Monday, June 11, 2007

How to Watch Gundam

Many people do not want to to take up the daunting task of watching all the Gundam series. Most just watch a recent series, such as Gundam SEED, and then found out, "Holy freakin' crap, there are millions of other not connected series!"

So this is my recommended way of watching Gundam. It's not the order in which I watched the series, but hey.

UNIVERSAL CENTURY

All series that follow the UC timeline:
  • Mobile Suit Gundam
It's best to start with original, in my opinion. It is also wise to watch the Mobile Suit Gundam movies (I, II, and III) at this point as well. The movies are simply a compression of the series, with some added scenes and a few changes, plus a lot is reanimated. It was made a couple years later after the series, so yes, the animation is better, if you are bothered that much by the 1979 animation.
  • Zeta Gundam
Also known simply as Z Gundam, it is the sequel to the original series. A year or two ago, a three movie version was released. So yes the animation in the movies are way better. I have yet to see them though, but you can watch them after the TV series. But you eyes will probably hurt when you watch Gundam ZZ.
  • Gundam ZZ
Pronounced as "Gundam Double Zeta", it is, you guessed it, the sequel to Zeta Gundam. No movie version of these yet.
  • Char's Counterattack
The movie sequel that closes out the original saga. (MSG through CCA have recurring characters, just so you know).

The next three are what I call the "side stories", since that's what they are. Even though they take place during and between other series, I feel that they should be watched after seeing the "original saga", because they were made later. You could choose to watch them in UC chronological order, through, but that would actually be kind of tricky (meaning you'd have to watch some of MSG, for example, then most of 08th MS Team, and then switch back to MSG, and then watch some Gundam 0080, and then switch, etc. You could watch Gundam 0083 between MSG and Zeta, though, because it actually takes place between them) . But you could watch them after MSG if you like. (They are all OVA series.)
  • The 08th MS Team
There is also a "movie" version called "Miller's Report". It does not summarize the whole series, though.
  • Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
  • Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
There is also a movie version called "The Last Blitz of Zeon", which I haven't actually seen.

The stories that take place later on the UC timeline:
  • Gundam F91 (Movie)
  • Victory Gundam (V Gundam)
ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Then we move over to the alternate universe series (AU). Each of these series, plus their sequels, take place on their own timeline. I think that it's best to watch them in the order that they were made (Other than sequels, of course. Watch them in order).
  • G Gundam
  • Gundam Wing
  • Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
Sequel to Gundam Wing. There is an OVA version and a movie version. They are basically the same, only with a few changes at the very end, and different songs.
  • Gundam X
  • Turn A Gundam
The title is also written with an upside A.
  • Gundam SEED
There are three "special editions" i.e. movie compilations of this series. Similar to the MSG movies, only small changes were made, plus a few extra scenes.
  • Gundam SEED Destiny
Sequel to Gundam SEED. There are four "special editions" i.e. movie compilations of this series, which I haven't seen yet, so I cannot compare them to the series.
  • Gundam SEED: Stargazer
A forty-five minute side story. There are three parts, fifteen minutes each.
  • Gundam 00
Called "Gundam Double-Oh", this series is airing this fall.

There are many miscellaneous things that didn't cover here, such as SD Gundam Force (don't bother watching, in opinion), the SD Gundam series (it's a chibi parody OVA series with the cast from the original saga), G-Savior (the live action movie that I don't consider Gundam), Gundam Evolve (stand alone short episodes based off characters and mecha established in other series), and MS Igloo (which I don't know enough to tell you about).

So yeah, there's the list. Get crackin'!


EDIT 10/12/2007: There is also a new "SD Gundam" series called Gundam SEED Character Theater, which features the SEED characters as chibi.

6 comments:

the Dizzy said...

Its nice to see another Gundam fan, props to you.

I've started to watch all the series, staring of course with Gundam 0079... but I was curious to know if you could tell me which of the series you listed are available dubbed... so far I haven't been able to find ZZ dubbed, and I don't think it is... but I figured I'd ask you, since you'd probably know.

;}

atty.criz said...

i think you pretty much got the guide right. I just wished I saw this one earlier. I had a hard time understanding the different era and series before I did a lot of reading.

iKatsuke said...

I know this is a bit late, (like making a post come back to live lol) but this describes what i was looking for, thanks a lot for the guide ill follow it and see where it takes me :)

alex said...

Thank you so much! This is exactly what I was looking for!!!

Unknown said...

Does anyone know when or if gundam zz has been dubbed yet?..And great site

Unknown said...

I don't think you can get ZZ gundam dubbed, cause it wasn't distributed in the West.
(personally I like the subbed versions better, although I watched Wing, CCA and G gundam in dubbed).

The IGlOO series are CGI shows (one Year War) consisting out of 3 parts each:
`IGLOO: Hidden One Year War'
shows 3 ep following the Zeon crew of an experimental support ship and shows the initial successes of the Zeon campaign.

`IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079' again follows the crew of an experimental support ships and depicts the demise of Zeon, showing the desperate matters they took in order to avoid defait.

`IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front' (2009) shows the Federation during the initial phase of the One Year War.
Ep. 1 shows the Feds on the run and a desperate attempt to use anti-armor (infantry) troops as a weapon against Zaku's (not a pretty sight).
Ep. 2 shows a later phase, with large quantities of Type 61 tanks against Zaku's, Feds are holding their grounds.
Ep. 3 shows events during operation Odessa and the first deployment of GM's against Zeon MS.

MS IGLOO 2 was very entertaining, and the other series where enlightening.