So you want to start watching Mobile Suit Gundam ? That’s very cool, and if it were another franchise I’d tell you to simply start at the beginning. But the Gundam franchise is not quite like that. Sure, you can technically start at the beginning, but then you have to clarify just what beginning you want to start at. Is it the first series? Is it something that later branches off into sequels, spinoffs and various other bits of the franchise? Or is it the first series in the timeline that most matches what you want from a Gundam anime? So to help you out a bit, I’m going to run through the available Gundam offerings in their respective timelines. That way, you’ll actually have a bit of information before you start and won’t drown in Yoshiyuki Tomino’s robot-fueled empire. RELATED: Which Mobile Suit Gundam Anime Should I Watch First? MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM TIMELINE Universal Century Future Century After Colony After War Correct Century Cosmic Era Anno Domini Advanced Generation Regild Century Post Disaster Ad Stella Build What is Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX? An Even Deeper Gundam Breakdown (in video form) Universal Century MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN Advent of the Red Comet Mobile Suit Gundam Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket Mobile Suit Gundam: Thunderbolt Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM UNICORN RE:0096 Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Mobile Suit Victory Gundam RELATED: The Importance of Mobile Suit Gundam When people talk about Mobile Suit Gundam , this is typically what they’re referring to, as it includes the landmark original series from 1979, its sequels, and the other events that take place in its sprawling timeline. Much of it is devoted to the interminglings and wars between the Earth Federation and various factions that seek to overthrow and rule mankind. But if you’re looking for a steadfastly consistent tone, you might wish to look elsewhere: Things like Zeta Gundam and The Origin are dour and serious, while Mobile Suit Gundam displays a constantly shifting atmosphere and ZZ lends heavily into a jarring lighthearted tone, especially in its early stages. The Universal Century is also the timeline that features Char Azable and Amuro Ray. These are the characters that will come to represent the wider franchise’s brand of ethos and are the antagonist and protagonist, respectively, most associated with Mobile Suit Gundam . As you follow along their respective journeys — and, in the case of Char, learn about his origins in the prequel series — you come to understand both the physical and emotional stakes in Mobile Suit Gundam . So even if the Universal Century fare often seems to serve as a template for the franchise’s wider swings, it’s far from simple. However, if it all sounds like a lot to handle, there are also series that work akin to standalones like The 08th MS Team and the absolutely terrific War in the Pocket . Those two OVA series drop the scale of the franchise down to much more personal levels and their gripping stories can be enjoyed with little to no Gundam knowledge. Future Century Mobile Fighter G Gundam RELATED: You Need To Experience The Unique Greatness Of Mobile Fighter G Gundam Mobile Fighter G Gundam serves as a sort of reboot for the series, though it retains many of the Universal Century’s trademarks, namely the giant fightin’ robots. Though on the surface it might seem like a clean break from what had become a gloomy, labyrinthian narrative, G Gundam isn’t an empty exercise in swinging robot fists. Its melodrama and action exists alongside a story that takes aim at the perils of classism, and though many cite it for its campy tone, it has a solid emotional core. That said, it deserves its reputation as the Gundam series for people that most want to see 200-feet-tall mechs wrestle with one another and it’s extremely easy to just jump in. After Colony Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: ENDLESS WALTZ RELATED: If Die Hard is Your Holiday Go-To Try Mobile Suit Gundam Wing ENDLESS WALTZ For many American fans of Gundam , Mobile Suit Gundam Wing served as their introduction thanks to the heavy attention it got on the Toonami programming block and the rampant merchandising that followed. In a way, Gundam Wing almost feels like a reboot of Mobile Suit Gundam , as they both deal with battles between colonies, Earth-led or otherwise. The initial lead villain is even a conflicted ace pilot with blond hair and a “Am I pronouncing that right?” name of Zechs Marquise. Gundam Wing is a great choice for fans that want to jump right into the space opera elements and get a crash course in Gundam politics. ENDLESS WALTZ is no slouch either and contains some of the best-looking mecha designs and animation you’ll see anywhere. After War Image via BANDAI CHANNEL After War Gundam X Taking place over a single series, After War Gundam X is rarely mentioned in the grand scheme of Gundam . It’s pretty Earth-bound and it’s among the more desperate installments, as the series begins in a post-apocalyptic era and most of the plot is concerned with stopping another devastating war. But it is a great example of Gundam’s ability to work at different angles of the central, giant robot-filled concept. Correct Century Turn A Gundam Featuring the return of Yoshiyuki Tomino as head director, Turn A Gundam is a unique series of contrasts. It’s heavily sci-fi based, as its story begins with a group that has been raised among the burgeoning technology of the moon visiting Earth. However, Earth is trapped with advancements that feel relatively ancient, pieces of science and tech that are soon to be rivaled by the discovery of mobile suits. Combine that with a human plot that mixes an aspirational look at humanity finding connection and a more stuffy, traditional story involving interstellar robot war and you have Tomino firing on all gears, both paying homage to the franchise (so far) and filling in the cracks of the narrative opportunities he hasn’t yet grasped. Cosmic Era Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom RELATED: 10 Anime Characters Who Went From Being Friends to Rivals The Seed series is replete with themes from prior shows, but one striking element is the major focus on character relationships. In a way, it reinvents Gundam for a new millennium, with its central conflict between “Naturals” and “Coordinators” being decidedly humanistic. These personable aims then go a long way at enhancing the effectiveness of the robot battles and both Seed series end up being a smooth watch all the way through. It’s a great choice to binge and a nice companion piece to the primary Universal Century shows. Anno Domini MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM 00 Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie -Awakening of the Trailblazer- GUNDAM 00 often feels like the antithesis of Seed , and drives home the impact of war while focusing on the decisions of military organizations. That’s not to say that it bears less of an emotional relevance — some of the best parts of GUNDAM 00 come from the recognition that there is little glory in battle when all that is wrought is pain. It also has an immaculate sense of pacing, one that, like Seed , makes it great for a binge watch. Though set in two different universes, Seed and 00 make it clear why Gundam maintained such a strong grip on pop culture even almost 30 years after its debut. Advanced Generation Image via BANDAI CHANNEL Mobile Suit Gundam AGE If you’re looking for a Gundam series that feels big, try out AGE , which spans decades and takes its characters from the relative peace of a post-war society into multiple eras of conflict. AGE sometimes appears to bite off more than it can chew, but the way it portrays cycles of peace, war, restructure and rising conflicts certainly earns points for its ambition. Regild Century Gundam Reconguista in G Featuring the Gundam -est Gundam series title ever, the Regild Century once again begins in a moment of intergalactic peace before, ya know, shattering that and countless lives. It’s very technology-based, with a lot of attention paid to the looks of the various mobile suits and weapons (hopefully this series sold A LOT of model kits). In fact, Gundam Reconguista in G might have the most dazzling array of robots since G Gundam , and as such, the action set pieces are dazzling in their unhinged fantasy. Post Disaster Mobile Suit GUNDAM Iron Blooded Orphans Iron Blooded Orphans can be a fairly surprising experience if you go into Gundam expecting the grandeur of giant mecha and the infinite spectacle of interplanetary or cross-colonial conflict. Because sure, it has that, but the main concern of Orphans is the miserable human toll, a theme that’s been ever present since the original 1979 series but takes a nasty spotlight at times here. The fact that it takes place years after a gigantic war is beneficial to its overall message — generations cannot remove one from the horrors of combat and mankind’s cruelty against itself. Ad Stella Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury RELATED: Exploring the Anime and Literary Inspirations of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury A modern classic, Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury is a surprise hit amidst a genre that seems oversaturated at first glance. It’s exciting and dynamically animated, though its strength comes from the resounding sense of empathy that it bears for its lead characters. There are few Gundam series as laser-focused at honing in on its audience’s connection to them, and it becomes especially valuable as the Witch from Mercury builds on its themes of domineering mega corporations that often profit at the expense of real people. It also shines when varying gut punch moments occur, events that would not have been nearly as compelling if the show had not done its due diligence. Build Gundam Build Fighters Gundam Build Divers Though separate series, Build Fighters and Build Divers both exist in the “real” world, albeit one where the fictional series of Mobile Suit Gundam has become an all-encompassing mega franchise. So yeah. The real world. Fighters deals with Gunpla and Divers is immersed in a virtual reality MMO, and while both are definitely aimed at a younger audience with their firm toyetic atmospheres, they made a great introduction for new Gundam fans that might not be ready for the harder-hitting plots of other universes. What is Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX? Image via BANDAI CHANNEL RELATED: Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Staff on Bringing Newtypes into a New Century The most recent Gundam timeline, which starts with 2025’s Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX , flips the results of Mobile Suit Gundam ’s original One Year War. In this new alternate universe, the Principality of Zeon defeated the Earth Federation. Now, five years later, a high school girl named Amate Yuzuriha becomes inspired after a meeting with refugee Nyaan and decides to enter the conflict in a stolen Gundam, the GQuuuuuux. Little does Amate know, she’s about to be thrown into a series of battles that will both test her skills as a pilot and challenge what she believes in as a person. This new timeline offers a chance to catch up with some alternate versions of classic characters and plays around with your expectations of established Gundam factions and tropes. It’s a great time, especially if you’ve freshly finished the original series. Want an even deeper breakdown? There's a video for that! Do keep in mind that this video is a couple of years old, but it covers a LOT of Gundam history and is the perfect watch for those who want to learn more about this iconic franchise. 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