You did it. You finished The Witch from Mercury, or maybe it was Iron-Blooded Orphans that a friend swore would change your life. Your mind is buzzing with corporate conspiracies, teenage angst, and the glorious, earth-shattering impact of a beam rifle. You feel that pull, that need for more.
So you go online, bright-eyed and full of questions, and you walk straight into a warzone.
Welcome to the Gundam fandom. It’s a glorious, beautiful, and often contradictory mess of passionate opinions that has raged for over forty years. On one side, you see a barrage of “Top 5 Mobile Suits” lists. On another, a flowchart for the “correct” watch order that looks like a bowl of spaghetti. Someone is screaming that if you don’t start with the original 1979 series, you’re doing it wrong. Someone else is telling you to just jump into whatever looks cool.
Take a deep breath. It’s all part of the fun. Let’s break down the beautiful chaos you’ve just discovered.
The Gospel of the “Top 5” List
Humans love to rank things, and Gundam fans have turned it into an art form. These lists are the lifeblood of online communities, endlessly debatable and fiercely personal. You’ll quickly learn the legendary titans of these debates. Is the best mobile suit the elegantly designed, universe-ending moustache-bot, the Gundam? Or is it the raw, perfect lethality of Amuro Ray’s final ride, the Gundam? Maybe it’s the sheer iconic, angel-winged majesty of the Wing Gundam Zero.
There is no right answer, only your answer.
The same battle rages over the series themselves. Post a poll asking for the best show and watch the fireworks. You’ll have an army of fans chanting for the hot-blooded, martial arts tournament that is Mobile Fighter G Gundam, a series that runs on pure passion and shouting. They’ll be challenged by the devoted followers of Gundam 00, with its intricate political plotting and team of impossibly handsome super-soldiers.
Then you have the old guard, defending the profound, post-war melancholy of Gundam. The modernists will champion the high-stakes drama and incredible music of Gundam SEED. And in a corner, a group of fans is just having a good time, celebrating the pure, unadulterated joy of watching customized model kits battle it out in Gundam Build Fighters.
These lists aren’t meant to be definitive. They’re conversation starters. They’re a way for someone to plant their flag and declare, “This is what Gundam means to me.”
The Newcomer’s Dilemma: “What Do I Watch Next?”
This is the single most common question, and the one that causes the most friction. You just finished the latest entry, and you’re wondering if you should dive into Gundam 00 or check out that wild-looking series someone called G Gundam.
Here’s the simple secret the complex charts won’t tell you: there are two main paths, and both are valid.
Path 1: The Standalone Stories (Alternate Universes)
Think of these as self-contained worlds. Most of the series I mentioned above—Wing, G Gundam, 00, SEED, Iron-Blooded Orphans, and your starting point, The Witch from Mercury—exist in their own timelines. You don’t need any prior knowledge to jump in.
This is the easiest and most recommended path for newcomers.
- Want a complex political thriller with tactical, team-based combat? Watch .
- In the mood for an over-the-top, super-robot action fest about fighting for honor? Watch .
- Looking for a gritty, dark story about child soldiers fighting a desperate war for their own freedom? Watch .
- Curious about the series that defined 2000s-era anime with melodrama and incredible action? Watch .
You can’t go wrong. Pick the one whose art style or premise grabs you the most and hit play.
Path 2: The Deep Dive (The Universal Century)
This is the big one. The original timeline. It’s a massive, sprawling epic that starts with the original Mobile Suit Gundam from 1979 and continues through dozens of series, movies, and OVAs. It’s the story of Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, and the generations who inherited their conflict. This path is incredibly rewarding, but it’s a commitment. If you’re ready for it, the best place to start is, unsurprisingly, at the beginning: the original series or its compilation movies.
Graduating Beyond “Cool Robots”
At first, the appeal of Gundam is simple: giant, cool robots with laser swords and massive guns. And honestly? That’s a perfectly valid reason to love it. That appeal never really goes away.
But as you watch more, you’ll notice what the veterans are always talking about. You’ll see why they champion certain series that might be slower or have “dated” animation. They aren’t just here for the cool robots; they’re here for the thematic soul of the franchise.
Gundam, at its core, has always been a story about people. It’s a powerful anti-war narrative that explores the cost of conflict on a human level. It tackles heavy themes: the nature of communication, the flaws of political systems, the hope for humanity’s evolution, and the question of whether we are doomed to repeat our violent mistakes.
A veteran’s “Top 5” list might not be based on which Gundam has the coolest finishing move, but on which series made the most profound statement about war. They’ll praise Gundam not just for its unique design but for its thoughtful examination of a post-war society trying to heal. They’ll revere the original series for laying the groundwork of a complex political conflict where neither side is purely good or evil.
This is the final, beautiful stage of becoming a fan. You come for the cool robots, but you stay for the heart.
So, don’t be intimidated by the debates. Dive into them. Find your favorites, plant your flag, and prepare to defend your “Top 5” list. There is no wrong way to enjoy this universe. The only mistake is to stop exploring.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go write a ten-page essay on why the Nu Gundam is not just a mobile suit, but a perfect physical manifestation of a pilot’s will. Let the war rage on.
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