This thread got me in the Gundam mood, so I watched Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory. Set between the original Mobile Suit Gundam and Zeta Gundam, both of which I've seen (well, I watched the OG Gundam's three compilation films instead of the series), it is about Zeon survivors enacting a plan called Operation Stardust, and the effort of an Earth Federation ship and Gundam pilot to stop them. Its a good show, although flawed. The animation is great, and the overall plot events are interesting both on their own and in context of the UC continuity. The main EF pilot, Kou, and his Zeon rival Gato are both interesting, and by the end you can really feel their conflict. But the overall writing quality of the show is mixed, with some pacing issues, some annoying characters, and some stupid moments.
The mediocre to bad stuff holds the show back, but overall I did enjoy watching it and in the end there were 2-3 characters I ended up caring about. The UC Gundam stuff can be convoluted and hard to follow, but the good stuff tends to hit hard.
0083 had a notorious production. The specific details are lost to time at this point. However things allegedly went bad when they changed directors midway through the show. Around the time Kou meets the Zeon pilot Kelly. Which almost everyone agrees is the high water mark of the show.
The new director is the one who reintroduced the love triangle aspect between Kou, Nina and Gato. I say reintroduced, because it was brainstormed as a plot element during the storyboard phase. But as anyone who has seen 0083, Anavel Gato is married to the cause. So him slowing down for a love interest from 5 years prior to the show. Doesn't make any sense narratively. The new director wanted it included to give Kou and Gato more reason to hate one another. Since we follow Kou and Nina for 13 episodes of the show. But Gato is only in 6 episodes. A plot thread that everyone agrees was underdeveloped and ruins Nina’s character.
I still dig 0083 for what it was. And it isn't a bad time to watch in an afternoon. But that final stretch of episodes is rough.
I've been curious to check out the Gundam stuff for a while, but I don't really know much about it. Where would be a good place to start?
You're in luck. I can help you navigate the Universal Century Gundam shows and timeline.
Gundam (
Gun = weapon and Dam = Free
dom) is the brain child of Yoshiyuki Tomino. Tomino was a child during WWII. So seeing his nation go over the edge with it's war mongering and how the propaganda had the nation believing in the divinity of the emperor Hirohito. Was something Tomino wanted to bring his own experience to. Star Wars 1977 was also a big influence on Tomino as well. When you start the shows, you'll be introduced to the special characters who have Jedi like abilities. They are called New Types. The world New Type is what the Japanese called the bombs that dropped on Nagaski and Hiroshima. That should help you understand Tomino's mindset and how powerful/dangerous New Types are in the Gundam universe.
As to the watch order, I suggest watching the shows in timeline order. Rather watching in release order. Since the UC (Universal Century) has so many side stories, midquels and sequels added to it.
Sunrise Studios, which is owned by Bandai (the toy company) is really good about keeping all the shows in print. You can buy all the seasons on Amazon. Including subtitled Japanese and American Dub versions.
Here the list by UC year.
0079
Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) - 42 episode anime or 3 compilation movies. Where the series began and what started it all. Animation style is dated but the story is timeless. You can find on Amazon by searching Mobile Suit Gundam blu-ray and Mobile Suit Gundam Movie Trilogy.
The compilation movies exist after the show was cancelled abruptly at 43 out of it's planned 50 episodes. Like with Star Trek TOS, Gundam was more popular on reruns, than it was during it's broadcast run. Tomino was able to raise money, and get the greenlight to rerelease the show in theaters in 1981. He spruced up the animation, altered the flow of the events of the episodes, cut content that was deemed unnecessary and released 3 movies covering the highlights of the show from 1981-1983. The movies were a hit and the Gundam franchise continued from there. You can't go wrong with either take.
08th MS Team (1995) - 12 episode OVA. Takes place alongside MSG, but mainly on Earth. There is overlap for several episode. Example, episode 1 of 08th MS takes place during episode 11 of the MSG. Also, episode 7 of 08th MS takes place after episode 24 of MSG. This series is more Gundam meets Vietnam, than Gundam meets WW2 that the original series one.
0080 War in the Pocket (1989) - 6 episode OVA. Takes place during the last week of the One Year War on a neutral colony. This series takes place from the Zeon (bad guy) side of the war. As a Zeon pilot befriends a child who is experiencing the war from a distance.. Speaking to what I mentioned earlier, about Tomino and others who worked on this show seeing war through the eyes of a child. Versus having a child's view of war.
0083
0083 Stardust Memory (1991) - 13 episode OVA. Sequel to the events of MSG and prequel to the events of Zeta Gundam. This creators of this series were heavily inspired by Top Gun 1986. Created in a time when the original show wasn't available for home video, and home video sets (VHS bundles) didn't exist. 0083 hits a lot of beats that 0079 hit. For people who didn't have a way to experience the original show.
0087
Zeta Gundam (1985) - 50 episode anime series. The first true sequel to MSG. Gundam's Empire Strikes Back. All the surviving cast from MSG make appearances here.
0093
Char's Counterattack (1988) - A movie that draws a conclusion to the main Gundam trilogy. MSG - Zeta and Char's Counterattack.
That is all you would need to understand the main Gundam timeline. My advice for a neophyte is to watch.
08th MS Team
0080 War In The Pocket
0083 Stardust Memory
These are shorter stories and all help you get a feel for the universe. When you're ready to commit to a show, I advise watching the Gundam Trilogy movies. At a run time of 2 hours 30 minutes. It's the fast way to absorb the story of the original series.
Gundam is a maxi series. That explores and reinvents itself every few years. I will make a separate post detailing the shows and movies that occurred after 1988's Char's Counterattack bookended the series. It is it's own odyssey. Cheers, mate. And best of luck.
