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1979–Present • Mobile Suit Gundam Series

Kidō Senshi Gandamu

— Derek Padula —

Gundam is a gigantic, genuine, and glorious space opera that expresses the human condition through wars fought by young super soldiers piloting humanoid robots. It’s one of the biggest pop culture phenomena in Japan and is akin to a homegrown Star Wars, both in popularity and revenue. Just as everyone in the civilized world knows who Darth Vader is even if they haven’t seen Star Wars, everyone in Japan knows who Char Aznable is even if they haven’t seen Gundam. For this reason alone, you should be curious to watch Gundam and discover for yourself what makes it so popular.

Like many Americans, I was first introduced to the Gundam franchise through the forty-nine-episode Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995) starting March 6, 2000. Gundam Wing was the first Gundam series to be televised in the United States, on Toonami. It had an attractive cast, story, voice acting, music, action, humor, political intrigue, and designs, so it became a daily treat alongside Dragon Ball and others. It influenced me enough that I aspired to dress like Duo Maxwell, a character who wears a black and white outfit similar to a clerical collar. He was just so cool!

I later discovered that Gundam Wing is one of many standalone series in the Gundam franchise that starts in 1979 with Mobile Suit Gundam. There are over 30 Gundam anime series, 20 movies, 113 manga, 47 novels, 220 video games, 1,000 model kits, 3 theme park rides, 1 life-size robot statue in Tokyo, and countless forms of merchandise. In 2014, the Gundam franchise generated ¥80 billion yen ($726,400,000 USD), and in almost four decades has generated several tens of billions of dollars. As a result, Gundam is a household name in Japan.

Mobile Suit Gundam was created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, without a manga predecessor. He loved the Super Robot genre of anime made popular in the ’60s and ’70s. These giant robots can transform, have quasi-magical super powers, represent good or evil, have mythical origins, are made by mad scientists, or are even gods incarnate. They are controlled by young boys, often by remote control or simple one-button and a joystick controls, as they fight a cartoon-like villain of the week. Famous examples include Gigantor (Tetsujin-28), Mazinger Z, and Voltron.

But Tomino wanted to create a robot series that was more realistic. One that depicted the horrors of war, and was targeted at young adults, rather than boys. To do this, he partnered with character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and mecha designer Kunio Okawara, an illustrator who is the first to ever be credited as a “mechanical designer” for anime.

Together they created the Real Robot genre. These are robots that do not transform, do not have super powers, and are not gods. Nor are they controlled by little boys from outside the robot. Instead, they are a mass-produced weapon used by soldiers for the purposes of political agendas. They are inanimate extensions of the frail men who control them from inside a cockpit. As a result, Gundam felt real. People died—the main characters are the ones who killed them—and there were consequences for their actions.

Gundam’s signature invention is the Mobile Suit. These are humanoid tanks piloted by a single user in a cockpit that extend the user’s natural abilities. Mobile Suits are inspired by the powered armor exoskeleton in the American sci-fi novel Starship Troopers (1959). This suit protects mobile infantry, augments their strength and movement, includes powerful weapons, and yet is sensitive enough to handle delicate objects. Tomino took this western idea and increased its size to those of Eastern robots.

The story of Mobile Suit Gundam is set in a futuristic earth where the world is united by a global government known as the Earth Federation. The planet is overpopulated, so they create orbital colonies in outer space—called Sides—inhabited by tens of millions of people. The main character, a young mechanic named Amuro Ray, lives on Side 7.

A colony faction called the Principality of Zeon argues the Earth Federation is corrupt, so they enact a war of independence. The story begins when Zeon attacks Side 7 with Mobile Suits and is defended by the Federation’s floating carrier, named White Base. Amuro is forced to fight in a white prototype Mobile Suit invented by his father, called the RX-78-2 Gundam, and then becomes entangled in the war.

Zeon Lieutenant Commander Char Aznable leads the rebellion, nicknamed the “Red Comet” for his iconic red Mobile Suit. Likewise, through numerous battles, Amuro’s nickname in the war becomes the “White Devil,” because of his white Gundam that brings death. As the war rages on, Amuro falls in love with Char’s ensign, Lalah Sune. Finally, Amuro attempts to kill Char, but Lalah jumps in front of his sword and dies in Char’s place. Afterward, Char and Amuro become bitter rivals, and the battles continue.

The first Gundam is a coming-of-age story for Amuro. During his forced process of becoming a soldier, he experiences trauma, a dysfunctional family, bloodshed, and responsibility beyond his years. He discovers that he is genetically superior to normal humans, but along the way he makes mistakes, becomes humble, and finds a new family in the children he goes to war alongside. He learns that he is not an unstoppable Gundam pilot by himself. He finds hope in the idea that, together, we are Gundam.

By seeing that the characters are people first and soldiers second, we learn that humans are capable of compassion, sacrifice, and love, but also atrocious acts of violence. Much like Shakespearean villains and heroes, the question of what label to apply to them depends on which point of their life you happen to be looking. Over time we’re able to see that the villains are not that different from the heroes.

One of the reasons for Gundam’s success is that it spoke to its Japanese audience. The post-World War II Japanese media created anime that was lighthearted and fun, shying away from war’s consequences, but Gundam puts it front and center by showcasing children becoming agents of war. As a result, this war series had an anti-war message, similar to the one Japanese civilians were taught in school. Viewers learn that the conflict isn’t over at the end of each episode, just as war isn’t over for those who are disenfranchised by it.

Because of this, Gundam was one of the first anime to display serious consequences in an animated medium. Yet rather than explain a message, it presents the effects of war, poses questions, and lets you come to your own conclusions. For example, is it ever too late for redemption? What defines terrorism? Is Zeon justified in killing millions if it’s for the greater good of humanity? Should children kill one another if the ends justify the means? Are enlightened dictators worth the loss of personal freedom?

The Mobile Suits are not simple tools of destruction, they are extensions of the people who build and use them. This creates a conflict of man-versus-man via machine-versus-machine. The soft humans inside the hard external manifestation of their willpower are the medium through which they express their fear, courage, hope, greed, aspiration, angst, sacrifice, love, and hate. The genetically enhanced Gundam pilots are the superhuman heart beneath the steel.

There is much more that can be said about Gundam’s philosophy, social commentary, and even spirituality. Parallels can be drawn between the faith and fear that men have for God, Kami, and Buddha, and the way regular people perceive Gundam and their closer-to-god pilots who are representations of the higher spirit within mankind. Likewise, the Zeon Army can be viewed as a fluid and celestial entity, focused on delivering harmony in the heavenly colonies, while the Earth Federation can be viewed as a rigid and grounded entity, focused on the worldly concerns of financial and global stability.

Gundam’s influence on Japanese culture is vast. Aside from museums, stamps, and near-constant advertisements throughout society—including in public commuter trains such as Shibuya Station—there are real-world effects. Because Gundam’s science is grounded in physics, it inspires scientists and academic leaders. In 2008, the Virtual Gundam Academy was established based on Gundam’s principles and ideals, with a mission to bring them to reality. Even the government army loves Gundam. In 2007, they built a special infantry suit called the Advanced Combat Information Equipment System (ACIES), referred to as “Gundam” because that is where they hope it will one day lead. They also “seriously discussed” building a real-life Gundam in 2012, and since then, rumors about government projects for Mobile Suits have spread.

As a result of its popularity, Gundam inspired other anime series, such as Macross, Evangelion, Cowboy Bebop, and even western films. Director Guillermo del Toro cited it as an influence on his Hollywood blockbuster Pacific Rim, with its giant human-powered Gundam-like robots fighting monsters similar to Godzilla.

Even the face of the Gundam is a cultural icon. Each series has its own Gundam, and each of these series has its own theme that addresses particular issues. So, when fans see the face of a Gundam, they connect with its theme, as conveyed through its pilot. It’s similar to how the silhouette of Goku or Vegeta’s hair in Dragon Ball is enough to connect fans to their persona.

Gundam is so popular in Japan that they have a giant life-sized Gundam statue in Tokyo. This started in 2009 to celebrate the franchise’s 30th Anniversary. The first Gundam to be placed there was an 18-meter (59 feet) tall animatronic replica of the original RX-78-2 Gundam. It was disassembled in March, 2016, and six months later a new and even taller one had been built of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam, from the recent Gundam Unicorn series, standing at 19.7 meters (64.6 feet) tall.

There are Gundam café’s across the country, where food is served related to the series, and hobby model kits can be built as the food is prepared. These kits that fans assemble are a big part of the Gundam franchise’s success. Gunpla (“Gundam Plastic Model”) are so popular that they make up about 90 percent of the entire plastic-model market in Japan, with stores dedicated to selling over 1,000 kits.

Outside of Japan, Gundam has done well, but not to the same degree. For example, Gundam Wing introduced the Gundam franchise to North America in 2000, with great success. The following year, an English dub of the original series was aired to try and capitalize on its popularity. Even though the series was heavily edited, it did well enough to almost reach its conclusion and create a new toy line. Unfortunately, the conclusion was put on hiatus because of the 9/11 attack, and Cartoon Network’s decision to pull war-themed content. This killed the momentum of the series and the franchise as a whole. Subsequent attempts to introduce Gundam to audiences, even seventeen years afterward, have never been as successful. That said, much of the world has been exposed to Gundam, and the people who enjoy it are often passionate fans.

Another reason for its large following is because of its high quality animation and innovative visual techniques, especially during the battles. Likewise, the sound effects, voice acting, and music throughout the Gundam franchise are top-class, ranging from symphonic bellicose horns and strings, to electronic, rock, punk, tribal, choral, J-pop, jazz, and ballads. Numerous albums have been released and careers launched as the Gundam fly into battle and their pilots forge deep loves.

Where to start? To experience the full Gundam phenomenon, it’s best to start at the beginning of the main story’s timeline (called Universal Century), with Mobile Suit Gundam. Despite its age, it’s worth watching because it provides the emotional context for the rest of the franchise, as each series continues the themes established in the first and adds to them. It also sets up one of the greatest rivalries in anime history, between Amuro and Char. If forty-three episodes seems daunting, then watch the better-paced film trilogy. From there, continue into Zeta Gundam, Gundam ZZ, the Char’s Counterattack movie, and so on up to Gundam Unicorn.

If this feels like a tall order, then try one of the standalone series that can be watched in any order. For example, the six-episode 08th MS Team is the most realistic Gundam and will give you a good impression of what the franchise has to offer. If you enjoy the premise of this series but feel it’s too gritty, then I recommend Gundam Wing. If you want something easier to understand and melodramatic, then Mobile Fighter G Gundam is a good choice. It takes the idea of supernormal martial artists from movies popular in the ’80s, and gives each nation on earth a Gundam piloted by a chosen fighter. It has some quasi-spiritual elements to it that you’ll enjoy if you like Kung fu films. And if you want cutting-edge animation and political intrigue, then a more modern series like Gundam SEED, Gundam 00, Gundam Thunderbolt, or Iron-Blooded Orphans may interest you. Preferences vary, so beyond this, look for a Gundam watching guide online.

Gundam represents an entire genre of anime, so it’s a must-watch. Of course, it’s a given that Gundam will flourish in Japan for decades to come, but how will Gundam fare in the rest of the world? I think that just as Amuro learned through his battles, Gundam are not owned by any one person or nation. Collectively, we are all Gundam. It’s up to you to decide its fate.

Suit up!

Derek Padula is the world’s foremost professional Dragon Ball scholar. He illuminates the real-world historical, spiritual, and philosophical culture of Dragon Ball to enable readers to better understand the series and empower themselves on their own life journeys. His books include the seven-volume Dragon Ball Culture series, Dragon Soul: 30 Years of Dragon Ball Fandom, and Dragon Ball Z “It’s Over 9,000!” When Worldviews Collide. You can find him at thedaoofdragonball.com