Gundam


Gundam is a Japanese military science fiction media franchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino for Sunrise, the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, known as "Mobile Suits", typically including a prominent one carrying the name "Gundam". The franchise began with the premiere of the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam on April 7, 1979, which defined the "real robot" mecha anime genre by depicting giant robots within a militaristic setting.
The popularity of the series and its merchandise spawned a multimedia franchise that includes over 50 TV series, films, and original video animations, as well as manga, novels, and video games, along with a multimillion industry of plastic model kits known as Gunpla, which accounts for 90 percent of the Japanese character plastic model market. Academics in Japan have also taken interest in the series; in 2008, the virtual Gundam Academy was planned as the first academic institution based on an animated TV series.
As of 2022, the Gundam franchise is fully owned by Bandai Namco Holdings through its anime production and distribution subsidiary Bandai Namco Filmworks and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Sotsu. The Gundam franchise had grossed over in retail sales by 2000. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, the Gundam franchise generated approximately ¥65.4 billion in IP-related revenue, making it Bandai Namco's highest-earning intellectual property during that period, driven by successes across streaming, model kits, theatrical releases, and experiential tourism initiatives.

Overview

Concept

Mobile Suit Gundam was developed by animator Yoshiyuki Tomino alongside rotating members of Sunrise using the collective pseudonym Hajime Yatate.
The series’ early working title was Freedom Fighter Gunboy, reflecting the robot-centric focus and adolescent target demographic. Conceptual elements like naming the White Base "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter "Freedom Wing", and the Gunperry "Freedom Cruiser" underscored the theme of freedom. The name Gundam was eventually chosen—combining “gun” and “dam”—to evoke imagery of a powerful weapon acting like a dam to hold back enemies.
Gundams are portrayed as prototype or limited-production mobile suits with superior performance compared to mass-produced models. These suits typically feature humanoid designs, cockpit control in the torso, and head units functioning as visual sensors. Across the franchise's numerous series and media formats, each Gundam variant reflects unique aesthetics, capabilities, and pilots.

Innovations to the genre

Mobile Suit Gundam is credited with pioneering the real robot subgenre of mecha anime, distancing itself from the fantastical “super robot” scene by introducing realistic mechanics, energy limitations, and equipment failures. The franchise integrates plausible science—such as Lagrange points, O'Neill cylinder colonies, and helium-3 energy—with speculative constructs like Minovsky physics to support its mechanics. Its sweeping narratives and political dimensions also align it with the space opera genre. A recurring theme includes genetically advanced humans known as, endowed with extrasensory perceptions that enhance piloting capabilities and interpersonal empathy.

Timelines

The Gundam franchise is subdivided into "timelines" which act as their own self-contained continuities. The largest of these continuities is the Universal Century, which began with the original show from 1979.
Alternate universes such as the Cosmic Era and the Anno Domini era present standalone narratives. While they may take inspiration from eachother, they ultimately represent their own chronology.

Spinoffs

SD Gundam employs a comedic style with chibi characters, debuting in the mid-1980s. Later series such as Gundam Build Fighters and Gundam Build Divers explore modern-day settings where battles between Gunpla serve as the central narrative device.

Media

TV series, films, and video

Except for Mobile Suit Gundam 00, which follows the current calendar era albeit three centuries in the future, all Gundam series are set in a fictional era, with a new calendar adopted after a drastic event or chain of events and typically involving a major conflict involving Earth and space colonies. An exception are the Gundam Build timelines, which are set in an alternate present time where all other Gundam installments are fictional.
NameMediaRelease dateTimeline and year
Mobile Suit GundamTV series: 43 episodes1979-1980Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit GundamCompilation movies: 31981-1982Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Zeta GundamTV series: 50 episodes1985-1986Universal Century 0087
Mobile Suit Zeta GundamCompilation movies: 32005-2006Universal Century 0087
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZTV series: 47 episodes1986-1987Universal Century 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZOVA: 2 episodes2009Universal Century 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's CounterattackMovie1988Universal Century 0093
Mobile Suit SD GundamMovies: 51988, 1989, 1991, 1993
Mobile Suit SD GundamOVA: 9 episodes1989-1991
Mobile Suit SD GundamCompilation TV series: 8 episodes1993
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketOVA: 6 episodes1989Universal Century 0079-80
Mobile Suit Gundam F91Movie1991Universal Century 0123
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryOVA: 13 episodes1991-1992Universal Century 0083
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryCompilation movie1992Universal Century 0083
Mobile Suit Victory GundamTV series: 51 episodes1993-1994Universal Century 0153
Mobile Fighter G GundamTV series: 49 episodes1994-1995Future Century 60
Mobile Suit Gundam WingTV series: 49 episodes1995-1996After Colony 195
Mobile Suit Gundam WingCompilation specials: 4 episodes1996After Colony 195
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamOVA: 12 episodes1996-1999Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamCompilation movie1998Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamSpecial2013Universal Century 0079
After War Gundam XTV series: 39 episodes1996After War 15
Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzOVA: 3 episodes1997After Colony 196
Gundam Wing: Endless WaltzCompilation movie1998After Colony 196
Gundam: Mission to the RiseShort film1998
Turn A GundamTV series: 50 episodes1999-2000Correct Century 2343-45
Turn A GundamCompilation movies: 22002Correct Century 2343-45
G-SaviourLive-action TV movie2000Universal Century 0223
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green DiverSpecialty format movie2001Universal Century 0087
Gundam EvolveOVA: 15 episodes2001-2007
Mobile Suit Gundam SEEDTV series: 50 episodes2002-2003Cosmic Era 71-72
Mobile Suit Gundam SEEDEpilogue OVA short2004Cosmic Era 71-72
Mobile Suit Gundam SEEDCompilation specials: 3 episodes2004Cosmic Era 71-72
Superior Defender Gundam ForceTV series: 52 episodes2003-2004
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV AstrayPromo OVA shorts: 2 episodes2004Cosmic Era 71
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year WarOVA: 3 episodes2004Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DestinyTV series: 50 episodes2004-2005Cosmic Era 73-74
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DestinyTV special2005Cosmic Era 73-74
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DestinyCompilation specials: 4 episodes2006Cosmic Era 73-74
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079OVA: 3 episodes2006Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: StargazerONA: 3 episodes2006Cosmic Era 73
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: StargazerCompilation OVA: 12006Cosmic Era 73
Mobile Suit Gundam 00TV series: 50 episodes2007-2009Anno Domini 2307-08, 2312
Mobile Suit Gundam 00Compilation OVA: 3 episodes2009Anno Domini 2307-08, 2312
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: Gravity FrontOVA: 3 episodes2008Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record: Avant-TitleOVA2009Universal Century 0079
Ring of GundamShort film2009-
Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornOVA: 7 episodes, 1 special episode2010-2014Universal Century 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornCompilation TV series: 22 episodes2016Universal Century 0096
SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle WarriorsMovie2010
SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle WarriorsTV series: 51 episodes2010
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the TrailblazerMovie2010Anno Domini 2314
Model Suit [Gunpla Builders Beginning G]Specials: 3 episodes2010Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam AGETV series: 49 episodes2011-2012Advanced Generation 115-164
Mobile Suit Gundam AGECompilation OVA: 2 episodes2013Advanced Generation 115-164
Gundam Build FightersTV series: 25 episodes2013-2014Our Century
Gundam Build FightersSpecials: 3 episodes2014Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam-sanTV series: 13 episodes2014
Gundam Reconguista in GTV series: 26 episodes2014-2015Regild Century 1014
Gundam Reconguista in GCompilation movies: 52019-2022Regild Century 1014
Gundam Build Fighters TryTV series: 25 episodes2014-2015Our Century
Gundam Build Fighters TryOVA2016Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam: The OriginOVA: 6 episodes2015-2018Universal Century 0068, 0071, 0074, 0077, 0078, 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The OriginCompilation TV series: 13 episodes2019Universal Century 0068, 0071, 0074, 0077, 0078, 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded OrphansTV series: 50 episodes2015-2017Post Disaster 323, 325
Mobile Suit Gundam ThunderboltONA: 8 episodes2015-2017Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam ThunderboltCompilation movies: 22016-2017Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXISONA: 6 episodes2017Universal Century 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXISCompilation movie2017Universal Century 0096
Gundam Build Fighters BattlogueONA: 5 episodes2017Our Century
Gundam Build Fighters: GM's CounterattackONA2017Our Century
Gundam Build DiversPrologue ONA2018Our Century
Gundam Build DiversTV series: 25 episodes2018Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam NarrativeMovie2018Universal Century 0097
SD Gundam World Sangoku SoketsudenONA: 10 episodes2019-2021
Gundam Build Divers Re:RiseONA: 26 episodes2019-2020Our Century
Gundam Build Divers: BattlogueONA2020Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam G40ONA2020Universal Century 0079
Gundam Build RealLive-action net drama: 6 episodes2021Our Century
SD Gundam World HeroesONA: 24 episodes2021
Mobile Suit Gundam HathawayMovies: 32021-TBAUniversal Century 0105
Gundam Breaker BattlogueONA: 6 episodes2021Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's IslandMovie2022Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from MercuryPrologue ONA2022Ad Stella 101
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from MercuryTV series: 24 episodes2022-2023Ad Stella 122
Gundam Build MetaverseONA: 3 episodes2023Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FreedomMovie2024Cosmic Era 75
Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver PhantomVR movie2024Universal Century 0096
Gundam: Requiem for VengeanceONA: 6 episodes2024Universal Century 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuXCompilation movie2025Alternate version of Universal Century 0079, 0085
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuXTV series: 12 episodes2025Alternate version of Universal Century 0079, 0085
Mobile Suit [Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr-Hunt|Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Urdr-Hunt – Path of the Little Challenger]Movie2025Post Disaster 323
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom ZeroTBATBACosmic Era 74

Live-action film

At the 2018 Anime Expo, Legendary Pictures and Sunrise announced a collaboration to develop a live-action Gundam film. Brian K. Vaughan was brought in to write and serve as an executive producer for the film. In April 2021, it was reported that the project had landed at Netflix and that Jordan Vogt-Roberts had been hired to direct. In October 2024, it was announced that Jim Mickle would be the new director and writer, and that Netflix was no longer involved. In March 2025, Deadline reported that actress Sydney Sweeney is in talks for a role. In September 2025, there have been reports that Benson Boone and Drew Starkey are in talks to join the movie. On November 21, 2025, it was reported that Starkey has dropped out of the movie and Noah Centineo is in talks for the lead.

Manga and novels

Manga adaptations of the Gundam series have been published in English in North America by a number of companies, such as Viz Media, Del Rey Manga and Tokyopop, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Notable entries include Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, written and illustrated by original series character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. It is a retelling of the first series with additional flashbacks surrounding one of the series' main characters, Char Aznable.

Video games

Gundam has spawned over 80 video games for arcade, computer and console platforms, some with characters not found in other Gundam media. Some of the games, in turn, inspired spinoff novels and manga.

Gunpla

Primarily made of plastic, but sometimes paired with resin and metal detail parts, hundreds of Gundam scale plastic models, known as Gunpla, have been released since the early 1980s. They range in quality from toolless-build children's toy kits to hobbyist and museum-grade models, and most are in common scales such as 1:35, 1:48, 1:60, 1:100, or 1:144. Various Grades exist to target hobbyists, ranging from smaller-sized kits such as High Grade and Real Grade to larger Master Grade and Perfect Grade model kits. The Real Grade Gundam series combines the Master Grade's detailed inner structure with additional color separation, making the 1:144-scale series complex in design and compact in size, with the final goal of retooling a Gundam to what it might look like in real life, similar to the full-size Gundam statues.
Promotional 1:6 or 1:12 scale models are supplied to retailers and are not commercially available. For Gundam 30th anniversary, a full-size RX-78-2 Gundam model was constructed and displayed at Gundam Front Tokyo in the Odaiba district; it was taken down on March 5, 2017. A new statue of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam was erected at the same location, now renamed The Gundam Base Tokyo.

Other merchandise

, Gundam primary licensee, produces a variety of products. Other companies produce unofficial merchandise, such as toys, models and T-shirts. Products include Mobile Suit in Action action figures and Gundam model kits in several scales and design complexities. Each series generally has its own set of products, MSiA and model lines such as Master Grade and High Grade Universal Century, which h may extend across series. The most popular action figure line has been the Gundam Fix series, which includes the mecha in the animated series, manga, novels and accessories to create an updated version. In addition to Master Grade and High Grade Gundams, Bandai released a 30th-anniversary series of Gundam models in 2010. After the introduction of the RG Gunpla line, Bandai released the Metal Build series in March 2011, beginning with the 00 Gundam.

Online engagement

Bandai Namco Filmworks maintains several official websites to promote Gundam projects. The main Japanese-language portal is Gundam Perfect Web, which provides news, product information, and event updates.
In July 2025, Bandai Namco Filmworks announced that the longstanding portal Gundam.info is undergoing a major overhaul, to be rebranded as the Gundam Official Website. This new site, to be hosted at , is slated to launch in 2025 and will serve as the international hub for series information, news, and product updates, replacing Gundam.info.
In 2005, Gundam.info’s English counterpart hosted the Gundam Official User Forum, which was based on the fan-run Gundam Watch forum and used many of its moderators. After the forum’s closure, Gundam Watch re-emerged independently as Gundam Evolution.
Series-specific promotional websites have also been created to highlight character info, mecha designs, merchandise, and special content like wallpapers or mini-games. For example, the Superior Defender Gundam Force site featured an interactive game where the player takes control of Commander Sazabi in a comedic scenario.
The franchise also maintains an active presence on social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, where official accounts post trailers, Gunpla showcases, news updates, and livestream content aimed at fans worldwide.

Global spread

Gundam began expanding beyond Japan in the early 1980s through television broadcasts and home-video distribution across East and Southeast Asia, followed by Europe and the Americas in the 1990s, aided by Bandai’s international licensing and merchandise programs. In North America, mainstream recognition increased dramatically in 2000 when Mobile Suit Gundam Wing premiered on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block; industry trade coverage at the time noted Toonami’s rising kids’ ratings and cited Gundam Wing as a key acquisition driving the block's expansion that year. Subsequent home-video partnerships widened catalog access in the mid-2010s, including Sunrise's 2014 distribution agreement with Right Stuf/Nozomi for legacy Gundam titles in North America. In Europe, the brand's visibility has been reinforced by major pop culture events, with media in France highlighting Bandai hobby exhibits and large-scale Gunpla activations at Japan Expo in Paris. More recently, global streaming has accelerated international reach; for example, Netflix announced a worldwide debut for the Unreal Engine-produced series Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance, underscoring the franchise's contemporary, simultaneous release strategy outside Japan. Collectively, these developments—broadcast exposure, hobby merchandising, event marketing, home-video partnerships, and day-and-date streaming—have driven the franchise's sustained overseas growth and helped standardize access to both classic catalog and new installments.

Impact

Gundam is a Japanese cultural icon and a multi-billion-yen annual business for Bandai Namco. Annual revenue for the franchise reached ¥54.5 billion by 2006, by 2014, and by 2024. Examples of its cultural ubiquity in the country include the issuing of Gundam stamps, an Agriculture Ministry employee being reprimanded for contributing to Japanese Wikipedia Gundam-related pages, and the Japan Self-Defense Forces code-naming its developing advanced personal-combat system Gundam. Based on a December 16, 2023 survey conducted by Nikkei Entertainment, the fanbase of Gundam within Japan has an average age of 42 years, and a male-to-female ratio that skews 90:10. The impact of Gundam in Japan has been compared to the impact of Star Wars in the United States.