Gundam

Gundam (Japanese: ガンダム, Hepburn: Gandamu), also known as the Gundam series (ガンダムシリーズ, Gandamu Shirīzu), is a Japanese military science fiction media franchise/media mix created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise and, as of March 2020, indirectly fully owned by Bandai Namco Holdings through subsidiaries Sotsu and Sunrise. The franchise features giant robots (mecha) with the name "Gundam" (after the original titular mecha). The franchise began on April 7, 1979 with Mobile Suit Gundam, a TV series that defined the "real robot" mecha anime genre by featuring giant robots called mobile suits in a militaristic setting. The popularity of the series and its merchandise spawned a franchise that includes television series, OVAs, films, manga, novels and video games, as well as a whole industry of model robots known as Gunpla (plastic Gundam model).

This article is about the anime series. For the mecha themselves, see Gundam (fictional robot).
Gundam
Created byHajime Yatate
Yoshiyuki Tomino
Original workMobile Suit Gundam
Owned byBandai Namco Holdings
through Sotsu and Sunrise, both wholly owned subsidiaries
Print publications
Novel(s)See list
ComicsSee list
Films and television
Film(s)See below
Television seriesSee below
Games
TraditionalGundam War Collectible Card Game
Video game(s)See list
Miscellaneous
Toy(s)Gunpla (plastic Gundam models)
The Robot Spirits
S. H. Figuarts
GenreScience fiction
Military science fiction
Real robot

Gunpla makes up 90 percent of the Japanese character plastic-model market.[1] Academics in Japan have viewed the series as inspiration; in 2008, the virtual Gundam Academy was planned as the first academic institution based on an animated TV series.[2]

The Gundam franchise had grossed over $5 billion in retail sales by 2000.[3][4] By 2014, annual revenue of the Gundam franchise reached ¥80 billion per year,[5] ¥18.4 billion of which was retail sales of toys and hobby items.[5] As of 2018, Gundam is one of the top 15 highest-grossing media franchises of all time,[6] estimated to have generated more than $20 billion in total revenue.[lower-alpha 1]

Overview

Concept

Mobile Suit Gundam was developed by animator Yoshiyuki Tomino and a changing group of Sunrise creators with the collective pseudonym of Hajime Yatate. The series was originally entitled Freedom Fighter Gunboy (or Gunboy) for the robot's gun, with teen boys the primary target demographic. Early production had a number of references to freedom: the White Base was originally "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter was the "Freedom Wing" and the Gunperry was the "Freedom Cruiser". The Yatate team combined the English word "gun" with the last syllable of the word "freedom" to form the portmanteau Gundom. Tomino changed it to Gundam, suggesting a unit wielding a gun powerful enough to hold back enemies like a hydroelectric dam holding back water.[7] In keeping with the concept, Gundams are depicted as prototypes or limited-production, with higher capabilities than mass-produced units.

Most Gundams are large, bipedal, humanoid vehicles controlled from a cockpit by a human pilot. The cockpit is located in the torso, while the head serves as a camera to transmit images back to the cockpit. Most of the series protagonists are Newtypes, genetically advanced humans adapted for space. Newtypes have psychic abilities that enable them to sense each other across space and to utilize special mobile suits.

The series itself has been described as a space opera.[8]

Innovation

Mobile Suit Gundam reportedly pioneered the real robot subgenre of mecha anime.[9] Unlike its super robot cousins, Mobile Suit Gundam attempted realism in its robot design and weaponry by running out of energy and ammunition or malfunctioning. Its technology is derived from actual science (such as Lagrange points and the O'Neill cylinder in space, and the use of Helium-3 as an energy source) or feasible technology requiring only a few fictional elements to function (such as Minovsky Physics).[10]

Timelines

Most of the Gundam animation (including the earliest series) is set in what is known as the Universal Century (UC) calendar era, with later series set in alternate calendars or timelines. Although many new Gundam stories are told in their parallel universe with independent timelines (giving them greater creative freedom), the original UC storyline continues to be popular. It established the series, setting the standard for hard science fiction in anime; the original Gundam marked the maturing of the giant-robot genre. Nostalgia for the oldest Gundam shows (and its status as a pop-culture icon in Japan) is a factor in its continuing success.[11]

Spinoffs

SD Gundam, a spinoff of Gundam which began during the mid-1980s, features super deformed designs and emphasizes comedy and adventure. Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G, Gundam Build Fighters, and Gundam Build Divers feature contemporary settings and use Gunpla as plot elements.

Media

TV series, films, and video

Except for Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (which follows the current calendar era), all mainstream Gundam series are set in a fictional era which begins after a drastic event or chain of events. The scenario commonly changes as the story progresses between Earth, space, space colonies and in some cases the Moon and terraformed planets.

Name Media Release date Timeline and year
Mobile Suit Gundam TV series: 43 episodes. 1979–1980 UC 0079
Compilation movies 1981–1982
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam TV series: 50 episodes. 1985–1986 UC 0087
Compilation movies 2005–2006
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ TV series: 47 episodes. 1986–1987 UC 0088
OVA: 2 episodes 2009
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack Movie 1988 UC 0093
Mobile Suit SD Gundam Movies 1988, 1989, 1991, 1993
OVA 1989–1991
Compilation TV series 1993
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket OVA: 6 episodes 1989 UC 0079-80
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Movie 1991 UC 0123
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA: 13 episodes 1991–1992 UC 0083
Compilation movie 1992
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam TV series: 51 episodes 1993–1994 UC 0153
Mobile Fighter G Gundam TV series: 49 episodes 1994–1995 Future Century 60
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing TV series: 49 episodes 1995–1996 After Colony 195
Compilation specials 1996
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team OVA: 12 episodes 1996–1999 UC 0079
Compilation movie 1998
Special 2013
After War Gundam X TV series: 39 episodes 1996 After War 15
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz OVA: 3 episodes 1997 After Colony 196
Compilation movie 1998
Turn A Gundam TV series: 50 episodes 1999–2000 Correct Century 2343-5
Compilation movies 2002
G-Saviour Live-action movie 2000 UC 0223
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Diver Specialty format movie 2001 UC 0087
Gundam Evolve Animated shorts: 15 episodes 2001–2007
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED TV series: 50 episodes 2002–2003 Cosmic Era 71
Compilation specials: 3 episodes 2004
OVA: 2 episodes 2004
Superior Defender Gundam Force TV series: 52 episodes 2003–2004
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War OVA: 3 episodes 2004 UC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny TV series: 50 episodes 2004–2005 Cosmic Era 73-74
OVA: 1 episode 2004
Compilation specials: 4 episodes 2006
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079 OVA: 3 episodes 2006 UC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer OVA: 1 episode 2006 Cosmic Era 73
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 TV series: 50 episodes 2007–2008 Anno Domini 2307-8, 2312, 2314
OVA: 3 episodes 2009
Movie 2010
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: Gravity Front OVA: 3 episodes 2009 UC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA: 7 episodes, 1 special episode 2010–2014 UC 0096
Compilation TV series:[12] 22 episodes 2016
SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors Movie 2010
TV series: 51 episodes
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer Movie 2010 Anno Domini 2314
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G Specials: 3 episodes 2010
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE[13] TV Series: 49 episodes 2011–2012 Advanced Generation 115-164
Compilation specials: 2 episodes 2013
Gundam Build Fighters TV series: 25 episodes 2013–2014[14] Our Century
Specials: 3 episodes 2014
Mobile Suit Gundam-san[15] TV series: 13 episodes 2014
Gundam Reconguista in G[16] TV series: 26 episodes 2014–2015 Regild Century 1014
Compilation movies: 5 2019–TBA
Gundam Build Fighters Try TV series: 25 episodes 2014–2015[17] Our Century
Movie 2016
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin[18] OVA:[19] 6 episodes 2015–2018[16] UC 0068, 0071, 0078
TV series: 13 episodes 2019
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans[20] TV series: 50 episodes 2015–2017 Post Disaster 323, 325
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt[21] OVA: 8 episodes 2015–2017 UC 0079
Compilation movies: 2 2016–2017
Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AXIS[22] ONA: 6 episodes 2017 UC 0096
Compilation movie 2017
Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue[23] OVA: 3 episodes 2017
Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack[23] Movie 2017
Gundam Build Divers Prologue OVA 2018 Our Century
TV Series: 25 episodes
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative[24] Movie 2018 UC 0097
SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden Net Animation 2019–TBA
Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise Net Animation 2019–TBA Our Century
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash[25] Movies 2020–TBA UC 0105

On July 5, 2018, it was announced at the Anime Expo 2018 that Legendary Pictures and Sunrise are teaming up to developing a Live action Gundam movie.[26] On March 6, 2019, Deadline reports that Brian K. Vaughan will write and will also serve as an executive producer for the film.[27]

Manga and novels
Main article: List of Gundam manga and novels

Manga adaptations of the Gundam series have been published in English in North America by a number of companies, such as Viz Media, Del Rey Manga and Tokyopop, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

Video games
Main article: List of Gundam video games

Gundam has spawned over 80 video games for arcade, computer and console platforms, some with characters not found in other Gundam media. Some of the games, in turn inspired spinoff novels and manga. Most Gundam video games, except Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, were released only in Japan.[28]

Gundam models
Main article: Gundam model

Hundreds of Gundam models, primarily made of plastic but sometimes with resin and metal detail parts, have been released. They range in quality from children's toy kits to hobbyist and museum-grade models, and most are in 1:35, 1:48, 1:60, 1:100 or 1:144 scale. Promotional 1:6 or 1:12 scale models are supplied to retailers and are not commercially available. For Gundam's 30th anniversary, a full-size RX-78-2 Gundam model was constructed and displayed at Gundam Front Tokyo, in the Odaiba district;[29] it was taken down on 5 March 2017.[30] A new statue of the Unicorn Gundam was erected at the same location, now renamed The Gundam Base Tokyo.

Other merchandise

Bandai, Gundam's primary licensee, produces a variety of products.[31] Other companies produce unofficial merchandise, such as toys, models and T-shirts. Products include Mobile Suit In Action (MSiA) action figures and Gundam model kits in several scales and design complexities. Each series generally has its own set of products, MSiA and model lines such as Master Grade and High Grade Universal Century may extend across series. The most popular action-figure line has been the Gundam Fix series, which includes the mecha in the animated series, manga and novels and accessories to create an updated version. In addition to Master Grade and High Grade Gundams, Bandai released a 30th-anniversary series of Gundam models in 2010.[32] The Real Grade (RG) Gundam series combined the Master Grade's detailed inner structure with additional colour separation, making the 1:144-scale series complex in design and compact in size. After the introduction of the RG Gundam series, Bandai released the Metal Build series in March 2011 (beginning with the 00 Gundam).[33]

Internet

Bandai maintains several websites to promote Gundam projects; Gundam Perfect Web is the official Japanese site. Its English-language counterpart is the US-maintained Gundam Official. In 2005, the website hosted the Gundam Official User Forum. The forum was based on the existing fan forum, Gundam Watch, using many of its staff. When the project was retired, Gundam Watch was reborn and became Gundam Evolution.

A number of series-specific websites have been created, often available for a limited time (usually to promote a DVD release). Common content includes character and mecha listings, lists of related merchandise and pay-for-download content. Special pages are frequent, often presenting downloadable wallpaper or a small game. The Superior Defender Gundam Force website has a game in which players take the role of villain Commander Sazabi, attempting to blast his subordinate with weapons.

Global spread

Since 1980, Gundam has appeared in the following countries and regions:

Country Debut year
Italy
Hong Kong		1980
Taiwan
China
Thailand		1981
Singapore
Malaysia
Korea		1982
Philippines1983
Indonesia1987
United States
Canada
Latin America
Australia
New Zealand
Rest of Europe outside Italy		1994

Impact
Main article: Cultural impact of Gundam

Gundam is a Japanese cultural icon; it is a ¥50-billion-annual business of Bandai Namco, reaching ¥54.5 billion annual revenue by 2006,[34] and ¥80.2 billion annual revenue by 2014.[5] Stamps were issued, an Agriculture Ministry employee was reprimanded for contributing to the Japanese Wikipedia Gundam-related pages,[35] and the Japan Self-Defense Forces code-named its developing advance personal-combat system Gundam.

The impact of Gundam in Japan has been compared to the impact of Star Wars in the United States.[8]

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See also

Notes
  1. See Cultural impact of Gundam § Retail sales

References
  1. Flow of the Japan toy industry (日本の玩具産業の動向), Japan Economics Department, Information section (日本経済情報課)
  2. Lewis, Leo (November 1, 2008). "Gundam cartoon academy to turn science fiction into reality in Japan". The Times. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  3. "Gundam Wing Phenomenon Grows With Addition of New Licensees as Television Ratings and Toy Line Sales Surge". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. June 13, 2000. Archived from the original on 2000-08-21. Retrieved January 8, 2017 – via Yahoo.com.
  4. "Gundam Wing Phenomenon Grows With Addition of New Licensees as Television Ratings and Toy Line Sales Surge". Business Wire. Berkshire Hathaway. June 13, 2000. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved August 10, 2019 – via The Free Dictionary.
  5. Bandai Namco Fiscal Year 2014 Financial Statement
  6. Peters, Megan (June 23, 2018). "'Pokemon' Is The Highest-Grossing Franchise Of All-Time". ComicBook.com. Retrieved August 13, 2018.
  7. Gundam Archives, production notes
  8. Chris Stuckmann (15 May 2018). Anime Impact: The Movies and Shows that Changed the World of Japanese Animation. Mango Media Inc. p. 42. ISBN 978-1-63353-733-0.
  9. Oppliger, John (2007-10-12). "Ask John: Which Gundam Series Have Had the Most Impact on Anime?". AnimeNation. Archived from the original on 2009-06-16. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  10. Gundam Science, The High Frontier - G.K. O'neil's Space colonization plan, Gundam Century, Out Magazine special edition, Renewal Version
  11. 機動戦士ガンダムは、同じくバンダイグループの（株）サンライズが制作し、1979年4月～1980年1月にテレビシリーズ第１作が放映されて以来、テレビシリーズ8作品、劇場用映画9作品などが公開され、20年以上にわたり人気を保っています。米国をはじめ、ヨーロッパ、アジアでも作品が放映され、各地で高い人気を得ています。
  12. "Gundam UC Anime Gets TV Broadcast With New Opening, Ending Themes (Updated) - News". Anime News Network. 2016-02-20. Retrieved 2016-09-17.
  13. "Level 5 to Help Create Gundam AGE Anime This Fall (Updated) - News". Anime News Network. 2011-06-09. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  14. johnny ridden. "GUNDAM GUY: Gundam Build Fighters Season 2 - New Series Project In Progress!".
  15. "Mobile Suit Gundam-san 4-Panel Gag Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  16. "Gundam's 35th Year Marked With Reconguista in G, The Origin". Anime News Network. 2014-03-20. Retrieved 2014-03-20.
  17. "ガンダムビルドファイターズトライ".
  18. "Gundam The Origin Manga to Launch Anime Project - News". Anime News Network. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  19. ""Gundam The Origin" episode 1 90-second trailer released!". Gundam.info. 2014-05-31. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2014-07-07.
  20. "機動戦士ガンダム　鉄血のオルフェンズ". 機動戦士ガンダム　鉄血のオルフェンズ.
  21. "『機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト』". 『機動戦士ガンダム サンダーボルト』.
  22. "『機動戦士ガンダム Twilight AXIS』". 『機動戦士ガンダム Twilight AXIS』.
  23. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2017-08-04. Retrieved 2017-08-04.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  24. https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/279019
  25. "Gundam Hathaway". Retrieved 2019-08-11.
  26. Fuster, Jeremy (July 5, 2018). "'Gundam' Film: Legendary Pictures to Make Live-Action Anime Adaptation". The Wrap. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  27. N'Duka, Amanda; Boucher, Geoff (March 6, 2019). "Brian K. Vaughan To Pen 'Gundam' Live-Action Adaptation For Legendary". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  28. "MobyGames: Game Browser". MobyGames. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  29. appetiteforjapan (2015-12-02). "Diver City Tokyo: the ultimate Gundam experience". Appetite For Japan. Retrieved 2017-03-03.
  30. 「実物大ガンダム立像」5年の歴史に幕。そして新たなプロジェクトへ！. 公式ガンダム情報ポータルサイト「GUNDAM.INFO」 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  31. "GUNDAM.INFO | The official Gundam news and video portal". na.gundam.info (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  32. Suzuki, Toshiyuki. "RX-78-2 Gundam (RG) (Gundam Model Kits)". Hobby Search Co., Ltd. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  33. "METAL BUILD FREEDOM GUNDAM". Gundamplanet.com. Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  34. Nekkei BP mook, Otona no Gundamu Perfect (Gundam for Adult's Perfect), Business & History+Character+Mechanic, Nekkei Entertainment, ISBN 978-4-8222-6317-1
  35. "Japanese workers in Wikipedia row". BBC News Online. October 5, 2007. Retrieved 2009-10-01.
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