:Gundam

File:Gundam.jpg by Hajime Katoki]]Mobile Suit Gundam was developed by animator Yoshiyuki Tomino and a changing group of Sunrise creators with the collective pseudonym of Hajime Yatate. The series was originally entitled Freedom Fighter Gunboy (or Gunboy) for the robot's gun, with teen boys as the primary target demographic. Early production had a number of references to freedom: the White Base, the casts home and ship, was originally "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter was the "Freedom Wing" and the Gunperry was the "Freedom Cruiser". The Yatate team combined the English word "gun" with the last syllable of the word "freedom" to form the portmanteau Gundom. Tomino changed it to Gundam, suggesting a unit wielding a gun powerful enough to hold back enemies like a hydroelectric dam holding back water.Gundam Archives, production notes

In keeping with the concept, Gundams are usually depicted as prototypes or limited-production with higher capabilities than mass-produced units, which are often referred to simply as mobile suits. Most Gundams are large, bipedal, humanoid vehicles controlled from a cockpit by a human pilot. The cockpit is regularly located in the torso with some notable exceptions, while the head serves as a camera to transmit images back to the cockpit. Throughout the series of shows, movies, and manga, a variety of different suits named Gundam appear with different designs and pilots specific to each series.

Mobile Suit Gundam reportedly pioneered the real robot subgenre of mecha anime.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/10/12/ask-john-which-gundam-series-have-had-the-most-impact-on-anime/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616111552/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/10/12/ask-john-which-gundam-series-have-had-the-most-impact-on-anime/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 16, 2009|title=Ask John: Which Gundam Series Have Had the Most Impact on Anime?|first=John|last=Oppliger|author-link=AnimeNation#John Oppliger|date=October 12, 2007|access-date=July 28, 2009|publisher=AnimeNation}} In contrast to its super robot cousins, Mobile Suit Gundam attempted realism in its robot design and weaponry by running out of energy and ammunition or malfunctioning. Its technology is derived from actual science (such as Lagrange points and the O'Neill cylinder in space, and the use of helium-3 as an energy source) or feasible technology requiring only a few fictional elements to function (such as Minovsky Physics)."Gundam Science, the High Frontier - G.K. O'neil's Space Colonization Plan, Gundam Century", Out special edition, Renewal Version The series itself has also been described as a space opera for its broad plots revolving around politics.{{cite book |author=Chris Stuckmann |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dFxZDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT42 |title=Anime Impact: The Movies and Shows that Changed the World of Japanese Animation |date=May 15, 2018 |publisher=Mango Media Inc. |isbn=978-1-63353-733-0 |page=42}}

However, there is a secondary element to many series that runs counter to this image. Most of the series' protagonists are something called {{vanchor|Newtypes}}, genetically advanced humans adapted for space. Newtypes have psychic abilities that enable them to do a variety of superhuman feats that differ from series to series. These range from an ability for instant understanding of other Newtypes' thoughts and desires, an enhanced sense perception that is regularly tied to piloting skills, and the capacity to utilize special mobile suits and weapons that tap into these newtype senses.

Most of the Gundam animation (including the earliest series) is set in what is known as the Universal Century (UC) calendar era, with later series set in alternate calendars or timelines. Many UC shows were directed by series creator Tomino, especially throughout the 80s and 90s. However, many new Gundam stories are told in their parallel universe with independent timelines (giving jumping on points for newer generations of kids). The original UC storyline continues to be popular, with new installments frequently produced in and around the other established stories. Nostalgia for the oldest Gundam shows (and its status as a pop-culture icon in Japan) is a factor in its continuing success.[http://www.mhi.co.jp/news/sec1/020220nl.html] 機動戦士ガンダムは、同じくバンダイグループの（株）サンライズが制作し、1979年4月～1980年1月にテレビシリーズ第1作が放映されて以来、テレビシリーズ8作品、劇場用映画9作品などが公開され、20年以上にわたり人気を保っています。米国をはじめ、ヨーロッパ、アジアでも作品が放映され、各地で高い人気を得ています。

Other notable timelines include the Cosmic Era, (Gundam Seed, Seed Destiny, and Seed Freedom), Anno Domini (00, 00: Awakening of The Trail Blazer) and many others. These act as much more self contained narratives, re-adapting and playing off of many of the series core tropes in more modern ways built for the times in which they were released in.

SD Gundam, a spinoff of Gundam which began during the mid-1980s, features super deformed designs and emphasizes comedy and adventure. Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G, Gundam Build Fighters, and Gundam Build Divers feature contemporary settings and use Gunpla as plot elements.

Except for Mobile Suit Gundam 00, which follows the current calendar era albeit three centuries in the future, all Gundam series are set in a fictional era, with a new calendar adopted after a drastic event or chain of events and typically involve a major conflict involving Earth and space colonies (and in some cases the Moon and terraformed planets).{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} An exception is the Gundam Build timeline, which is set in an alternate present time where all other Gundam installments are fictional.

Entries marked in bold are considered the franchise's mainline installments.

At the 2018 Anime Expo, Legendary Pictures and Sunrise announced a collaboration to develop a live-action Gundam film.{{cite news|url=https://www.thewrap.com/gundam-live-action-adaptation-movie-film/|title='Gundam' Film: Legendary Pictures to Make Live-Action Anime Adaptation|first=Jeremy|last=Fuster|work=The Wrap|date=July 5, 2018|access-date=July 5, 2018}} Brian K. Vaughan was brought in to write and serve as an executive producer for the film.{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/brian-k-vaughan-gundam-live-action-movie-legendary-1202569112/|title=Brian K. Vaughan To Pen 'Gundam' Live-Action Adaptation For Legendary|first1=Amanda|last1=N'Duka|first2=Geoff|last2=Boucher|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=March 6, 2019|access-date=March 6, 2019}} In April 2021, it was reported that the project had landed at Netflix and that Jordan Vogt-Roberts had been hired to direct.{{cite news|url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/mobile-suit-gundam-live-action-movie-director-netflix/|title=Gundam Live-Action Movie Heads to Netflix with Director Jordan Vogt-Roberts|first=Megan|last=Peters|work=Comicbook.com|date=April 12, 2021|access-date=April 12, 2021}} In October 2024, it was announced that Jim Mickle would be the new director and writer, and that Netflix is no longer involved.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2024/10/gundam-movie-sweet-tooth-jim-mickle-1236163584/|title= 'Gundam' Movie At Legendary Taps 'Sweet Tooth' Showrunner Jim Mickle To Direct|date= October 31, 2024|access-date= October 31, 2024|first= Justin|last= Kroll|work= Deadline Hollywood}} In March 2025, Deadline reported that actress Sydney Sweeney is in talks for a role.{{cite web |url= https://deadline.com/2025/03/sydney-sweeney-gundam-movie-legendary-1236355385/|title=Sydney Sweeney Circling Legendary’s ‘Gundam’|date=March 31, 2025|access-date= April 1, 2025|first= Matt|last=Grobar|work=Deadline Hollywood}}

{{Main|List of Gundam manga and novels}}

Manga adaptations of the Gundam series have been published in English in North America by a number of companies, such as Viz Media, Del Rey Manga and Tokyopop, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi. Notable entries include Gundam the Origin, written and drawn by original series character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. It is a retelling of the first series with additional flashbacks surrounding one of the series main character's Char Aznable.

{{Main|List of Gundam video games}}

Gundam has spawned over 80 video games for arcade, computer and console platforms, some with characters not found in other Gundam media. Some of the games, in turn, inspired spinoff novels and manga.{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/altjapan-co-ltd/list-games/|title=MobyGames: Game Browser|website=MobyGames|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-date=February 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212085620/https://www.mobygames.com/browse/games/altjapan-co-ltd/list-games/|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Gunpla}}

Primarily made of plastic, but sometimes paired with resin and metal detail parts, hundreds of Gundam scale plastic models, aka Gunpla, have been released. They range in quality from toolless-build children's toy kits (Entry Grades) to hobbyist and museum-grade models, and most are in common scales such as 1:35, 1:48, 1:60, 1:100 or 1:144 scale. Various Grades exist to target hobbyists, ranging from smaller sized kits such as High Grade and Real Grade, to larger Master Grade and finally Perfect Grade model kits. The Real Grade (RG) Gundam series combined the Master Grade's detailed inner structure with additional colour separation, making the 1:144-scale series complex in design and compact in size, with the final goal of retooling a Gundam to what they might would look like in real life, similar to the real-life Gundam Front Tokyo RX-78-02.

Promotional 1:6 or 1:12 scale models are supplied to retailers and are not commercially available. For Gundam{{'s}} 30th anniversary, a full-size RX-78-2 Gundam model was constructed and displayed at Gundam Front Tokyo, in the Odaiba district;{{Cite web|url=https://appetiteforjapan.com/2015/12/02/gundam-odaiba/|title=Diver City Tokyo: the ultimate Gundam experience|last=appetiteforjapan|date=December 2, 2015|website=Appetite For Japan|access-date=March 3, 2017}} it was taken down on March 5, 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gundam.info/topic/17012|script-title=ja:「実物大ガンダム立像」5年の歴史に幕。そして新たなプロジェクトへ！|work=公式ガンダム情報ポータルサイト「GUNDAM.INFO」|access-date=April 12, 2017|language=ja}} A new statue of the Unicorn Gundam was erected at the same location, now renamed The Gundam Base Tokyo.

Bandai, Gundam{{'s}} primary licensee, produces a variety of products.{{cite web|url=http://na.gundam.info/index/white|title=GUNDAM.INFO {{!}} The official Gundam news and video portal|website=na.gundam.info|language=ja-JP|access-date=October 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026105446/http://na.gundam.info/index/white|archive-date=October 26, 2016|url-status=dead}} Other companies produce unofficial merchandise, such as toys, models and T-shirts. Products include Mobile Suit In Action (MSiA) action figures and Gundam model kits in several scales and design complexities. Each series generally has its own set of products, MSiA and model lines such as Master Grade and High Grade Universal Century may extend across series. The most popular action-figure line has been the Gundam Fix series, which includes the mecha in the animated series, manga and novels and accessories to create an updated version. In addition to Master Grade and High Grade Gundams, Bandai released a 30th-anniversary series of Gundam models in 2010.{{cite web|last=Suzuki|first=Toshiyuki|title=RX-78-2 Gundam (RG) (Gundam Model Kits)|url=http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10115841|publisher=Hobby Search Co., Ltd.|access-date=August 12, 2013|archive-date=September 27, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927042523/http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/10115841|url-status=dead}} After the introduction of the RG Gunpla line, Bandai released the Metal Build series in March 2011 (beginning with the 00 Gundam).{{cite web|title=METAL BUILD FREEDOM GUNDAM|url=http://www.gundamplanet.com/metal-build-freedom-gundam.html|publisher=Gundamplanet.com|access-date=August 12, 2013|archive-date=August 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130802034225/http://www.gundamplanet.com/metal-build-freedom-gundam.html|url-status=dead}}

{{unreferenced section|date=November 2023}}

Bandai maintains several websites to promote Gundam projects; Gundam Perfect Web is the official Japanese site. Its English-language counterpart is the US-maintained Gundam Official. In 2005, the website hosted the Gundam Official User Forum. The forum was based on the existing fan forum, Gundam Watch, using many of its staff. When the project was retired, Gundam Watch was reborn and became Gundam Evolution.

A number of series-specific websites have been created, often available for a limited time (usually to promote a DVD release). Common content includes character and mecha listings, lists of related merchandise and pay-for-download content. Special pages are frequent, often presenting downloadable wallpaper or a small game. The Superior Defender Gundam Force website has a game in which players take the role of villain Commander Sazabi, attempting to blast his subordinate with weapons.

Since 1980, Gundam has also appeared in the following countries and regions:

{{Main|Cultural impact of Gundam}}

Gundam is a Japanese cultural icon and a multi-billion-Yen annual business for Bandai Namco. Annual revenue for the franchise reached ¥54.5 billion by 2006,Nekkei BP mook, Otona no Gundamu Perfect (Gundam for Adult's Perfect), Business & History+Character+Mechanic, Nekkei Entertainment, {{ISBN|978-4-8222-6317-1}} {{JPY|80.2 billion}} by 2014, and {{JPY|145.7 billion}} by 2024.{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2024 |title=Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. Financial Highlights for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2024 |url=https://www.bandainamco.co.jp/files/ir/financialstatements/pdf/en_20240509_Complement_2.pdf |access-date=October 19, 2024 |website=Bandai Namco Financial Statements / Presentation}} Stamps have been issued, an Agriculture Ministry employee was reprimanded for contributing to the Japanese Wikipedia Gundam-related pages,{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7029685.stm|title=Japanese workers in Wikipedia row |publisher=BBC News|date=October 5, 2007|access-date=October 1, 2009}} and the Japan Self-Defense Forces has code-named its developing advanced personal-combat system Gundam. Based on a December 16, 2023 survey conducted by Nikkei Entertainment, the fanbase of Gundam within Japan has an average age of 42 years, and a male-to-female ratio that skews 90:10.{{cite web|url=https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00960/00001/|title=今、本当に推されている「人」「作品」が分かる 最旬"推し"新潮流|date=February 2, 2024|author1=Ayase Hirashima|author2=Eri Hatano|website=Nikkei Cross Trend|language=ja|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240222142208/https://xtrend.nikkei.com/atcl/contents/18/00960/00001/|archive-date=February 22, 2024}}

The impact of Gundam in Japan has been compared to the impact of Star Wars in the United States.

• Bandai Museum
• Mobile Suit Gundam
• Gundam (fictional robot)

{{Reflist}}

{{wikiquote}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://en.gundam.info/ Official Gundam website]
• {{anime News Network|anime|4189}}
• [http://www.mahq.net/animation/gundam/gundam.htm Gundam] at the Mecha Anime Headquarters website'
• [http://pgdp.channel.or.jp/ Gundam Perfect Games] {{in lang|ja}}
• [https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/gundamdvd/ Bandai Visual's Gundam minisite] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204044626/https://www.bandaivisual.co.jp/gundamdvd/ |date=December 4, 2016 }} {{in lang|ja}}

{{Portalbar|Japan|Anime and manga|Film|Toys|Science fiction|1970s|1980s|1990s|2000s|2010s|2020s}}

{{Gundam}}

{{Sunrise}}

Category:Mass media franchises introduced in 1979

Category:Fiction about asteroid mining

Category:Bandai brands

Category:Bandai Namco franchises

Category:Bandai Visual

Category:Mass media franchises

Category:Military anime and manga

Category:Military fiction

Category:Military science fiction

Category:Sunrise (company)

Category:Space opera anime and manga