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.