This article is about the anime series. For the mecha themselves, see Mobile weapons.
"Earth Federation" redirects here. Not to be confused with Supreme Commander's United Earth
Federation.
Gundam
Gundam.jpg
Sunrise
Print publications
Games
Miscellaneous
S. H. Figuarts
In 2014 the Gundam franchise generated 80 billion per year,[1] 18.4 billion of which was retail
sales of toys and hobby items.[1] In the 2008 ranking of sales figures for anime sold in Japan.[2]
Gunpla (plastic Gundam models) make up 90 percent of the Japanese character plastic-model
market.[3] 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.[4]
Contents [hide]
1 Overview
1.1 Concept
1.2 Innovation
1.3 Timelines
1.4 Spinoffs
2 Media
2.6 Internet
3 Global spread
4 Impact
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Overview[edit]
Concept[edit]
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 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.[5] In keeping
with the concept, Gundam are depicted as unique or limited-production, with higher capabilities
than mass-produced units.
Most Gundam are large, bipedal, humanoid vehicles controlled from a cockpit by a human pilot. The
"mobile suits" have a cockpit in their "torsos", with cameras built into their "heads" to transmit
images to a cockpit.
Innovation[edit]
Mobile Suit Gundam reportedly pioneered the real robot subgenre of mecha anime.[6] 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) or feasible technology requiring
only a few fictional elements to function (such as Minovsky Physics).[7]
Timelines[edit]
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.[8]
Spinoffs[edit]
SD Gundam, a spinoff of Gundam which began during the mid-1980s, emphasizes comedy and
adventure. Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G and Gundam Build Fighters feature
contemporary settings and use Gunpla as plot elements.
Media[edit]
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.
OVA 19891991
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Diver Specialty format movie 2001
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War OVA 2004
TV series
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer Movie 2010
Manga adaptations of 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[edit]
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.[22]
Gundam models[edit]
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 in Tokyo's Odaiba district;[23] it
was taken down on 5 March 2017.[24] As of August 2017, a new statue of the Unicorn Gundam is
being erected just outside of a shopping mall in Symbol Park in the Odaiba district.
Other merchandise[edit]
Bandai, Gundam's primary licensee, produces a variety of products.[25] 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.[26] 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).[27]
Internet[edit]
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[edit]
Since 1980, Gundam has appeared in the following countries and regions:
CountryDebut year
Italy
Taiwan
China
Thailand 1981
Singapore
Malaysia
Korea 1982
Philippines 1983
Indonesia 1987
United States
Canada
Latin America
Europe 1994
Impact[edit]
See also[edit]
Bandai Museum