1997 The Beginning
Mobile Suit Gundam is a televised anime series, produced and animated by Nippon Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network and its affiliated ANN stations on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes. It was the first Gundam series, which has subsequently been adapted into numerous sequels and spin-offs. Set in the futuristic calendar year "Universal Century" 0079, the plot focuses on the war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation, with the latter unveiling a new giant robot known as the RX-78-2 Gundam piloted by the teenage civilian mechanic Amuro Ray.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a 1985 Japanese television anime series, the second installment in the Gundam franchise, and a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The show was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, with character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, while the series' mechanical designs is split among Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazumi Fujita. The series was originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network and its sister ANN stations between 1985 and 1986.
The plot is set in the futuristic "Universal Century" timeline, and takes place eight years after the events of the original series. Zeta centers on a new conflict that is formed between two new factions - the Titans, a corrupt task force formed by the Earth Federation, and the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG), a rebel group who seek to end the Titans. The show is told through the perspective of Kamille Bidan, a teenage member of the AEUG and pilot of the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, and later the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam. Several main characters from the previous Gundam series return in supporting roles, including Amuro Ray and his rival Char Aznable, the latter of which returns as a pilot for the AEUG under the new identity of Quattro Bajeena.
1986
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ is a 1986 anime television series animated by Sunrise and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. It is a direct sequel to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and the third Universal Century series to be made.
As the continuation of Zeta Gundam, this series once again follows the story of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG) battleship Argama after Kamille defeats Paptimus Scirocco. To fight off the Axis Zeon, now called the Neo Zeon, Captain Bright Noa recruits a group of teenage junk collectors led by the loudmouthed but powerful Newtype Judau Ashta to pilot the Argama's mobile suits. Now sporting a line up of the behemoth MSZ-010 Double Zeta Gundam and the returning MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, RX-178 Gundam Mk-II and Gundam-like MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, the group is nicknamed the Gundam Team. As such, this became the first of a number of Gundam series where a team of Gundam mobile suits fight alongside each other regularly. The climax takes place at Side 3 in the Battle of Axis.
1988
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack is an anime movie set in the primary Universal Century timeline of Gundam, taking place in UC 0093.
The year is U.C. 0093. At Anaheim Electronics Von Braun Lunar factory, officer Chan Agi and lead technical officer October work on a Gundam, the RX-93 ν Gundam. In Tibet, a group of people are running away from Federation police. One of these people is Quess Paraya, daughter to Earth Federation Prime Minister Adenaur Paraya. Quess is taken back to her father, as they take a plane to head for a spaceport. Quess and her father then argue about the Federation enforcing its edicts onto Spacenoids.
Mobile Suit SD Gundam is a series of animated shorts based on the Mobile Suit Gundam series. It was first released in movie theaters in Japan in 1988-03-12 alongside Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, and later on VHS with an additional short.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket is a 6-episode OVA Series, the first of its kind for Gundam. It also marked the first time anyone other than creator, Yoshiyuki Tomino, was given a chance to direct a Gundam story. Released in 1989, it served to commemorate Gundam's ten-year anniversary. As suggested by its subtitle, "War in the Pocket," it is a small, personal story; a side story focusing on the experiences of a ten-year-old boy during the One Year War. December, Universal Century 0079. Zeon intelligence has identified a prototype Federation Gundam under development in a Federation base in the Arctic. The Cyclops Team, an elite Zeon MS commando team, is dispatched to destroy the prototype, but before they can accomplish their mission, the Gundam is launched into space.
1991
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 is a 1991 Japanese animated film. It was Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino's attempt to launch a new Gundam saga, set thirty years after Char's Counterattack. He re-teamed with character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and mecha designer Kunio Okawara for the occasion. The movie was first released in Japan on March 16, 1991. The year is U.C. 0123. To accommodate the growing population, the Earth Federation has built new space colonies. However, the Crossbone Vanguard decides to seize these colonies to help establish its extraterrestrial empire. Now, reluctant hero Seabook Arno and his Gundam F91 must lead a fierce struggle for survival.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory is a 13-episode OVA series set in the Gundam's Early-Universal Century timeline. The characters were designed by Toshihiro Kawamoto. The series serves as a sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam and a prequel to the events of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Universal Century 0083: Zeon intelligence has identified a prototype Gundam designed for nuclear attack under development by Anaheim Electronics. A former Zeon ace and a small band of Principality soldiers are dispatched to Earth to capture the Gundam as part of Operation Stardust. When the Zeon successfully make off with the prototype, the Earth Federation assigns the mobile suit carrier Albion to locate and recover the missing unit. When the stolen Gundam fires at the space fortress Konpei Island, the Federation Space Force suffers a catastrophic loss. As the Federation regroups, they learn that the Zeon have captured a space colony, Side 7, ostensibly with the objective of colliding it with the moon. When the colony's course is unexpectedly changed toward Earth, the true objective of Operation Stardust is revealed.
1993
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam is an anime television program set in the Universal Century timeline. It consists of 51 episodes, and was directed by Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino. The series was first broadcast on TV Asahi (and its ANN stations), and later by the anime satellite TV network, Animax, across Japan and later its respective networks worldwide, including Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, East Asia, Latin America, and other regions. Victory Gundam is set in U.C. 0153 and succeeds the Crossbone Vanguard conflict of Mobile Suit Gundam F91. The greatly weakened Earth Federation comes under attack by the BESPA forces of the spaceborne Zanscare Empire; only the League Militaire stands in their way. The Victory Gundam is the League Militaire's secret weapon against the invading BESPA forces.
1994
Mobile Fighter G Gundam is a 1994 anime television series created by Sunrise under the direction of Yasuhiro Imagawa. It was the first series in the Gundam franchise not set in the Universal Century timeline, being set in the Future Century timeline instead. In the Future Century, humans have ruined the Earth. Much of mankind has abandoned Earth for space colonies, with each country on Earth having a corresponding space colony. Instead of having wars, a "Gundam Fight" is held every four years, where a representative will pilot a Mobile Fighter and compete with other Gundams until only one is left. The winning country is allowed to rule the Earth for four years until the next Gundam Fight.