Toksan's Guide to Watching (and reading) UC Gundam
- Toksan
- Aug 4, 2020
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 21
Below is my definitive guide to watching and reading the longest Gundam timeline, Universal Century. It includes all of the anime, and the most essential manga that are part of the timeline.
The first Gundam series that came out was Mobile Suit Gundam, which started airing in 1979. It was initially a flop, but Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam picked up the slack a few years later and really got the fanbase going. The original timeline for Gundam was called the Univiersal Century, or UC. If you want to start at the beginning, this is what you’re looking for.
In 2015, a new series started, called Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, which starts about ten years before the original series, giving us some background on characters the writer (Yoshiyuki Tomino) simply didn’t feel like giving all the backstory for back in 1979. If you want the original series to be a bit more emotional, or make more sense, start here. Otherwise, you're perfectly fine watching the 1979 series first.
To keep things simple, here's the "core" UC series in chronological order, only anime:
Origin -> 0079 -> Zeta -> ZZ -> CCA -> Unicorn -> F91 -> Victory
In the long term, I recommend watching most of UC (the first 100 years, at least) before moving on to the other timelines. I’ll give a chronoligical order of the UC series below. Years and such come from the Gundam Wikia.
‘*’ denotes a series absolutely necessary to watching the core “Universal Century” experience.
Assume for most of these that “Mobile Suit Gundam” is before the name I give. The number on the left is the year in which it takes place.
Things that you read will be marked in red.
Universal Century in Chronological Order
0067: Outer Gundam (Manga only)
A short manga covering the lives of the eventual developers of Operation V.
0068: MSG: The Origin*
Start here to have the full story from the beginning! Some might recommend waiting until after you’ve watched the original before watching it. It is a 6 part OVA series, or a television series that splits those OVAs up into episode-length portions.
It should also be noted that The Origin is technically an alternate version of UC. It can still be considered a prequel, but the actual events of The Origin might differ slightly from that of Mobile Suit Gundam.
"Before the One Year War," there is a short one-volume manga called Developers: Mobile Suit Gundam Before One Year War. It covers the development and specs of the Zaku 1, the first mobile suit. As far as I can see, there is not a specific year in which this happens, but it's safe to assume it happens during The Origin.
0079: Mobile Suit Gundam*
Start here if you want to watch from the original beginning! It's a little aged, but it's essential for anybody who wants the full Gundam experience.
There are three compilation movies for this series - I recommend watching these instead of the episodes.
Alternatively, if you are a manga reader, there is a "remaster" of 0079 called Gundam: The Origin that is a continuation of the OVA series of the same name. It has twelve volumes, and is a great read.
0079: Char's Deleted Affair ~ Portrait of Young Comet (Manga only)
This covers the gap between Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, including how Char comes to meet Haman Karn.
0079: 10 Minutes War U.C. 0079 (Manga only)
A manga short story covering the deployment of the RX-79M, or the "Gundam Submarine."
0079: Nightmare of Solomon (Manga only)
A manga covering the actions of Anavel Gato before his return in 0083.
0079: Missing Link (Manga only)
A manga adaptation of the PS3 game "Missing Link." Follows the development and deployment of a new suit, the Pale Rider.
0079: The Blue Destiny (Manga only)
A remake of the manga by the same name that was an adaptation of the video game, also by the same name. It covers the development and usage of the"EXAM System."
0079: Side Story of Gundam Zeta (Manga only)
A manga that covers the actions of individuals involved in the One Year War and A Baoa Qu, leading up to the events of Zeta Gundam.
0079: MS IGLOO
A cool series of OVAs that highlight the progression of technology during the One Year War. Goofy CGI, but cool for the lore.
0079: The 08th MS Team
Not core to understanding UC, but an excellent series nonetheless. A really good series revolving around ground forces during the One Year War. It has a compilation movie called Miller’s Report.
0079: Thunderbolt
Gritty series, in a non-canon point in time during the One Year War. Really cool, and fuckin cool soundtrack! There are currently two seasons, and at least one compilation movie. The series is based on manga, which can be found pretty easily.
0079-0080: War in the Pocket
Another cool series. It especially focuses on how war affects civilians and young people.
0081: Jupiter Mirage (Manga only)
Covers a period of time when Johnny Ridden piloted a Jupiter Zaku.
0082: MSV Battle Chronicle Johnny Ridden (Manga only)
Johnny Ridden (called Johnny Depp) is called upon to defeat "ghosts of Zeon."
0082: The Origin - Amuro 0082 (Manga only)
A sequel to The Origin in which we learn what Amuro has been up to since the One Year War.
0083: The Origin - Artesia 0083 (Manga only)
A sequel to The Origin in which we learn what Sayla has been up to since the One Year War.
0083: Stardust Memory
Tells the origin of Titans, Neo Zeon, and other important tidbits. It has a compilation movie called Last Blitz of Zeon!
0083: Jupiter (Zeus) in Operation Titan U.C. 0083 (Manga only)
A short manga covering a battle between a unit of the Titans and Zeon near Jupiter.
0084: Psi-trailing (Manga only)
This manga covers the origins of "Quattro Bajeena," and Haman Karn's care of a certain Zeon princess.
0084: Advance of Zeta: The Flag of the Titans (Manga only)
0085: Advance of Zeta: The Traitor to Destiny (Manga only)
An only partially translated manga series covering the development and research of mobile suits like the Hazel Custom, Woundwort, and many others. Hopefully one day there is some form of official western release. AoZ is technically called a "photo novel."
0087: IRON HEART (Manga only)
A Titans pilot brings the Gundam Mk-III to AEUG after encountering Amuro in his Dijeh.
0087: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.*
The second Gundam series to come out. A huge step up from the original! There are movies of this called A New Translation. Worth watching, but they’re not canon. If it weren't for the success of Zeta, the Gundam franchise wouldn't exist.
0087: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Define (Manga only)
A retelling of Zeta Gundam, and a sequel to "Char's Deleted Affair: Portrait of Young Comet."
0088: ZZ Side Story: Mirage of Zeon (Manga only)
A manga that covers the events between Zeta and ZZ.
0088: Mobile Suite ZZ Gundam*
A direct sequel to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Starts out really goofy. If you want, watch episodes 1-2, and then skip to 13. I promise it’s worth pushing through! This is a really solid series, with a lot of important stuff regarding later entries.
0088: Enhanced Human Tale: Another Z Gundam Story (Manga only)
A manga series that covers the development of the Gundam Airotia and Gundam Defortiterss, as well as the further development of Newtype tech. The main cast of the series is put into cryostasis, set to wake up in UC1160.
0089: Advance of Zeta Re-Boot: Gundam Inle - Black Rabbit Had a Dream (Manga only)
An as of yet untranslated manga series that is a sequel to Advance of Zeta.
0090: MSV-R: The Return of Johnny Ridden (Manga only)
A research team from the Federation uncovers events and mobile suit data from the end of the One Year War. It also covers Johnny Ridden, known as the "Crimson Lightning."
0090: Under the Gundam: Double-Fake (Manga only)
Char returns, leading the second wave of Neo Zeon, and a man by the name of Darry Neil Guns disguises his Mobile Worker as the RX-78 Gundam.
0090: Vs. Giant God of Legend: Gigantis' Counterattack (Manga only)
Judau Ashita joins Amuro Ray to put a stop to the Gigantis, a massive mobile suit piloted by none other than Mineva Zabi.
0092: The Revival of Zeon (Manga only)
Folllows a Scandinavia-based battle between Earth-bound Neo Zeon units and the powerful Earth Federation. It has a sequel called "New Revival of Zeon."
0092: Moon Gundam (Manga only)
Amuro and his Londo Bell squardron investigate a new mobile suit, the Moon Gundam, after learning of Char's plan to attack the Federation.
0093: Char’s Counterattack*
A movie covering the final showdown between the Earth sphere's two greatest pilots. Absolutely vital to the core UC experience.
There is also a manga, called "Beltorchika's Children," which features the upgraded versions of Char and Amuro's suits.
0094: The Legend of Heroes (Manga only)
Kai Shiden goes to Shangri-La after learning of a recovered Gundam-type MS, in hopes of finding Amuro Ray.
0094: Across The Sky (Manga only)
A new gundam, the Delta Kai, has been deployed, and has the ability to give normal pilots the abilities of Newtypes, using the "n_i_t_r_o System."
0096: Last Sun (Manga only)
The sequel to Across The Sky, and a side story for Unicorn.
0096: Unicorn*
There are two ways of watching this - OVA movies or episodic. Both are exactly the same, just split up differently. One is on Netflix!
This is one of the most popular entries in the Gundam franchise, and some people say this is a good starting point. If you want to start here, by all means, go ahead. However, you will not have the context for a lot of the history and characters that you meet during this series.
There are a collection of manga that act as the source material for this anime.
0096: Twilight Axis
A series of very short episodes telling the story of two of the Zeon engineers who designed Char's pinnacle suit, the Sazabi. Not essential to core UC, and does not add much to the story as an anime. The manga is apparently the ideal way to consume this part of the story.
0097: Narrative
A sequel to Unicorn. Covers a bit more of the supernatural powers of Newtypes, and a few of the consequences of the events of Unicorn. Not necessarily essential to the core UC experience, but still good to watch if you liked Unicorn! There is also a manga of this.
0099: Moon Crisis (Manga only)
Following the third Neo-Zeon conflict, peace in the Earth sphere is once again threatened.
0105: Hathaway’s Flash (Novel only)
This hasn’t come out yet, but has been announced. It’ll be a series of movies. The trailer looks great, and you can find it on YouTube! The movies will be adapted to make sense within the anime timeline, since the novel was written to be in the manga timeline.
0107: REON (Manga only)
Mars becomes a huge economic center as the production and sales of rare metals leads to the funding of Anti-Earth Federation groups. REON is a sequel to Outer Gundam.
0122: F90 (Manga only)
0122: F90: Fastest Formula (Manga only)
Provides important details about the events that have happened since Char's Counterattack, and what leads up to the movie F91.
0123: Silhouette Formula 91 in U.C. 0123 (Manga only)
Covers the events surrounding the developers of the F91 Gundam, and a skirmish between the Crossbone Vanguard and Anaheim Electronics. Takes place three weeks before F91 proper.
0123: F91*
Okay. I personally enjoyed the idea of this series, but due to budget, the series was cut down to a really rushed movie. It's the beginning of the new era of UC. The key characters, factions, and tones are characteristic of late UC, and the movie itself is very important to understanding the context of everything after it. There is also a manga version of this story!
0133: Crossbone Gundam (Manga only)
0133: Crossbone Gundam: Skull Heart (Manga only)
0136: Crossbone Gundam: Steel 7 (Manga only)
0153: Crossbone Gundam: Ghost (Manga only)
A beloved series of manga that, to fans' dismay, is yet to get animated. It's quite good.
0153: Victory*
The black sheep of UC. Victory was written during a really dark time of Tomino’s life, and it shows.
0153: Victory Gundam Outside Story (Manga only)
During the battle against BESPA and the Zanscare Empire, Uso meets a man named Grey Stoke.
0169: Crossbone Gundam: Dust (Manga only)
Ditto on above Crossbone manga.
0179: Mobile Suit Gundam Almarya (Manga only)
A sequel to the "Under the Gundam: Double-Fake"
0223: G-Saviour
A live action UC Gundam movie produced in Canada. Sunrise pretends it doesn't exist.
1160: Enhanced Human Tale: MAD WANG 1160 (Manga only)
The main cast of the previous Enhanced Human Tale manga wake up from cryostasis, only to find themselves tied up in another war between Earth and Spacenoids. It is worth noting that "Gundams" are not mentioned in this series, and nanomachines are used, perhaps as an allusion to Turn A Gundam.
That concludes UC! After that, you can watch pretty much any Gundam series and understand it. Canonically speaking, I believe UC is the beginning of everything. While all of the other timelines are pretty unrelated, Turn A Gundam and Reconguista in G directly reference Universal Century, Reconguista even being referred to as a distant part of the timeline.
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