Bibs Guide to Gundam (2024)

The original series, and it's super ahead of its time. While MSG was pretty late to the big toy tie-in boom, it was still an incredibly unique series that brought a lot of realism to the genre in a space where it wasn't really tested before, quickly making a niche that would evolve into the accepted subgenre of "Real Robots"

MSG wasn't an instant hit, but come the advent of Gunpla, many people began to appreciate the series' maturity, avant-garde themes and iconic artstyle.

A compilation movie of the original series, with some redone animation, a cut-down plot, and a revised script.

Following the flop of the original series, and the massive success of Gunpla, a series of films were produced, to fill in fans of the toys who were unable to catch the series during its first run. The script changes and cuts have been controversial, but I'd still consider either the films or the original series to be equally decent start points for the main (Universal Century) timeline.

The direct sequel to MSG, with a new conflict, new pilots, and some returning characters. The tone of this series is often considered to be darker, and director Yoshiyuki Tomino shows how he gained the affectionate nickname "Kill 'em all Tomino"

Zeta expands on the newtype thread present in the back half of MSG, but also introduces new concepts like cyber newtypes and transforming mecha, and aims to shake up your perceptions of the earth federation.

An even more direct sequel to Zeta than Zeta was for MSG, taking place very shortly after the final episode of the previous series. ZZ is widely regarded as having a much lighter tone than both of the previous series, but doesn't compromise the ongoing themes of conflict and its effect on the youth.

ZZ remains one of the only major Gundam series with no official english dub, and is generally not so popular in the english-speaking fandom, but ZZ is still a very great series, taking more inspiration from super robot series, while still delivering great drama and comedy in the same, amazing UC universe.

A film showing the far future of the UC, where the disconnect between space and earth is greater than ever. Known as a rushed failure, but still well animated and visually interesting.

Characters from F91 return, and the story is partly continued in the Crossbone Gundam manga series, which is yet to be animated.

The second OVA, and another side story, this time set inbetween MSG and Zeta Gundam. Many consider 0083 to be an homage of sorts to Top Gun, with its strong focus on the interpersonal relationships of pilots.

0083 is the first animated gundam series that features mechanical designs from Hajime Katoki, a now prestigious name in mecha design (ever heard of Ver. Ka?)

Maintains the amazing OVA quality seen in 0080, with far more action overall.

The next alternate universe, and the beginning of the After Colony timeline. Set in a different universe with a similar structure to the UC, but toned down, and a bit more fantastical, with a mishmash of different eurocentric aesthetics. Unique for its multiple Gundam pilots, who are all a different brand of antihero, and explores the struggles of ideological warfare, and pacifism.

Likely the most popular series in most of the western world, as it was one of the first to be broadcasted in Toonami during the early 2000s.

Another side story OVA, set during the One Year War and follows a company of mobile suit pilots on the east asian front. Naturally, this means it evokes a lot of the common imagery of the Vietnam war and similar conflicts of that era, and greatly benefits from the setting.

Past the super detailed and dynamic animation, incredible battles and general war drama, there is a sweet romance that evolves as the series progresses.

The first and only animated entry in the After War alternate timeline, set in a future where war has left the earth barely habitable, resulting in a series in a semi Mad Max post apocalypse setting.

As the strange episode count might spoil, this series was cancelled partway through, and an ending was rushed out. The finished product is still worth a watch for its decent animation, and is rewarding for longtime Gundam fans due to the amount of allusions and parallels to MSG. More than other AU series, AWGX feels most like a branching timeline to the UC instead of a full on reimagining.