This is my list of recommended gundam series that I think you might enjoy. In case you’re not familiar, gundam are manga, TV shows, and video games that feature giant robots (mecha) which wear mobile suits called gundam. I excluded series from my list that were not yet finished when I was writing.
Note: The list is in no particular order!
Top Ten Gundam Anime
1. Mobile Suit Gundam: Wing
Wing was the very first gundam series I watched as a kid. I remember rushing home from school with my best friend to try to catch the show. The show features five young kids fighting with their own unique gundams. I re-watched the series again recently and I could still see why I fell in love with it years ago. The fights are really good, especially Heavyarms vs Tallgeese.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed
This anime started off with two childhood friends getting dragged into a war between two human races: the naturals and the coordinators. Kira, the main protagonist, is a really talented pilot. I didn’t like him at first, but his decisiveness changed my opinion as I watched the show. Some of the maneuvers he does with his gundam are comparable to those of Amuro Ray, the legendary pilot from the original Mobile Suit Gundam.
3. Mobile Suit Gondam: Char’s Counterattack
No gundam list is complete without this series. I really enjoyed Mobile Suits, even though it is a movie, as it really shows the intense rivalry between Amuro and Char. Every UC gundam fan-boy has watched this. Together with the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series, this is what made gundam popular. Back when the original came out, super robot series dominated TV in Japan.
4. Mobile Suit Gundam: AGE
This is a newer show. Gundam AGE is quite refreshing because not only does it follow three different main characters, it includes three generations of pilots who pass their skills on to their children. I believe the show was meant to be three seasons, but they were limited to only one. Nevertheless, it is still a good series despite the rather abrupt ending.
I love this show because it has a middle eastern protagonist. The plot is loosely based on the war in Afghanistan. Because it’s split into two seasons, the plot is slightly confusing, but eventually makes sense partway through. There are a lot of surprises and the final fight between Setsuna and Ribbons is quite exciting.
It is a pity that After War Gundam X did not get to broadcast all 50 episodes and was limited to just 39. Due to this, the show is a little rushed, with some important details left out. There is some resemblance to Gundam Wing, except that Jarrod’s most powerful weapon can only be charged when the moon is shining.
Turn a Gundam has a unique look compared to the other series. The main protagonist gets sent to Earth to see if it is viable for resettlement. He ends up falling in love with life there. However, when he finds out that the Moonrace has decided to send mobile suits to “reclaim” the Earth, he uses his new-found mobile suit to try and stop their attack.
8. Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
This is one of the older gundam series and it has a good soundtrack. Gato has a very powerful mobile suit (GP-02A) that is armed with a nuclear weapon. His rivalry with Kou is very entertaining to watch. If you like mobile suits with a much larger array of weapons attached, you will enjoy this series.
9. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Zeta is a sequel to the original Mobile Suit Gundam. another classic series featuring Amuro Ray. While the teenage pilot Kamille isn’t the most likable character, he certainly has the skills to pilot a gundam very well. Along with rebel Quattro, Kamille fights alongside the rebel group AEUG to fend off the Titans. Later in the series, we get to see the leader Haman Karn and her awesome Quebeley. Haman is quite a formidable opponent. The fights are awesome and really worth watching.
This is the only recent series that includes classic land warfare. The show doesn’t have Newtypes (highly evolved humans) or any of those super power gundams that can kill over 9,000 enemies in one shot. It is classic, old-school anime. The animation might not be appealing to some, but you can always watch the remastered version.