A world full of giant robots sounds either terrifying or fantastic, depending on what their motives are. In the world of Gundam, giant robotic ships called Mobile Suits are used by ordinary humans to wage war between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, an amateur crew who find themselves on a new starship and demand independence. In such a crisis, the government’s secret weapon, a gigantic humanoid robot piloted by a gifted teenager, Amuro Ray, is the last resort to save the planet in the Year’s War.
Written by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979, the original series Mobile Suit Gundam is set in the year 0079 of Universal Century. Prior to the series, animations in the mecha anime genre featured sentient robots powered by mystical, supernatural sources, but Mobile Suit Gundam was the first television series to define the “real robot” subgenre, in which robots of realistic physics and technological limitations are mastered. Here, humans interact with advanced weaponry, pressing pedals, pulling levers, and flipping switches to set the machines into action. Throughout the Gundam multiverse, moods are predominantly anti-war, often depicting average civilians being used as tools for the greed of powerful people.
The show in its early stages was not well received. What eventually popularized the franchise was the release of its toys – mini versions of Gundams that could be built like puzzles. These kits, called Gunpla (a portmanteau of “gundam” and “plastic”), account for 90 percent of the Japanese market for plastic character models. The popularity of the series as a whole has evolved alongside Gunpla through its merchandise, 50 TV series, movies and OVAs, manga, novels, and video games. Today the franchise is so prominent in Japan that it can be compared to Star Wars here in the US. Just this April, a Gundam theme park and life-size RX-93 v Gundam opened next to Mitsui Shopping Park Lalaport Fukuoka, the world’s largest and tallest Gundam statue.
The Gundam universe continues to expand with the new series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury, which premiered this October. In addition to the series’ critiques of war and capitalism, she also introduces the series’ first queer female protagonist. The Gundam Empire’s Latest Video Game, Gundam Evolution Also due for release in late 2022, is an immersive team-based first-person shooter that puts you in control of the anime’s iconic Mobile Suits. If all of this wasn’t enough to get you excited about Gundam, it’s only a matter of time before the franchise will enthrall you with its latest inventions. Many dedicated fans show their appreciation through an absurdly extensive figure collection, while others tattoo the glorious robots. Take a look at some of our favorites below.