How to Watch Mobile Suit Gundam in Order
Exploring every timeline in the Gundam series.
Between redefining the mecha genre and inspiring an entire industry of model kits, I'd argue Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the most influential anime franchises of all time. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino, the series is set in the far future, when giant robot suits are used as weapons of war in conflicts between Earth and its space colonies. As Japan's answer to Star Wars, Gundam features epic space battles, laser swords, and people with mind powers, but still feels grounded in its militaristic settings.
Whether you're a veteran completionist looking to fill gaps in your mobile suit knowledge or a total newbie who wants to see some cool robot fights (and perhaps some horrific, poignant explorations of the horrors of war), here's how to watch Mobile Suit Gundam in order.
How Long Is Mobile Suit Gundam?
The Gundam franchise has continuously produced anime shows and movies since its inception in 1979, but not all Gundam are the same. Though the most popular and "fleshed out" Gundam timeline is the original, known as Universal Century (or UC), there are enough alternate timelines and meta-narratives that you could spend decades trying to catch up on everything. At least in this article, we cover 14 timelines total.
Because of these different timelines, and because the franchise originated in anime rather than manga or books, every piece of media in Gundam is considered canon (to its own timeline, at least). However, we recommend starting with the Universal Century timeline before jumping into these alternatives.
Where Can I Watch Gundam?
The majority of the Gundam franchise, including the original series, is on Crunchyroll. Several movies and shows are also streaming on U.S. Netflix. Unfortunately, some entries are simply unavailable to stream at all — like the acclaimed, fan-favorite Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket. Your best (legal) bet is trying to track these down on DVD or Blu-ray.
Mobile Suit Gundam in Order: The Universal Century Timeline
The original Gundam timeline, and the largest in the franchise, starts with the One Year War between Earth and a nation of space colonies and follows the conflict's effects on the galaxy.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam - The Origin
2015-2018
An origin story for Char Aznable in the years leading up to the formation of Zeon and the One Year War. It's a fantastic introduction to the Universal Century.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam (aka Gundam 0079)
1979-1980
The show that started it all. The original Gundam introduced the mobile suit that gave the franchise its name, and tells an epic story of war and rivalry between hero Amuro Ray and the charismatic Char Aznable. The compilation movie trilogy is a great alternative if the '70s animation and pacing prove too much for newer audiences.
3. Mobile Suit Gundam MS-IGLOO
2004-2008
A show all about Zeon engineers trying to rush their technology, showcasing why they might have lost the war.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
1996-1999
A side story in the war, focusing on a small squad, and what I consider one of the best Gundam stories. A self-contained story with great character writing and a fascinating look at the war from a more grounded perspective.
5. Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance
2024
Taking place in the last months of the war, the Netflix show follows a Zeon pilot tasked with defending the European front against the Federation's forces.
6. Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
1989
A self-contained story all about the realities of war, shown from the perspective of a child who initially thinks soldiers are cool when the horrors of war come knocking at his door.
7. Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
2015-2017
A rare glimpse at the non-Amuro or Char soldiers who risked their lives in the war. Be warned, don't get too attached to the characters.
8. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
1991-1992
What if Gundam was Top Gun? The answer is Stardust Memory, a show with great '80s power ballads, exciting combat, a crew of pilots you could easily see playing volleyball on the beach, and a great need for speed.
9. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
1985-1986
The war is over, and the victors have become the new villains. The show blurs the line between good and evil, with a more complex story, a great redemption story for Char, and even more space fights.
10. Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
1986-1987
A more humorous Gundam show, a bizarre attempt to balance out the darkness of Zeta with slapstick comedy and a goofy new group of characters.
11. Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
1988
The story of Char and Amuro comes to a close with an epic movie. Mostly worth it for those invested in the rivalry of the two mecha pilots.
12. Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
2010-2014
In many ways, this is the conclusion to the Universal Century, a story of a normal boy who becomes a Gundam pilot on behalf of Zeon, threatening to bring down the Federation. This is a rare Gundam title that was adapted from a novel.
13. Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis
2017
This short film is one of the few Gundam titles to have a female protagonist. Sadly, the film's short runtime means it crunches the story into mere minutes.
14. Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative
2018
A year after the events of Unicorn, the discovery of a long-lost Gundam threatens the Federation. This film features some wild Gundam designs.
15. Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway
2021
It's been 12 years since Char's rebellion, and now a chance encounter between a Newtype, an officer, and the son of a major Federation officer from the original series results in an exciting spy thriller full of intrigue.
16. Mobile Suit Gundam F91
2004
The closest Gundam has come to actually being Star Wars, with a protagonist that's essentially Darth Vader and music that resembles the Imperial March.
17. Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
1993-1994
Even Tomino jokingly rejected this entry in the franchise. That being said, the French Revolution inspiration gives this show, at the very least, a cool premise.
18. G-Saviour
2000
A live-action movie about the Federation and the colonies battling over food shortages that serves as proof that Gundam works best in animation.
How to Watch Other Gundam Timelines in Order
The Cosmic Era Timeline
A timeline focused on the conflict between normal Earth-born humans known as "Naturals," and genetically altered superhumans known as "Coordinators." This is where the SEED series takes place, which is a good introduction to the Gundam franchise as an alternative to the original show.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
2. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
3. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER
4. Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
The Our Century Timeline
What if Gundam weren't real giant robots, but a franchise with merchandise that regular people are fans of? This is the home of the Gundam Builders franchise, which takes place in our reality, and follows fans of Gunpla — plastic Gundam models — that fans use to fight in high-tech arenas.
1. Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G
2. Gundam Build Fighters
3. Gundam Build Fighters Try
4. Gundam Build Divers
5. Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE
6. Gundam Breaker Battlogue
The Correct Century Timeline
This is an alternate timeline with a rather cool tie to the UC that is best left unspoiled. There is only one title in this timeline, which boasts mecha designs by Syd Mead, a charming protagonist, and a unique premise that kind of reminds me of a western.
1. Turn A Gundam
The Future Century Timeline
The first alternate timeline, Future Century skips the One Year War for a more civilized and exhilarating alternative — a giant tournament. Only one show takes place in this timeline, which is the show for people who always wondered what a Matador Gundam could look like, or a Viking Gundam, or the best-named Gundam — Tequila Gundam. It's the Gundam equivalent of the Gremlins 2 skit from Key & Peele.
1. Mobile Fighter G Gundam
The After Colony Timeline
The timeline that gave Gundam its big break in the U.S. — the messy, campy, iconic Gundam Wing. Five young pilots are sent to Earth independently with Mobile Suits on a mission to fight against a hostile Earth on behalf of the rebellious colonies, but the boys end up finding kinship in each other and choose their own reasons to fight.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
2. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
The After War Timeline
A timeline regarded by some fans as an alternate telling of the Universal Century where the One Year War ended in an even bigger tragedy — with 99% of Earth's population dying from colony drops. Only one show takes place in this timeline, featuring a young boy living on post-apocalyptic Earth decides to pilot a Gundam to save the life of a mysterious girl he has just met.
1. After War Gundam X
The Anno Domini Timeline
The only Gundam timeline to use our calendar, this is the home of the Gundam 00 show and movie. The paramilitary organization Celestial Being tries to rid the world of war by creating the most powerful weapon ever. Surprise, it's five Gundams. It has some elaborate worldbuilding and is the very first Gundam entry to feature actual aliens as antagonists.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam 00
2. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 – Awakening of the Trailblazer –
The Advanced Generation Timeline
Several hundred years after humanity has colonized space and endured an era of long-lasting peace, a new enemy appears. This is the home of Gundam AGE, a series that spans several decades as the protagonists grow from children to old veterans.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
The Regild Century Timeline
Created for the 35th anniversary of the Gundam franchise, this was the first series that Gundam's creator Yoshiyuki Tomino wrote and directed in 15 years. This timeline takes place a millennium after the Universal Century in a world that is more anti-technology.
1. Gundam Reconguista in G
The Post Disaster timeline
A post-Iraq War Gundam timeline that focuses on more grounded subjects like slavery, colonialism, and child soldiers (in a much less subtle way than past shows). This is the home of Iron-Blooded Orphans, one of the darkest Gundam shows yet, which is saying a lot.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans
The Ad Stella Timeline
The home of The Witch From Mercury, this timeline is set in an era where space has become a corporate race, with a multitude of companies investing in different types of mobile suits. Additionally, Gundams here have a bit of a psychic connection to their pilots (think synchronization in Evangelion or Pacific Rim) which has caused many pilots to be killed and Gundams to be banned almost everywhere.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury
The GQuuuuuuX Timeline
Another alternate version of the Universal Century. In this timeline, Char Aznable gets his hands on the White Base and the original RX-78 Gundam instead of Amuro Ray, drastically changing the outcome of the One Year War. This is the home of the most recent Gundam series, Gundam GQuuuuuuX, which IGN's review called "exactly the kind of inventive reimagining of Gundam we deserve."
1. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
What's Next for Mobile Suit Gundam?
The gears of Gundam never stop turning. In addition to GQuuuuuuX, a new Gundam anime set in the Post Disaster timeline, titled Iron-Blooded Orphans: Urðr-Huntm, is in the works based on the mobile game of the same name. A prequel to SEED Freedom, titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Zero, is also in development.
And, of course, there is also the live-action movie we've been threatened with for a few years. Though the film has (predictably) suffered setbacks, there is a small chance it could genuinely be great. As of now, one of the only details we have is the possibility of none other than Sydney Sweeney’s involvement.
