The 1979 anime series, Mobile Suit Gundam, is considered the pioneer of the giant-robot mecha genre. Over the last four decades, 82 animated series and movies have been added to its universe. The sheer amount of content makes it difficult for viewers to keep track of the order of events. But don't worry, because we have broken down the Gundam timeline to guide you through it all.
The Gundam series isn't just a franchise—it's a towering monument in the world of anime. This military sci-fi saga is centered on giant robots, or mecha, known as Gundams. Ongoing space wars, political conflicts, and human evolution have managed to keep mecha fans hooked to the series even after four decades.
Ask anyone who has discovered Mobile Suit Gundam for the first time. They'll tell you how overwhelming the sheer scale of the series is. But once you know the correct viewing order, you can truly appreciate Yoshiyuki Tomino's vision in all its tragic brilliance.
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Gundam Timeline In Chronological Order
The first Gundam series launched in 1979, unfolding the conflict between Earth and space colonies. It also introduced viewers to the concept of Newtypes. Since Mobile Suit Gundam, the franchise has released 81 animated series and movies set across different timelines. Here's a breakdown of the Gundam series timeline in chronological order and an alternate timeline that carries on in its backdrop.
Correct Century Timeline
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (2015-2018) - The story is set in the original timeline of the Universal Century. It features the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.
- Advent Of The Red Comet (2019) - The series tells the story of Char Aznable, a pilot famously known as the Red Comet. It reveals how the Principality of Zeon was born and the secret weapon they will use against the Earth Federation in the One Year War.
- Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) - The war between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon has begun, but the crew is inexperienced against the aces. Their only hope lies with Gundam, a giant robot, and its pilot.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Movie Trilogy (1981-1982) - A teenage boy, who is also the only available pilot, faces the enemy head-on in this series.
- The 08th MS Team (1996 – 1999) - With the war in the backdrop, a young lieutenant forms a mobile suit team to survive Zeon's secret weapon.
- MS IGLOO (2004 – 2008) - Zeon's space cargo ship experiments with new weapons in the war.
- 0080: War In The Pocket (1989) - A young boy meets some terrorists in a space colony and helps them without question.
- Thunderbolt (2016) - The Earth Federation clashes with Zeon's Living Dead Division in the Thunderbolt sector.
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985) - This series takes viewers eight years after the One Year War. The Federation commissions a new task force called the Titans to hunt Zeon survivors.
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation (2005-2006) - The series is set 10 years after the One Year War. It features Camille Bidan's fight with the Titans.
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986) - A new enemy enters the series: Haman's Neo Zeon. Now, Argama's crew must regroup and fight this new rival.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988) - The rivalry between Char Aznable and Amuro Ray comes to an end with the Second Neo Zeon War.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010) - The fate of the Earth Federation lies in the hands of Banagher Links.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight Axis (2017) - The series follows the story of two remnants from the Principality of Zeon. The Federation hires them to spy on the Axis, but the story takes a new turn when they meet a Cyber Newtype.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (2018) - The Federation partners with the Neo Zeon to find a rogue suit.
- Gundam Hathaway (2021) - The series follows the story of Hathaway Noa and his involvement with the terrorist organization called Mufti.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: F91 (1991) - Pilot Seabrook Arno controls a new Gundam, F91, to protect the Earth Federation from rebellious space colonies.
- Victory Gundam (1993) - In this series, Uso Ewin pilots the resistance's suit to fight the Zanscare Empire.
Alternate Timeline
- After War Gundam X (1996) - The series features a post-apocalyptic Earth the war between humans and space colonies has destroyed. It tells the story of a young pilot and his powerful mobile suit fighting to restore what's lost in the war.
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994) - Here, Gundams from different space colonies compete in a unique tournament. Whoever wins will rule the Earth.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995) - Audiences meet five pilots with Gundams who arrive on Earth from space colonies. Their mission is to protect Earth from the enemies within.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury (2022) - This series is set in a time when large organizations control mobile suits. It revolves around a mysterious High School girl from Mercury.
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002) - If you're a fan of intense fights and complex conflicts, then you'll love the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series. It features genetically improved Cordinators in a battle with ordinary humans.
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom (2024) - A direct sequel to SEED Destiny, this film tells the story of Kira Yamato and his friends fighting new enemies.
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2007) - Gundam 00 is set on a futuristic Earth where a paramilitary organization, called Celestial Beings, wages a war to bring world peace.
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2011) - The series tells the story of a century-long war between the 'Earth Sphere' and an unknown entity, the UE. The storyline is divided into three arcs, each featuring a different enemy.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans (2015) - The Iron-Blooded Orphans follows real-life problems like war, slavery, poverty, corruption, and neo-colonialism. It brings together a group of soldiers under the banner of 'Tekkadan' to fight the oppressors.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Build Fighters (2013) - The series tells the story of Sei Lori, a Gunpla Builder who wants to become the best Gunpla Fighter. He later teams up with a Gunpla Battle Fighter, Reiji, who helps him compete in the tournament.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Build Divers (2018) - The series focuses on a VR MMO setting where players explore and fight in the Gunpla tournament in a digital world.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Build Divers Re: RISE (2019-2020) - The series is a sequel to the Gundam Build Divers and is set two years after it. It introduces new characters to the virtual world of Gunpla Battle Nexus Online (GBN).
How to Make The Gundam Timeline Using EdrawMind?
Creating a timeline can be a rewarding experience if you like keeping track of your favorite series. The only problem is finding a diagramming tool that can realize your vision. One such mapping software is EdrawMind. The app is easy to use and packed with prebuilt templates and customization options.
All you need to do is download and launch the EdrawMind software and follow the steps given below.
Step 1: Start With A Blank Canvas
- Create a Wondershare account or use your socials to log in to EdrawMind.
- Click Create on the left panel of your home screen to get started.
- Select Local Mindmap from the Blank Document menu.
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Step 2: Change the Timeline's Layout
- This timeline is created using a top-down layout. So, select the Main Idea to access the floating menu.
- Click Layout to see the available selection.
- Select the third option from the Timeline layout.
Step 3: Insert Heading
- Let's use the series image for the timeline's heading.
- Locate Insert on the top toolbar and click to reveal options.
- Choose Insert > Picture from the menu and upload an image as your timeline heading.
Step 4: Edit the Main Idea
- Start with the 'Correct Century' timeline and edit the text of the Main Idea.
- Select the Main Idea to reveal the floating menu.
- Click Shape to change the text box's outline.
- You can also change the Fill Color of the text box and its Border Color by accessing the Style editing panel on the right.
Step 5: Change Layout Structure
- Edit the text in the Main Topic according to the timeline details.
- Click the Main Topic and navigate to the editing panel on the right.
- Click Structure under the Layout tab and reveal options for the timeline branches.
- Select the third mindmap structure.
Step 6: Add Timeline Events
- Now, we will add timeline events by inserting subtopics.
- For that, click the Main Topic and press tab twice. Position the subtopics so that there's one on either side.
- Insert the series's name on the left and its highlight on the right.
Step 7: Insert Image
- Click on the left subtopic and follow Insert > Picture to insert an image.
- You can change the image's position through the floating menu. Click the image and select Location. Set it to Right alignment.
Bonus Step: Change The Image Shape
- You can change the image's shape in EdrawMax.
- Simply, upload the series image on EdrawMax's blank canvas and click to reveal customization options.
- Click Crop to Shape from the menu and select the outline you prefer.
- Now, copy the cropped picture and paste it back into EdrawMind.
Step 8: Save The File
- Complete the first timeline by adding more Main Topics and Subtopics to the image.
- Once the Correct Century timeline is ready, follow the same steps to create the Alternate timeline.
- After completing both timelines, click File in the top-left corner of the toolbar.
- Select Save to download the file in EdrawMind's default format.
- Or click Export to save the file in other formats, like JPEG, Word, PPT, HTML, TXT, PDF, PNG, and SVG.
Wrapping It Up
The Gundam timeline isn't just about giant robots. It symbolizes the human struggle for survival and evolution. Each story reveals how difficult it is to fight for peace in a world divided by power and conflict. Yet, through all the chaos, one thing remains: you can always count on a Gundam to save the day. Just like you can count on EdrawMind to bring your ideas to life with clean, professional diagrams.
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