The Gundam Franchise is a chaotic collection of monumentally influential tales that shaped modern anime. The series is set in what is known as the Universal Century calendar era and expands over decades in real time.
The series is so vast and has so many alternate timelines tied to it that it will seem messier than your tangled bedhead. Nonetheless, if you’re willing to invest your time in Gundam, you will not be disappointed.
Mobile Suit Gundam has received 23 anime seasons and 30+ movies. Of course, there are also many OVAs, ONAs, and specials. Despite this huge number of installations, Gundam isn’t even nearly done. Its ever-expansive library will always keep you entertained no matter which year it is.
There are several orders in which Mobile Suit Gundam can be watched. You can watch it according to its release order, chronological order, or our recommended one. You should always start with the Universal Century era and then move on to the other ones.
In this article, you will find every kind of order that you might need and detailed explanations on the timelines.
1. How to start watching Gundam? Recommended Watch Order
- Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) (43 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (OVA: 2015) (6 episodes)
- The 08th MS Team (OVA 1996-1999) (12 episodes)
- MS IGLOO (OVA 2004-2008) (3 episodes)
- War in the Pocket (OVA: 1989) (6 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (ONA: 2015-2017) (8 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (OVA 1991-1992) (13 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV Series 1985-1986) (50 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (TV Series 1986-1987) (47 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Movie 1988)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA 2010) (7 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis (ONA 2017) (6 episodes)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Movie 2018)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (Movie 2020)
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (Movie 1991)
2. Chronological Order According to Timelines
Not only is Mobile Suit Gundam vast in its installations, but all the series, movies, and OVAs also belong to one timeline or the other. The best way to start the anime is by following a specific timeline at a time. Start with Universal Century and then move on to the others.
Note: The following orders only consist of the major TV series or their alternate compilation films. Most extras and OVAs have been eliminated to condense the important plot points.
Universal Century/ UC
UC is the original timeline of Gundam. It has the largest number of works so far.
- UC0068 – UC0079: Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (OVA) / Advent of the Red Comet (Compilation TV Series)
- UC0079: Mobile Suit Gundam (TV Series) / The Movie, Soldiers of Sorrow, Encounters in Space (3 Compilation Movies)
- MS IGLOO (OVA)
- The 08th MS Team (OVA)
- War in the Pocket (OVA)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (ONA)
- UC0083: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (OVA)
- UC0087: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV Series)/ Heir to the Stars, Lovers, Love Is the Pulse of the Stars (Compilation Movies)
- UC0088: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (TV Series)
- UC0093: Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Movie)
- UC 0096: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA) / RE:0096 (Compilation TV Series)
- UC 0096: Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis (ONA) / Red Trace (Compilation Movie)
- UC0097: Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Movie)
- UC0105: Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (Movie)
- UC0123: Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (Movie)
- UC0153: Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (TV Series)
- [Optional]UC0223: G-Saviour (Live Action Movie)
After Colony(AC)/Mars Century (MC)
AC showcases the freedom struggle of space colonies from organizations like the United Earth Sphere Alliance and Organization of the Zodiac. The viewers sympathize with the space colonies which make their own mobile suits for the battles. MC takes place after AC on Mars and has several flashbacks of history from AC.
- AC 195: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (TV Series) / Operation Meteor (Compilation OVA)
- AC 196: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (OVA)/ Special Edition (Compilation Movie);
Cosmic Era/CE
Mobile Suit SEED is the only series that comes under the Cosmic Era. However, this particular addition hasn’t received great reviews, so you can skip it if you want.
- CE 71: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (TV Series)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray
- CE 73: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (TV Series)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER
Our Century
This is the only group where the events are said to occur in the real world and time since the characters are often Gundam fans.
- Gundam Build Fighters (TV Series)
- Gundam Build Fighters Try (TV Series)
Other Timelines
Some Gundam series or movies follow a separate timeline and have no relation to the other anime. You can watch them in any order you like.
- After War: It consists of the Gundam X series, which is set after an apocalyptic world war.
- Future Century (FC): Consists of the Mobile Fighter G-Gundam TV Series
- Anno Domini: It consists of two Gundam 00 seasons and one movie that takes place in the timeline.
- Advanced Generation (AG): It is set centuries after mankind’s migration into space and the formation of space colonies. Gundam AGE is set in this era.
- Correct Century (CC): It is the timeline used in ∀ Gundam, and consists of one anime series and two compilation movies.
- Regild Century: Used for the setting of Reconguista in G, it is set 1000 years after UC and around 500 years after CC.
- Post Disaster: It is a timeline set 300 years after the Calamity War. Two seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS are set in it.
- Ad Stella: In this timeline, various mega-corporations dominate the Earth and space. The Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury series belongs to this era.
3. Release Order
As you must already know by now, Gundam is a huge franchise, and it has received uncountable specials, OVAs, and movies. The below order has been divided into anime series, movies, OVAs, and more to make your watching experience much less confusing.
Anime Series
- Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985)
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986)
- Mobile Suit SD Gundam (1993)
- Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993)
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1996)
- After War Gundam X (1996)
- Turn A Gundam (1999)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002)
- Superior Defender Gundam Force (2003)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2007)
- SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors (2010)
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2012)
- Gundam Build Fighters (2013)
- Mobile Suit Gundam-san (2014)
- Gundam Build Fighters Try (2014)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2016)
- Gundam Build Divers (2018)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2019)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
Movies
- Mobile Suit Gundam compilation movies (1981)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (1988)
- Mobile Suit SD Gundam (1988-1993)
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory compilation movie (1992)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team compilation movie (1998)
- Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz compilation movie (1998)
- Turn A Gundam compilation movies (1998)
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (2005)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2010)
- SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors (2010)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer (2010)
- Gundam Build Fighters Try (2016)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt compilation movies (2016)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS compilation movie (2017)
- Gundam Build Fighters: GM’s Counterattack (2017)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (2018)
- Gundam Reconguista in G compilation movies (2019 – 2022)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash (2021- onwards)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island (2022)
OVAs
- Mobile Suit SD Gundam (1989)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (1989)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996)
- Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2004)
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War (2004)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004)
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 (2006)
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (2009)
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2009)
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: Gravity Front (2009)
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010)
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2013)
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015)
- Gundam Build Fighters Try (2016)
Specials
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1996)
- Gundam Evolve (2001)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny (2004)
- Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G (2010)
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2013)
- Gundam Build Fighters (2013)
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2013)
ONAs
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer
- Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS
- Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue
- Gundam Build Fighters: GM’s Counterattack
- Gundam Build Divers
- SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden
- Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise
- Gundam Build Divers: Battlogue
- SD Gundam World Heroes
- Gundam Breaker Battlogue
4. Where to watch Gundam?
Not all Gundam installments can be found on streaming websites. Below, you will find a list of which websites stream some Gundam anime, OVA, and movies.
| Title | Where to watch? |
| Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) | Funimation, VRV, Crunchyroll |
| Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (OVA: 2015) | Hulu |
| The 08th MS Team (OVA 1996-1999) | Hulu |
| MS IGLOO (OVA 2004-2008) | – |
| War in the Pocket (OVA: 1989) | – |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (ONA: 2015-2017) | – |
| Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (OVA 1991-1992) | – |
| Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV Series 1985-1986) | Funimation |
| Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (TV Series 1986-1987) | Crunchyroll |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Movie 1988) | Netflix |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA 2010) | Funimation, Hulu |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis (ONA 2017) | – |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Movie 2018) | Funimation |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (Movie 2020) | – |
| Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (Movie 1991) | – |
5. Can you download and watch Mobile Suit Gundam offline?
Several websites offer download options with their different packages, and we have the readymade list right here:
| Website | Subscription Packages | Offline Viewing |
| Crunchyroll | Fan – $7.99/month | No |
| Mega Fan – $9.99/month | Yes | |
| Ultimate Fan – $14.99/month | Yes | |
| Funimation | Premium: $5.99 a month / $59.99 per year | No |
| Premium Plus: $7.99 a month / $79.99 per year | Yes | |
| Premium Plus Ultra: $99.99 per year | Yes | |
| Netflix | Basic with ads: $6.99/month | No |
| Basic: $9.99/month | Yes | |
| Standard: $15.49/month | Yes | |
| Premium: $19.99/month | Yes | |
| Hulu | Ad-Supported: $7.99/month (or $79.99/year) | Yes |
| No Ads: $14.99/month | Yes |
A lot of anime are geo-blocked for several countries. If the anime isn’t available on any streaming website in your area, then you can use a VPN to bypass the geo-block.
There are many paid VPN services available, but you also have free options at hand. You can also use free browser extensions VPNs that you will find in the extension store.
If you are accessing streaming websites from your phone, you will find several VPNs from the app store. The important thing is that Mobile Suit Gundam is present on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Funimation, Hulu, and many other streaming websites’ catalogs, so set your VPN to a suitable location to access the anime from anywhere.
7. How much time will it take to complete the recommended Gundam watch order?
| Title | Duration |
| Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) | 1,075 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (OVA: 2015) | 426 mins |
| The 08th MS Team (OVA 1996-1999) | 300 mins |
| MS IGLOO (OVA 2004-2008) | 81 mins |
| War in the Pocket (OVA: 1989) | 162 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (ONA: 2015-2017) | 144 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (OVA 1991-1992) | 390 mins |
| Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (TV Series 1985-1986) | 1,200 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (TV Series 1986-1987) | 1,128 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (Movie 1988) | 1 hr 59 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (OVA 2010) | 434 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis (ONA 2017) | 18 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (Movie 2018) | 1 hr 30 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (Movie 2020) | 1 hr 35 mins |
| Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (Movie 1991) | 2 hrs |
If you want to complete our recommended watch order of Gundam in one uninterrupted sitting, you will need 96 hours and 23 minutes or around 4 days. If you want to watch the anime in a more healthy manner, then it will take you more than a week. The list does not include any installment that isn’t recommended for beginners.
8. About Gundam
The Gundam series is a science fiction anime created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise, featuring huge robots, known as “Gundam.”
The series changes its setting in each part, ranging from Earth to far-off planets. All the shows have their own story, and some of them take place in an alternative universe.
In every story, Gundam has unique purposes. Sometimes it’s a deadly war weapon, sometimes a beautiful art or sometimes even an outdated technology.
No Comments on Beginner’s Guide to Complete Mobile Suit Gundam Watch Order