• Light/Dark

I want to get into Gundam. What should I watch? What stuff should I avoid?

Zan

Zan

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,095
It was about the 2000's when I started to really get into anime, but for the most part it was just 4Kids stuff like Sonic X and the like. I had been into it before with the standbys of Sailor Moon and Pokemon, but I never really looked into the whole sub-culture. Looking back, it felt like I could be more of a fan, but by the time I was in a school club Bionix (Canadian Toonami equivelent) had started to waine and TV anime was being sent off to die in Canada. Recently I got a bad case of nostalgia, and decided to search up broadcasts of Bionix.

OH MY FUCK, was I missing out.

Full Japanese openings and credits, and they even kept the eyecatches. It would have been mind-blowing to someone who had watched the likes of Fighting Foodons. It felt like I had just realized I could've been eating AAA steaks instead of eating fastfood burgers my entire life. But the main series I felt like I was missing out was Gundam. (There was other stuff like Inuyasha, Witch Hunter Robin and dotHack, but that's beside the point.) I had... kinda watched a series beforehand (the CG SD Gundam series) but nothing major. I also know some of the memes as well, like Doozy Bots and Shining Finger. So that's why I decided I needed help.

I want to get into Gundam. I don't know what to watch though (or read) as there's so many series, OVAs and movies. Let alone purchasing the games or model kits. What stuff should I avoid? Should I start from the beginning in the 70's or from stuff like Wing and Seed? It's a daunting mountain to climb, and I need to be prepared.

*flashes the L Thammy signal*
 
SpillYerBeans

SpillYerBeans

Member
Oct 25, 2017
1,264
I just recently got into Gundam myself and started reading the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin manga series and it is phenomenal. So I highly recommend that as a starting point.
 
darfox8

darfox8

Member
Nov 5, 2017
1,077
USA
The most common recommendation is 08th MS Team. It's short, standalone, and takes place in the "main" timeline, Universal Century. If you are really interested in the background lore you see in that show then you should maybe take the plunge and start from the OG 0079 and watch its sequels, Zeta and ZZ.

If you want shorter stuff then maybe 0083 Stardust Memory. Another standalone UC short series.
 
DerbyCityDerek

DerbyCityDerek

Member
Oct 25, 2017
695
Louisville, Kentucky
If you can handle older animation, the original Mobile Suit Gundam is absolutely worth watching. The series, not the movies. From there you can just kind of watch more UC Timeline stuff.

If you want a taste test before diving, Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is a great 6 episode miniseries that tells an excellent little self contained story while being devastatingly unsubtle about the themes of classic Gundam.

If you want something modern that isn't as much of a commitment, Gundam 00 is a late 2000s spinoff series unconnected to the franchise at large (just like Wing or SEED) but serving as a relatively good sampler platter for the kinds of stuff the franchise as a whole does both good and bad.

Do not watch SEED. Save yourself.
 
L Thammy

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
52,679
The stuff starting from the '70s is the main continuity, and so it has more material than anything else. It's also arguably the most essential. If you start with the original '70s Gundam - probably the compilation movies, just because there's less investment involved and there are some tone improvements - then you'll get a lot of the context that the other series are built on.

The later works happen later and introduce new characters, but the original Gundam, Z Gundam, ZZ Gundam, and Char's Counterattack are essentially the original self-contained Amuro/Char saga, so if you want to limit yourself to the most essential of the essential, that's them right there.

Stuff like Wing, G, and SEED are alternate universe things that are meant to stand on their own. They might be easier to start with if you find older cartoons with rough animation unapproachable. Wing and to a lesser extent SEED are kind of quasi-remakes of the above essentials, too, so they're probably meant to be gateways to new audiences.

One thing I'll say about the alternate universe is that G is really more of Street Fighter with Gundams than an actual Gundam series, so it's probably not the best starting point. You should watch G Gundam if you think G Gundam sounds cool, not so much if you want to know what Gundam is.
 
Hu3

Hu3

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,706
Gundam: wing
Gundam: Unicorn
MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM: 08TH MS TEAM
Gundam: iron blooded orphans
Gundam: unit 00
Gundam: thunderbolt
Hathaway

This is what you need.
 
Vulcano's Assistant

Vulcano's Assistant

Member
Oct 29, 2017
14,797
I think between Hulu and Netflix there is a good amount of Universal Century (The OG shows main continuity) content except that the main shows themselves (The OG series, Z, and ZZ) are missing. But between the two services you have Three Movies that are an abridged version of the original show, Chars Counterattack (sequel movie to ZZ, but focus on the characters from the OG show), MSG: The Origin an prequel miniseries about Char, MSG: Unicorn ~16 years in future sequel miniseries, and some other short series like The 08th MS Team.

If You have access the the whole series, OG and Z, by all means you can start with those two. But otherwise with just Netflix and Hulu I think doing the movies, 08th Team, The Origin and Unicorn is a fine way to start. Just DO NOT start with the movie Hathaway.

edit: Netflix has: Gundam I, II, II (movies), Unicorn, Char's Counterattack, Hathaway, also Iron Blooded Orphans (not universal century)
 
Last edited:
Luigi87

Luigi87

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
5,272
Vulcano's Assistant said:
I think between Hulu and Netflix there is a good amount of Universal Century (The OG shows main continuity) content except that the main shows themselves (The OG series, Z, and ZZ) are missing. But between the two services you have Three Movies that are an abridged version of the original show, Chars Counterattack (sequel movie to ZZ, but focus on the characters from the OG show), MSG: The Origin an prequel miniseries about Char, MSG: Unicorn a far in the future sequel miniseries, and some other short series like The 08th MS Team.

If You have access the the whole series, OG and Z, by all means you can start with those two. But otherwise with just Netflix and Hulu I think doing the movies, 08th Team, Origins and Unicorn is a fine way to start. Just DO NOT start with the movie Hathaway.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Adding to this, OG and ZZ are both on Crunchyroll. Zeta sadly is not though.
 
OP
OP
Zan

Zan

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,095
Vulcano's Assistant said:
I think between Hulu and Netflix there is a good amount of Universal Century (The OG shows main continuity) content except that the main shows themselves (The OG series, Z, and ZZ) are missing. But between the two services you have Three Movies that are an abridged version of the original show, Chars Counterattack (sequel movie to ZZ, but focus on the characters from the OG show), MSG: The Origin an prequel miniseries about Char, MSG: Unicorn a far in the future sequel miniseries, and some other short series like The 08th MS Team.

If You have access the the whole series, OG and Z, by all means you can start with those two. But otherwise with just Netflix and Hulu I think doing the movies, 08th Team, Origins and Unicorn is a fine way to start. Just DO NOT start with the movie Hathaway.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

No Hulu i'm afraid. Canada is alergic.
 
Jonathan Lanza

Jonathan Lanza

"I've made a Gigantic mistake"
Member
Feb 8, 2019
8,019
Generally speaking the recommendation is to start with the original tetralogy

Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack

These take place in the "main" timeline so to speak and will codify a lot of what you're gonna see for the rest of the franchise, for better or for worse. From there on you are free to choose any show you want.
 
El_TigroX

El_TigroX

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,357
New York, NY
Freedom = $1.05 said:
Watch the MSG trilogy and see if you like it.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I think this is probably the best advice.

There are SO many series and just an incredible amount of episodes and content out there. This is probably the shortest way to see if you like it... and if you do, you can expand. If you like the original movies - you can even go back to watch the whole original series to pad out the stories a bit. Then you can jump into a few of the other smaller series to get a better handle.

It can be overwhelming, but it's fairly easy to just jump in.
 
Yam's

Yam's

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,004
Gundam Seed is still my favorite show. And that's the one I would recommend first.

If you wanna watch the older shows, then start with the 0079 movies (the show has too many fillers and slow pacing), then Zeta and Char's Counterattack.

If you'd rather start with a shonen, then dive into G Gundam and bath into the power of love.
 
OP
OP
Zan

Zan

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,095
I have the first series on Bluray (first part of it) as well as Zeta on DVD. ZZ's on CR, but is Char's counterattack on anything?
 
L Thammy

L Thammy

Spacenoid
Member
Oct 25, 2017
52,679
Regarding the original series and the compilation movie discussion, there isn't an ideal version between the two, so you don't have to worry too much about choosing the wrong one. Just prefer whichever sounds more comfortable for you to watch, then maybe check out the other one if you feel like it later.

The movie series essentially cuts down the TV series to work as a trilogy of movies. Most of what it cuts don't push the story forward, so while they're interesting material of their own that you might want to watch the TV series for, you probably won't feel like you're missing anything if you just watch the movies. The movie series also removes some of the goofier elements of the TV series which were basically relics of what mecha anime was before Gundam, so the tone's a little more in line with future Gundam.
 

t26

Avenger
Oct 27, 2017
5,125
Start with 79, if the TV show is too much you can also watch the compilation film. Follow by Zeta.
 
Geode

Geode

Keeper of the White Materia
Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,093
I would recommend Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed first. Those are good for first timers (I know some hardcore Gundam fans are going to yell at me), if you like those then go watch the Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy, then move on to Zeta Gundam, then go back and watch War in the Pocket and Stardust Memories. Then move on Double Zeta.
 
Ottaro

Ottaro

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,728

Geode said:
I would recommend Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed first. Those are good for first timers (I know some hardcore Gundam fans are going to yell at me), if you like those then go watch the Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy, then move on to Zeta Gundam, then go back and watch War in the Pocket and Stardust Memories. Then move on Double Zeta.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Wing just doesn't hold up as well as I would like to say it does.
It is mind-numbingly boring/slow a lot of the time.
 
kurahador

kurahador

Member
Oct 28, 2017
19,025
The main gundam series which takes place in Universal Century (UC):
Old animation and all those janky shit: MS Gundam+Zeta+ZZ+Char's Counterattack, you can replace the first series with the manga as it is superior. (you can then continue with below)
Modern animation but lots of references to the main universe: Origins (not necessary if you read the Origin manga), Unicorn, Hathaway
Standalone stuff: 08th MS Team (the best), War in the Pocket (short but super good), Stardust Memory (edgy shonen crap, so bad it's good), Thunderbolt (just ok)

Then there are series which takes place in their own continuity:
Seed+Destiny --- Pretty much a homage to UC series but worse, so it shares alot of similar plot beats. Lots of reused animation as cost cutting measure.
00+Movie --- The best place to start IMO. Amazing animation, OST and action sequences. Standalone story with conclusive ending. YMMV with the story direction though as it's pretty out there by the series standard.
Iron Blooded Orphan --- Abit slow and less action than usual. Good place to start too if you don't mind a depressing story.

Then there are these weird ones which is a love or hate kinda thing:
Turn A Gundam --- what if western animation studio made a Gundam series.
G Gundam --- fighting sports anime.
F91 --- a movie but rushed as hell. Supposed to be a series but didn't pan out.
Victory --- what if the creator is depressed and don't give a fuck.
Reconguista in G --- what if the creator is high, decides to troll people and don't give a fuck.
 
Freedom = $1.05

Freedom = $1.05

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,050
If youre gonna watch Gundam on netflix with subtitles note that Netflix is not using Sunrise's subtitles and are using their own translation, meaning a lot of classic lines have been changed. you can blame this on the misfortune of your birth.
 
PaladinCharge

PaladinCharge

Member
Nov 17, 2017
513
I would start with the original (movies or series). If you do the movies make sure you watch the sub cuz the dub is kinda bad. Dub for the series is acceptable.

From there you can do whatever. Zeta is the obvious choice, but imo it ages kinda rough, as do all Tomino-scripted series post-0079 as they require you to be kind of forgiving of his weird dialogue. It's good if you know that going in though! 08th MS team could be a fun second watch too, and it ages a little better and is more fun (a little less substance though). Or branch off to non-UC stuff from there; Iron-Blooded Orphans is one of my favorites.


Geode said:
I would recommend Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed first. Those are good for first timers (I know some hardcore Gundam fans are going to yell at me)
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

IMO don't start with SEED or Wing. They both can be compelling in their own way, but a lot of English-speaking people recommend them b/c they're the first Gundam series they saw (they were among the first to be aired on Toonami and Adult Swim), and they are both pretty flawed. Sorry to be a Gundam fan yelling at you lol Geode. SEED is also a loose remake of 0079 which is much better. They both have cool mobile suit designs though.
 
Geode

Geode

Keeper of the White Materia
Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,093
Ottaro said:
Wing just doesn't hold up as well as I would like to say it does.
It is mind-numbingly boring/slow a lot of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

PaladinCharge said:
IMO don't start with SEED or Wing. They both can be compelling in their own way, but a lot of English-speaking people recommend them b/c they're the first Gundam series they saw (they were among the first to be aired on Toonami and Adult Swim), and they are both pretty flawed. Sorry to be a Gundam fan yelling at you lol Geode. SEED is also a loose remake of 0079 which is much better. They both have cool mobile suit designs though.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

No worries guys. Figured these two would be good to start with since they're on most streaming services, have newer animation, great OSTs, and both stories are easy to get into (though I would say SEED's story makes more sense than Wing's). But if they do decide to watch both, I do tip the scale in favor of SEED.
 
Darkmaigle

Darkmaigle

Member
Oct 25, 2017
11,208
Watch whatever makes you happy - then after you watch a few things watch 08th team and realize it's the peak of gundam. It's literally the fucking greatest
 
zswordsman

zswordsman

Member
Nov 5, 2017
1,827
I watched Gundam as a kid but mainly only G Gundam and Wing. After that I pretty much stopped.

I'd Recommend watching Hathaway on Netflix. I watched it without watching any of the UC stuff and I still enjoyed it immensely. Its tone is very nice for an anime movie, almost felt like it could translate perfectly into a real life action movie 1 to 1. It's also a really nice visual movie.

I want to watch Thunderbolt but I think that its only on dvd and not streaming.
 
Philippo

Philippo

Developer
Verified
Oct 28, 2017
8,465
I did this a couple of years ago and watches, in order:
The Origin
Original (movies)
Z (movies)
08th MS Team
War in the Pocket
Char's Counterattack
Hathaway
 
Eila

Eila

Member
Oct 27, 2017
3,228
I watched the original complation movies and that's it... I heard even wrose things about the Z compilation movies, and I really don't want to watch the TV series. I should probably read the Origin, I find manga much easier to read than watching TV shows.
 
Divvy

Divvy

Teyvat Traveler
Member
Oct 25, 2017
7,093
The OG series is good but I wouldn't watch it first. It really shows its age and it's 43 episodes long. Pretty good chance you'll just burn out at some point before you finish it.

08th MS team is a good intro since it doesn't reaaaally require much prior knowledge and it's pretty short and holds up quite well.
That or just dive into an AU like OO (season 1 is amazing, really falls downhill season 2 but still pretty watcheable IMO)
 
Barrel Cannon

Barrel Cannon

It's Pronounced "Aerith"
The Fallen
Oct 25, 2017
10,474
Wing cause that intro song is so fucking killer. I still don't understand a word of it but by god it bangs
 
RROCKMAN

RROCKMAN

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
11,178
Og series is good but my recommendation is actually to watch the shorter self contained series first to get a feel. Stuff like War in the Pocket , 08th MS Team , Gundam Thunderbolt or Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory don't require outside knowledge to get into and are easy watches that get right to the heart of what Gundam is about.

Then if you like those, move on to the longer 50/42 episode series. Like Gundam 0079 or Zeta Gundam, both of which will provide more context to the earlier shorter shows I mentioned.
 
Last edited:

Gyro Zeppeli

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,289
Watch in this order:

Wing > X > Turn-A-Gundam > 00 > Age

Those are the better series.

OG and Zeta are nice, but they can drag. I highly recommend Gundam Origin to see Char's life before he rose to power.
 

elyetis

Member
Oct 26, 2017
4,630
Geode said:
I would recommend Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed first. Those are good for first timers (I know some hardcore Gundam fans are going to yell at me), if you like those then go watch the Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy, then move on to Zeta Gundam, then go back and watch War in the Pocket and Stardust Memories. Then move on Double Zeta.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
I agree with that, I'd actually argue that fans who dismiss their popularity to nostagia from people who discovered gundam with them... well are pretty much saying that they do were a good starting point to many people.
 
Jarmel

Jarmel

The Jackrabbit Always Wins
Member
Oct 25, 2017
21,543
New York
0079 Movie Trilogy
Zeta
CCA

That's a good starting point into the UC.

Edit: Oh my god there are some awful recommendations in this thread. Why the fuck would you recommend X or Age to begin with even if you liked those shows?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.