Summary
Among the genres inanime,mecha is one of the most popular, with an overwhelming fanbase consisting of thousands of fans from all over the world. There is nothing quite like robot vs. robot action where metal and fire clash on war-torn battlefields or the vast reaches of space. One of the most prominent mecha anime series is theGundamfranchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino,Gundamhas stood at the apex of mecha for over forty years, having a plethora of media for fans to enjoy.
The original series,Mobile Suit Gundam,debuted in 1979 and has since spawned multiple universes and timelines composed of dozens of characters, scenarios, and designs. With over thirty original works in animation, live-action, and manga,Gundamhas the most significant catalog of series in the mecha genre, having created over twenty anime. Here is everyGundamseries and where to watch them.
Updated on June 03, 2025, by C.M. Edwards:The Gundam franchise is one of the most successful mecha franchises in the world, and has branched out from its original roots in manga to anime, video games, and even has live-action films on the horizon. The Gundam franchise has been a dominant force for over fifty years, and thanks to its multiversal of storytelling, these series have been able to introduce dozens of characters and tell unique iterations on the challenges of war. Mobile Suit Gundam dives deep into war-torn governments and wraps the concept in a sci-fi blanket of enormous mechanical weapons of mass destruction. Each series has unique mech designs and pilots that make each show feel special along with its story.
1993
8
N/A
Mobile Suit SD Gundamis a novelty series created based on the main franchise series that parodied the characters of the series and puts them into more child-appropriate situations. The series was originally released in theaters as family-friendly shorts and OVA’s and found much success in the efforts to promote toy lines.Mobile Suit SD Gundamdrastically changed the design of characters and mecha, making it stand out among the other series. Airing a total of 9 OVAs and 8 episodes,Mobile Suit SD Gundamwas the first SD Gundam series in the genre.
1988
1
Netflix
Char’s Counter Attackin the final moment in the war between Earth and Zeon, and he final battle between Amuro and Char. In a last-ditch effort to change the direction of the war and secure victory for his nation, Char aims to drop a massive asteroid on the planet, wiping all life on Earth out.
Char believes that only by extermination can humanity leave Earth behind and gain freedom. Amuro and the Earth Forces race to stop him and save the planet, but in a final confrontation, everything is on the line. Even among today’s standards, the art direction and anime of Char’s Counter Attack hold up considerably well.
Mobile Suit Gundam: War in the Pockettakes place during the One-Year War but away from the main story ofMobile Suit Gundam. When a covert Zeon operation to destroy a Gundam prototype is upended, a second mission is called to finish the job. The original team tasked with destroying the Gundam must chase it into space, where it arrives at a neutral space colony. Things go poorly as the entire squad is killed except for one soldier, Bernie. While trying to fix his machine and complete the mission, Bernie befriends a number of children in the area and the future pilot of the machine he has been sent to destroy. War in the Pocket tells a great story of how the lines blur when humanity is allowed to see each other without the haze of war.Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War In The Pocketis not currently available to stream.
1996
51
Set almost a century after the events ofChar’s Counter Attack,Mobile Suit Victory Gundamis set during a time of weakness for the Earth Forces. This has allowed a new empire to fill the power vacuum and utilize secret mobile-suit weapons to seize control of lawless space. Ewin is a young boy who decides to join a militia group to help protect what is important to him as the ruthless BESPA empire reins down terror on Earth in its weakened state. Through a series of events, Ewin finds himself behind the controls of the Victory Gundam and on the frontlines of war, where he must adapt or die.
39
Set in the After War timeline,Mobile Suit Gundam X After Wartakes place after a catastrophic war between Earth Federation and Space, resulting in the Earth being covered in nuclear winter and both sides being decimated.
After the dust had settled, both the remnants of a new federation and the space colonies attempted to scavenge what was left of the planet and its resources. Thirteen-year-old Ran finds himself behind the wheel of a Gundam, left behind by the chaos and fighting against both sides so that history doesn’t repeat itself.
Turn A Gundamtakes place in the Correct Century timeline in a distant future where humanity has migrated to the stars due to the Earth becoming inhabitable after a nuclear war. With a small settlement of survivors residing on the moon, for over two thousand years they monitored the Earth’s recovery. Loran Cehack is sent down along with a team to investigate the state of the planet. Loran Cehack finds a home and a family and settles down. Unfortunately, not long after this, the people of the Moon descend on Earth, seeking to claim the resources that have been found. A lost relic of time is discovered, and Loran becomes the pilot of the Turn A Gundam to protect the new family he has obtained and fend off his own people. The first episodes ofTurn A Gundamare available on YouTube, but the entire series is not currently available.
2001
15
Gundam Evolvewas a series of short-form animations done in traditional and 3D-CG animation that was aired alongside model kit releases and shown at GWBC contests and conventions. Each short covered a specific series and focused on a single character in various circumstances. Featured characters were Domon Kashu, Amuro Ray, Kmaille Bidan, and Canard Pars, all set in their respective series.
2003
52
Superior Defender Gundam Forceis set in a universe where a world called Neotopia comes under threat from interdimensional beings called the Dark Axis. To combat this threat and protect Neotopia, elite warriors known as the Gundam Force fend off these invaders and fight them wherever they spring up. The Gundam Force members are based on Gundam designs from various models from all across the Gundam timelines and are given sentience and personalities. There is even a line of model kits based on the series that has earned a large amount of popularity.
2004
2
A spin-off of the Gundam Seed franchise,Mobile Suit Gundam MSV Astrayfollows Lowe, a mechanical engineer who harvests parts from auctions and constructs his own custom machine. Things take a left turn when Lowe obtains a part that holds delicate information and paints a target on his back, forcing him to be at odds with military organizations. Mobile Suit Gundam MSV Astray consists of two shorts that tell a brief but adequate story with a fair amount of action.
2004-08
9
TheIGLOOseries,The Hidden One-Year War, Apocalypse 0079, and Gravity Front,are a collection of short films in 3D animation that explores different perspectives of the war between the Earth Federation and Zeon research teams.
Set during the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime, the series focuses on a small research squad of weapon testers who reside on opposite sides of the war and must develop tools and see their impact on the war. Each episode explores the effort of the characters and the unfortunate circumstances of their goal and features some of the obstacles that are placed in Amuro and Char’s way to ensure victory.
