I know what Gundam is, but I've never delved deep into the franchise so I'm not quite sure where to start or what to watch. The ones I've been recommended, and seen, are:
08 MS Team
War in the Pocket
Thunderbolt
And I already know to avoid Gundam Wing and that one where it's set in the future and Gundams are used in a fighting tournament or something.
The most meme Gundam show is G Gundam.
It is a must watch show in terms of saying fuck you to political correctness.
It is also completely standalone so you don't need to watch anything else to enjoy it.
Each country's Gundam is a stereotype.
Look at these designs.
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-006NA_Gundam_Maxter
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-037NCA_Lumber_Gundam
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-049NM_Tequila_Gundam
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-003NEL_John_Bull_Gundam
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-066NO_Nether_Gundam
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-030NIN_Cobra_Gundam
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-020NK_Gundam_Zebra
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/GF13-045NSP_Matador_Gundam
Tequila Gundam Best Gundam.
I'd recommend the original Gundam from 79 and then Zeta Gundam, because Zeta is my all time favorite Gundam. It made me feel the most that most characters are varying shades of gray, everyone is somehow deeply flawed. We see the characters that were struggling with everything in the first Gundam really hit the wall and take a beating and have to deal with the world they conflict solutions left after the first Gundam. Lastly, I think Amuro & Char are the best thing to come out of Gundam BY FAR. The pinnacle of conflict between at times mortal enemies and at other times almost friendly rivals. Then double Zeta comes in and ruins everything I loved though, fuck double Zeta.
Yesss more of that. I know Gundam was originally made with the intent to show how terrible war is and how the even the 'good guys' must do some pretty nasty things to win. Trying to steer away from more of the cool mech blow shit up type of stuff.
I made a timeline for my own use before, so here:
(sorry about the formatting, looks worse on here without it)
-Universal Century--------------
UC0068-0079: Mobile Suite Gundam The Origin - The Advent of the Red Comet (TV) (2019)
UC0068: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I Blue-Eyed Casval (2015)
UC0071: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin II Artesia's Sorrow (2015)
UC0078: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin III Dawn of Rebellion (2016)
UC0079-0080:
UC0083: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (1991 – 1992)
UC0087-0088: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985 – 1986)
UC0088-0089: Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (1986 – 1987)
UC0093: Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack (1988)
UC0096: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (2010 – 2014)
UC0097: Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative (2018)
UC0123: Mobile Suit Gundam F91 (1991)
UC0133: Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam (1994 – 1997)
UC0153: Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993 – 1994)
UC0203: Gaia Gear (1987)
UC0223: G-Saviour (2001)
-Future Century--------------
FC60: Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994-95)
-After Colony/ Mars Century--------------
AC195: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (1995 – 1996)
AC196: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997)
MC0022: New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop (2010-2015)
-After War--------------
AW15: After War Gundam X (1996)
-Correct Century--------------
CC2343-2345: ∀ Gundam (1999 – 2000)
-Anno Domini--------------
AD2307-2308: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (1st Season) (2008)
AD2312: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (2nd Season) (2009)
AD2314: Mobile Suit Gundam 00 The Movie -A wakening of the Trailblazer- (2010)
-Advanced Generation--------------
AG115 – 164: Mobile Suit Gundam AGE (2012)
AG141 – 164: Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Memory of Eden (2013)
-Regild Century-------------- RC1014: Gundam Reconguista in G (2015)
-Post Disaster--------------
PD323: Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS (1st Season) (2015)
PD325: Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS (2nd Season) (2016)
Another vote for IBO. That series is a gut wrenching, heart breaking, trip and a half. The only thing I can really compare it to is Band of Brothers/The Pacific.
WHY THE FUCK WOULD YOU AVOID G GUNDAM, YOU HERETIC???
G Gundam is worth experiencing.
The meme Gundam designs, the hype music and the main protagonist Domon Kasshu yelling this monologue:
"This hand of mine glows with an awesome power!
Its burning grip tells me to defeat you!
TAKE THIS!
MY LOVE, MY ANGER, AND ALL OF MY SORROW!
SHINING FINGER!"
Seriously fuck listening to whoever told you to avoid G Gundam and just give it a shot!
Fine you've convinced me
With the help of, KYOJIIIIIIIII!!!
And I didn't even mention the girls getting squeeze-wrapped by the control membrane the Gundams use in G Gundam.
Don't forget best horse Fuunsaiki.
He pilots the gundam horse that Master Asia's Gundam rides.
https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/Fuunsaiki
G Gundam is one of a kind.
08th MS Team and 0080 War in the Pocket are my favorite Gundam franchise entries, but they both are more impactful with a better understanding of the universe those series exist in.
The original Gundam is on the longish side and probably a bit dated in terms of character designs and pacing, but it's still the best place to start. I'd watch the compilation movies if the episodes are a bit too much of a commitment for you, or at least read some detailed summaries.
G Gundam, the fighting tournament series, is extremely goofy. Others love it, but I hated it. I have good memories of Wing, but I'm very doubtful it would hold up if I were to watch it now.
Enjoy!
FWIW I rewatched Wing back in either freshman year of college or senior year of highschool, years and years after watching as a kid either way and I thought it held up.
But I'll be honest the main draw for me is the aesthetic. I love how all the uniforms and mobile suits have this diesel-punky Inter-war period feel to 'em.
You need to send whoever told you to avoid G Gundam to the Gulags.
It's awesome as fuck.
I'll avoid Unicorn, Seed and 00 instead.
what are you, a faggot?
g gundam is amazing
I'm not a huge Gundam nerd, but I recently watched Iron Blooded Orphans and really enjoyed it.
G Gundam is awesome if you don't take it seriously.
THIS HAND OF MINE IS BURNING RED!
ITS LOUD ROAR TELLS ME TO GRASP VICTORY!
Also, once you have a good pool of Gundam knowledge under your belt, I highly recommend going to the GundamInfo channel (Completely official!!) and watching Gundam Build Fighters. It's the ultimate love letter to Gundam fans.
08 and War in the Pocket are great.
I liked Gundam 00 when I watched it years ago, but I can't remember much. Liked it about as much as I hated it's movie.
The magnum opus is definitely Gundam vs Hello Kitty
Original and Zeta are good, Wing and Seed are kinda cringe. Reconquista and Unicorn are kinda iffy for me, like or leave em. 00 and Awakening I like even though some don't.
I'd recommend original > ZZ > Char's Counterattack. And F91 and Crossbones if you can. It's a shame Tobia never got his own series, even though he's still kinda popular, plus pirate gundam.
I have never seen a Gundam show, I've just used their mechs in Super Robot Wars, so I'm biased on what pilots I like and which ones look cool.