You’re looking at a franchise that has been running since 1979. That is a terrifying amount of television. There are hundreds of episodes, dozens of movies, and a timeline that looks like a bowl of spaghetti dropped from a height of six feet. It’s no wonder people get paralyzed. You see a cool plastic model kit in a shop, or a clip of a giant robot slicing a battleship in half on TikTok, and you think, "I want in." Then you look at the Wikipedia page and immediately want out.
Relax. Honestly, it’s not that deep.
Most people think you have to start at the beginning. They think if they don’t watch a grainy show from the late seventies, they’ll be lost forever. That’s just not true. Gundam is a multiverse. Some of it is connected in one long, complex history, and some of it is completely standalone, designed specifically for people who have never seen a single frame of anime in their lives. The trick to where to start with gundam is just picking a door and walking through it. Don't worry about the floor plan yet.
The Universal Century vs. The Everything Else
Before you hit play on anything, you need to understand the big divide. This is the part that trips up newcomers. There is the Universal Century (UC) and then there are the Alternative Calendars (AU).
The UC is the "main" timeline. It started in 1979 with Mobile Suit Gundam. It’s a massive, sprawling epic about space colonies rebelling against Earth. It’s political. It’s tragic. It’s got a lot of lore. If you want the full experience, this is the mountain you eventually have to climb. But it’s a big mountain.
The Alternative Calendars are different. These are shows like Gundam Wing, Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, or The Witch from Mercury. They are self-contained. They have their own rules, their own versions of Earth, and their own reasons for giant robots to exist. You don't need to know a thing about 1979 to watch these. They are the "easy mode" for beginners, and honestly, they’re where most modern fans actually start.
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The Modern Entry Point: The Witch from Mercury
If you want something that looks incredible and feels modern, you start with The Witch from Mercury (2022). It’s the newest big TV entry.
It’s different. It starts at a school. It follows Suletta Mercury, a socially awkward girl who shows up with a massive, high-tech Gundam called Aerial. It feels a bit like Revolutionary Girl Utena mixed with corporate espionage. The animation is crisp. The colors pop. More importantly, it deals with themes that feel relevant right now—corporate greed, family pressure, and the ethics of technology.
Because it’s a standalone AU, you can finish the whole thing and feel satisfied. You won't be left wondering who some random general from forty years ago was. It’s a clean break. If you like it, you’ll probably like the rest of the franchise. If you don't, Gundam might just not be your vibe.
The "Gritty" Choice: Iron-Blooded Orphans
Maybe you don't want school drama. Maybe you want something that feels like a war movie. That’s where Iron-Blooded Orphans (IBO) comes in.
This show is brutal. It follows a group of child soldiers on Mars who rebel against their adult handlers and form their own mercenary company. It’s not clean. The robots don’t use beam sabers; they use giant maces and physical swords to crush each other. It’s heavy on the "war is hell" theme that creator Yoshiyuki Tomino baked into the franchise’s DNA back in the day.
IBO is a fan favorite for a reason. It’s emotionally taxing and has some of the coolest mechanical designs in the whole series. Like Witch from Mercury, it’s an AU. Total blank slate. You can jump in today and be fully caught up by tomorrow.
Tackling the "Old Stuff" Without the Boring Bits
Okay, let’s say you want the real deal. You want to see the original story. You want to know why everyone talks about Char Aznable and Amuro Ray. But maybe you don't want to watch 43 episodes of 1979 animation that, let’s be real, can look a bit rough by today’s standards.
There is a shortcut. The Movie Trilogy.
In the early 80s, they took the original series and condensed it into three feature-length films: Mobile Suit Gundam I, II, and III: Encounters in Space. They cut the "monster of the week" fluff and kept the core political drama. They even re-animated some of the clunkier scenes. If you want to understand where to start with gundam regarding the main timeline, these movies are the gold standard.
From there, the path is pretty clear:
- Zeta Gundam (The darker, more complex sequel)
- Gundam ZZ (A weird, tonal shift that gets serious later)
- Char’s Counterattack (The big cinematic finale to the original rivalry)
Short and Sweet: The OVA Route
Sometimes you don't want a 50-episode commitment. You just want a "vibe check."
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Gundam has several "Side Stories" called OVAs (Original Video Animations). These are high-budget, short series (usually 6 to 13 episodes) that take place during the main wars but focus on different people.
- Mobile Suit Gundam: 0080 War in the Pocket: This is a six-episode masterpiece. It’s told from the perspective of a young boy who thinks war is cool, only to realize the horrifying reality of it. It’s arguably the best thing the franchise has ever produced. You don't need to know the lore to feel the gut punch at the end.
- The 08th MS Team: Think Platoon or Band of Brothers, but with robots. It’s a jungle warfare story. It’s grounded. It feels like real military tech. The stakes are small, personal, and intense.
- Gundam Thunderbolt: This is pure adrenaline. It’s a high-octane battle set to a jazz soundtrack. It’s gorgeous, violent, and incredibly stylish.
The Problem With Prequels
A lot of people will tell you to start with Gundam: The Origin. It’s a gorgeous modern series that explains how the whole war started.
Don't do it. At least, not first.
The Origin is a prequel, and like most prequels, it’s written for people who already know what happens. It’s full of "winks" to the audience. It’s much more satisfying to watch it after you’ve seen the original story or the movie trilogy. It’s like watching the Star Wars prequels before the original trilogy—it works, but you lose the magic of the reveals.
What Most People Get Wrong About Gundam
People think Gundam is just about toys. Bandai makes a lot of money on Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Models), sure. But the shows themselves are surprisingly anti-war.
The robots aren't superheroes. They are weapons. They break. They run out of fuel. The pilots are often traumatized teenagers who would rather be doing anything else. If you go in expecting Power Rangers, you’re going to be confused when characters start debating the ethics of space colonialism and the evolution of human consciousness (the "Newtype" theory).
The "Gundam" itself is rarely the point. The point is usually the people inside them and how they’re being used by politicians who never set foot on a battlefield.
Why Quality Matters (and Where to Find It)
Since you’re looking at where to start with gundam in 2026, you have it easier than fans did twenty years ago. You don't have to hunt down obscure DVDs.
- Crunchyroll/Hulu: Usually carries the big AU shows like Witch from Mercury, Iron-Blooded Orphans, and Gundam 00.
- Netflix: Often has the Movie Trilogy and Hathaway’s Flash.
- GundamInfo (YouTube): This is the official channel. They rotate full series for free. It’s the easiest way to legally sample the goods without a subscription.
Your Three-Step Action Plan
Don't overthink this. Pick one of these three paths and just start.
- The "Modern & Fast" Path: Watch the "Prologue" of The Witch from Mercury on YouTube. If that 15-minute episode hooks you, watch the rest of the series. It's the most frictionless way to enter the fandom today.
- The "Classic Legend" Path: Watch the three Mobile Suit Gundam compilation movies. You’ll understand the foundation of the entire genre and get to see why Char Aznable is one of the most famous villains in history.
- The "Grown-Up War" Path: Watch The 08th MS Team. It’s short, gritty, and requires zero homework. It’s basically a Vietnam War movie with 60-foot tall tanks.
Once you finish any of these, you’ll naturally start curious about the rest. The community is huge, the model kits are addictive, and the lore is endless. Just remember: there is no "correct" order, only the order that keeps you interested. Grab a snack, find a comfortable chair, and watch some giant robots change the world.