What Is the Best Order to Watch Gundam? Find Out Here!

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Anime experts Trapped in Anime explain how to watch Gundam

Co-authored by Trapped in Anime and Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: March 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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• What is Mobile Suit Gundam?
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• Universal Century Timeline Watch Order
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• Other Timeline Watch Orders
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• Where to Watch
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• Video

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Are you ready to take on the colossal franchise that is Mobile Suit Gundam—but a little confused on where to get started? We’ve got you covered! The 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam anime series is really just the tip of the iceberg; there’s so much ground to cover (and so many alternate timelines) in this iconic universe that we don’t blame you for being puzzled. We talked to anime experts to help us explain the best order to watch Mobile Suit Gundam’s main timeline (the Universal Century), plus its additional timelines, to boot. And don’t worry: we’ll show you where to find and watch all of this Gundam content, too!

How to Watch Gundam in Chronological Order

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Anime experts Trapped in Anime say you can pick up Gundam with any of the series. If you want to watch in order, start with Mobile Suit Gundam - The Origin and Mobile Suit Gundam, the original Gundam series. Then, continue with the rest of the timeline—and branch out into other timelines, too.

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Section 1 of 4:

What is Mobile Suit Gundam?

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1. 
   Mobile Suit Gundam is a franchise spanning multiple “timelines.”Mobile Suit Gundam’s history goes all the way back to 1979; it’s an impressively long-running and well-established franchise! Its premise centers around the existence of giant robots (mecha) called “Gundam” within a futuristic—and militaristic—setting. Because there are so many different Gundam shows and movies, the franchise’s continuity is split up into different timelines.

   • The main timeline that we’ll be talking about is called the “Universal Century” timeline. That’s the timeline in which the original Mobile Suit Gundam takes place.
   • There are several other timelines worth exploring, too—and we’ll talk about those later on.
   • Trapped in Anime say that individual Gundam series usually have enough context that you can start watching any one of them without watching the ones that came before it. “You can start watching Gundam Wing, [and] you don’t necessarily have to know what happened with the original Mobile Suite Gundam from back in the day.” They add that series like G Gundam, SD Gundam, and Gundam Seed are “almost complete spin-offs” that can stand alone.
   • “If you want to enrich the lore overall,” suggest Trapped in Anime, “you can go back to a previous series and get more context.”

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Section 2 of 4:

How to Watch Mobile Suit Gundam in Order (Universal Century Timeline)

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1. 
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   Mobile Suit Gundam - The OriginThe Origin is, fittingly, antagonist Char Aznable’s origin story. It follows his life in the time before the One Year War—and even though it came out much later than some of the other Universal Century content, it still comes first chronologically in Gundam’s main timeline.

   • Released: 2015 - 2018
2. 2
   Mobile Suit Gundam (Gundam 0079)Mobile Suit Gundam is the original Gundam show—the one that came before any others! It introduced the world to this franchise and follows the story of Amuro Ray and the One Year War. Alternately titled Gundam 0079, the series consists of a single season (or, alternatively, a compilation movie trilogy).

   • Released: 1979 - 1980
3. 3
   Mobile Suit Gundam MS-IGLOOMS-IGLOO is a 3-episode animated OVA (original video animation) that follows Zeon engineers during the war, and how their rush to create technology likely led to their defeat.

   • Released: 2004
4. 4
   Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamThe 08th MS Team is a side-story set during the war, with only twelve episodes. It follows a mobile suit pilot, Shiro Amada, who falls in love with an enemy soldier; the pair ultimately begin questioning their loyalties to their respective sides.

   • Released: 1996 - 1999
5. 5
   Gundam: Requiem for VengeanceRequiem for Vengeance is a series taking place during the tail end of the One Year War. It’s all about a Zeon pilot whose mission is to defend the European front and protect it from the Federation.

   • Released: 2024
6. 6
   Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketWar in the Pocket is a small side-story set during the last days of the One Year War, telling the story of a young child whose life is upended by the conflict.

   • Released: 1989
7. 7
   Mobile Suit Gundam ThunderboltThunderbolt is an intriguing series that takes a closer look at the lives of soldiers during the war (beyond major Gundam characters like Amuro or Char). As such, it takes place at the same time as Mobile Suit Gundam.

   • Released: 2015 - 2017
8. 8
   Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryStardust Memory is a short series that tells the story of the post-war “Operation Stardust,” set three years after the end of the One Year War.

   • Released: 1991 - 1992
9. 9
   Mobile Suit Zeta GundamAs a direct sequel toMobile Suit Gundam, Zeta is set seven years after the end of the One Year War. It follows the conflict between two new, rising factions: the Titans and the Anti-Earth Union Group.

   • Released: 1985 - 1986
10. 10
    Mobile Suit Gundam ZZA sequel toMobile Suit Zeta Gundam, ZZ follows the travels of the Anti-Earth Union Group battleship Argama, its Captain, and a group of teenage junk collectors.

    • Released: 1986 - 1987
11. 11
    Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s CounterattackChar’s Counterattack concludes Char and Amuro’s story (and longtime rivalry) with a bang, finishing the tale that began with Mobile Suit Gundam.

    • Released: 1988
12. 12
    Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornUnicorn was adapted from a Gundam novel series of the same name. Taking place in Universal Century 0096 (three years after Char’s Counterattack), Unicorn tells the story of Banagher Links, a young student, and a mystery with the potential to destroy the Earth Federation.

    • Released: 2010 - 2014
13. 13
    Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AxisTwilight Axis is actually a short film comprised of several ONA (original net animation) episodes compressed together; it’s only a handful of minutes long in total. It follows a pair of weapons developers hired to investigate the remains of the asteroid base Axis.

    • Released: 2017
14. 14
    Mobile Suit Gundam NarrativeNarrative is a Gundam film set one year after the events of Unicorn. In it, the Federation is threatened by the discovery of a dangerous new Gundam.

    • Released: 2018
15. 15
    Mobile Suit Gundam HathawayHathaway is a Gundam film set some time after Char’s Counterattack. It follows Hathaway Noa, a soldier loading the anti-Earth Federation group Mafty.

    • Released: 2021
16. 16
    Mobile Suit Gundam F91Set 30 years afterChar’s Counterattack, F91 attempts to begin a new Gundam saga. In it, the Earth Federation sets out to build new space colonies, only for the Crossbone Vanguard to swoop in and seize them.

    • Released: 2004
17. 17
    Mobile Suit Victory GundamThis is the final full series to be set in the Universal Century timeline’s calendar, following two children who get thrown into the conflict between BESPA (a military branch of the Zanscare Empire) and the League Militaire resistance movement.

    • Released: 1993 - 1994
18. 18
    G-SaviourG-Saviour isn’t anime at all—it’s a live-action Gundam movie about the conflict between the Federation and the colonies, taking place in Universal Century 0223.

    • Released: 1999
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Watch Other Gundam Timelines

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1. 
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   Cosmic Era timelineGundam’s Cosmic Era timeline follows a brewing conflict between a divided humanity, consisting of regular humans (“Naturals”) and superhumans (“Coordinators”). While the original Cosmic Era series came out in the early to mid-2000s, a sequel movie was later released all the way in 2024 (after being postponed for years). Thus, the timeline consists of:

   • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002 - 2003)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004 - 2005)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER (2006)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (2024).
2. 2
   After Colony timelineThe After Colony timeline is a special one—it brought the Gundam franchise popularity in the United States! In this timeline, five pilots from a collective of rebellious colonies travel to Earth with their mobile suits, charged with waging battle against the hostile planet. The timeline consists of a series and a sequel film:

   • Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995 - 1996)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997)
3. 3
   After War timelineThe After War timeline is an alternate version of the Universal Century—one in which the One Year War ended in an apocalyptic event, with 99% of the Earth’s population dying out. It follows a boy living in this post-apocalyptic world, who pilots a Gundam in order to save a strange and mysterious girl. This timeline consists of:

   • After War Gundam X (1996)
4. 4
   Anno Domini timelineIn the Anno Domini timeline, a paramilitary group called Celestial Being is attempting to eliminate all wars in the world (by creating the most powerful Gundam weapon in existence, naturally). This is the first Gundam timeline to have alien antagonists, and consists of an anime series and accompanying movie:

   • Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2007 - 2009)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie - Awakening of the Trailblazer (2010)
5. 5
   Our Century timelineIn Gundam’s Our Century timeline, Gundams aren’t real robots—just a line of robot-themed merchandise with fans around the world (sound familiar?). The timeline introduces the Gundam Builders franchise, following fans of these manufactured Gundam models who use them to fight arena battles. The following entries are part of this timeline:

   • Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G (2010 - 2011)
   • Gundam Build Fighters (2013 - 2014)
   • Gundam Build Fighters Try (2014 - 2015)
   • Gundam Build Divers (2018)
   • Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE (2019 - 2021)
   • Gundam Breaker Battlogue (2021)
6. 6
   Correct Century timelineThe Correct Century timeline is an alternate timeline that ties into the Universal Century. The one series in the timeline follows Loran Cehack, a human from the Moon sent to Earth for reconnaissance. To experience this timeline, you’ll need to watch:

   • Turn A Gundam (1999 - 2000)
7. 7
   Future Century timelineThe Future Century timeline essentially skips the One Year War, and instead follows a fighting tournament hosted by the space colonies (as a way to settle their political differences). There’s just one anime series set within this timeline:

   • Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994 - 1995)
8. 8
   Advanced Generation timelineGundam’s Advanced Generation timeline is set hundreds of years in the future, after humanity has branched out and settled in space. Following a lengthy period of peace, a new enemy emerges—and thus begins a series that spans decades, following its protagonists from childhood into old age. It consists of:

   • Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2012)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Memory of Eden (2013)
9. 9
   Regild Century timelineThe Regild Century timeline is another with just one series to watch, making it pretty simple to follow! This timeline is set a millennium after the Universal Century, and this new world is far more opposed to technology than the old one. The Regild Century timeline consists of:

   • Gundam Reconguista in G (2014 - 2015)
10. 10
    Post Disaster timelineIn the Post-Disaster timeline, the Iron-Blooded Orphans series focuses on a post-Iraq world and deals with dark, gritty, and grounded issues—from colonialism to child soldiers. To watch the Post-Disaster timeline, simply watch the following show:

    • Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015 - 2017)
11. 11
    Ad Stella timelineThis timeline just has one entry: The Witch From Mercury, a series set in a version of reality in which space has turned into a corporate race, and companies are rapidly inventing and investing in various mobile suits. Gundams, meanwhile, have a unique way of synchronizing or sharing a mental connection with their pilots—thus, they’re banned in most places.

    • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury (2022)
12. 12
    GQuuuuuuX timelineGundam’s GQuuuuuuX timeline is a reimagining of the Universal Century in which the One Year War has a majorly different outcome (mainly due to Char Aznable finding the White Base and the RX-78 Gundam, not Amuro Ray). It’s the most recently-released Gundam content—but, for the time being, there’s just a TV series to watch (or a compilation film).

    • Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (2025)
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Section 4 of 4:

Where to Watch Mobile Suit Gundam

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1. 
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   The original series, and many others, are available on Crunchyroll. Trapped in Anime say that Crunchyroll has a lot of Gundam content. You can find the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam on Crunchyroll’s streaming platform—and even watch it without paying for a subscription! The same is true for The Origin, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, Char’s Counterattack, Unicorn, and Narrative, as well as several series and movies from other timelines beyond the Universal Century.

   • Timelines available to stream on Crunchyroll: Cosmic Era, After Colony, Anno Domini, Our Century (minus Gunpla Builders), Future Century, Regild Century, and Ad Stella
2. 2
   Some Gundam shows and movies are available on other platforms. From Hulu to Prime and Netflix, the Gundam catalogue is spread across multiple streaming platforms. Also, keep in mind that some aren’t legally available for streaming anywhere (but we’ve still included DVD links, just in case). Here’s where to find all the Gundam content that isn’t on Crunchyroll:

   • Mobile Suit Gundam MS-IGLOO - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team - Hulu
   • Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance - Netflix
   • Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis - (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway - Netflix
   • Mobile Suit Gundam F91 - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam - Not streaming (DVD)
   • G-Saviour - Not streaming (DVD)
   • After War Gundam X - Tubi
   • Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Turn A Gundam - Not streaming (DVD)
   • Mobile Suit Gundam AGE - Tubi
   • Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans - Hulu
   • Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX - Prime Video
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