Gundam – Complete guide to robots and anime + Timeline

Ever wondered what Gundam is? What is the correct order to watch the numerous gundam anime that exist? How did the Gundam franchise come about? How did the popularity of these robots affect the entire world? What is the timeline of the Mobile Suit Gundam universe? In this article, we are going to see a complete guide to this mecha robot franchise popular in Japan and around the world.

When you were a kid, did you ever see those toys that had mecha robot shapes? If I left it too vague, I'll rephrase the question. In any child's childhood, he will certainly receive some kind of toy, be it cars, puzzles, board games, dolls, etc. So, among these toys there are those with robot shapes. Yes, those that most of the time had humanoid forms full of weapons, details in the armor, well designed etc. So, have you played with or had experiences with these Robots?

Most of the answers, I believe, will be “yes”, unless you are an older person. In this Post we will talk about these Robots, more specifically what gave rise to this popularity that robots have in Japan today. Just emphasizing that these Robots are international brand and are successful in Japan in the world. At least the ones that are official, that is, manufactured by the registered brand.

Origins of Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam (MSG), or simply Gundam, is an anime franchise. Being part of the mecha genre, it has its plot wrapped in Robots that are used as military weapons. Making it clear that in this regard, MSG was the first anime to use giant robots, the main part of the mecha genre, as weapons. Well, what would be interesting would be the kind of wars and combats they will be put into. But with advanced technological robots, would space wars be a surprise?

With the world, extremely technologically advanced, this would be possible. And with the robots in this science fiction world, put into space combats, it couldn't go wrong, and this is proven by the success that it has had and still is today. And of course the industry would not pass up the opportunity to make money.

The name Gundam would be an abbreviation of Gun and Freedom (in the Japanese pronunciation, furidamu). In Japanese Gundam is spelled gandamu (ガンダム).

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

The Mobile Suit Gundam Franchise

Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate at Sunrise Studios in 1979. Gundam had a rough start. But its success started in the 80's and as I said before, it lasts until today, and with that time it has accumulated from anime to video games. Sunrise is known for creating anime franchises with mecha robots such as the famous Code Geass.

To be more exact, Gundam is also a franchise. And its brand produces several products with this topic, such as anime, movies, OVAs, manga, novels, video games and even anime parodies. This franchise was so successful that a giant statue was created in the Neighborhood of Odaiba Tokyo.

This franchise is in the name of the multinational Bandai Namco, and is the company's most profitable. It contains the patent for the products of the entire series. But as long as audiovisual products like anime and movies are the main income generator. Plastic robot models are another great generator, they are called Gunpla (Gundam Plastic models).

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

Gundam franchise history

Gundam is a highly elaborated anime, its science fiction genre revolutionized the market with its advanced universe theme and its war tactics that included robots and space battles. Their stories were also meticulously elaborated so as not to generate conflicts in the plot, both in the main plot and in the plots of the anime series that would later stray from the main story.

In 1994, Sunrise, the original production company, was purchased by Bandai. And at this time Bandai invested in this anime, increasing Gundam's presence in all types of media. She also hired different creative teams for the series. That's because Gundam had room for more stories because of its alternate universes, that is, different stories but in the same MSG universe (another tactic to expand the franchise used by Bandai).

Bandai's focus was not on the story, companies are more about generating income than a plot. And since Bandai wanted to expand the market opportunities through the various potential stories, it decided to invest in several alternate universe stories without caring whether or not it would continue the main series. That's why the Gundam series anime looks a little incomplete, and it's also the reason that there are several different Gundam series anime.

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

The article is still halfway through, but we recommend also reading:

Gundam's main anime

As there are several Anime in this series. It would be counterproductive to explain, or rather try to explain, everyone here in this article. I don't want that and I'm sure you don't want that either. For this reason, I will only comment on the main anime, which would be the first to be released and from which the thematic universe was taken as the basis for all other alternative universes.

The name is not new, Mobile Suit Gundam, also known as Gundam 0079, aired in 1979 and launched with 43 episodes. With the mecha genre, it was written and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The series was re-edited and later shortened to be made into 3 movies for the theaters.

  • Mobile Suit Gundam I: released March 14, 1981;
  • Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of sorrow: released July 11, 1981;
  • Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space: released March 13, 1982;
Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

Mobile Suit Gundam Synopsis

In the anime, the earth is suffering from overpopulation and pollution. In this situation, the solution was to colonize space. For this, innumerable space colonies were created around the earth, these colonies were called Sides ("sides" or "parallels"). This resulted in the beginning of a new era, the space age, and named UC 0001 (Universal Century or Universal Century).

After 58 years of peace, humanity has grown to 11 billion people. In UC 0058 the colony named Side 3, the furthest from land, declared its independence from land. Don't ask me what the logic is. But under the command of a certain Zeon Zum Daikum, the Republic of Zeon, also called Zion, was created. Despite independence, however, the two parties still maintained good relations, but in UC 0068 Zion was killed, and the Republic came under the control of a family of tyrants, called the Zabi. And with that, the Republic of Zeon declared in UC 0079, war on Earth. This war was then known as the One Year War.

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

About 3 billion people died because of the destructive power of nuclear and biological weapons used in warfare. An agreement made between the sides definitively prohibited the use of these weapons. After that, 8 months of peace passed.

At this time Zion built war robots, which he named Zaku. 18 meters tall and piloted by a human. On the other hand, the land made the Gundam RX-78-2 (they could have put an easier name).

Earth began mass production of the Gundam after its success. And with that a final attack was launched against Zion and its commander, the series antagonist Char aznable.

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

Gundam timeline

Although it seems like a simple story. Gundam has a "complicated" timeline and is frequently modified at the creators' pleasure, who are to blame for there being so many alternate universes. The latter may or may not modify the main line.

But in any case, what I'm going to put next is just the timeline of the main story. And based on that, the other stories will develop. Therefore, I advise those who want to start watching or even those who already watch and want to understand the anime better, to pay close attention to this chronological line.

Sometimes we will write GUN-DAM or abbreviate as GM or MSG for reasons of mobile aesthetics and not to negatively affect the article's SEO. Hope you don't mind that!

Universal Century

The Universal Century (UC), is the English name of the original MSG timeline. In Japanese it is called “Uchuu Seiki”, which means “The Space Age”. Universal Century is the most developed timeline in this franchise with a big edge over the others. It has four TV series, four OVA series, fifteen theatrical releases and several specials.

  • UC 0068MOBILE SUIT GUN-DAM I Blue-Eyed Casval (2015);
  • UC 0071: MOBILE SUIT GUN-DAM THE ORIGIN II Artesia's Sorrow (2015);
  • UC 0078: MOBILE SUIT GUN-DAM ORIGIN III Dawn of the Rebellion (2016);
    • MOBILE SUIT GUN-DAM ORIGIN IV Eve of Destiny (2016);
  • UC 0079-0080MOBILE SUIT GUN-DAM (1979-1980);
    • MOBILE SUIT GM: Team 08 MS (1996 - 1999);
    • MOBILE SUIT GM MS IGLOO (2004 - 2009);
    • MOBILE SUIT GM 0080: War in the Pocket (1989);
    • MOBILE SUIT GM Thunderbolt (2015-2017);
  • UC 0083: MSG 0083: Stardust Memory (1991 - 1992);
  • UC 0087-0088: MOBILE SUIT ZETA GUNDAM (1985 - 1986);
    • ZETA GUNDAM: A New Translation (2005 - 2006);
  • UC 0088-0089MOBILE SUIT GM ZZ (1986 - 1987);
  • UC 0093: MOBILE SUIT GM: Char's Counterattack (1988);
  • UC 0096UNICORN GUNDAM (2009 - 2014);
  • UC 0123MOBILE SUIT GM F91 (1991);
  • UC 0133MOBILE SUIT GM (1994 - 1997);
  • UC 0153MOBILE SUIT VICTORY GM (1993 - 1994);
  • UC 0203GAIA GEAR (1987);
  • UC 0223: G-Savior (2001);

century of the future

Future Century is the timeline of another anime television series, based on the MSG universe, this one was named Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and also includes its related projects. I'll abbreviate it as FC, so it doesn't get repetitive.

  • FC 60: MOBILE FIGHTER G GUNDAM (1994 - 1995)

After the Colony / Century of Mars

After Colony is the timeline of the MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM WING series, another series in the franchise, and is often abbreviated as "AC". The AC timeline develops the space colonies' struggle for freedom from the Earth-based organization (such as the United Earth Sphere Alliance and Zodiac Organization), in these struggles the Gundans were built as a way to defend the colonies' suffering to escape this oppression.

The Mars Century, which has the abbreviation “MC”, continues the AC timeline, and is set on Mars. The story takes place inside the Sphere of Mars and is interrupted by flashbacks to post-colony era history. AC has the third best-developed timeline, with a TV series, an OVA series, and a compilation film. The MC consists of a novel.

  • AC 195: GM'S NEW MOBILE REPORT (1995 - 1996)
  • AC196: NEW MOBILE REPORT: GM WING: Endless Waltz (1997)
  • MC 0022: NEW GM WING MOBILE REPORT: Frozen Teardrop (2010-2015)

Post-war

After War is the timeline set after an apocalyptic war world and has many similarities to UC. After War is the only timeline, other than UC, to feature Newtypes as an important element. We will abbreviate it with the acronym AW

  • AW 15AFTER WAR GUNDAM X (1996)

correct century

The Correct Century is the timeline used in ∀ GUNDAM. Its Japanese name, 'Seireki', is a play on the Japanese term for the Common Era (CE) Western calendar system (暦暦; also pronounced Seireki). Its kanji literally means "Correct Calendar". And we'll abbreviate it with CC.

  • CC 2343-2345Mobile Suit Gundam ∀ (Turn A Gundam)

cosmic age

Cosmic era (abbreviated as “CE”) is the timeline of the SEED Gundam series. It is second timeline developed by various TV series. It is also the second most developed, with two TV series, one ONA and two compilation films.

  • CE 71: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED (2003) – MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Astray (2003)
  • CE 73: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED Destiny (2005) – MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM CE SEED 73: STARGAZER(2006)

Anno Domini

Anno Domini is a timeline where the events of Gundam 00 take place (which uses the Gregorian calendar, the calendar used in the West). So we'll use AD as the abbreviation for After Christ.

  • 2307-2308 dC: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 (Season 1) (2008)
  • 2312 dC: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 (Season 2) (2009)
  • 2314 dC: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 The Movie -A wakening of the Trailblazer- (2010)

Advanced Generation

The Advanced Generation (often abbreviated as “AG” or “AG”) is the timeline of the Gundam Era. The age is set several hundred years since humanity migrated into space and lived inside space colonies. The wars on Earth ended a long time ago and the world seems to be in a peaceful era.

  • AG 115 - 164: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM AGE (2012)
  • AG 141 - 164: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM AGE: Memory of Eden (2013)

Regild century

The Century Regild is the setting of Gundam Reconguista in G. It is set chronologically about a thousand years after the end of CU and about 500 years after CC.

1014 Regild Century: GUNDAM RECONGUISTA in G (2015)

post disaster

The Post Disaster era is a timeline set 300 years after a devastating war known as the "Calamity War". We will have PS as an abbreviation.

  • PD 323: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Blood Orphans In Iron (Season 1) (2015)
  • PD 325: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Blood Iron Orphans (Season 2) (2016)

For more information about the MSG timeline or how manga and other MSG works fit into this timeline, we recommend visiting the Gundam Wiki.

Gundam as Hobby

Well, for those who don't know, collecting MSG dolls has become a very popular hobby especially in Japan. Companies profit a lot from sales. This hobby is also geared towards real robots inspired by the series. Companies invest heavily in these products because the market is favorable.

I researched and saw people of all ages, fans of Gundam, with their giant collections of plastic robots. To have a base on the price of such a doll, I will put the address of a website that sells this type of product.

Unfortunately I don't have a basis to compare just with numbers, but I'll try to give a value, clarifying that the economies of the two countries are totally different, so market values and things like living costs and taxes are also different. So I don't know if they can be considered expensive or cheap.

Gundam - complete guide to robots and anime + timeline

Conclusion of the Article

Well, I particularly like this genre a lot, after all, it is very successful and has many fans around the world. There is even a denomination for those addicted to Mecha. But the important thing is that with this article you are more informed and maybe even had some doubts answered. In my opinion, robots are interesting, and I like when it involves fantasy. A good example is the anime Knight's and magics.

I hope this article has helped to satisfy your curiosity. In the most I can just ask for any doubt, suggestion, criticism or others of the kind you can share by commenting below. This article ends here, and thanks to you, my dear reader, for reading this article this far. Until the next article.

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