Here’s What You Should Watch to Get Into Gundam

A new Gundam series is on the horizon, and many anime fans are now interested in entering the franchise. But with 45 years of history and countless TV series, OVAs and movies, it may seem intimidating and daunting to get into Gundam. Luckily, there are several self-contained series that fans can easily jump into to begin their journey into the franchise. If anyone is intimidated by jumping into the main timeline, The Universal Century, there are many other alternatives in the alternate universe series.

Here are a few recommendations for an entry-level series that anyone can enjoy as a gateway into the Gundam franchise. Each of these gives a taste of what the franchise is all about while telling self-contained stories in one series.

Related

The Gundam GQuuuuuuX Timeline, Explained

The new Gundam series takes the Universal Century to new horizons.

Gundam 00, A Timeless and Relevant Story

A Good Entryway into the Themes of the Franchise

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is a two-season anime series released in 2007. Comprised of two seasons of 25 episodes as well as an epilogue movie that concludes the story, Gundam 00 is often mentioned as the perfect entryway for newcomers. The story revolves around the Gundam team Celestial Being, a group of free agents that band together to eradicate armed conflict and war from Earth through the power of the four Gundams. The four main Gundam pilots are all victims of great tragedy and trauma from one or another side of war and violence. And their experiences motivate them to fight for a better world where war is no more.

Almost every Gundam series, as well as the main timeline of the Universal Century, takes place in a fictional calendar apart from the real world. However, Gundam 00 takes place in the Anno Domini calendar, which means that it is merely the far future of the real world. This allows the series to tackle themes and events much closer to real life than other series. The Middle Eastern conflict is a major plot point in the story, as the protagonist is a former indoctrinated child soldier who survived the holy war.

Gundam 00 still holds up years later with an excellent original soundtrack and animation as well as a story and themes that remain relevant to this day. While many fans criticize season two for not being as solid as the first season, the complete package of Gundam 00 is worth checking out for anyone looking to get into the franchise, as it is not only a self-contained series apart from the larger Universal Century but also a worthy fan-favorite entry for the franchise.

Related

Gundam: Every Series And Where To Watch Them

With so many Gundam series available to fans, it can be hard to find where to watch them. Here is a compiled list of where to watch every series.

Iron-Blooded Orphans, A Look Into Gruesome Warfare

Mechanic Medieval Knights Fight for Freedom

Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans is another great entryway into the franchise. It also consists of two 25-episode seasons. Iron-Blooded Orphans tells the story of a group of young slaves that find their freedom and, with the power of their Gundam and their tenacity, rise through the criminal underworld to become their own and find a place to be happy and free from the shackles of pain. This series is not for the faint of heart as it features very dark themes and abuse of children, but if you can stomach it, you will experience a very hard-hitting and emotional story for the Gundam franchise.

Iron-Blooded Orphans tells the story of an oppressive, corrupt government, the criminal underworld, and a few freedom fighters’ drive to break free and destroy the tyrannical status quo. Most of the main characters of the series are teenagers piloting powerful Gundam. Their struggles as a found family and a tight-knit team keep the audience engaged as these kids struggle to survive in a violent and chaotic world full of hardship. Unlike some other series, the finale of Iron Blooded Orphans is bitter-sweet and depressing, so if you’re looking for something more lighthearted and exciting, this one might not be for you.

However, something that truly elevates Iron-Blooded Orphans is the quality of the animation and action. The battles between the mobile suits and the Gundam are very distinct from the rest of the franchise as energy and beam weapons are nowhere to be seen in this entry. The Mecha in this series fight using either giant firearms or giant swords, maces, and daggers. This different setting truly sets this series apart from the rest of the franchise and is easily accessible if you can stomach the darker themes in it.

Related

What We Can Expect From Hideaki Anno’s Gundam Series

What can fans expect from Hideaki Anno’s Gundam series?

The Witch From Mercury, The Latest and More Modern Entry

A Very Unique Take on Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam The Witch from Mercury was released in 2022, and it is comprised of two seasons with 24 episodes each. This series was massively successful worldwide and brought millions of new fans into the franchise, so out of all these recommendations, The Witch from Mercury might be the most obvious choice. Something that sets this entry apart is that it was the first TV series with a female protagonist and also an LGBT protagonist. The Witch from Mercury is a different take on the Gundam themes as political and economic warfare takes the spotlight in the story.

The Witch from Mercury focuses on a school for young future industry heads and mobile suit pilots who settle matters by dueling. The main character and Gundam serve as the entry to the overall mystery and plot twists that the technology in this world is heavily involved in. It tells a story of revenge, trauma, and bonds. Parenthood, sisterhood and the relationship between the two protagonist girls are major themes in the story. Witch from Mercury is a fresh take that is not to be missed by veteran Gundam fans as well as audiences looking to get into the franchise.

The Witch from Mercury also has the advantage of counting with an extraordinary line of model kits, a major aspect of the Gundam franchise. The Witch from Mercury model kits are an affordable and always valuable addition to the fandom if new fans are fully engrossed by the story and the designs of the mobile suits in the anime. The Witch from Mercury is also much shorter than the two other series, so it is much easier to get into than the other two. The animation, soundtrack, characters, and mechanical designs are also all top-notch and have been one of the main key aspects that fans praise about the anime. Furthermore, The Witch from Mercury ends on a very satisfying and happy note, which might be an important factor for an entryway decision for fans.

These three series are the main recommendations. If you’re looking to get into the Gundam franchise, you don’t need any prior knowledge of Gundam, and they’re also a self-contained series with a much shorter runtime than the rest. All three of these series are worthy entries into the franchise as well as the model kit side of the fandom. If the upcoming release of Gundam GQuuuuuuX has you excited and eager to jump into Gundam, these three series are perfect gateways for any fan.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury

• 

  Kana Ichinose

  Suletta Mercury

• 
• 

  Yōhei Azakami

  Guel Jeturk

•