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How do!

So whilst looking for the live action Guyver movies on streaming platforms, Netflix demonstrated it has a bunch of Gundam series available for U.K. viewers.

Now, whilst I’ve had enough of a passing interest to know Gundam is one of those animes that has been sliced up and repackaged more than a few times, I’m hoping some knowledgeable Dakkanaut(s) might be able to suggest a viewing order. And in case you’re not in the U.K.? I can access….

Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam II, Soldiers of Sorrow
Mobile Suit Gundam III, Encounters in Space
Mobile Suit Gundam Char’s Counter Attack
Mobile Suit Gundam Iron Blooded Orphans (now that’s a band name!)
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway

As far as I can tell, these are the Japanese version, as the voice actors are listed as Japanese. At least for I-III.

Any help, tips or pointers on a watch order, or anything to avoid like the plague, despite humanity being demonstrably Not That Good at avoiding plagues.

ok, those first 3 movies are basically the original series condensing 43 episodes into three movies, mainly by cutting out things like transformation sequences and other filler. its highly watchable.


chars counterattack is set MUCH later in the same timeline, and theirs about 20 in-universe years and two full seasons of anime that you skip (but i dont know where youd find that). about the only thing you need to know form those series is "winners of last war go evil, characters form both sides of last war team up to fight them", and then it all falls apart agian after they win.

Iron Blooded Orphans is set in a alternate timeline with no direct relevance to the others, so watch it whenever, its not going to spoil or depend on anything else.

unicorn & Hathaway i havent heard much about, but you have them in the correct chronological order. they are both decades after chars counterattack and i dont think any characters form the eariler series appear in them.


that said, i might pop over to watch these myself. I've only seen the first three movies, and the SEED series thats set in the Comic Era (gundam has a LOT of alternate timelines, with shows dancing around and re-imaging the same themes.)

This is the guide (otaquest) I was going to use, but I've still not gotten round to it...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
So whilst looking for the live action Guyver movies on streaming platforms

I know I've got Dark Hero on DVD, and I think I've got the first one as well - must go and dig them out!

As someone who watched Gundam Wing, Gundam 00, Gundam Seed and Seed Destiny before ever watching anything within the UC timeline... I find the original Gundam hard to watch, and dislike many of the aspects of it, that is the same with Unicorn as well (though, the animation is excellent). Hathaway is excellent though, but part 1 of apparently a 3 part film series so it isn't essential to watch as it is not a complete story, yet.

Iron Blooded Orphans for me, especially season 1 is absolutely incredible and my favourite timeline/setting bar none. It can be watched any time, but I may watch it after the UC's stuff in case like for me, the janky animation of the older content is a disappointment in comparison to the modern titles.

My opinions I am aware are very unpopular with many Gundam fans btw, so take with it's own pinch of salt.

I like UC but find it suffers from the same problem a lot of early sci-fi franchises do. It feels entirely stuck on big concept questions for 40 years that leaves the setting feeling dated rather than ahead of the curve. For UC its the Newtype thing. Somehow the franchise is still trying to play the "are newtypes real?" card while simultaneously making custom trillion dollar mechs that use tech entirely dependent on newtype pilots. The setting desperately needs to move forward, but some of that problem with a lot of these franchises is we had that whole love affair with apocalyptic hellscapes in the late 80's early 90's that kind of leaves the future of the settings dead in the water.

I am also a fan of Iron-blooded orphans.....however, I enjoyed the original three timeline movies a lot too.

I had 0 knowledge of Gundam before going into these, but these give you enough to understand the basics of the UC. At least for me.

beast_gts wrote:
This is the guide (otaquest) I was going to use, but I've still not gotten round to it...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
So whilst looking for the live action Guyver movies on streaming platforms

I know I've got Dark Hero on DVD, and I think I've got the first one as well - must go and dig them out!

That list is missing a few shows-
I added in the ones that were missing (not counting the game tie ins like blue destiny)

Since the animation spans over 40 years the quality varies quite a bit. for quality and story i recommend the ones with the +

Most of them being from the late 80's to the current time. 0080 war in the pocket (1988/89) really solidified the "look" of universal century gundam into a less exaggerated more gritty setting.
The origin went back to over expression with the characters as a homage to the original animation designs but managed to maintain the overall look of the world set down after 0080.

As a side note even though it is slow to get started and the animation quality is early 80's ZETA is a fantastic series.

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (UC 0068) +
Mobile Suit Gundam (UC 0079)
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo the hidden one year war (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo apocalypse(UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo the goddess of death (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (UC 0083) +
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (UC 0087) +
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (UC 0088)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (UC 0093) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (UC 0096) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (UC 0097)
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (UC 0105) +
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (UC 0123)
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (UC 0153)

I have no interest in the alt universe story arcs as the gundam brand name is used as a successful tool for marketing. gundam wing was a pretty boy show to draw girls into the franchise, G was a streetfighter clone etc.... UC gundam is a consistent timeline with depth and a gritty war story setting that changed the direction of all the giant hero robot shows that came before it.

If you have trouble finding all these shows elsewhere i can suggest a free fan run streaming site that has them all https://otaku-streamers.com/anime/

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Any help, tips or pointers on a watch order, or anything to avoid like the plague, despite humanity being demonstrably Not That Good at avoiding plagues.

Others have brought up plenty of good information about the unweildly monster that is the Universal Century timeline which I won't get into here. Suffice to say it's a big universe containing a ton of shows, many of which show their age in both in the quality of its animation and its writing. In comparison, the alternate universe shows are typically one or two entries and a good introduction to the thematic ideas of gundam without getting suffocated by the massive body of work.

As such, and as a lifelong Gundam fan, I recommend watching Iron Blooded Orphans, which is the only show available to you here that doesn't expect you to have at least a passing knowledge of 40+ years of space war. If it whets your whistle, you have other options going forward depending on what you like about it. Ditto for stuff to avoid.

Sound advice from all.

Reckon I’ll give Iron Blooded Orphans a spin then.

I agree, IBO is very very good.

I highly recommend watching The 08th MS Team, even if you skip the rest of the UC timeline series. It works very well as a standalone short series and tells a really solid, gritty war story in the process.

I have tried to watch the original Gundam stuff and didn't really enjoy it for it's very 80sness. YMMV.

But I did watch Unicorn on Netflix and I really enjoyed that. It's got a pretty straight forward story with some outlandish stuff that might not make a lot of sense without the context of earlier series. I also think the Unicorn Mech is just the best. A prototype covered in prototype warnings and markings that transforms in a bad ass way to do cool stuff.

It makes sense that it's all white as a prototype still being tested instead of the traditional "Super Advanced Military Weapon for space combat that we painted White Red and Blue with Gold Trim instead of Matte Black".

The best of the UC is 0080 War in the Pocket, regardless of knowledge of the UC. Its flat out the best Gundam period. The list bellow is good for covering all of UC, but some of it like Igloo and Thunderbolt isnt really necessary. I bolded the ones I personally would say to watch. While good Hathaway isnt finished yet last I looked. 0083 does get wonky in the second half, but is solidly animated. 08th MS Team is good, but has its wonky moments. Really most of the UC seems to have them, except War in the Pocket, its solid the whole way through.

For outside of the UC, IBO is really good, particularly season one. Wing is Iconic, but with the nostalgia glasses off is just, eh. Gundam 00 was Wing, but better, particularly season one. X I havent finished, Turn A i remember being pretty alright. G is pure camp and great for that. Havent watched the Seeds yet. Build Fighters, season one in particular, is pretty good particularly if you've seen (and more importantly enjoyed) the more serious shows.

chaos0xomega wrote:I highly recommend watching The 08th MS Team, even if you skip the rest of the UC timeline series. It works very well as a standalone short series and tells a really solid, gritty war story in the process.

I do enjoy the 08th but i never understood how people seem to place it so high. perhaps because it made it to the US streaming market before many of the other UC shows? 0083 by far will always be my favorite. the character designs, setting, as well as the fact it is an integral bridge between the original one year war series and the zeta series.

Lance845 wrote:I have tried to watch the original Gundam stuff and didn't really enjoy it for it's very 80sness. YMMV.

But I did watch Unicorn on Netflix and I really enjoyed that. It's got a pretty straight forward story with some outlandish stuff that might not make a lot of sense without the context of earlier series. I also think the Unicorn Mech is just the best. A prototype covered in prototype warnings and markings that transforms in a bad ass way to do cool stuff.

It makes sense that it's all white as a prototype still being tested instead of the traditional "Super Advanced Military Weapon for space combat that we painted White Red and Blue with Gold Trim instead of Matte Black".

It isn't the only series that did that. in 0080 the NT-1 was in pieces and had to be assembled for testing. in 0083 it was part of a federation prototype development test series.

The biggest troupe is having the "kid" with no skills kind of "fall into" the situation and turn out to be a natural pilot thanks the Amuro Ray original story (and repeated with Cammille in zeta). in 0080 Christina McKenzie was already a trained pilot, in 0083 commander S. burnings unit was all designated test pilots of various skill levels, not untrained civilians.

They kind of repeated the troupe in unicorn, but at least they had an in universe explanation to try and make sense of it.

I do enjoy the 08th but i never understood how people seem to place it so high. perhaps because it made it to the US streaming market before many of the other UC shows? 0083 by far will always be my favorite. the character designs, setting, as well as the fact it is an integral bridge between the original one year war series and the zeta series.

I like 0083, but I just think 08th MS Team is better because, well, like I said its a gritty war story about what are basically/mostly rank and file soldiers (as far as a Mobile Suit pilot can be considered to be rank and file) in their mass production mobile suits (the Apsaras Mobile Armor series as the BBEGs ride notwithstanding), rather than another "Chosen One" type story focused on special snowflake ace pilots and their super special megabots. 0080 is the one that I scratch my head about, of the three its the worst IMO (even though it added my favorite mobile suit to continuity) and too much of a "slice of life" type story for me.

Awww. That’s another childish but amusing thread title changed! Gonna wrap up, and stick on Iron Blooded Orphans.

chaos0xomega wrote:

I do enjoy the 08th but i never understood how people seem to place it so high. perhaps because it made it to the US streaming market before many of the other UC shows? 0083 by far will always be my favorite. the character designs, setting, as well as the fact it is an integral bridge between the original one year war series and the zeta series.

I like 0083, but I just think 08th MS Team is better because, well, like I said its a gritty war story about what are basically/mostly rank and file soldiers (as far as a Mobile Suit pilot can be considered to be rank and file) in their mass production mobile suits (the Apsaras Mobile Armor series as the BBEGs ride notwithstanding), rather than another "Chosen One" type story focused on special snowflake ace pilots and their super special megabots. 0080 is the one that I scratch my head about, of the three its the worst IMO (even though it added my favorite mobile suit to continuity) and too much of a "slice of life" type story for me.

I found 0083 to be far grittier hell half the unit dies in the course of the story including main characters. when the 08th was annnounced i was hoping for something more like the MS igloo series about the infantry/tankers etc... not more MS pilots.

Also, Ensign Uraki wasn't exactly the "chosen one"....in fact he pretty much constantly got his butt kicked (even at the end). His skills did improve as one would expect with constant combat action. however, it was often only the advanced equipment of the gundam that allowed him to survive. He wasn't even my favorite character in the series even though he was one of the main players.

0080 was very clearly a story about how children are drawn into and affected by the horrors of war. i don't consider that a slice of life story exactly.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:Awww. That’s another childish but amusing thread title changed! Gonna wrap up, and stick on Iron Blooded Orphans.

Yeah...like i said alt-universe stories with the gundam name slapped on them for marketing, i watched the first couple episodes and absolutely hated it.

I have to many other shows to watch to waste time on it. i have at this point watched 231 (2,559 separate videos/episodes) different titles on otaku streamers alone, not counting what is in my physical collection. watching aldnoah zero or 86 was time better spent.

chaos0xomega wrote:

I do enjoy the 08th but i never understood how people seem to place it so high. perhaps because it made it to the US streaming market before many of the other UC shows? 0083 by far will always be my favorite. the character designs, setting, as well as the fact it is an integral bridge between the original one year war series and the zeta series.

I like 0083, but I just think 08th MS Team is better because, well, like I said its a gritty war story about what are basically/mostly rank and file soldiers (as far as a Mobile Suit pilot can be considered to be rank and file) in their mass production mobile suits (the Apsaras Mobile Armor series as the BBEGs ride notwithstanding), rather than another "Chosen One" type story focused on special snowflake ace pilots and their super special megabots. 0080 is the one that I scratch my head about, of the three its the worst IMO (even though it added my favorite mobile suit to continuity) and too much of a "slice of life" type story for me.

08th and 0083 are both great. Easily my top two out of the UC timeline. No reason to fight over gold and silver.

OP if you are looking for the latest Gundam story, then I suggest checking out the MSG The Witch from Mercury. A prologue story is available via Youtube (linky below) and is set to be simulcast globally when the series debuts in October so decent chance that you will be able to stream it in the UK. It is not based in any existing Gundam timeline.

Also as an aside, my Gundam viewing experience has been very jumbled and definitely not in any order and I don't feel the worst for it. In fact, the first Gundam series I saw was MSG 0083 Stardust Memory then Char's Counter Attack back in the 90's. Then Gundam Wing (via Toonami) and then Gundam Seed, then back to the Gundam UC timeline with MSG 08th MS Team. So don't be afraid to jump into whatever story looks interesting. That said, I will warn you that the original Gundam series as compiled in the 3 movies has not aged the best IMHO. If you are able to find it, I really enjoyed Gundam Origins and would suggest that as a starting point.

 aphyon wrote:

beast_gts wrote:
This is the guide (otaquest) I was going to use, but I've still not gotten round to it...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
So whilst looking for the live action Guyver movies on streaming platforms

I know I've got Dark Hero on DVD, and I think I've got the first one as well - must go and dig them out!

That list is missing a few shows-
I added in the ones that were missing (not counting the game tie ins like blue destiny)

Since the animation spans over 40 years the quality varies quite a bit. for quality and story i recommend the ones with the +

Most of them being from the late 80's to the current time. 0080 war in the pocket (1988/89) really solidified the "look" of universal century gundam into a less exaggerated more gritty setting.
The origin went back to over expression with the characters as a homage to the original animation designs but managed to maintain the overall look of the world set down after 0080.

As a side note even though it is slow to get started and the animation quality is early 80's ZETA is a fantastic series.

Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin (UC 0068) +
Mobile Suit Gundam (UC 0079)
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo the hidden one year war (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo apocalypse(UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam MS igloo the goddess of death (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (UC 0079) +
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (UC 0083) +
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (UC 0087) +
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (UC 0088)
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (UC 0093) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (UC 0096) +
Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (UC 0097)
Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway (UC 0105) +
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (UC 0123)
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (UC 0153)

I have no interest in the alt universe story arcs as the gundam brand name is used as a successful tool for marketing. gundam wing was a pretty boy show to draw girls into the franchise, G was a streetfighter clone etc.... UC gundam is a consistent timeline with depth and a gritty war story setting that changed the direction of all the giant hero robot shows that came before it.

If you have trouble finding all these shows elsewhere i can suggest a free fan run streaming site that has them all https://otaku-streamers.com/anime/

Yea this is an accurate view order. Not sure how someone thought IBO was part of it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Lord of Deeds wrote:
OP if you are looking for the latest Gundam story, then I suggest checking out the MSG The Witch from Mercury. A prologue story is available via Youtube (linky below) and is set to be simulcast globally when the series debuts in October so decent chance that you will be able to stream it in the UK. It is not based in any existing Gundam timeline.

Also as an aside, my Gundam viewing experience has been very jumbled and definitely not in any order and I don't feel the worst for it. In fact, the first Gundam series I saw was MSG 0083 Stardust Memory then Char's Counter Attack back in the 90's. Then Gundam Wing (via Toonami) and then Gundam Seed, then back to the Gundam UC timeline with MSG 08th MS Team. So don't be afraid to jump into whatever story looks interesting. That said, I will warn you that the original Gundam series as compiled in the 3 movies has not aged the best IMHO. If you are able to find it, I really enjoyed Gundam Origins and would suggest that as a starting point.

You can watch all three of the UC comp movies on Netflix. You can also watch the OG series in full on Crunchy Roll along with ZZ. Funimation has Zeta.

 aphyon wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:

I do enjoy the 08th but i never understood how people seem to place it so high. perhaps because it made it to the US streaming market before many of the other UC shows? 0083 by far will always be my favorite. the character designs, setting, as well as the fact it is an integral bridge between the original one year war series and the zeta series.

I like 0083, but I just think 08th MS Team is better because, well, like I said its a gritty war story about what are basically/mostly rank and file soldiers (as far as a Mobile Suit pilot can be considered to be rank and file) in their mass production mobile suits (the Apsaras Mobile Armor series as the BBEGs ride notwithstanding), rather than another "Chosen One" type story focused on special snowflake ace pilots and their super special megabots. 0080 is the one that I scratch my head about, of the three its the worst IMO (even though it added my favorite mobile suit to continuity) and too much of a "slice of life" type story for me.

I found 0083 to be far grittier hell half the unit dies in the course of the story including main characters. when the 08th was annnounced i was hoping for something more like the MS igloo series about the infantry/tankers etc... not more MS pilots.

Also, Ensign Uraki wasn't exactly the "chosen one"....in fact he pretty much constantly got his butt kicked (even at the end). His skills did improve as one would expect with constant combat action. however, it was often only the advanced equipment of the gundam that allowed him to survive. He wasn't even my favorite character in the series even though he was one of the main players.

High body counts != grit. Its a story mostly about exquisite characters using exquisite weapons and doing exquisite things.

I wasn't really talking about 0083 with regards to the "Chosen One" bit, thats more a critique about gundam in general rather than one series in specific. That being said, Kou not being a great pilot doesn't make him not a "chosen one" type trope. Amuro Ray was in the same boat and look how he turned out. While he does fall short of being an actual "chosen one" he almost comes close - he's an inexperienced junior pilot who disobeyed orders and stole a gundam to stop the BBEG, failed, but was rewarded by being made the primary pilot of one of the most cutting edge weapons available to the Federation at the time - which he then, once again, essentially steals so he can engage in unauthorized space combat with another enemy ace pilot, which predictably results in said Gundam being trashed... in exchange for which he is then rewarded with being allowed to continue piloting it after its upgraded even further with more exquisite systems and capabilities... which he then destroys whilst failing to (once again) stop the BBEG from destroying the Federation fleet, in exchange for which he is again rewarded with an even more cutting edge exquisite gundam to pilot, which he then steals (do you see where I am going with this?) because he disagrees with his orders and really wants to kill the BBEG, which he again fails to do resulting in another colony drop on earth. Finally, he gets sentenced to hard labor, except then that get overturned and he gets promoted again. If they'd gone a slightly different direction with that ending, he'd check all the boxes.

If Anavel Gato was the main character of the series, he *would* be the Chosen One of the story.

0080 was very clearly a story about how children are drawn into and affected by the horrors of war. i don't consider that a slice of life story exactly.

A story about the lives lived by non-combatants during wartime is still a slice of life.

08th and 0083 are both great. Easily my top two out of the UC timeline. No reason to fight over gold and silver.

I don't think we're fighting over it? I think we're having a discussion, maybe one that is crossing the line into debate, but not a fight. I'm certainly not saying 0083 (or for that matter 0083) suck, just that I like 08th MS Team more.

i watched 0083 many, many years ago, and enjoyed it but now i cant really watch it agian, due to the main characters constant dramatic shouting of "GATO!" at his nemisis....which i keep hearing as "gateau!" and come to the conclusion he's a exceptionally passionate dessert chef who just flipping LOVES his cakes.....

when your fighting back the urge to snicker during every dramatic fight scene, its time to quit while your ahead.

chaos0xomega wrote:

0080 was very clearly a story about how children are drawn into and affected by the horrors of war. i don't consider that a slice of life story exactly.

A story about the lives lived by non-combatants during wartime is still a slice of life.

It rotates between the Boy, the Zeon Pilot and the Federation Test Pilot, its hardly just about non-combatants. Its about the effects of war on people, those that fight it and those that witness it.

But I get that its not a for everyone show to the same extent as 0083, which I think falls apart in the later half of the show, particularly with Nina's plot. At least Uraki has a arguably horrified expression at the end when he sees her again at the test site.

Wait wait wait.

What are folk referring to with 0080, 0083 etc? Are those episodes codes?

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
Wait wait wait.

What are folk referring to with 0080, 0083 etc? Are those episodes codes?

They are mini-series or OVAs in the Universal Century.

Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Gundam 0083: The Stardust Memory

Its also the year of the Universal Century in which the story is set.

Ah, ok.

08th refers to:

Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team

If you can find Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket, it's not only the best Gundam media but also one of the best animated short series ever made.

 judgedoug wrote:
If you can find Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket, it's not only the best Gundam media but also one of the best animated short series ever made.

Holy hyperbole!

 VictorVonTzeentch wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:

0080 was very clearly a story about how children are drawn into and affected by the horrors of war. i don't consider that a slice of life story exactly.

A story about the lives lived by non-combatants during wartime is still a slice of life.

It rotates between the Boy, the Zeon Pilot and the Federation Test Pilot, its hardly just about non-combatants.

True but we spend a lot of time with Chris and Bernie in the context of their lives as non-combatants. Bernie is "undercover" posing as Al's stepbrother and Chris conveniently never mentions that shes a Federation test pilot, etc. and they live kind of dual lives. So I suppose it is unfair of me to say its a slice of life anime, but it is an anime with heavy slice of life elements.

chaos0xomega wrote:

 judgedoug wrote:
If you can find Gundam 0080 War in the Pocket, it's not only the best Gundam media but also one of the best animated short series ever made.

Holy hyperbole!

 VictorVonTzeentch wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:

0080 was very clearly a story about how children are drawn into and affected by the horrors of war. i don't consider that a slice of life story exactly.

A story about the lives lived by non-combatants during wartime is still a slice of life.

It rotates between the Boy, the Zeon Pilot and the Federation Test Pilot, its hardly just about non-combatants.

True but we spend a lot of time with Chris and Bernie in the context of their lives as non-combatants. Bernie is "undercover" posing as Al's stepbrother and Chris conveniently never mentions that shes a Federation test pilot, etc. and they live kind of dual lives. So I suppose it is unfair of me to say its a slice of life anime, but it is an anime with heavy slice of life elements.

Yeah I think thats a fair assesment, it has the elements. Which I think help with the story.

As for the other poster's point, I think its one of the best Gundam products, but best animated shorts period? Like its really good, but I dont know about best.