View source for Mobile Suit Gundam

{{Short description|Japanese anime television series}}
{{About|the 1979 anime|the franchise that it spawned|Gundam|the Japanese mecha anime that aired from 1976 to 1977|Blocker Gundan 4 Machine Blaster}}
{{Redirect|Zeon|the Intel computer brand|Xeon|other uses}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = Mobile Suit Gundam
| image = MobileSuitGundamDVDbox.jpg
| caption = Cover of the first Anime Legends English DVD box compilation, featuring the protagonist [[Amuro Ray]] and the titular [[Gundam (fictional robot)|RX-78-2 Gundam]]
| ja_kanji = 機動戦士ガンダム
| ja_romaji = Kidō Senshi Gandamu
| genre = {{ubl|[[Real robot]]|[[Military science fiction]]|[[Space opera]]}}
| creator = {{ubl|[[Hajime Yatate]]|[[Yoshiyuki Tomino]]}}
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = TV series
| director        = Yoshiyuki Tomino
| producer        = {{Plain list|
* Yasuo Shibue
* Nobuyuki Okuma
* Wataru Sekioka
}}
| writer          = Yoshiyuki Tomino
| music           = {{Plain list|
* [[Takeo Watanabe]]
* Yūshi Matsuyama
}}
| studio          = [[Sunrise (company)|Nippon Sunrise]]
| licensee        = {{English anime licensee|AUS=[[Madman Entertainment]]|NA=[[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]|UK=[[Anime Limited]]}}
| network         = [[All-Nippon News Network|ANN]] ([[Nagoya Broadcasting Network|Nagoya TV]], [[TV Asahi]])
| network_en      = {{English anime network|US=[[Cartoon Network]] ([[Toonami]]), [[Adult Swim]]|SEA=[[Animax|Animax Asia]]}}
| first           = April 7, 1979
| last            = January 26, 1980
| episodes        = 43{{efn|name=episodes|Series creator and director Yoshiyuki Tomino requested that episode 15 be removed from international release, as he believed that the episode was not on par with the rest of the anime. As a result, there are only 42 episodes officially released in North America. Italy was the only region to officially release the episode outside Japan.}}
| episode_list    = List of Mobile Suit Gundam episodes
}}
{{collapsed infobox section begin}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type        = manga
| author      = Yū Okazaki
| illustrator =
| publisher   = [[Akita Shoten]]
| magazine    = 
| first       = May 1979
| last        = February 1982
| volumes     = 2
| volume_list =  
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = novel series
| author       = Yoshiyuki Tomino
| illustrator  = {{ubl|Yoshinobu Aobachi (1979 edition)|[[Haruhiko Mikimoto]] (1987 edition)}}
| publisher    = [[Asahi Sonorama]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|US=[[Del Rey Books]] (former)<br/>[[Stone Bridge Press]]
}}
| imprint      = Sonorama Bunko
| first        = 1979
| last         = 1981
| volumes      = 3
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = film series
| director        = Yoshiyuki Tomino
| producer        = {{Plain list|
* Masami Iwasaki
* Masuo Ueda
* Takayuki Yoshii
}}
| writer          = Yoshiyuki Tomino
| music           = {{Plain list|
* Takeo Watanabe
* Yūshi Matsuyama
}}
| studio          = Nippon Sunrise
| licensee        = {{English anime licensee|NA=[[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]}}
| first           = March 14, 1981
| last            = March 13, 1982
| runtime         =  {{Plain list|
* 139 minutes <small>(''I'')</small>
* 133 minutes <small>(''II'')</small>
* 144 minutes <small>(''III'')</small>
}}
| episodes        = 3
| episode_list    =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| title        = Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
| author       = Kazuhisa Kondo
| illustrator  =
| publisher    = [[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|US=[[Viz Media]]}}
| magazine     = [[Dengeki Daioh]]
| first        = 1993
| last         = 2005
| volumes      = 12
| volume_list  =  
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| title        = [[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin]]
| author       = [[Yoshikazu Yasuhiko]]
| publisher    = [[Kadokawa Shoten]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA= Viz Media (former)<br> [[Vertical (company)|Vertical Inc.]] (current)}}
| magazine     = [[Gundam Ace]]
| magazine_en  =
| first        = June 25, 2001
| last         = June 25, 2011
| volumes      = 24
| volume_list  = Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin#Tankōbon volume list 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = film
| title           = [[Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island]]
| director        = Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
| producer        = 
| writer          = Toshizo Nemoto
| music           = [[Takayuki Hattori]]
| studio          = Sunrise
| licensee        = 
| released        = {{Start date|2022|06|03}}
| runtime         = 108 minutes
| episode_list    = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| title        = Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island: Doan and Rolland
| author       = Junji Oono
| illustrator  =
| publisher    = Kadokawa Shoten
| publisher_en = 
| magazine     = Gundam Ace
| published    = June 24, 2022 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| title        = Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Episode Luna II
| author       = Kazuhisa Kondo
| illustrator  =
| publisher    = Kadokawa Shoten
| publisher_en = 
| magazine     = Gundam Ace
| first        = November 26, 2022
| last         = January 26, 2024
| volumes      = 1
| volume_list  =  
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Other
| title           = Video games
| content         =
* [[#Video games|List of ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' video games]]
}}
{{collapsed infobox section end}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer|portal=yes}}

{{Nihongo|'''''Mobile Suit Gundam'''''|機動戦士ガンダム|Kidō Senshi Gandamu|lead=yes}}, also retrospectively known as '''''First Gundam''''', '''''Gundam 0079''''' or simply '''''Gundam '79''''', is a Japanese [[anime]] television series produced by [[Bandai Namco Filmworks|Nippon Sunrise]]. Created and directed by [[Yoshiyuki Tomino]], it premiered in Japan on [[Nagoya Broadcasting Network]] and its affiliated [[ANN (Japanese TV)|ANN]] stations on April 7, 1979, airing 43 episodes until its cancellation on January 26, 1980.{{efn|name=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 [[mecha|giant robot]] known as the [[Gundam (fictional robot)|RX-78-2 Gundam]], piloted by the teenage civilian mechanic [[Amuro Ray]].

In 1981, the series was re-edited for theatrical release and split into three films. The human characters were designed by [[Yoshikazu Yasuhiko]], and [[Kunio Okawara]] was responsible for the robot designs, including the eponymous RX-78-2 Gundam. The first film was released on February 22, 1981. Tomino himself also wrote a trilogy of novels that retell the events of the series. Two [[manga]] adaptations of the series have also been written by two [[mangaka|manga artists]].

Despite initial low ratings that caused the series' cancellation, the popularity of ''Gundam'' saw a boost from the introduction of [[Bandai]]'s [[Gundam model|Gunpla models]] in 1980 and from [[reruns]] and the theatrical release of the anime, leading to the creation of a prolific and lucrative media and toy franchise. The series is considered iconic for revolutionizing the giant robot genre due to its portrayal of mobile suits as weapons of war with their pilots as ordinary soldiers. These aspects contrasted with the previous portrayals of hero pilots and their giant superhero robots.

==Plot==
{{See also|List of Mobile Suit Gundam characters}}
[[Image:Gundam0079C1.gif|right|thumb|230px|From left to right, top: [[Kai Shiden]], [[Ryu Jose]], [[Amuro Ray]], [[Fraw Bow]], [[Sayla Mass]], [[Mirai Yashima]] and [[Bright Noa]]; bottom: [[Hayato Kobayashi]], Katz Hawin, Letz Cofan and Kikka Kitamoto.]]
[[Image:Gundam0079C2.gif|right|thumb|230px|''Principality of [[Zeon]]'', from left to right: [[Giren Zabi]], [[Dozle Zabi]], [[Degwin Sodo Zabi]], [[Kycilia Zabi]], [[Garma Zabi]] and [[Char Aznable]].]]
Set in a [[fictional universe]]  ([[Universal Century]] year 0079 according to the Gundam Calendar), the Principality of Zeon has declared independence from the Earth Federation, and subsequently launched a war of independence called the One Year War. The conflict has directly affected every continent on Earth, also nearly every space colony and lunar settlement. Zeon, though smaller, has the tactical upper hand through their use of a new type of humanoid weapons called mobile suits. After half of all humanity perishes in the conflict and much of Earth's ecosystem, the war settled into a bitter stalemate lasting over eight months.

The story begins with a newly deployed Federation warship, the ''[[White Base]]'', arriving at the secret research base located at the Side 7 colony to pick up the Federation's newest weapon. However, they are closely followed by Zeon forces. A Zeon reconnaissance team member disobeys mission orders and attacks the colony, killing most of the Federation crew and civilians in the process. Out of desperation, young [[Amuro Ray]] accidentally finds the Federation's new prototype arsenal—the [[Gundam (fictional robot)|RX-78 Gundam]], and manages to beat back Zeon forces. Scrambling everything they can, the ''White Base'' sets out with her newly formed crew of civilian recruits and refugees in her journey to survive.

On their journey, the White Base members often encounter the Zeon Lieutenant Commander [[Char Aznable]]. Although Char antagonizes Amuro in battle, he takes advantage of their position as Federation members to have them kill members from Zeon's Zabi family as part of his revenge scheme as he is the son of the original founder of Zeon and the nation's namesake. Amuro also meets ensign [[Lalah Sune]] with whom he falls in love, but accidentally kills when facing Char. When the Federation Forces invade the Fortress of A Baoa Qu to defeat the Zeon forces, Amuro engages on a final one-on-one duel against Char due to each blaming the other for Lalah's death. Having realized he forgot his true enemy, Char stops fighting to kill the last surviving Zabi member, Kycilia Zabi. Amuro then reunites with his comrades as the war reaches its end, leaving behind the Gundam as it was rendered inoperable after his battle.

==Production==
[[File:2008TaipeiGameShow Day2 DigitalContentForum Yoshiyuki Tomino.jpg|thumb|left|Director Yoshiyuki Tomino used the series to tell a story about war.<ref name="qa"/>]]
The "Mobile Suits" of the show were inspired by the [[Powered exoskeleton|powered armor]] from the novel ''[[Starship Troopers]]'' from 1959.<ref>{{cite book|last=Tomino|first=Yoshiyuki|title=Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|year=2004|page=8|isbn=978-1-880656-86-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E5U95deDqxkC&q=Yoshiyuki+Tomino+starship+troopers+gundam|access-date=September 24, 2016|archive-date=February 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215082247/https://books.google.com/books?id=E5U95deDqxkC&dq=Yoshiyuki+Tomino+starship+troopers+gundam|url-status=live}}</ref> Mobile suits were conceptualized as human-like robots which would not only appeal to children.<ref name="qa">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2009-09-14/yoshiyuki-tomino-press-conference/2|title=Q&A with Yoshiyuki Tomino|work=Anime News Network|access-date=November 15, 2013|date=September 14, 2009|archive-date=December 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220174138/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2009-09-14/yoshiyuki-tomino-press-conference/2|url-status=live}}</ref>

In previous series Tomino worked in, villains were alien agents. ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' was the first of his work which featured humans as antagonists. The director commented he wanted to tell a story about war.<ref name="qa"/> He aimed to expose through art the horrors of the Japanese wartime aggression in Manchuria in 1939. Tomino did not wish to [[Historical revisionism|revise history]] and wanted to use the story to force viewers to confront the tragic realities of war. The director was originally unwilling to discuss the message of his work, expecting the viewers to reach their own conclusion. Additionally, he commented he "packed his frustrations" when making ''Gundam''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Imag(in)ing the War in Japan |publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-18298-1|year=2010|page=335|author=Stahl, David}}</ref>

Tomino met mechanical designer [[Kunio Okawara]] when he first worked in two television series from Sunrise. Tomino liked Okawara's work and asked him to collaborate with him in his upcoming project. Originally, the anime would be called "Gunboy" but it was renamed ''Mobile Suit Gundam''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2012-11-18|title=The Mike Toole Show Super Robot Island: Final|work=Anime News Network|date=November 18, 2012|access-date=November 18, 2012|archive-date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120013238/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/the-mike-toole-show/2012-11-18|url-status=live}}</ref> The ''White Base'', the mothership of the protagonist crew members, is designed with a 3 plane view method by Kunio Okawara, however, it is not specially designed for the anime series Gundam, it was actually a salvaged design from the anime ''[[Invincible Steel Man Daitarn 3]]''.<ref name="GC">''Gundam Century Renewal Version'', Kishosha, March 15, 2000, {{ISBN|978-4-87777-028-0}}</ref> The idea of having a space carrier from Tomino is partly inspired by the earlier science fiction anime ''[[Space Battleship Yamato]]'', which he claimed to be a fan of.<ref name="GC"/> It was intended to be in a more realistic black color, but was changed to white by the order of Sunrise, who similarly ordered the main mecha, Gundam, changed from a grayish white to white, red, blue and yellow. Director Tomino showed great disgust in the color change, also noticing the unrealistic non-aerodynamic design of it after the show was on air, said in an interview that such design would never appear in the real world, since it would be a sitting duck from fighter aircraft. Tomino still held a grudge 10 years after the show aired and stated in an interview in ''[[Newtype]]'' 1989 April issue that the imaginary enemies of Gundam are Sunrise, sponsors and television stations.<ref>''Newtype'' magazine 1989 April Issue</ref>

Tomino compares the machines with religious history in Japan, most notably the worship of [[Buddha]] statues located in temples. The relationship between the pilot and the mobile suit has also been compared with the [[Formula One]] drivers who rely on machines to achieve a goal.<ref>{{cite book|title=Loving the Machine: The Art and Science of Japanese Robots|publisher=Kodansha International|year=2006|page=[https://archive.org/details/lovingmachineart0000horn/page/64 64]|isbn=978-4-7700-3012-2|author=N. Hornyak, Timothy|url=https://archive.org/details/lovingmachineart0000horn/page/64}}</ref> In order to give the mechas fast movements, most of the fights were situated in space where there was low gravity. This led to the creation of space colonies as a common setting. In order to explain how a person as young as Amuro could pilot the Gundam, the team came up with the idea of [[Newtype (Gundam)|Newtype]]s.<ref name="qa"/>

==Media==

===Anime===
{{See also|List of Mobile Suit Gundam episodes}}
In February 1980, ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' was aired in Italy, the first country to broadcast the show outside Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/anim/gundam.htm|title=AntonioGenna.net presenta: IL MONDO DEI DOPPIATORI - ZONA ANIMAZIONE: "Gundam" / "Mobile Suit Gundam"|work=antoniogenna.net|access-date=July 18, 2011|archive-date=May 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501080400/http://www.antoniogenna.net/doppiaggio/anim/gundam.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>  ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' was also later aired by the anime satellite television network, [[Animax]], across Japan, with the series continuing to be aired on the network currently, and later its respective networks worldwide, including Hong Kong, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and other regions.

Hoping to capitalize on the success of ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Wing|Gundam Wing]]'' from the previous year, [[Bandai Entertainment]] released a heavily edited and English-dubbed version of ''Mobile Suit Gundam'', premiering on [[Cartoon Network]]'s [[Toonami]] weekday afternoon after-school action programming block across the United States on Monday, July 23, 2001. The series did not do as well as ''Wing'' but the ratings were high enough for the whole series to be aired and to spawn an enormous toy line. Due to [[September 11th attacks|9/11]], Cartoon Network, like many other American TV stations, began pulling, and editing, war-themed content and violent programming, resulting in the cancellation of the series. However, the series finale was shown as part of Toonami's "New Year's Eve-il" special on December 31, 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pope |first=Kyle |date=March 4, 2002 |title=The Edit List - * Edit List Special - Cartoon Network Interview |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/edit-list/2002-03-04/cartoon-network-interview |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241228135922/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/edit-list/2002-03-04/cartoon-network-interview |archive-date=December 28, 2024 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=Anime News Network |language=en}}</ref> On Saturday, June 8, 2002, the series would later air on their late-night [[Adult Swim]] block, starting over from the first episode, but it was again pulled before completing its run because of low ratings.

On May 30, 2006, Bandai Entertainment re-released the English dub of the TV series in a 10 volume DVD set.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mobile Suit Gundam Vol. 1: The Battle Begins (1979) |url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mobile_suit_gundam_vol_1_the_battle_begins/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041019160942/http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/mobile_suit_gundam_vol_1_the_battle_begins/ |archive-date=October 19, 2004 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=Rotten Tomatoes}}</ref> There was no Japanese audio track included, apparently because [[Yoshiyuki Tomino]] felt that the original mono mix was in too poor of a condition to use.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is GUNDAM? The Yoshiyuki Tomino Interview |url=http://www.animejump.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=40&page=1  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510031131/http://www.animejump.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=40&page=1 |archive-date=May 10, 2006 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=Anime Jump!}}("The sound quality of the recordings that remain from First Gundam is quite poor at this time. Because of this, there was no other way but to re-record the First Gundam movies, including the addition of new music. So, there would be no possibility of having the original soundtrack released in the United States.")</ref> However, in 2007 the original series was released on DVD in Japan, which sold over 100,000 copies within a month's time from December 21, 2007, to January 21, 2008.<ref>Otona no Gundam, Adult's Gundam, Nikki Entertainment</ref>

Only one episode out of the 43 episodes ("Cucuruz Doan's Island") had never been dubbed nor aired. This was at the request of Yoshiyuki Tomino, as he felt that it was not on par with the other episodes, resulting in the episode becoming a "lost episode" of sorts.<ref name=animeondvd>{{Cite web |first=Andrew |last=Tei |title=Yoshiyuki Tomino Panel – the daddy of Gundam! |orig-year=2002 |date=September 28, 2004 |url=http://www.animeondvd.com/conitem.php?item=180 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041018140320/http://www.animeondvd.com/conitem.php?item=180 |archive-date=October 18, 2004 |publisher=Anime on DVD |quote=I asked that it would be skipped. There is a reason, but since the staff is still alive I can't answer it. It's a long story.}}</ref> Despite this, the episode was included on Japanese DVD and Blu-ray releases, and was dubbed in Italian in the early 1980s.

At the 2010 [[New York Comic Con]]/[[New York Anime Festival]], Bandai Entertainment announced that they would re-release ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' with both the original Japanese audio and the English dub. Bandai released it in two sets in the summer of 2011.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-09/bandai-ent-adds-1st-gundam-tv-with-english-subs|title=Bandai Ent. Adds 1st Gundam TV Series With English Subs|work=Anime News Network|date=October 9, 2010|access-date=October 9, 2010|archive-date=October 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010200401/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-10-09/bandai-ent-adds-1st-gundam-tv-with-english-subs|url-status=live}}</ref> The first set was released on September 13, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Suit-Gundam-Complete-Collection/dp/B005F96UNW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1368017806&sr=1-1&keywords=mobile+suit+gundam|title=Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Collection 1: Anime DVD Region 1 US Import NTSC: Amazon.co.uk: DVD & Blu-ray|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909202343/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mobile-Suit-Gundam-Complete-Collection/dp/B005F96UNW/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1368017806&sr=1-1&keywords=mobile+suit+gundam|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the closure in 2012 of Bandai Entertainment, the series went out of print. At their [[New York Comic Con]] 2014 panel, Sunrise announced their plans to re-release all of the ''Gundam'' series on home video in North America, starting with the original series. They would be distributed via [[Right Stuf Inc.]]<ref name="RightStuf">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-11/sunrise-partners-with-right-stuf-to-release-gundam-franchise-stateside/.79830|title=Sunrise Partners With Right Stuf to Release Gundam Franchise Stateside|work=[[Anime News Network]]|date=October 11, 2014|access-date=October 11, 2014|archive-date=October 11, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141011180715/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-10-11/sunrise-partners-with-right-stuf-to-release-gundam-franchise-stateside/.79830|url-status=live}}</ref> They released the series on Blu-ray and DVD in October 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-03/right-stuf-sunrise-to-release-original-gundam-tv-anime-on-blu-ray-disc/.90041|title=Right Stuf, Sunrise to Release Original Gundam TV Anime on Blu-ray Disc|work=Anime News Network|date=July 3, 2015|access-date=July 5, 2015|archive-date=July 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705202158/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-07-03/right-stuf-sunrise-to-release-original-gundam-tv-anime-on-blu-ray-disc/.90041|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 25, 2015, British anime distributor Anime Limited announced they would release ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' in cooperation with Sunrise for the first time in the UK on DVD and Blu-ray.

===Novels===
In 1979, before the end of the anime, Yoshiyuki Tomino himself created the first novelizations of the original ''Gundam'' anime series. The novels, issued as a series of three books, allowed him to depict his story in a more sophisticated, adult, and detailed fashion. Along with this adaptation came several major changes to the story. For example, Amuro is already a member of the Federation military at the time of the initial Zeon attack on Side 7, and the main characters in the Federation serve on the ''White Base''-class ships ''Pegasus'' and ''Pegasus II'' rather than the ''Pegasus''-class ''White Base''.<ref>{{cite book | last = Tomino | first = Yoshiyuki | title = Mobile Suit Gundam | publisher = Stone Bridge Press | location = Berkeley | year = 2004 | pages = 11 | isbn = 978-1-880656-86-0}}</ref> Additionally, the war continues well into the year UC 0080 in the novels, whereas it concludes at the beginning of that year in the anime series. In the novel Amuro Ray is killed in the final attack against the Zeonic stronghold of A Baoa Qu when his RX-78-3 is pierced through the torso by a Rick Dom's beam bazooka. This occurs as Char's unit attempts to warn him about Gihren's intention to destroy the fortress and take the Federation's offensive fleet along with it. Char and the crew of ''Pegasus II'' (''White Base''), along with handpicked men under Kycilia Zabi's command, make a deep penetrating attack against the Side 3 and together kill Gihren Zabi, after which Kycilia is killed by Char. Tomino later lamented that had he known that the anime's ending would be different and that another series would be made, he would not have killed off Amuro in the novels.

The three novels were translated into English by [[Frederik Schodt]] and published by [[Del Rey Books]] in September 1990. At the time, there were no officially recognized romanizations of character and mecha names, and a variety of different spellings were being used in the English-language fan community. In the original three novels, therefore, Mr. Schodt wrote the name "Char" as "Sha." "Sha" is a transliteration of the Japanese pronunciation, although Mr. Tomino later publicly confirmed at Anime Expo New York 2002 that the name was originally based on the French name [[Charles Aznavour]], a popular French-language singer. (The 2004 edition of the English translation revealed that Schodt felt that the "Char" rendering "seemed too close" to Aznavour's name.) He also rendered "Zaku" as "Zak," and (after consulting with Tomino) "Jion" as "Zeon," instead of "Zion," which was in use in some circles. Some North American fans, already attached to particular spellings, took great umbrage at Schodt's renditions, forgetting that in the original Japanese most character and mecha names are written in ''[[katakana]]'', and that there were, therefore, no "official spellings." Many years later, when the ''Gundam'' series was finally licensed in North America, the rights holders came up with a unified list of "official spellings" for English-language material, and some of these spellings include Schodt's renditions, as well as the renditions to which certain North American fans were attached.

In 2004, Frederik Schodt revised his original translation of the books, which had been out of print for nearly a decade. What had been a three volume set in the 1990 Del Rey edition was re-released by [[Stone Bridge Press]] as one single volume of 476 pages with new cover art, titled ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Awakening, Escalation, Confrontation''. Since the rights holders in Japan by this time had created a unified (although still evolving) list of romanized character and mecha names, Schodt was able to use it, and Amuro's rival in the novel thus became "Char" and not "Sha"; the popular Zeon Mobile Suit, similarly, became "Zaku," and not "Zak".<ref>{{cite book | last = Tomino | first = Yoshiyuki | title = Mobile Suit Gundam | publisher = Stone Bridge Press | location = Berkeley | year = 2004 | pages = 470–473 | isbn = 978-1-880656-86-0}}</ref>

These novels influenced the 2025 ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX]]'' series, co-writer [[Yoji Enokido]] and director [[Kazuya Tsurumaki]] stating that they made it feel natural to turn character Challia Bull into part of the main cast.<ref>{{cite book| title =  GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- "Materials" Pamphlet | pages = 026–029}}</ref>

{{Book table |background=#A2BBAC |book_number= |title= |author= |publisher= |publish_date= |isbn= |books=
{{Book list
 | book_number    = 1
 | title          = {{nihongo|Mobile Suit Gundam 1|機動戦士ガンダム 1}}
 | author         = [[Yoshiyuki Tomino]]
 | publisher      = [[Asahi Sonorama]]
 | publish_date   = November 1979
 | isbn           = 978-4-257-76144-0
 | line_color     = novel
 | short_summary  = 
}}
{{Book list
 | book_number    = 2
 | title          = {{nihongo|Mobile Suit Gundam Ⅱ|機動戦士ガンダム Ⅱ}}
 | author         = Yoshiyuki Tomino
 | publisher      = Asahi Sonorama
 | publish_date   = September 1980
 | isbn           = 978-4-257-76164-8
 | line_color     = novel
 | short_summary  = 
}}
{{Book list
 | book_number    = 3
 | title          = {{nihongo|Mobile Suit Gundam Ⅲ|機動戦士ガンダム Ⅲ}}
 | author         = Yoshiyuki Tomino
 | publisher      = Asahi Sonorama
 | publish_date   = March 1981
 | isbn           = 978-4-257-76174-7
 | line_color     = novel
 | short_summary  = 
}}
}}

In the 1990s, Tomino wrote another series of novels centered around characters Amuro and Lalah.

{{Book table |background=#A2BBAC |book_number= |title= |author= |publisher= |publish_date= |isbn= |books=
{{Book list
 | book_number    = 1
 | title          = {{nihongo|Secret Rendezvous (First Part)|密会（上）}}
 | author         = Yoshiyuki Tomino
 | publisher      = [[Kadokawa Shoten]]
 | publish_date   = 9 August 1997<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:「密会（上）」富野由悠季 [一般文庫] | url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999700185/ | publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] | language=ja}}</ref>
 | isbn           = 978-4-047-00185-5
 | line_color     = novel
 | short_summary  = 
}}
{{Book list
 | book_number    = 2
 | title          = {{nihongo|Secret Rendezvous (Second Part)|密会（下）}}
 | author         = Yoshiyuki Tomino
 | publisher      = Kadokawa Shoten
 | publish_date   = 9 August 1997<ref>{{cite web | script-title=ja:「密会（下）」富野由悠季 [一般文庫] | url=https://www.kadokawa.co.jp/product/199999700186/ | publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] | language=ja}}</ref>
 | isbn           = 978-4-047-00186-2
 | line_color     = novel
 | short_summary  = 
}}
}}

For its 15th anniversary, the ''[[Newtype]]'' magazine serialised ''For the Barrel'', an adaptation of the series by Gichi Ohtsuka based on Tomino's novel trilogy.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=August 2000 |title={{nihongo|It Regenerates the World New Century{{sic}}|新時代の 息吹、そして光。ーバレル、始動。}} |url= |magazine=[[Newtype]] |location= |publisher=[[Kadokawa Shoten]] |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=March 2001 |title=BARREL - Introduction |url=http://www.web-newtype.com/cdrom/2001_03/barrel/about/intro.html |website=newtype.com |location= |publisher=Kadokawa Shoten |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020121232232/http://www.web-newtype.com:80/cdrom/2001_03/barrel/about/intro.html |archive-date=21 January 2002 |access-date=}}</ref>

===Films===
Following the success of the ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' TV series, in 1981 Tomino reworked the footage into three separate compilation films. The first two films, ''Mobile Suit Gundam I'' (also known as ''Mobile Suit Gundam The Movie'') and ''Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow'', were released in 1981. The third film, ''Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space'', was released in 1982.

Each of the three films is largely composed of old footage from the TV series, however Tomino felt that some things could be changed for the better. Tomino removed several aspects of the show which he felt were still too super robot-esque for the real robot series he intended ''Gundam'' to be, such as the Gundam Hammer weapon. The G-Armor upgrade parts were also completely removed and replaced in the narrative by the more realistic Core Booster support fighters, and Hayato receives a RX-77 Guncannon at Jaburo to replace the disadvantaged RX-75 Guntank. The third film also includes a substantial amount of new footage expanding on the battles of Solomon and A Baoa Qu.

The first ''Gundam'' film, upon release on February 22, 1981, drew a large crowd of 15,000 people at its premiere, leading to concerns from police and media that it could lead to social unrest from a riotous crowd. The event is considered a turning point in the [[history of anime]], referred to as "the day that anime changed" according to ''[[Asahi Shimbun]]'' newspaper.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clements |first1=Jonathan |title=Anime: A History |date=2017 |publisher=[[Bloomsbury Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-84457-884-9 |page=167 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dyBdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |access-date=February 20, 2019 |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806011652/https://books.google.com/books?id=dyBdDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |url-status=live }}</ref> The first film grossed {{JPY|1.76 billion}}, and ''Gundam II'' grossed {{JPY|1.38 billion}}.<ref name="data">{{cite web |title=ガンダムで映画化された作品を振り返る |url=http://datagundam.com/memo/gundam-movies/ |website=データガンダム |date=October 11, 2018 |language=ja |access-date=December 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215224307/http://datagundam.com/memo/gundam-movies/ |archive-date=December 15, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Encounters in Space'' was 1982's fourth [[List of highest-grossing films in Japan|highest-grossing Japanese film]], with a [[Gross rental|distribution income]] of {{JPY|1.29 billion}}<ref>{{cite web|title=1982年（1月～12月）|url=http://www.eiren.org/toukei/1982.html|website=Motion Picture Producers Association of Japan|access-date=March 5, 2018|archive-date=March 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306202318/http://www.eiren.org/toukei/1982.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and a total box office gross of {{JPY|2.31 billion}}.<ref name="gundam3">{{cite news |title=日本アカデミー賞にもノミネート 映画「ONE ＰＩＥCＥ」が超えた名作アニメ映画 |url=https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2135843243250709901 |access-date=February 19, 2019 |work=[[:ja:NAVERまとめ|Naver Matome]] |publisher=[[Naver (corporation)|Naver]] |date=January 24, 2013 |archive-date=July 31, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150731044115/http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2135843243250709901 |url-status=live }}{{User-generated source|date=March 2025}}</ref>{{User-generated source|date=March 2025}} Collectively, the trilogy grossed {{JPY|5.45 billion}} at the Japanese box office.<ref name="data"/>

In 1998, the three compilation films were first released directly to VHS subtitled into English as part of Bandai's AnimeVillage releases, which makes them among the first ''Gundam'' works released in English. A year later, Bandai released an English dub of three compilation films in 1999. Featuring the voice of [[Michael Lindsay]] as Amuro Ray, and [[Steve Blum]] as Char Aznable. Due to the dub mispronouncing the word Gundam as "Gun-dam", and the Principality of Zeon being called the "Duchy of Zeon", Sunrise prevented it from being re-released after its debut on VHS. The films were released again in North America on May 7, 2002, in DVD format, available separately or in a boxed set. These are also available only with re-done Japanese audio with English subtitles, the DVDs identical to the 20th anniversary release of the film compilation in Japan. The original Japanese voice cast members rerecorded their lines with the exception of those who were deceased. The 20th anniversary release was digitally remastered and many of the sound effects were replaced, most notably the futuristic gun sounds being replaced by louder machine gun sound effects. Also, the music soundtrack, while not remixed was rearranged and in some cases removed from some scenes. The vocal songs are rearranged also, especially in the closing credits of the second and third films.

[[Bandai Visual]] has announced the re-release of the ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' films on DVD from new HD masters and with the original, theatrical, mono audio mix. This boxed set was released in Japan on December 21, 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120410111352/http://product.bandaivisual.co.jp/web_service/shop_product_info.asp?item_no=BCBA-3107 [商品詳細 &#93; バンダイビジュアル株式会社<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://aeug.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html#5783743175328079764|title=Gunota Headlines|work=aeug.blogspot.com|access-date=August 2, 2007|archive-date=August 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070814005905/http://aeug.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html#5783743175328079764|url-status=live}}</ref> On May 18, 2010, Bandai Entertainment re-released the 20th anniversary version of the trilogy under their Anime Legends label.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100709073104/http://store.bandai-ent.com/product_p/669198200175.htm|archive-date=July 9, 2010|url=http://store.bandai-ent.com/product_p/669198200175.htm|title=Mobile Suit Gundam Trilogy Anime Legends|publisher=store.bandai-ent.com|access-date=November 11, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BI77MW|title=Amazon.com: Mobile Suit Gundam Trilogy Anime Legends: Tôru Furuya, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Yoshiyuki Tomino: Movies & TV|work=amazon.com|date=June 22, 2010|access-date=September 5, 2017|archive-date=September 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909202344/https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BI77MW|url-status=live}}</ref> As with the TV series, the films were re-released in North America under Sunrise themselves with distribution from [[Right Stuf Inc.]]<ref name="RightStuf"/>

The trilogy of films were distributed on DVD in the United Kingdom by Beez Entertainment in 2005 in Japanese and with a selection of subtitle tracks including English. Anime Ltd. has since acquired the UK license and has released a limited edition Blu-ray box set of the film trilogy (limited to 500 units) as an exclusive, sold only on their AllTheAnime.com store. It was released on March 27, 2017, in Japanese with English subtitles only.

An animated film titled {{nihongo|''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island]]''|機動戦士ガンダム ククルス·ドアンの島|Kidō Senshi Gandamu Kukurusu Doan no Shima|lead=yes}} was released on June 3, 2022, a remake of the "Cucuruz Doan's Island" episode which had previously never been released in English<ref>{{cite web|last1=Hodgkins|first1=Crystalyn|title=Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Directs Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island Anime Film Opening in 2022|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-09-15/yoshikazu-yasuhiko-directs-gundam-cucuruz-doan-island-anime-film-opening-in-2022/.177387|website=Anime News Network|access-date=September 15, 2021|date=September 15, 2021|archive-date=April 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220427041111/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-09-15/yoshikazu-yasuhiko-directs-gundam-cucuruz-doan-island-anime-film-opening-in-2022/.177387|url-status=live}}</ref> per Tomino's wishes.<ref name=animeondvd /> Although the film follows the same order of events as director [[Yoshikazu Yasuhiko]]'s ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin]]'' manga retelling of the show, he insisted on it being a remake of the episode and not titling it after ''The Origin''.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=KAWAI |first=Hiroyuki |date=18 March 2022 |title=機動戦士ガンダム ククルス・ドアンの島［インタビュー］監督：安彦良和 |url=https://www.gundam.info/news/publications/01_7058.html |magazine={{nihongo|Great Mechanics G|グレートメカニックＧ}} |location= |publisher=[[Futabasha]] |access-date=}}</ref>

===Manga===
There have been three manga series based on ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. One was written by [[Yū Okazaki]] between May 1979 and February 1982 and compiled into two volumes.<ref>{{cite book|title=機動戦士ガンダム (サンライズ・ロボット漫画コレクションvol.1)|language=ja|id={{ASIN|4775914219|country=jp}}}}</ref> Another is ''Mobile Suit Gundam 0079'' by Kazuhisa Kondo. It was published in ''Dengeki Comics'' from 1993 to 2005 in a total of twelve ''[[tankōbon]]'' volumes.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00GOQVFHQ/|title=機動戦士ガンダム0079 VOL.1 (電撃コミックス) Kindle版|access-date=May 28, 2020|via=Amazon.com|date=November 26, 2013|publisher=Kadokawa|archive-date=September 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200909202346/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B00GOQVFHQ/|url-status=live}}</ref> Viz Media published its first nine volumes in English between 2000 and 2003. The third manga is ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin]]'' by anime character designer [[Yoshikazu Yasuhiko]]. It was published from June 2001 to June 2011 in [[Kadokawa Shoten]]'s ''[[Gundam Ace]]'' magazine and collected in a total of 24 ''tankōbon'' volumes. The series was first released in English by [[Viz Media]] but was dropped before it was completed; it was then released by [[Vertical (publisher)|Vertical]] from March 2013 to December 2015.

Besides adaptations, there is a popular parody [[yonkoma]] manga titled ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam-san]]'', which was written and drawn by Hideki Ohwada and serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's ''Gundam Ace'' magazine since 2001.  This manga was adapted into an anime in 2014.  Ohwada also created a spinoff manga, {{nihongo|''Gundam Sousei''|ガンダム創世}}, which follows Yoshiyuki Tomino and the Sunrise staff as they work to make the television series and the compilation films. This series was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's ''Gundam Ace'' magazine from 2009 to 2011 and compiled in the ''Gundam-san'' tankōbon starting in Volume 5. Kadokawa released two tankōbon volumes collecting ''Gundam Sousei'' chapters as {{Nihongo|''{{vanchor|The Men Who Created Gundam}}''|「ガンダム」を創った男たち|"Gundam" wo Tsukutta Otoko-tachi}}. [[Denpa (company)|Denpa]] published ''The Men Who Created Gundam'' in English in June 2022 as an omnibus volume.

A one-shot manga written and illustrated by Junji Oono, ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island: Doan and Rolland'', was published on June 24, 2022 in the appendix to the August issue of ''Gundam Ace''. It serves as a prequel to the "Cucuruz Doan's Island" episode of the series.

A continuation of the ''Mobile Suit Gundam 0079'' manga, titled ''Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Episode Luna II'', was serialized in ''Gundam Ace'' from November 26, 2022, to January 26, 2024 and collected into one volume.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cayanan|first1=Joanna|title=Kazuhisa Kondō Launches Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Episode Luna II Manga in November|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-10-31/kazuhisa-kondo-launches-mobile-suit-gundam-0079-episode-luna-ii-manga-in-november/.191376|website=Anime News Network|access-date=October 31, 2022|date=October 31, 2022|archive-date=November 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101082918/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-10-31/kazuhisa-kondo-launches-mobile-suit-gundam-0079-episode-luna-ii-manga-in-november/.191376|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Cayanan|first1=Joanna|title=Kazuhisa Kondō's Mobile Suit Gundam 0079 Episode Luna II Manga Ends on January 26|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-28/kazuhisa-kondo-mobile-suit-gundam-0079-episode-luna-ii-manga-ends-on-january-26/.206012|website=Anime News Network|access-date=April 28, 2025|date=December 28, 2023|archive-date=January 20, 2024|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240120103724/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-12-28/kazuhisa-kondo-mobile-suit-gundam-0079-episode-luna-ii-manga-ends-on-january-26/.206012|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video games===
{{Main|List of Gundam video games}}
(For the list below, only video games featuring mobile suits that appeared in the One Year War, or related variations are included.)

There have been many video games based on or with mobile suits from the original ''Gundam'' series. Of these, the following have been released in North America:
* ''[[Gundam Battle Assault]], [[Gundam Battle Assault 2]]''
* ''[[Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs. Zeon]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Zeta Gundam]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire]]'' (''Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight'' in Japan and Australia)
* ''[[MS Saga: A New Dawn]]'' (''Mobile Suit Gundam: True Odyssey'' in Japan)
* ''[[Dynasty Warriors: Gundam]], [[Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2]], [[Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3]]'' (''Gundam Musou'' in Japan)
* ''[[Dynasty Warriors: Gundam Reborn]]'' (PlayStation 3 only)

Games that have been unreleased in countries outside Japan{{citation needed|date=June 2018}} include:
* ''Gundam 0079 The War for Earth''
* ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' (1993 arcade game)
* ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon ~Dual Stars of Carnage~''
* ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirit of Zeon ~Memory of Soldier~''
*''Quiz Mobile Suit Gundam: Monsenshi''
*''[[Gihren no Yabou|Giren's Greed]]'' (series)
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles]]''
* ''Mobile Suit Gundam: Climax UC''
*''Mobile Suit Gundam: The One Year War''
*''[[Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senshitachi no Kiseki|Mobile Suit Gundam: Path of the Soldiers]]'' (also referred to as ''Ace Pilot'')
* ''[[Gundam Battle]]'' (series)
* ''[[SD Gundam G Generation]]'' (series)
* ''[[SD Gundam: Scad Hammers]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy]]''
* ''[[Kidō Senshi Gundam: Senjō no Kizuna|Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield]]''
* ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam]]''

==Reception, influence and legacy==
{{See also|Cultural impact of Gundam}}
''Gundam'' was not popular when it first aired, and in fact came close to being canceled. The series was originally set to run for 52 episodes but was cut down to 39 by the show's sponsors, which included [[Clover (toy company)|Clover]] (the original toymakers for the series). However, the staff was able to negotiate a one-month extension to end the series with 43 episodes.<ref name="Legend Story of Gundam">The Legend Story of Gundam, Goods Press, March 15, 2011, {{ISBN|978-4-19-925031-6}}</ref> When [[Bandai]] bought the copyrights to build plastic models for the show's mecha, which was a relatively new market compared to the old [[Chogokin]] series Clover was making, things changed completely. With the introduction of their line of Gundam [[gunpla|model]]s, the popularity of the show began to soar. The models sold very well, the show began to do very well in reruns and its theatrical compilation was a huge success.<ref>{{cite book|title=Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga, Volume 1|year=2006|isbn=978-0-8166-4945-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/mechademia1emerg0000unse/page/175 175]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/mechademia1emerg0000unse/page/175|last1=Lunning|first1=Frenchy|publisher=U of Minnesota Press }}</ref> Audiences were expecting another [[Super Robot]] TV show, and instead found ''Gundam'', the first work of anime in an entirely new genre: the Real Robot genre.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 7, 2019 |title=ガンプラと歩んだ40年、ガンダムの生みの親・富野由悠季が語る「"おもちゃ屋スポンサーは敵"という被害妄想」 |trans-title=Gunpla's Walked 40 Years, Yoshiyuki Tomino Narrates Gundam's Life "'Toy Store Sponsors Are Enemies' Paranoia" |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/52812/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210927082105/https://www.oricon.co.jp/special/52812/ |archive-date=September 27, 2021 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> The Anime ranked #2 on ''Wizard's Anime'' Magazine on their "Top 50 Anime released in North America".<ref>{{cite news | date=July 6, 2001 | title=Wizard lists Top 50 Anime | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime | work=[[Anime News Network]] | access-date=February 2, 2014 | archive-date=April 2, 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402111019/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime | url-status=live }}</ref> In [[TV Asahi]]'s poll of the Top 100 Anime, ''Gundam'' came in 2nd.<ref>{{cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Christopher |date=2005 |title=TV Asahi Top 100 Anime |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2005-09-23/tv-asahi-top-100-anime |website=Anime News Network |location=United States |publisher=Kadokawa Corporation}}</ref> It is regarded as changing the concept of Japanese robot anime and the turning point of history in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403011252/http://www.anime-japan.jp/sponsor/openTheater.html|archive-date=April 3, 2014|url=http://www.anime-japan.jp/sponsor/openTheater.html|title=Anime Japan 2014|publisher=www.anime-japan.jp|access-date=November 11, 2015}}</ref>

Despite being released in 1979, the original ''Gundam'' series is still remembered and recognized within the [[otaku|anime fan community]]. The series revolutionized [[mecha]] anime,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/06/24/ask-john-which-anime-have-been-ahead-of-their-time/|title=Ask John: Which Anime Have Been Ahead of Their Time?|last=Oppliger|first=John|date=June 24, 2008|publisher=[[AnimeNation]]|access-date=February 1, 2010|author-link=John Oppliger|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830085019/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/06/24/ask-john-which-anime-have-been-ahead-of-their-time/|archive-date=August 30, 2008}}</ref> introducing the new Real Robot genre, and over the years became synonymous with the entire genre for many. As a result, for example, [[parodies]] of mecha genre commonly feature [[Homage (arts)|homage]]s to ''Mobile Suit Gundam'', thanks to its immediate recognizability.<ref name="Oppliger">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/05/16/ask-john-why-are-gundam-fans-so-obsessed-with-first-gundam/|title=Ask John: Why Are Gundam Fans So Obsessed With First Gundam?|date=May 16, 2008|author=John Oppliger|author-link=John Oppliger|publisher=[[AnimeNation]]|access-date=May 30, 2008|archive-date=May 20, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080520103420/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2008/05/16/ask-john-why-are-gundam-fans-so-obsessed-with-first-gundam/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The series was the first winner of the ''[[Animage]]'' Anime Grand Prix prize, in 1979 and the first half of 1980. In the top 100 anime from ''Animage'', ''Gundam'' was twenty-fourth.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-15/animage-top-100-anime-listing|title=Animage Top 100 anime listing|work=Anime News Network|date=January 15, 2001|access-date=December 23, 2013|archive-date=April 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415220509/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-01-15/animage-top-100-anime-listing|url-status=live}}</ref> The magazine ''Wizard'' listed the series as the second best anime of all time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime|title=Wizard lists Top 50 Anime|work=Anime News Network|date=July 16, 2001|access-date=December 23, 2013|archive-date=April 2, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140402111019/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2001-07-16/wizard-lists-top-50-anime|url-status=live}}</ref> By the end of 2007, each episode of the original TV series averaged a sales figure of 80,928 copies, including all of the different formats it was published in (VHS, LD, DVD, etc.).<ref>TVアニメ歷代売上累計平均ランキング最新版TOP25</ref> The first DVD box set sold over 100,000 copies in the first month of release, from December 21, 2007, to January 21, 2008.<ref>Otona no Gundam Perfect, Nikkei Business Publications January 21, 2008</ref> As part of the 30th Anniversary of the Gundam series, the company officially announced a project on March 11, 2009, called ''Real-G'', a plan to build a '''1:1''' real size scale Gundam in Japan. It was completed in July 2009 and displayed in a Tokyo park then taken down later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1/1実物大ガンダム大地に立つ！ |trans-title=1/1 Life Size Gundam Stands on Land! |url=http://recommend.yahoo.co.jp/silverlight/gundam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527142953/http://recommend.yahoo.co.jp/silverlight/gundam/ |archive-date=May 27, 2010 |access-date=April 19, 2025 |website=Yahoo! JAPAN |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 18-meter tall statue was reconstructed in Shizuoka Prefecture and was taken down in March 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1007/07/news070.html |title=静岡の空をそめていく......実物大ガンダム公開直前リポート – ITmedia News |language=ja |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=September 19, 2010 |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808232148/http://www.itmedia.co.jp/news/articles/1007/07/news070.html |url-status=live }} "Shizuoka ... full-scale Gundam"</ref> In August 2011 it was dismantled only to reopen in Odaiba, Tokyo on April 19, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-04-22/life-size-gundam-rises-again-at-tokyo-odaiba-in-video|title= Life-Size Gundam Rises Again at Tokyo's Odaiba in Video|date= April 22, 2012|access-date= May 4, 2012|work= [[Anime News Network]]|archive-date= October 29, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161029012314/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2012-04-22/life-size-gundam-rises-again-at-tokyo-odaiba-in-video|url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/01/gundam-robot-statue-tokyo-japan-bandai-plaza-divercity_n_1468856.html?ref=world|title= Giant 60-Foot 'Mobile Suit Gundam' Statue Presides Over DiverCity Tokyo Plaza (PHOTO)|date= May 1, 2012|access-date= May 4, 2012|work= [[Huffington Post]]|archive-date= September 20, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160920055210/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/01/gundam-robot-statue-tokyo-japan-bandai-plaza-divercity_n_1468856.html?ref=world|url-status= live}}</ref> It stood Odaiba along with a gift shop called "Gundam Front Tokyo" until it was dismantled in March 2016.

Most of the critical response to the series has been due to the setting and characters. [[John Oppliger]] observes that the characters of [[Amuro Ray]], to whom the young Japanese of that time could easily relate, and [[Char Aznable]], who was "simply [...] fascinating", made a major contribution to the series' popularity. He also concludes that "in many respects First Gundam stands for the nostalgic identifying values of everything that anime itself represents".<ref name="Oppliger"/> The series has been praised by [[Anime News Network]] for the way it portrays war with Amuro facing traumatic moments as a result of killing enemy soldiers in his becoming of a soldier.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mobile-suit-gundam/dvd-2|title=Mobile Suit Gundam DVD 2|work=Anime News Network|author=Shepard, Chris|date=January 21, 2002|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203110834/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mobile-suit-gundam/dvd-2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="dvdann">{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mobile-suit-gundam/dvd-3|title=MS Gundam (Dub only) DVD Vol. 3: The Threat of Zeon|work=Anime News Network|author=Dong, Bamboo|date=January 27, 2002|access-date=November 28, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203091618/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/mobile-suit-gundam/dvd-3|url-status=live}}</ref> The series is also notable for having humans from a different race as antagonists rather than evil creatures. However, the animation has been noted to have notoriously aged when compared with series seen in the 2000s.<ref name="dvdann"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/3979/mobile-suit-gundam-movie-i/|title=Mobile Suit Gundam Movie I|publisher=DVDTalk|access-date=December 24, 2013|author=Wallis, J. Doyle|archive-date=December 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214202838/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/3979/mobile-suit-gundam-movie-i/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Mecha anime creator [[Shoji Kawamori]] attended [[Keio University]] in the same years as ''Macross'' screenwriter [[Hiroshi Ōnogi]] and character designer [[Haruhiko Mikimoto]], where they had a ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' fan club called "Gunsight One", a name they would use years later as the call sign of the bridge of the [[SDF-1 Macross|SDF-1]] spaceship from their first ''[[Macross]]'' anime television series. In fact, ''[[The Super Dimension Fortress Macross]]'' mecha anime series was inspired by Gundam in several aspects during its early development.<ref name="Gunsight-1">{{cite web | title=Translation & Cultural Notes | url=http://www.animeigo.com/Liner/MACROSS.t#1 | work=The Super Dimension Fortress Macross Liner Notes | publisher=[[AnimEigo]] | date=December 21, 2001 | access-date=February 12, 2012 | quote=According to the liner notes of the AnimEigo DVD release of the Macross TV series ''Gunsight One'' was also the fanzine title of the ''Gundam'' fan club that creator Shoji Kawamori, character designer Haruhiko Mikimoto, and writer Hiroshi Oonogi (members number 1, 2, and 3 of said club) founded while they were students at Keio University in Japan... | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813121403/http://www.animeigo.com/Liner/MACROSS.t#1 | archive-date=August 13, 2009 | df=mdy-all }}</ref> [[Guillermo del Toro]] has cited the series as an influence on ''[[Pacific Rim (film)|Pacific Rim]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-08-11/pacific-rim-director-visits-odaiba-life-size-gundam-in-video |title=Pacific Rim Director Visits Odaiba's Life-Size Gundam in Video |access-date=August 16, 2015 |archive-date=August 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150809055238/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-08-11/pacific-rim-director-visits-odaiba-life-size-gundam-in-video |url-status=live }}</ref>

American musician [[Richie Kotzen]], former guitarist from [[Poison (American band)|Poison]] and Mr. Big, released an album called ''Ai Senshi ZxR'' in 2006 in Japan. The album consisted of covered music from the Gundam series and original songs. American musician [[Andrew W.K.]] also released an album called ''[[Gundam Rock]]'' on September 9, 2009, in Japan. The album consists of covered music from the Gundam series to celebrate its 30th anniversary.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-14/gundam-rock-english-cover-album-to-ship-in-japan|title=''Gundam Rock'' English Cover Album to Ship in Japan|work=Anime News Network|access-date=September 16, 2009|archive-date=September 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926173452/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-14/gundam-rock-english-cover-album-to-ship-in-japan|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Background research===
The background research of ''Mobile Suit Gundam'' is well praised in its field. The positions in which the colonies (sides) are located in orbit are called [[Lagrangian point]]s, and are real world solutions to the [[three-body problem]]. The colonies (sides) are based on the [[O'Neill cylinder]] design for [[space habitat]]s.<ref>Gundam Century, Gundam Science, High Frontier</ref><ref>Gundam SF World</ref><ref>Mobile Suit Gundam Epoch Vol. 1</ref> The Gundam franchise was a major contributing factor to the fame of the O'Neil cylinder in Japan.<ref>王立科學博物館</ref>

===Rides===
"Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu" was an [[amusement park]] attraction at the [[Fuji-Q Highland]] Amusement Park located in [[Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi]], Japan. It was a [[dark ride]] for the park. Gundam the Ride, which opened to the public on July 20, 2000, was based on ''Mobile Suit Gundam''. Set during the final chaotic Battle of A Baoa Qu, Gundam the Ride places its riders in an Escape Launch Shuttle about to leave the battleship ''Suruga''.

The animation of Gundam the Ride used mostly computer graphics, however, all human characters were hand-drawn cel animation, similar to the style current ''Gundam'' video games are done in. All of the character designs for Gundam the Ride were done by [[Haruhiko Mikimoto]]. The ride's characters make a cameo appearance in the video game "Encounters in Space" while the player (playing as Amuro Ray in his Gundam) is making his way through the ''Dolos''.

The ride closed on January 8, 2007, and replaced with "Gundam Crisis Attraction" The main feature of this attraction is a full size 1:1 Gundam model, lying flat inside the venue. Instead of sitting in a movable cockpit and watching a CG movie, it requires participants to carry handheld devices throughout the attraction to find certain pieces of information, similar to a [[scavenger hunt]], in order to activate the Gundam. The interior of the attraction is a mock-up of a Federation ship, and employees remain in-character inside of the ride.

==See also==
{{Portal|Anime and manga|1980s}}
* ''[[Gundam]]''

*''[[Gundam (fictional robot)]]''

*''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin]]'' - a reboot of the original from first anime this manga 21st century of first Gundam, the backstory same previous us but the storyline is difference, original character was return, the Mobile Suit of "RX-78-2 Gundam," "RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam," "MS-06 Zaku" and other was redesign later revealing the origin of Char Aznable (Casval Rem Deikun) and Sayla Mass (Artesia Som Deikun) was reveal by "Tomino Memo" use.

*''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team]]'' - a first side story of first original of Gundam, in set U.C 0079 during "One Year War" after the death Garma Zabi the main protagonist name is Shiro Armada a soldier Federation was transfer to earth joint team and become Gundam pilot the "RX-79 [G] Gundam Ground Type" from RX-78 Gundam series.

*''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: War in the Pocket]]'' - a second a side story of first Gundam anime, set in december of  U.C 0079 about nearly end One Year War where the federation side and zeon side prepare final conlfict the three main characters finaly here is Alfred Izuruha is child boy was still not know what reality is in living world, Christina Mackenzie a test pilot for new Gundam-type mobile suit the "RX-78-NT-1" and Bernard Wiseman a pilot of zeon military.

*''[[Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO]]'' - a third side story

== Notes ==
{{Reflist|group=Note}}
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote|Mobile Suit Gundam}}
* Official Website: [http://www.gundam.jp/ Anime]
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.gundamofficial.com/www_uc/ |date=* |title=Official English website }}
* {{anime News Network|anime|46}}
* {{IMDb title|0159172}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before = none}} 
{{s-ttl|title = ''[[Gundam]]'' metaseries (production order)|years = 1979–1980}} 
{{s-aft|after = ''[[Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam]]''}}
{{s-bef|before = ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO]]''}} 
{{s-ttl|title = ''Gundam'' [[Universal Century]] timeline|years = U.C. 0079–0080}} 
{{s-aft|after = ''[[Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team]]''<br />''[[Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance|Mobile Suit Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance]]''<br />''[[Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt]]''<br />''[[Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket]]''}}
{{s-end}}
{{Mobile Suit Gundam}}
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