http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Gundam.jpg
-->''[[OhCrap "It's a Gundam!"]]''\\
-- Any {{Mook}}, in general, whenever a Gundam appears. Death usually follows.

The franchise bearing the name '''Gundam''' can be considered the {{anime}} equivalent of ''StarTrek''. In 1979, a planned 52-episode series got cut down to 43 due to low {{ratings}}, ''MobileSuitGundam'' (''Kidou Senshi Gundam'' in Japanese) became easily one of the two most well-known and long-running series of the HumongousMecha genre (the other most well-known being ''{{Macross}}'') Created by YoshiyukiTomino, it's a veritable merchandising empire encompassing manga and video game tie-ins, plastic models and toys, ([[http://aeug.blogspot.com/2007_05_01_archive.html#2850537631007634108 theme park rides]] and [[http://aeug.blogspot.com/2007_07_01_archive.html#7388144419372959180 race team sponsorships]]). The comparisons to StarTrek line up in the rousing success of reruns, movies and the sequel series ZetaGundam, which solidified its status as a franchise.

Gundam effectively invented the RealRobot genre, depicting [[AMechByAnyOtherName mobile suits]] as mass-produced machines of war similar to planes or tanks, rather than unique creations solely responsible for defending against enemies. Of course, its SuperRobot roots remain in the Gundams themselves -- unique mobile suits (typically [[SuperPrototype Super Prototypes]] or [[SuperPrototype Ace Custom]] units) piloted by the main character(s) and the focus of much of the show.

One of the most noticeable quirks of the Gundam metaseries is its prolific use of {{Alternate Universe}}s; to date, there are seven different Gundam universes, each identified by the name of [[YearZero the calendar they use]]:
*'''Universal Century''' (UC), the original, consists of
**''MobileSuitGundam'' TV series (1979) and three compilation movies (1981 and 1982): Set in U.C. 0079, it depicted a conflict later known as the "One Year War" between [[TheFederation the Earth Federation]] and [[TheEmpire the Principality of Zeon]]. What set this series apart as RealRobot was the large scale military use of mecha, the in-depth technical specifications of the future technology and the depiction that both the Federation and Zeon had good and bad people fighting for them, rather than one side of {{heroes}} and one side of faceless evil {{mook}}s.
*** ''[[GundamIGLOO MS IGLOO]]'' 6-episode CGI OVA (2004): Covers the One Year War from the POV of a Zeon {{Wide-Eyed Idealist}} engineer who's always in charge of testing new [[strike:SuperPrototype]] [[AwesomeButImpractical Prototypes]].
*** ''[[The08thMSTeam The 08th MS Team]]'' 13-episode OVA (1996) and a compilation movie (1998): A sort of [[LowerDeckEpisode Lower Deck Series]] counterpart to MobileSuitGundam, it stars a RagtagBunchOfMisfits in mobile suits, with nary a Newtype in sight.
***''{{Gundam 0080}}'' 6-episode OVA (1989): Set at the end of the One Year War and starring a child on a nominally neutral colony, with [[AnAesop the moral]] that WarIsHell.
***''{{Gundam 0083}}'' 13-episode OVA (1991), compilation movie (1992): Set in UC 0083, featuring {{The Remnant}}s of Zeon {{Gundamjack}}ing a [[NukeEm nuclear-armed]] SuperPrototype Gundam. Also serves as a series-long RetCon to explain the political situation at the beginning of ZetaGundam.
**''ZetaGundam'' TV series (1985): Set in UC 0087, eight years after the original series ended. It featured a mix of new and returning characters against the vicious [[ANaziByAnyOtherName Titans]] group, and later [[TheRemnant Axis Zeon]], making it essentially one long MeleeATrois series. Comparable to StarTrekTheNextGeneration in expanding the mythology of the saga.
***''EcoleDuCiel'': Manga series beginning in UC 0085, the series follows a girl called Asuna Elmarit, making it [[TheSmurfettePrinciple the only]] ''[[TheSmurfettePrinciple Gundam]]'' [[TheSmurfettePrinciple work so far to feature a female lead character.]]
**''GundamZZ'' TV series (1986), has yet to be released in English: Deals with the war against [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Neo Zeon]], who (as Axis Zeon) came out on top at the end of ''ZetaGundam''.
**''[[{{ptitleexh6mkl0fnye}} Char's Counterattack]]'' theatrical release (1988): It gives a conclusion for the principle characters that have been a part of MobileSuitGundam, ZetaGundam and GundamZZ in UC 0093.
***''GundamUnicorn'' OVA series (2010): Three years after ''CharsCounterattack'', OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Banagher Links meets a mysterious girl, and becomes pilot of the Unicorn Gundam as TheRemnant of Neo Zeon returns.
**''GundamF91'' theatrical release (1991): It was intended to be a full length television series, but the first 13 or so episodes were turned into this movie. While good, it's incomplete and no substitute for the series' storyline. It's set in UC 0123.
***''CrossboneGundam'': A manga continuation of the F91 story written by Tomino himself; the main characters of F91 have taken control of the Crossbone Vanguard & become SpacePirates pillaging the outer solar system & plotting the downfall of the sinister "Jupiter Empire". Contains much foreshadowing of events to come in ''Victory''.
**''VictoryGundam'' TV Series (1993), has yet to be released in English: Set in UC 0153, the story outlines a new conflict and is famous for the DownerEnding. YoshiyukiTomino admitted going through a [[CreatorBreakdown battle with depression]] while writing this series.
**''G-Saviour'' in 2000, originally intended for a "Twenty Years of Gundam" celebration in 1999. A LiveActionAdaptation but having little to do with the classic Gundam storyline besides being set in UC 0218 and being of relatively poor production quality, the movie is [[DisContinuity generally ignored]].
*'''Future Century''' (FC)
**''{{G Gundam}}'' (1994): A shamelessly SuperRobot series, intentional for a break after the dark {{Victory Gundam}}. In this universe, war is subverted by establishing [[TournamentArc Gundam Fights]], championship battles that determine the country that leads the human race. The fight that occurs this year is rendered unique in that it deals with a GovernmentConspiracy and the demonic Devil Gundam. Notable in being the first AlternateUniverse series and that Yoshiyuki Tomino set aside the directors duties and allowed someone else to work on a Gundam series.
*'''After Colony''' (AC)
** ''GundamWing'' TV Series (1995): Five Gundams are sent from the space colonies to fight for independence from the Earth Sphere Alliance. Sides change frequently even among the Gundam pilots as the politics and manipulations grow more complicated. Notable for being the first English released Gundam series and was a megahit on CartoonNetwork, helping to bring the other franchise members into English adaptations. The uncut version shown late night also helped inspire the AdultSwim programming block.
***''GundamWing: Endless Waltz'' 3-episode OVA (1997): Takes place a year after the end of GundamWing, when the Gundam pilots try [[TechnicalPacifist something completely different]] against a new enemy. Features completely redesigned Gundams, even in flashbacks, despite them being nominally the same machines.
*'''After War''' (AW)
** ''GundamX'' (1996), has not been released in English: It deals with an AfterTheEnd setting in a dystopia future. It was canceled shortly like the original series, but that was attributed to poor scheduling rather then lack of quality.
*'''Correct Century''' (CC)
**''TurnAGundam'' (1999), with compilation movies (2002): The unique plot peripherally suggests all Gundam series actually take place in the same universe, simply separated by huge amounts of time. It has also not been released in English. YoshiyukiTomino returns to direct and fans regard it as one of the best in the franchise, notably avoiding the DownerEnding "KillEmAll" Tomino was famous for.
*'''Cosmic Era''' (CE), an attempt at making a Universal Century style timeline for a new generation of fans, is the only timeline besides the original UC to have more than one full-length series:
**''GundamSEED'' (2002): It tells the familiar story of the various Gundam series, to the point of virtually mirroring the original MobileSuitGundam until roughly the halfway point of the series.
***''GundamSEEDAstray'' a manga series set alongside the events of "SEED"
**''GundamSEEDDestiny'' (2003): Considered the ZetaGundam to GundamSEED's MobileSuitGundam, it also features a combination of new and returning characters in a second round of the same basic conflict.
*** ''Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer'' a 3-episodes OVA set in same timeframe with GundamSEEDDestiny, notable for its initial release being online rather than TV or DVD.
**A movie intended to conclude the Cosmic Era timeline was announced in 2005 following the end of ''SEED Destiny'', but real life complications such as the head writer taking ill have pushed it into DevelopmentHell.
*'''Anno Domini''' (AD), (2008) aka the "real world", is the timeline for ''{{Gundam 00}}'', the newest Gundam series. Two seasons 25 episodes each with 6 months break between them, with a movie coming out in 2010.

At its core, each Gundam series tells the story of a war between Earth and the space colonies that orbit it; it is this Earth vs. Space theme that is consistent throughout the entire Gundam metaseries. Among other things that are to be expected in the various series include:
* The protagonist is generally an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent who ends up FallingIntoTheCockpit of the newest [[SuperPrototype Gundam]] during the first episode after the series' antagonist attacks his DoomedHometown.
** Occasionally, however, the main characters are instead [[ChildSoldiers highly-trained teenage pilot/soldier/agents]].
* If they're an OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent, they'll end up helping TheFederation defeat TheEvilArmy or TheEmpire.
** If they're a SuperSoldier, they'll be part of LaResistance fighting against TheEmpire. (Whether Earth or Space are the good guys or the evil ones depends on the series.)
* Inevitably, the protagonist will pick up a [[TheRival Rival]] in the enemy ranks, usually an AcePilot who has more experience but is initially thwarted by the main character's BiggerStick. This rival usually takes the form of an {{Expy}} of Char Aznable, the original -- a mysterious, blond, masked man.
* Often the rival, and usually the protagonist, will eventually receive a MidSeasonUpgrade either in the form of a SuperMode or an entirely new mobile suit. In some cases, it becomes a matter of "Only a Gundam can defeat a Gundam."

No overview of Gundam could be complete without mentioning Kunio Okawara, who created the original mecha designs for the first Gundam universe, and who has continued to create designs for every Gundam show since. Hajime Katoki, who began as a model customizer, is also a key Gundam designer, often creating more "realistic" versions of Okawara's designs. Other important mechanical designers include Kazumi Fujita, Junya Ishigaki, Mamoru Nagano, and others. The Gundams themselves generally share visual characteristics from generation to generation due to his influence. The design is easily distinguishable by the yellow 'V' shaped crown or some variation, and the primary "Hero" Gundam will be mostly white and blue with some red accents.

The origin of the name Gundam varies from series to series, in the first show it was simply the title given to the mobile suit. Later series in the same continuity uses the name as a [[LegacyCharacter direct reference to that first mobile suit.]] In other continuities it can stand as an [[FunWithAcronyms acronym]] or as a reference to some new technology that the mobile suit pioneers, like a super armor named "Gundarium."

The Gundam metaseries, particularly the original Universal Century timeline, is also notable for the remarkably consistent fictional technology; in UC, this is based on the original MinovskyParticle. Also notable is the presence of Newtypes, who are essentially [[PsychicPowers psychics]], and can be accurately described as "[[StarWars Jedi]] in [[HumongousMecha giant robots]]". Newtypes, or something similar, appear in most Gundam shows.

Gundam also has a large number of VideoGames associated with it, notables including the ''SuperRobotWars'' series, the ''G Generation'' series of TurnBasedStrategy games, the GundamVsSeries, and ''DynastyWarriorsGundam''. And for SomethingCompletelyDifferent, there's ''[[SuperDeformed SD Gundam]]'', both in the form of a series of {{omake}}-style parody shorts, and a full-blown series called SDGundamForce.

''Gundam'' apparently [[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7029685.stm doesn't fall under the purview of the Japanese Agriculture Ministry.]] Except [[http://robots.net/article/2442.html when it does.]]
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This series provides examples of the following tropes. Note that these are present in the metaseries as a whole; for individual shows, please use individual series' pages.
* TheAbridgedSeries: There are quite a few ''GundamAbridged''
* AerithAndBob: There are some very strangely named characters in Gundam, there are also a scattering of people with completely mundane names.
* AlternateContinuity: TV series, movie trilogies, manga, video games, and novels all retell the same stories... and all slightly differently.
* AlternateUniverse: As explained above.
* AlternativeCalendar: Used for every series but ''Gundam00'', largely to avoid having to set a definitive "[[ExtyYearsFromNow X years in the future]]" setting. Amusingly, the first few series simply filed the serial numbers off by setting them in the year "UC 00XX", where XX was the year in the 20th century that the show was released. MobileSuitGundam, for example, was released in 1979 and set in UC 0079.
* AnyoneCanDie: The series was, after all, created by a man who was ''nicknamed'' KillEmAll.
* AsLongAsItSoundsForeign: People's names in Gundam series, while not always like this, can tend towards being WEIRD. In not a few cases, it overlaps with GratuitousEnglish.
* AwesomeMcCoolname: Every series has at least a few cases of this.
* TheBattlestar: Most warships have impressive firepower in addition to their mobile suit payload.
* BittersweetEnding: No Gundam series to date has a flat-out "happily ever after" ending, though some are more depressing than others.
* ColonyDrop: TropeNamer; Gundam series are extremely fond of dropping large objects onto targets from orbit.
* CombiningMecha: The original Gundam had the ability to separate and recombine; this was downplayed later. The CE timeline has this in spades, as the titular mecha combine with 'packs' that seem expressly designed to [[MerchandiseDriven ship more plastic models of the mecha]].
* CompleteMonster: Every shows needs at least one super bastard with no redeeming qualities whatsoever, from [[MobileSuitGundam M'Quve]] to [[{{Gundam00}} Ali]]. The most popular is undoubtedly [[ZetaGundam Yazan]].
* ContinuityLockOut: [[strike:One of]] The main reason for the shift from the UC timeline to alternate universes.
* CoolShip: The main character usually has a ship to haul his Cool Mecha around.
* CrackIsCheaper: Between the TV series, the [=OVAs=], and the movies, that's a lot of cash for [=DVDs=].
** And that's without even getting into the manga, the video games, or the model kits.
* CrapsackWorld: As a consequence of constantly ongoing wars in almost every continuity.
* CyberCyclops: The "bad guy" mobile suits tend to have a single, glowing camera; they're typically referred to as "mono-eyes".
* DoomedHometown: The main character's hometown, frequently a SpaceColony, is usually wrecked early in the series. Sometimes directly leads to FallingIntoTheCockpit.
* EnergyWeapons: FrickinLaserBeams, {{Wave Motion Gun}}s, {{Laser Blade}}s, and everything in between.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Part of the reason the franchise failed overseas. Sunrise chose to follow the successes of ''GundamWing'' and ''GGundam'' with the 1979 original and its sidestories, and pushing the merchandise and marketing for those despite the obvious lack of interest on the part of the target audience. As a result, when ''GundamSEED'' came to the West, it was shoved into a FridayNightDeathSlot despite the fact that, a year or so before, it probably could have helped maintain the momentum ''Wing'' and ''G'' started. Many fans hold the opinion that, had Sunrise exported ''GundamX'' rather than the One Year War series, ''Gundam'' might have actually hung on longer.
** This can partly be explained by the fact that there's a committee that decides which ''Gundam'' works to license, meaning that cult favorites like ''VGundam'' and ''GundamX'' [[NoExportForYou would probably never be exported even IF the franchise had hung on]]. Of course, considering the [[MerchandiseDriven merchandise sales]] for Japan alone surpass those for the entire rest of the planet combined, odds are the suits aren't exactly crying themselves to sleep.
* {{Expy}}: To say the franchise is addicted to this trope is an understatement. There's [[MemeticMutation a Char]] in ''every single series''.
* FallingIntoTheCockpit: A popular way to select new crack Gundam pilots.
* {{Fanon}}: The fandom is quite good at creating it, given how many AlternateContinuity versions and contradictory source materials there are.
* FantasticRacism: While ethnic and religious conflict is notably absent in most Gundam universes (Gundam00 being the exception), there are major divides between those who live on Earth and those who live in Space in almost every series. The conflict between PunyEarthling Naturals and genetically engineered BornWinner Coordinators in the CE timeline is a much more direct example.
* FantasticSlurs: "Zeeks" and "Feddies" in UC; in CE Naturals have been seen to call Coordinators "space monsters" on occasion.
* TheFederation: The Earth government is usually one.
* FiveManBand: The Universal Century was slightly more dynamic, but it came into full swing in GGundam and GundamWing.
* GetAHoldOfYourselfMan: Bright Noa, the TeamDad of the UC timeline, is the king of this trope. So much so that it was originally called the BrightSlap.
* GiantRobotHandsSaveLives
* {{Gundamjack}}: TropeNamer. Good way to kick off the events of a given series.
* HeroicSacrifice: From both throwaway and major characters; a side effect of AnyoneCanDie.
* HumongousMecha: Obviously.
** AMechByAnyOtherName: They're called "mobile suits" in general, though different timelines have variations like "mobile fighters", "mobile dolls", and "mobile bits". Non-humanoid versions are usually called "mobile armors".
* ISenseADisturbanceInTheForce
* IconicCharacters: Char Aznable has been oft-imitated, both in the ''Gundam'' franchise itself and in other shows.
* LatexSpaceSuit: For use by both males and females, though only pilots; other crew get bulkier, more conventional space suits.
* LongRunner: 30 years and counting. BigNameFan Burke Rukes once pointed out on his old website that if one were to watch all of Gundam from [[MobileSuitGundam MSG]] to [[TurnAGundam Turn A]], it would take about a week, and that was ''without'' counting work, sleep, and bathroom/meal breaks. And mind you, this was long before ''SEED'' and ''00'' came out.
* MadeOfIndestructium: Gunamium appears to be this. Though is quite rare.
* MaskPower: TheRival and/or Char {{Expy}} usually wear one.
* MilestoneCelebration: Happens regularly at the 10 year marks.
* MinovskyParticle: TropeNamer, in the UC Timeline, but implemented in really every timeline more or less.
* MerchandiseDriven: Much, ''much'' more money is made on Gundam modeling kits than the anime itself.
* {{Novelization}}: All of anime series except {{Gundam X}} has at least one. ''Beltochika's Children'' is rather amusing case, it was originally Tomino's rejected plot of [[{{ptitleexh6mkl0fnye}} Char's Counterattack]] which, in turn, is adaption of Tomino's novel ''Hi-Streamer''. In other word, it's novelization of TheFilmOfTheBook, with all three by same author!
* PsychicPowers: Newtypes.
* RealRobot: Frequently said to have invented the genre, though in reality it's stuck somewhere between RealRobot and SuperRobot, to the point where the most recent incarnation, Gundam00, was described as RealRobot [[XMeetsY vs]] SuperRobot. One guess which the Gundams were.
* TheRemnant: Zeon has a lot of these that pop up in later series, but also Oz and [=ZAFT=] to a lesser extent.
* RetCon: Between all the AlternateContinuity versions and OVAs, they're inevitable. They're usually not too bad, but exceptions (such as Gundam0083's ColonyDrop) do occur.
* RootingForTheEmpire: For UC, Zeon has far more vocal fans than the Earth Federation. In CE, just ''mentioning'' it in reference to the Earth Alliance or [=ZAFT=] is likely to cause a FlameWar over who was really the bad guy. Ditto, though to a lesser extent, for Gundam00.
* SeriesFranchise
* SlidingScaleOfGenderEquality: Tends to hover between "Male Superiority" and "Men are More Equal". In this troper's opinion, series made by Tomino tend to do a better job with gender equality.
* SoLastSeason: The [[FanNickname Mid-Series Upgrade]] has been a staple since ZetaGundam, and even MobileSuitGundam had a limited version of it.
* StockFootage: And plenty of it. More of a problem for some series than others (the CE timeline was particularly infamous for indulging in it), and generally less of an issues in the movies and OVAs.
* TheSmurfettePrinciple: Partially subverted. Every series has female pilots, but they're almost always outnumbered by male ones, and (with the exception of the manga ''EcoleDuCiel''), they're never the main character. Well, it is {{Shonen}}, after all...
* SuperPrototype: Just about anything with the word "Gundam" in its name, and a lot without it.
* SuperRobotWars: Pick a game. You'll find at least half a dozen Gundams in it.
** Except maybe for the OriginalGeneration, although you'll find half a dozen mechs inspired by Gundam. SoYeah.
* SuperweaponSurprise: In the UC timeline, and the CE that mirrors it, mobile suits are these, with the subversion that they're used to ''attack'' instead of defend. The first Gundams in both universes are this ''again'', in that they're BiggerStick mobile suits that catch the other side by surprise too!
* SwordFight: Only with HumongousMecha and {{Laser Blade}}s!
* TakeOffEveryZig: Pretty much everyone announces their name and which mecha they're using before launching from the CoolShip.
* TransformingMecha: Varies between series, with some series chock-full of such mecha, and others devoid of them. ZetaGundam springs to mind as the Gundam series with the most TransformingMecha, which includes the title mech.
* TrueArtIsAngsty: ZetaGundam, while having one of the bleakest endings in all Gundam, is generally considered to be one of the best of them all. Gundam0080 is similarly dark, and similarly exalted.
** On the other hand, TurnAGundam is also considered to be among the best, and it's arguably the happiest Gundam series.
* {{Wangst}}: Happens when the protagonist takes TrueArtIsAngsty too far, which is depressingly frequent for people who just want to watch [[RuleOfCool giant robots fighting]].
* WarriorTherapist: TheRival tends to be one, resulting in [[TalkingIsAFreeAction philosophical debates]] during running mecha battles.
* WellIntentionedExtremist: The BigBad of a series is usually -- or at least can be argued to be -- this.
* WhiteHairedPrettyBoy: Char and {{Expy}}s, for the most part.
* YearZero: A different one for each of its {{Alternate Universe}}s, though they were invented by the creators rather than the fans. Interestingly, each series takes place decades after its timeline's YearZero, and only rarely is the YearZero explicitly tied to a specific event.
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