History Anime / MobileSuitGundamWing

** Despite borrowing the [[{{Sentai}} five Gundam]] concept from ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'''s [[PlayingCardMotifs Shuffle Alliance]] (which were {{Super Robot}}s, by the way), and being built out of a [[{{Unobtainium}} fictional metal]], the six Gundams used in this series were much [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness more bound to the laws of physics and thus more grounded in reality]]. As such, they would require tons of maintenance, repairs, and logistics like any other real robot.

* VideoGame/GundamVsSeries:
** Wing Zero ([[AssistCharacter Assist]]: Vayeate) and Heavyarms Kai (Assist: Mercurius) show up in ''Gundam vs Gundam''; Deathscythe Hell (Assist: Sandrock Kai), Tallgeese (Assist: Noin's Aries), and Epyon (Assist: Virgo II) join the fun in the sequel, and the movie versions of Wing Zero (Assist: Deathscythe Hell EW) and Altron (Assist: Trowa's Serpent) are PSP-exclusives. ''Next''[='s=] opening calls the hypothetical ''Wing''-themed Vs. game ''White Fang vs. OZ''.
** ''Gundam Extreme Vs'' has Wing Zero EW (Assist: Tallgeese III), Heavyarms Kai EW (Assist: Sandrock Kai EW), and Tallgeese III (Assist: Noin's Taurus), with Deathscythe Hell EW (Assist: Altron EW) and Relena (as a navigator) added later. The sequel ''Full Boost'' brings back Epyon and the TV version of Wing Zero.

* YouAreNumberSix: Nearly every character in the show is named after a number, though in various different languages. The Gundam pilots also refer to each other by the number OZ gave their Gundams when in captivity.

The anime was a huge success, resulting in several more projects in that universe. The most notable was ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Endless Waltz]]''. Taking place a year after the end of the series, a new rebellion is bankrolled by Dekim Barton, the original mastermind of Operation Meteor, with his adolescent granddaughter Mariemaia Kushrenada as the figurehead. They are using the peace and demilitarization after the last war to try and conquer the Earth. Unfortunately, the Gundam pilots had sent their Gundams into the sun weeks ago and must now try and get them back, while another pilot has sided with Mariemaia completely. Originally released as a 3-part OVA, it was later re-released as an extended movie with new footage.

** The five Gundam pilots are also this to the FiveManBand from ''[[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam G Gundam]]''.

* BookEnds: The first episode ends with Heero ripping up an invitation to Relena's birthday party. One year later, the final episode ends with Relena ripping up a birthday card from Heero, saying he should have given it to her in person.

* TransformationSequence: Wing, Wing Zero, Epyon, as well as the Taurus, Pisces, and Cancer suits all have their own sequence, though during the last quarter of the show they were phased out.

* BadassBeard: The [[http://aboutgundamwing.com/SC/SC09/vlcsnap-221127.jpg one picture]] we see of King Peacecraft (Relena and Zechs' father) makes him look like a blond, bearded {{Superman}}. A little-known short comic named Gundam Wing Chronicle [[http://aboutgundamwing.com/Pending/chronicle6.jpg shows a flashback to the fall of Sanc,]] with King Peacecraft and his beard being quite badass.

The anime was a huge success, resulting in several more projects in that universe, mostly manga.

* ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Endless Waltz]]'': Animated sequel to the original series. Mariemaia Barton, the granddaughter of Dekim Barton, the original mastermind of Operation Meteor, has used the peace after the last war to try and conquer the Earth. Unfortunately for Earth, the Gundam pilots had sent their Gundams into the sun weeks ago and must now try and get them back, while another pilot has sided with Mariemaia completely. Originally released as a 3-part OVA, it was later re-released as an extended movie with new footage.

** Heero in particular is arguably an exaggeration of this trope. Not only is he easily the best of the five pilots (especially once he gets the Wing Zero), but he also seems to be a quite literal example too given he regularly survives injuries he really shouldn't. [[spoiler:Including surviving the fall, explosion and complete destruction of the Wing Zero in the climax of Endless Waltz. Heliterallywasabletoclimboutandwalkawaywithoutascratchonhim!]]

** Heero in particular is arguably an exaggeration of this trope. Not only is he easily the best of the five pilots (especially once he gets the Wing Zero), but he also seems to be a quite literal example too given he regularly survives injuries he really shouldn't.

* Invincible Hero: The five pilots and their Gundams are near unstoppable Juggernauts. You could count their losses on one hand, and then you'd need a calculator for all the times they win. The infamous "IT'S A GUNDAM!" line exists for a reason.
** Heero in particular is arguably an exaggeration of this trope. Not only is he easily the best of the five piolts (especially once he gets the Wing Zero), but he also seems to be a quite literal example too.

* CripplingOverspecialization: Subverted by the Epyon. It's the only mobile suit without ''any'' long range weapons whatsoever, not even the head/shoulder mounted machine guns to shoot down incoming missiles, which is standard issue even on mook units (it is later added to Epyon's head, but even then it was only used ''once'' in the entire series). But its [[CombatClairvoyance ZERO System]] more than compensates for any deficiency; combined with its superior melee power, Epyon is one of the, if not the most powerful mobile suit in the series, tied with Wing Zero. Where Wing Zero gets the BFG, Epyon gets the BFS.

* DarkIsNotEvil: The demonic-coloured Deathscythe series is this as it is being piloted by one of the series' nicer and more idealistic pilots who's practically a [[Keet]] compared to the other Gundam pilots.

->"''With high expectations, human beings leave Earth to begin a new life in space colonies. However, the United Earth Sphere Alliance gains great military power, and soon seizes control of one colony after another [[SarcasmMode in the name of justice and peace]]..."''

[[LonelyRichKid Relena]] [[TheOjou Darlian]], the teenage daughter of an important colonial diplomat, accidentally discovers the identity of a Gundam pilot who was shot down during his entry to Earth: a teenage boy named Heero Yuy. Because she can positively identify him, Heero tracks Relena down and swears to kill her [[IneffectualDeathThreats (something he never quite gets around to doing)]]. From there, Heero and the other four Gundam pilots find themselves having to blast their way through the various groups in power behind the UESA (and eventually their own force) while Relena fights in her own way to bring about peace between the Earth and the colonies amidst various political power shifts caused by the Gundam rebellion.

** Despite borrowing the [[{{Sentai}} five Gundam]] concept from ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'''s [[PlayingCardMotifs Shuffle]] [[MultinationalTeam Alliance]] (which were {{Super Robot}}s, by the way), and being built out of a [[{{Unobtainium}} fictional metal]], the six Gundams used in this series were much [[MohsScaleOfScienceFictionHardness more bound to the laws of physics and thus more grounded in reality]]. As such, they would require tons of maintenance, repairs, and logistics like any other real robot.

With a cast full of [[MrFanservice attractive male characters]] and the Gundams themselves mixing practical military designs with aesthetic appeal, ''Gundam Wing'' is often credited[=/=]blamed for introducing [[PeripheryDemographic female fans]] in the West to the genre of {{Mecha Show}}s.[[note]]In Japan, female fans of the mecha genre got started early with shows like Anime/BraveRaideen and the original Anime/MobileSuitGundam. Even Creator/YoshiyukiTomino, creator of both shows, [[http://web.archive.org/web/20160909093145/https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cr2UJnvVMAEk6es.jpg acknowledged]] their dedication.[[/note]]

* TalkingIsAFreeAction: In the midst of intense duels and firefights, the pilots often wax philosophical on [[WarriorPoet life, war, destiny, and the nature of mankind]].

* BatmanGambit: OZ baits the Gundam pilots into killing the UESA leadership that had actively been seeking peace with the colonies, which in turn prompts the surviving leadership to declare war on the Gundams and their colonial allies and thus deny the Gundams their credibility to the rattled public. This gives OZ the legitimacy it requires as they move to usurp control of Earth from the now shattered and disorganized UESA and continue their own campaign against the colonies.

* LighterAndSofter: Compared to other Gundam shows, with fewer major deaths and horrific disasters and war crimes in this one, complete with a happy ending. To make up for that there's little humor, and a heck of a lot more ContemplateOurNavels moments.

* SoundtrackDissonance: [[ThemeTuneCameo The show's second opening theme, "Rhythm Emotion"]], is played at the end of episode 36, after Relena surrendered to Romefeller and during Heero's ZERO System-induced rampage aboard Epyon, and in episode 41, when the Gundam Team and White Fang launched an assault on Barge, ending with [[spoiler:Zechs singlehandedly destroying the space station with Epyon]].

* ThemeTuneCameo: The show's first opening theme, "Just Communication", played at the ends of episodes 3 and 49, and the second opening theme, "Rhythm Emotion", played in episodes 36, 38, 39, and 41. In the cases of episodes 36 and 41, it's a case of Soundtrack Dissonance, and in episode 49, it's a LastEpisodeThemeReprise.

* FamousLastWords:
** "It's a Gundam!" - Many, many, ''many'' RedShirts.
** Treize, after Wufei does terminal damage to the Tallgeese II.