 1981. The 1981 release compiles the 43 episodes into three movies, updates the animation, and essentially streamlines the plot without excluding any major plot points. As a side note, if you’re into more modern anime and don’t think this would work for you, don’t worry, just because the UC timeline started in 1979 doesn’t mean all instalments are old. 

This continuity has been running non-stop, with the latest entry being a three-part movie series - the first one, Gundam Hathaway, was released in 2021, and the second part is set to be released this year, in 2024. Plus, most fans would agree that even the older animation still holds up. So, one option is to start with the original series or compilation trilogy.

If you start from there and want to just see the main content that follows the original cast from Mobile Suit Gundam, you should follow it up with Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeta, ZZ, Char's Counterattack, and Unicorn, in that order. By the time you finish these five instalments, you should have a very clear understanding of whether the Gundam franchise is for you or not.

Another option for more avid viewers of anime is to watch everything that was released for the UC continuity. You can watch it in the order it was released (this does not follow the in-universe chronology) or watch the instalments chronologically. Here is a list of everything published in the UC timeline in in-universe chronological order, with the real-world release dates in brackets:

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015 - 2018)
• Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) or Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy (1981-1982)
• Advent Of The Red Comet (2019)
• The 08th MS Team (1996 – 1999)
• MS IGLOO (2004 – 2008)
• 0080: War In The Pocket (1989)
• Thunderbolt (2016)
• 0083: Stardust Memory (1991)
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation (2005 - 2006)
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (1988)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight Axis (2017)
• Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (2018)
• Gundam Hathaway (2021)
• Mobile Suit Gundam: F91 (1991)
• Victory Gundam (1993)

After Colony Timeline

If you are a ‘90s or 2000s kid and have a vague recollection of watching something Gundam but can’t quite remember what, you are likely thinking of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Gundam Wing is set in the alternative After Colony universe and is likely the most popular AU series to date. 

It was released in Japan in 1995, 26 years after the original aired, but was the series that made Western audiences familiar with the Gundam franchise. If the names Heero Yuy, Zechs Merquise, Relena Darlian, or the fan-favourite Duo Maxwell ring a bell, that’s because Gundam Wing aired on Toonami in 2001 in Australia and was a relatively big hit.

The premise is similar to the original series - a conflict between Earth and its space colonies and the use of mobile suits. However, Gundam Wind is fully separate from Mobile Suit Gundam and you don’t need to know anything about the UC timeline to watch. The After Colony continuity consists of Gundam Wing, which has 49 episodes, and Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, a three-part OVA dealing with the events after Gundam Wing.

This continuity also includes Gundam Wing: Operation Meteor, a four-part OVA that recaps the 49-season and includes some new footage, but it is generally not considered an essential watch. So, if you are a nostalgia watcher from Australia (or generally the West) or want to dive into the Gundam franchise but don’t have the time to follow the UC timeline, the After Colony timeline is a great starting point.

The Other Alternative Universes

In general, most fans would recommend you start either with the Universal Century or After Colony Timeline, while you can dive into the other alternative universes as you start to love the franchise. But that is not a hard-and-fast rule by any means. So here is a list of the other alternative universes and the (major) instalments they contain, in order of release:

Future Century

• Mobile Fighter G Gundam (series, 1994 - 1995)

After War

• After War Gundam X (series, 1996)

Cosmic Era

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (series, 2002 - 2003)  
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (series, 2004 - 2005)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer (three-part OVA, 2006)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (animated movie, 2024)

Correct Century

• Correct Century 2343-2345: ∀ Gundam (series, 1999 - 2000)

Anno Domini

• A.D. 2307-2308: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (series, 2007 - 2009)
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer (animated movie, 2010)

Advanced Generation

• A.G. 115 – 164: Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (series, 2011 - 2012)

Regild Century

• Gundam Reconguista in G (series, 2014 - 2015)

Post Disaster 

• Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (series, 2015 - 2017)

Ad Stella

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury (series, 2023 - 2024)

What About Gundam Collectibles?

We hope this article has helped you get a clear understanding of where you can start your journey into the Gundam universe(s), but there’s one more thing worth mentioning. Besides, anime, manga, and video games, Gundam model figures are another extremely popular segment of the franchise. If you are a collector getting into Gundam or wish to buy the perfect gift for a Gundam fan, RCMA Model & Hobby Shop is the place for you. 

Take a look at our Gundam model kits, and you will find scaled, highly-detailed, single- and multi-jointed realistic representations of mobile suits from many of the timelines - from Char’s 1/144 Sazabi Gundam from the UC timeline to 1/100 Wing Gundam Zero from the AC timeline, all the way to the newest models, such as the 1/100 Astray Red Frame Gundam from the Cosmic Era or 1/144 Gundam Calibarn from the Witch from Mercury.

Whatever you pick, place your order online, and we will ship the models to your address. And in case you need any assistance, feel free to contact us, we will gladly help you in any way we can.