Being one of the oldest anime series so far, Gundam Series has developed to become one of the most interesting mecha-based anime. So for those who have recently come across the latest of its installments and want to watch it from the beginning, then we will be looking at the Gundam Series viewing order. Basically, this is just a Gundam Series watch order for those who need to understand more about this series.
To make things simple, you will have to watch the series in chronological order so that you understand the setting of the anime and how things will connect because you might watch one of its installments and only to realize that the action is not connecting or being consistent with the one you last watched. So it simply means you are watching the installments in the wrong order.
The Mobile Suit Series is Extensive, and it reaches a point where chronology no longer interferes with the storyline. So we will only look at important releases that set the baseline for the story. Then the rest of them seems to be stand-alone, and it would not matter which one you will watch first.
For now, the series is still continuing, and we are on the verge of yet another release of the installment in the series, which is to be soon given a release date. So let’s look at how you should start the series if you haven’t yet.
The correct order in which to watch the Gundam series is as follows:
Mobile Suit Gundam
This is the first installment of the series for your Gundam series viewing order, and it is set in a fictional universe in the Universal Century (UC year 0079). The principality of Zeon has declared independence from the Earth Federation and has launched of war of independence called the One Year War. This conflict affected every continent on the Earth and every space colony and lunar settlement as well. Almost half of humanity perished in the conflict, and the war has settled into a bitter stalemate that has lasted over eight months.
Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam was released in 1979 and ran until January 1980, releasing 43 episodes in the process. So there is a lot to watch if you are a new anime fan of this genre. This could be one thing that would dare you to try anime such as this one Because, to date, we have a lot of classic anime that is still a hit, like Dragon Ball and Naruto Franchise. So if you are really dedicated, you might want to watch this far back.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin
The origin story comes next on the Gundam Series viewing order, and it follows closely what happened in Mobile Suit Gundam. So this one should b the second installment on your Gundam series viewing order This one takes place in the year UC 0079, when the eighth month of the war between the Earth Federation and another breakaway nation of space colonists known as the Principality of Zeon. From here, it follows the crew of the warship White Base fighting to ferry the experimental mobile suit to the Federation base at Jaburo.
Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin
Most parts still allude to the original series, and Yasuhiko has taken the liberty to change certain elements in the universe. This gives a different character to the series leading to the unfolding of several struggles. We also got to see the presence of the mobile suits on both sides before the conflicts began. And we also got to see the flashback sequence where both the Earth Federation and Zeon forces use Guntanks in 0068, leading to both them and the Guncannon mobile suit being described as Obsolete.
Turn A Gundam
The Turn A Gundam installment ran from April 1999 until April 2000, producing 50 episodes in the process. It takes place in the year of Correct Century 2345 and in a different calendar era than what we have seen in the previous Gundam installments. It follows Loran Cehak, who is a young member of the Moon race. He is selected as part of a reconnaissance mission to determine whether the Earth is fit for resettlement, and he lands on the continent of North America, spending two years living on Earth as the chauffeur to the Heim family.
Turn A Gundam
He ended up growing attached to its people, and with the expectation of peaceful resettlement, the operation from Cehack’s people saw him and a pair of his close friends being sent down with confirmation that Earth is now fit for the Moon race to make their return. However, he was taken by surprise when the Moonrace intended to return Earth via an offensive stance with mobile suits, and their first attack then sparked a violent conflict between the Earth and the moon.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th Ms. Team
After watching the original installments, then you should move to the 08th MS Team installment. This includes an OVA that ran for 12 episodes, and it is set in the UC 0079 in the jungles of South-Eastern Asia. The Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon are in a battle against a brutal guerrilla war for the control of the area and all of its resources. Zeon is pinning its hopes on the region with an experimental mobile armor and its pilot Aina.
Mobile Suit Gundam The 08th Ms. Team
The Earth federation army received reinforcements in the form of Ensign Shiro Amada, who is a newly named commander of the 08th ms team. Shiro and Aina have known each other from a mutual rescue that once took place in space. Buth Shiro found out that Aina is, in fact, the pilot of the Zeon mobile armor, and this would later lead to his arrest for treason.
Now, if you manage to understand these series so far, then what you watch next should not really matter as there will be no wrong way to watch the installments that follow. Other notable side stories that you should check out were released as follows:
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in The Pocket
A 6-episode OVA where the UC calendar continues, and in UC 0079, Zeon intelligence managed to identify a prototype federation Gundam which is still in development in a Federation base in the Arctic. The elite zeon MS intelligence commandos were then dispatched to destroy the prototype, but the Gundam was launched into space before they could start with their operation.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 War in The Pocket
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
This one is an anime television series with 50 episodes, and it is set in the future UC timeline eight years after the events of the original series. Zeta’s installment is based on a new conflict that was formed between the two new factions, including the Titans, which was a corrupt task force formed by the Earth federation. And the anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) was a revel group seeking to end the titans. The story follows the perspective of Kamille Bidan, a teenage member of the AEUG who also pilots the RX 178 Gundam.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
This is a 13-episode OVA that takes place during the UC 0083 and the three years that have passed after the One Year War, which ended with the defeat of the Principality of Zeon. The Delaz Fleet, which is a group of Zeon remnants, launched an attack on the Earth Federation Torring’s base and stole the prototype Gundam with nuclear launch abilities. A test pilot at Torrington base, Kou Uraki, became the pilot for the GP01 Gundam and joined the Albion pursuing the stolen Gundam and stopping Delaz Fleet from their operation stardust.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
This one is a rather long series compared to the franchise installments with 47 episodes. It was made as a sequel to Zeta Gundam and featured most of the new cast. It immediately followed the Zeta Gundam’s broadcast and took on the major plot where Haman Khan and Mineva Lao Zabi were still led by captain Bright Noa with the ship Argama together with new characters introduced, including Judau Ashita.
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counter Attack
Char’s counterattack takes place in UC 0093, where Char returned to lead the Neon Zeon where his forces have arranged to drop the asteroid, Fifth Luna, on Earth. The special taste force Londo Bell whose members included veteran soldiers Amuro and Bright Noa tried to prevent the event, and Char was successful, leading to the asteroid crashing into Lhasa in Tibet.
Mobile Suit Gundam Char’s Counter Attack
There are still several side stories released alongside different installments in the series. But, to date, mobile suit Gundam has become one of the most interesting anime to follow. If you are looking to watch something released recently, then you should check out the Gundam Breaker Battlegue, which has 6 ONA episodes.
Also Read: Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch From Mercury Teaser Released
