Mobile Suit Gundam watch order

War stories about giant robots and the young pilots caught up in them. One main timeline, the Universal Century, plus a long line of standalone series set in their own universes.

First time? Start with the original Mobile Suit Gundam (or its movie trilogy), or with a standalone series such as Iron-Blooded Orphans or The Witch from Mercury.

First-timer order

The Universal Century in the order it was made, which lets each new entry build on what came before. It leaves out the movie trilogy (use it instead of the TV series if you like) and Cucuruz Doan's Island. The separate universes can be watched any time.

Mobile Suit Gundam TV, 1979–80, 43 episodes
Where it all started: Amuro Ray, Char Aznable and the One Year War (UC 0079).
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam TV, 1985–86, 50 episodes
The direct sequel to the original, seven years after the One Year War (UC 0087).
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ TV, 1986–87, 47 episodes
Continues straight on from Zeta (UC 0088).
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack Movie, 1988
The final clash between Amuro and Char (UC 0093).
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (optional) OVA, 1989, 6 episodes
A side story about a boy on a neutral colony near the end of the One Year War. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Movie, 1991
Thirty years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0123), with a new cast. It was first planned as a TV series.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA, 1991–92, 13 episodes
Three years after the One Year War (UC 0083). It bridges the original series and Zeta.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam TV, 1993–94, 51 episodes
Thirty years after F91 (UC 0153).
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (optional) OVA, 1996–99, 12 episodes
A side story about a Federation ground unit fighting on Earth during the One Year War. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA, 2010–14, 7 episodes
Three years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0096). Also available as RE:0096, a 22-episode TV re-edit of the same story.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin OVA, 2015–18, 6 episodes
Char and Sayla's childhood and the road to the One Year War (UC 0068–0079). A prequel made decades after the original.
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative Movie, 2018
A direct sequel to Unicorn (UC 0097).
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway Movie, 2021
First film of a trilogy, twelve years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0105).
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Movie, 2026
Second film of the Hathaway trilogy. Opened in Japan on January 30, 2026.

Story order

The Universal Century in in-world order first, then each separate universe with its sequels. The separate universes don't connect to the UC or to each other.

Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin OVA, 2015–18, 6 episodes
Char and Sayla's childhood and the road to the One Year War (UC 0068–0079). A prequel made decades after the original.
Mobile Suit Gundam TV, 1979–80, 43 episodes
Where it all started: Amuro Ray, Char Aznable and the One Year War (UC 0079).
Mobile Suit Gundam I, II and III (movie trilogy) (optional) Movie, 1981–82
The TV series recut into three films. Watch these instead of the TV series if you want the shorter version, not as well as it.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (optional) OVA, 1996–99, 12 episodes
A side story about a Federation ground unit fighting on Earth during the One Year War. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island (optional) Movie, 2022
A film remake of episode 15 of the original series. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (optional) OVA, 1989, 6 episodes
A side story about a boy on a neutral colony near the end of the One Year War. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA, 1991–92, 13 episodes
Three years after the One Year War (UC 0083). It bridges the original series and Zeta.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam TV, 1985–86, 50 episodes
The direct sequel to the original, seven years after the One Year War (UC 0087).
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ TV, 1986–87, 47 episodes
Continues straight on from Zeta (UC 0088).
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack Movie, 1988
The final clash between Amuro and Char (UC 0093).
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA, 2010–14, 7 episodes
Three years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0096). Also available as RE:0096, a 22-episode TV re-edit of the same story.
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative Movie, 2018
A direct sequel to Unicorn (UC 0097).
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway Movie, 2021
First film of a trilogy, twelve years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0105).
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Movie, 2026
Second film of the Hathaway trilogy. Opened in Japan on January 30, 2026.
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Movie, 1991
Thirty years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0123), with a new cast. It was first planned as a TV series.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam TV, 1993–94, 51 episodes
Thirty years after F91 (UC 0153).
Mobile Fighter G Gundam TV, 1994–95, 49 episodes
Future Century. Nations settle their disputes with a Gundam fighting tournament.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing TV, 1995–96, 49 episodes
After Colony. Colony rebels send five Gundams to Earth to fight the government that rules them.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz OVA, 1997, 3 episodes
The sequel, one year after Wing. Also released as a 1998 movie version.
After War Gundam X TV, 1996, 39 episodes
After War. Set on an Earth ruined by a war between Earth and its colonies.
Turn A Gundam TV, 1999–2000, 50 episodes
Correct Century. Thousands of years in the future, Earth has fallen back to a pre-industrial age, and the people of the Moon want it back.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED TV, 2002–03, 50 episodes
Cosmic Era (C.E. 71). A war between ordinary humans and genetically enhanced Coordinators.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny TV, 2004–05, 50 episodes
The sequel, two years later (C.E. 73).
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Movie, 2024
A film sequel, two years after Destiny (C.E. 75).
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 TV, 2007–08, 25 episodes
Anno Domini. A near-future Earth in A.D. 2307, after fossil fuels have run out.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00, second season TV, 2008–09, 25 episodes
Four years after the first season.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer Movie, 2010
Two years after the second season.
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE TV, 2011–12, 49 episodes
Advanced Generation. Humanity fights a mysterious attacker known only as the UE.
Gundam Reconguista in G TV, 2014–15, 26 episodes
Regild Century, set long after the Universal Century has ended. Watchable on its own.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans TV, 2015–16, 25 episodes
Post Disaster. The young guards of a Martian security company escort a politician to Earth.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, season 2 TV, 2016–17, 25 episodes
The second half of the story.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, Prologue Special, 2022, 1 episode
A prequel episode that sets up the backstory. Watch it before season 1.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury TV, 2022–23, 12 episodes
Ad Stella. Suletta, a girl from Mercury, transfers to a school run by the biggest mobile suit maker.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, season 2 TV, 2023, 12 episodes
The second half of the story.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV, 2025, 12 episodes
An alternate take on the Universal Century: Char steals the Gundam and Zeon wins the One Year War. The Beginning film (January 2025) is a cinema cut of early episodes, so the series alone is enough.

Release order

Everything in the order it came out. Only useful if you want to follow the franchise as it happened.

Mobile Suit Gundam TV, 1979–80, 43 episodes
Where it all started: Amuro Ray, Char Aznable and the One Year War (UC 0079).
Mobile Suit Gundam I, II and III (movie trilogy) (optional) Movie, 1981–82
The TV series recut into three films. Watch these instead of the TV series if you want the shorter version, not as well as it.
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam TV, 1985–86, 50 episodes
The direct sequel to the original, seven years after the One Year War (UC 0087).
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ TV, 1986–87, 47 episodes
Continues straight on from Zeta (UC 0088).
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack Movie, 1988
The final clash between Amuro and Char (UC 0093).
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket (optional) OVA, 1989, 6 episodes
A side story about a boy on a neutral colony near the end of the One Year War. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 Movie, 1991
Thirty years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0123), with a new cast. It was first planned as a TV series.
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory OVA, 1991–92, 13 episodes
Three years after the One Year War (UC 0083). It bridges the original series and Zeta.
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam TV, 1993–94, 51 episodes
Thirty years after F91 (UC 0153).
Mobile Fighter G Gundam TV, 1994–95, 49 episodes
Future Century. Nations settle their disputes with a Gundam fighting tournament.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing TV, 1995–96, 49 episodes
After Colony. Colony rebels send five Gundams to Earth to fight the government that rules them.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (optional) OVA, 1996–99, 12 episodes
A side story about a Federation ground unit fighting on Earth during the One Year War. Optional.
After War Gundam X TV, 1996, 39 episodes
After War. Set on an Earth ruined by a war between Earth and its colonies.
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz OVA, 1997, 3 episodes
The sequel, one year after Wing. Also released as a 1998 movie version.
Turn A Gundam TV, 1999–2000, 50 episodes
Correct Century. Thousands of years in the future, Earth has fallen back to a pre-industrial age, and the people of the Moon want it back.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED TV, 2002–03, 50 episodes
Cosmic Era (C.E. 71). A war between ordinary humans and genetically enhanced Coordinators.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny TV, 2004–05, 50 episodes
The sequel, two years later (C.E. 73).
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 TV, 2007–08, 25 episodes
Anno Domini. A near-future Earth in A.D. 2307, after fossil fuels have run out.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00, second season TV, 2008–09, 25 episodes
Four years after the first season.
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn OVA, 2010–14, 7 episodes
Three years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0096). Also available as RE:0096, a 22-episode TV re-edit of the same story.
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer Movie, 2010
Two years after the second season.
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE TV, 2011–12, 49 episodes
Advanced Generation. Humanity fights a mysterious attacker known only as the UE.
Gundam Reconguista in G TV, 2014–15, 26 episodes
Regild Century, set long after the Universal Century has ended. Watchable on its own.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin OVA, 2015–18, 6 episodes
Char and Sayla's childhood and the road to the One Year War (UC 0068–0079). A prequel made decades after the original.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans TV, 2015–16, 25 episodes
Post Disaster. The young guards of a Martian security company escort a politician to Earth.
Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, season 2 TV, 2016–17, 25 episodes
The second half of the story.
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative Movie, 2018
A direct sequel to Unicorn (UC 0097).
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway Movie, 2021
First film of a trilogy, twelve years after Char's Counterattack (UC 0105).
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island (optional) Movie, 2022
A film remake of episode 15 of the original series. Optional.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, Prologue Special, 2022, 1 episode
A prequel episode that sets up the backstory. Watch it before season 1.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury TV, 2022–23, 12 episodes
Ad Stella. Suletta, a girl from Mercury, transfers to a school run by the biggest mobile suit maker.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, season 2 TV, 2023, 12 episodes
The second half of the story.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom Movie, 2024
A film sequel, two years after Destiny (C.E. 75).
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV, 2025, 12 episodes
An alternate take on the Universal Century: Char steals the Gundam and Zeon wins the One Year War. The Beginning film (January 2025) is a cinema cut of early episodes, so the series alone is enough.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Movie, 2026
Second film of the Hathaway trilogy. Opened in Japan on January 30, 2026.

Explained

The Universal Century and everything else

Gundam isn't one story. The 1979 series started a timeline called the Universal Century (UC), and most sequels and side stories build on it. Many other series, like Wing, SEED, 00, Iron-Blooded Orphans and The Witch from Mercury, are set in their own universes with their own calendars. You don't need to know the UC to watch them.

Where to start

There are two good doors in. For the UC, start with the original 1979 series, or the three-film recut if the TV series is too long. If older animation puts you off, pick a standalone series instead: Iron-Blooded Orphans and The Witch from Mercury are both modern and need no prior Gundam.

The Origin: before or after the original?

The Origin is a prequel, but it was made in 2015 for people who already knew the story. Guides disagree on it: some suggest starting there for its modern animation, others prefer the order things were made. If in doubt, watch it after the original series.

What about Turn A and G-Reconguista?

Turn A takes place thousands of years in the future, and G-Reconguista is set after the Universal Century has ended. Both work as standalone series, so they sit with the separate universes here.

What's not listed

To keep this readable, the guide leaves out smaller UC side stories such as Thunderbolt, MS IGLOO and Twilight Axis, the Build Fighters and Build Divers series about model-kit battles, and the SD Gundam spin-offs. The AniList link below lists them all.