Here are five Universal Century Gundam series we recommend delving into before watching Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, the newest entry in the Gundam series, is set to air on 8 April, 2025. GQuuuuuuX is the first series in the long history of the mecha franchise that was made in collaboration with another studio besides Sunrise. Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara will co-produce the anime series alongside the aforementioned Sunrise.
While early details regarding the anime were scarce, the show's premise expanded significantly after the release of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- .This list will contain minor spoilers for the movie, so if you are okay with it, please proceed.
This sentence is your final warning for spoilers.
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- revealed that the story will take place in the alternate timeline of Universal Century, where Char Aznable and the Principality of Zeon successfully raid Side 7 and steal the RX-78-2 Gundam and the Pegasus-class ship. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX will take place in U.C. 0085, five years after Zeon won the One Year War. Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha, the series protagonist, lives her daily life as a high-school student inside Side 6.
While newcomers can easily enter this new series from Studio Khara, many will feel confused regarding the background of the war itself, who Char Aznable is, why he is determined to betray the Zabi family, and what happened in the original timeline. To further understand the settings and appreciate the art of Universal Century itself, it's recommended that viewers delve into the original Universal Century series. But where do you even start?
From tons of series, OVAs, and movies, we took five series from the timeline that we think newcomers can delve into to understand Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX's setting.
1. Mobile Suit Gundam
Mobile Suit Gundam is the original and first anime series from the original Universal Century timeline. The beginning setting of GQuuuuuuX and the original Gundam series are the same. The story starts on Side 7, where RX-78-2 Gundam was developed, and Char Aznable was tasked with stealing it. However, in the original timeline, the Red Comet of Zeon forces failed to steal it after the original protagonist, Amuro Ray, took control of the Gundam and repelled Char's attempt.
From here on, the story will follow Amuro and the crew of White Base, a Pegasus-class ship, as they try to win and end the One Year War to restore peace to the galaxy.
While newcomers can watch the retelling and remastered version in the Mobile Suit Gundam I, II, and III movies without losing its main plotline, it is recommended that they watch the series as it originally aired in 1979 that contains the daily life of the White Base crew to understand that they are not soldiers, but civilians.
2. Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN
THE ORIGIN tells the early life story of Char Aznable, the main antagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam. The series will delve into who he was before he became Char Aznable, and explain why he is obsessed with defeating the Zabi family. It will also tell of his rise to influence inside the Principality of Zeon's military and how he became the Red Comet.
Initially, Mobile Suit Gundam THE ORIGIN was made into six theatrical OVAs. Sunrise also adapted the OVAs into a thirteen-episode series called Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Advent of the Red Comet. However, we recommend newcomers watch the original OVAs for pacing's sake.
3. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
If Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX tells the story of what happened when Zeon won the One Year War, then Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam tells the story of what happened when the Earth Federation won it. While the settings are slightly different, they basically deliver the same message: whoever won the war, nobody is doing a great job in maintaining peace.
In GQuuuuuuX, Zeon enforced the oppressive military police to maintain control of the Colonies. In Zeta Gundam, the Earth Federation created the Titans, who tend to be overzealous and use brutal methods to deal with the remnants of Zeon.
The series introduces a new protagonist: Kamille Bidan, a 17-year-old high school student who is concerned by the brutality the Titans use to achieve their goal. The series also saw the return of Char Aznable with a new name and identity.
4. Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam
If Zeta Gundam lets newcomers see the gloomy future of the Earth Federation victory from the military side, its direct sequel, Mobile Suit ZZ (Double Zeta) Gundam, takes the point of view of civilians, just like Machu, through the eyes of 14-year old Judau Ashta. Originally a junk shop owner, he got dragged into the war after he tried to steal the Zeta Gundam to finance his sister's education.
Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam is the progenitor of the formula and trope that will be used by modern Gundam series in the franchise. The ZZ Gundam plot starts lightly with slice-of-life elements before slowly turning darker with the horror of war and politics; the same formula that is still implemented in modern Gundam series. This series was also the first where a team consisting of many Gundams was deployed, a trope that is used even by GQuuuuuuX.
5. Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
Char's Counterattack is the epilogue of the classic Universal Century timeline. It marked the end of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable's rivalry, which lasted for 14 years. The movie also showed the end of the conflicts between the Earth Federation and Zeon forces, which started with the One Year War and continued into the time setting of the movie, U.C. 0093.
In this movie, the character of Char Aznable is expanded more, which can be compared to what Char would do when he returns from his disappearance early in GQuuuuuX. It can also be a basis for how important Amuro Ray is to Char Aznable's growth as a character. With the protagonist of the original Gundam missing in GQuuuuuuX, it would be interesting to see whether Char will walk the same way, as in the alternate timeline, the Zabi family is still the leader of the Principality of Zeon.
Newcomers can delve into these five series from the original Universal Century timeline in Mobile Suit Gundam. There is still a lot more material to watch from the timeline that is not really connected to GQuuuuuuX but can make the watcher appreciate Universal Century more, but that is for another future where they will need to be recalled.
