Gundam

Gundam is a Japanese science-fiction media franchise that began with the 1979 anime series *Mobile Suit Gundam*.

Gundam is a Japanese science-fiction media franchise that began with the 1979 anime series *Mobile Suit Gundam*. It is centered on giant humanoid war machines called Mobile Suits, with “Gundam” usually referring to a prominent or specially designated Mobile Suit within the story. The franchise spans many anime series, films, OVAs, manga, novels, games, and model kits.

Overview

Gundam is a Japanese science-fiction franchise created by Yoshiyuki Tomino for Sunrise (now part of Bandai Namco Filmworks). It began with the television anime *Mobile Suit Gundam*, which premiered on 7 April 1979, and has since expanded into one of the most recognizable mecha properties in anime. The franchise is a long-running multimedia series rather than a single work, encompassing multiple TV series, films, OVAs, manga, novels, video games, and model kits.

Franchise structure

The franchise includes multiple continuity lines, so viewing order depends on whether one wants the original timeline or a standalone alternate universe. The original Universal Century works are connected, while many later series can be watched independently. The setting usually features Mobile Suits used in military conflict, with Gundam being a named or special class of suit. As of the franchise's history, it includes more than 50 TV series, films, and OVAs, plus manga, novels, video games, and Gunpla model kits.

Cultural impact

Gundam is widely credited with helping establish the “real robot” style of mecha anime, in which giant robots are treated as military machines rather than purely fantastical weapons. This approach helped define the genre and set it apart from earlier “super robot” works. The franchise's popularity also built a major model-kit market around Gunpla, which remains a significant part of its commercial success.

Viewing order

For the main continuity, the simplest starting point is the original 1979 *Mobile Suit Gundam*, followed by its direct sequels and related works set in the Universal Century timeline. For newcomers who want a self-contained entry, many alternate-universe series are designed to be watched on their own, such as *Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury*, *Gundam Wing*, or *Gundam 00*.