%% This page is for tropes from the show only. Tropes that appear in Super Robot Wars and Dynasty Warriors Gundam should go on their own pages.

* AccidentalAesop: You must acknowledge your mistakes and strive to not repeat them. Sweeping them under the rug and treating them as if nothing happened is asking for HistoryRepeats. [[spoiler: One of the underlying causes as to why the [[EternalRecurrence Moonlight Butterfly]] keeps happening is that it destroyed everything humanity has built to the extent that they can't ''remember'' their mistakes. Since they never learned, they just kept repeating history over and over because each and every time a mistake happened it was thought to be the "first time"]].
* AlternativeCharacterInterpretation: Agrippa as the OnlySaneMan. When he explains his actions and motivations, not only are they reasonable, but Dianna has a HeroicBSOD when she realizes that her actions may have doomed the Moonrace.
** Dianna as an imperious flake upon what was stated above.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeArt: This series was the last Gundam series to make use of traditional cel animation, however it made sure that the style went out with a bang, fully playing up to its strengths to give one of the most well animated full TV series in the franchise. Everything from the hand painted backgrounds to the intricate details of the mobile suits designed by the legendary Syd Mead are all lavishly produced on screen. And all of this with nary any recycled animation in sight.
* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Considering [[Music/YokoKanno who did the soundtrack]], this was inevitable.
** The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u4JNDV2R6c second ED, Tsuki no Mayu (Cocoon of the Moon)]] and [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2f5rgTkA0I BLACK HISTORY]].
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdzyZO3fbDY Gunka no Kioku (The Memory of Marching Boots)]], also known as the music that plays during the next-episode previews, is both this and hugely catchy.
** Both [=OPs=] ([[https://youtube.com/watch?v=XdUvGkOCj3A Turn A Turn]]) and ([[https://youtube.com/watch?v=p7N_bSZ5Y24 Century Color]]) are considered to be some of the most memorable in ''Gundam'' history. ''Turn A Turn'' thanks to the OneWomanWail at the beginning and the RP accented "TURN A. GUNDAM." in the TV opening (the rest of it is a nice melancholic tune too) while ''Century Color'' is just so damn catchy.
* BrokenBase: The true nature of the Black History. [[spoiler: Some consider it an interesting way to link all Gundam series together, while other declare FanonDiscontinuity for feeling that it renders the [[ShaggyDogStory events of every other series completely pointless]] while invoking HappyEndingOverride. The Light of Life compilation added further fuel to the fire by implying that instead of multiple timelines, it is instead a case of EternalRecurrence where the Turn A destroys civilization roughly every ten thousand years with each cycle being a case of HitSoHardTheCalendarFeltIt, resulting in every separate series being ''mistaken'' as AlternateContinuity. The fandom was similarly split on this with some feeling that it explains the new continuities while others think that it creates new holes in it all]].
* CompleteMonster: [[BigBad Gym Ghingnham]] is a cunning, brutal [[WarForFunAndProfit warlord]]. His actions range from threatening to [[IHaveYouNowMyPretty rape his guest/prisoner Kihel Heim]], to attempting to restart the Dark History, the [[ForeverWar centuries of apocalyptic warfare]] that nearly brought about the extinction of humanity, because he thinks it'd be fun. Gym is also [[BadBoss awful to his subordinates]]. He casually murders them on the slightest pretext--up to and including an impromptu weapons test for his new suit. In one notable case, Gym kills an associate for offering him assistance in a battle--only to then turn around and beg for help from another subordinate the moment the fight is going against him.
* CultClassic: Not the most popular ''Gundam'' series by a decent stretch, but one of the most acclaimed.
%%* EvilIsCool: Gym Ghingham and his Turn X.
* FanNickname: "Ghibli Gundam." Not just for the GhibliHills scenery (plus the various flying machines of the Earthers!), but the mostly-lighthearted tone of the series with its gentle and pacifistic protagonist is probably what you would really get if Creator/StudioGhibli decided to do a HumongousMecha story.
* FanonDiscontinuity:
** [[spoiler: Canonically all Franchise/{{Gundam}} [[AlternateUniverse timelines]] end with Turn A Gundam (even the shows made after Turn A). In practice, most fans disregard this and consider Turn A its own continuity, given that it doesn't really make a whole lot of sense for most Gundam timelines to mesh (or at the very most, only the timeline sequels of the UC, Future Century, After Colony and After War timelines).]]
** [[spoiler: Although given that Tomino has claimed that [[Anime/GundamReconguistaInG the anime he worked on later]] [[https://nekketsunikki.wordpress.com/2015/08/27/tomino-said-g-reco-takes-place-around-500-years-after-turn-a/ comes after Turn A]], this seems to have become CanonDiscontinuity as well. The fact that the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Cosmic]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny Era]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Anno Domini]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE Advanced Generation]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Post Disaster]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury Ad Stella]] timelines don't fit in with Turn A supports this as well.]]
* FridgeBrilliance:
** The slight difference in Dianna and Kihel's skin tone. For most of the series it appears to just be a visual cue for the viewer to be able to tell who is who as they exchange roles back and forth, but later it's explained that [[spoiler:multiple century-long sessions of cryosleep have drained Dianna's life force, which is why her complexion is more pale than Kihel's.]]
** Being a military fanboy, Gym Ghingnam possibly named himself after a famous military commander, albeit corrupted by history. That commander would be [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Jinn Gehenam]], proving that his name did live on forever, or Tomino simply likes the name a lot.
* FridgeHorror:
** Minor villain [[spoiler: Teteth Helleh]] gets some humanization just before she dies. 30 episodes later, we see the reason for her humanization (her mother) [[spoiler:come out of Hibernation]] looking for her. Two characters nearby comment that they've heard the name she's calling out for before.
** TheReveal about the Black History means that [[spoiler:the struggles in every other Gundam series you've watched ended with the [[ApocalypseHow Moonlight Butterfly]] centuries later. It's ''worse'' if the series had an idealistic ending, because it means that all their struggles and hope for the future just ended with humanity falling back into devastating wars]].
*** Pretty much how the [[spoiler:Moonlight Butterfly works... or to be more precise, how it ''doesn't'' work when you think about it. After a set period of time, it will forcibly regress humanity back to the stone age using GrayGoo. However, humanity needs to learn from their mistakes to avoid repeating them. You can't learn from mistakes if there is nothing to learn from. And much like how [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Aeolia Schenberg]] points out, to truly escape the cycle of war, you need to change how ''humanity'' [[HumansAreWarriors thinks]] as well, not just simply regress them back to the stone age and call it a day. For an analogy, the whole scenario is like giving a serial killer amnesia and taking away all his weapons. You only fixed the outside issues and symptoms, not the cause. With this system, humanity is effectively trapped in a cycle of ''eternal recurrent regression'', forever doomed to the confines of the solar system and never truly advancing as a society. The best course of action is to hurl the Turn A and Turn X to the sun as soon as possible so that humanity doesn't have to worry about the Moonlight Butterfly regressing their progress, as the Black History is now public knowledge and humanity can finally learn from their mistakes and advance]].
*** [[spoiler:Considering how many series there were before this one and possibly the ones after, given the ''automated'' nature of the Moonlight Butterfly, it is possible that it could've [[DiablolusExMachina reset human society at least once when things were going great.]] All the more reason to get rid of the Turn A and Turn X ASAP]].
* SugarWiki/FunnyMoments:
** Anything with Bruno and Jacop after [[spoiler: their HeelFaceTurn]], particularly when Jacop tries on Harry's glasses.
** In Episode 22, a disguised Harry confronts Loran about his disguise as Laura. When Loran replies that it isn't exactly a disguise, Harry mistakes the reply that Loran means that he ''likes'' cross-dressing...
** Fran also takes the piss out of the dramatic entrance of the Turn-X by noting that a turned X is still an X.
** In the last episode Lily Borjarno finally gets fed up with Guin calling Loran "Laura", and suggests he put on a skirt and chase after Loran. Guin notes that society hasn't progressed to the point where someone wearing a skirt can rule the world. Mere minutes later, he is forced to [[spoiler:flee into exile]] and Lily declares that she will take over control of [[strike:America]] Ameria in her skirt.
* ItWasHisSled: TheReveal that [[spoiler:the Black History refers to the events of previous ''Gundam'' series]] was a major plot twist; nowadays, just ''try'' to discuss ''Turn A'' without it coming up at some point.
* LesYay: Sometimes between Sochie and Miashie, Kihel Heim and Dianna Soreil, and Kihel Heim and Lily Borjarno.
%%* LoveToHate: Gym Ghingham
* MagnificentBastard: [[WellIntentionedExtremist Guin Sard Lineford]] is the former lord of the Principality of Inglessa, falling into disgrace with the defeat of his country, though managing to keep his influence thanks to his friendship with the Luziannan princess [[SouthernBelle Lily Borjano]]. A young, ambitious and visionary lord, Guin successfully [[TheStrategist leads the forces of Earth against the technologically advanced Moonrace]] and studies their advanced weapons. One of the heroes' smartest allies, Guin eventually [[FaceHeelTurn betrays them to join Gym Ghingham]], taking a role as the leader of a new technological revolution, which only fails because of the barbaric behaviour of the latter. [[GracefulLoser Accepting his defeat]] at the hands of his former friend and political ally, Lily, Guin saves the protegee of Gym and escapes with her.
* MemeticBadass: Harry, whom the fandom describes as "Char minus ambition plus awesome".
* MemeticMutation:
** Moonspeak and Moonrunes.
** The Turn A itself. [[UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny Gundam vs. Gundam "who would win" debates]] are often settled with "Two Words: Moonlight Butterfly", ''even if Turn A never came up before that''.
** Speaking of the Turn A, the upturned mustache.
** "February is Black History Month."
** The use of the Turn A to transport livestock, to the point that its Master Grade model kit includes a 1/100 scale cow.
*** "Master Grade 1/100 Cow, with bonus Turn-A Gundam included"
** The surreally well-pronounced "TURN A. GUNDAM" (by a guy people would ''swear'' was English or Australian) gets a bunch of jokes, too.
** "Loran won by mashing the A button." A reference to [[spoiler:Loran's final sword fight with Gym in which he simply spammed the same attack over and over again leading people to claim that he is ButtonMashing]].
* NarmCharm: Harry's red, insect-eye-like shades, along with everything he chooses to wear when not in uniform.
* OlderThanTheyThink: Before the Turn A, a mustachioed mobile suit appeared earlier in the form of [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Butler Bensouman]] and before the Moonlight Butterfly, the Dragon Gundam had the Meteor Butterfly Sword.
* RetroactiveRecognition: The anime notably marked the breakout role for a rising seiyuu named Creator/RomiPark. The series was also one of the first projects taken up by Creator/KyotoAnimation in a supporting role.
* SignatureScene: Loran using the chest compartments on the powerful Gundam to transport cows for a farmer. It's such a perfect encapsulation of the series' tone that the Master-Grade Gunpla includes a tiny cow figurine.
* TearJerker:
** The absolutely beautiful ending in the final episode on its own, and especially if you've seen the entire series. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-BK5LNRUOQ Here it is]] for those of you willing to see it. Spoilers abound...it IS the ending.
** The funeral of [[spoiler:Dylan Heim]] in episode three. Sochie and the two house servants are absolutely overcome with grief, as is Loran over the death of a nice man who really did nothing to deserve it. To make matters worse, [[spoiler:he is one of so many casualties that they have to rush to bury him right away, even before contacting his wife and daughter]].
* TheyChangedItNowItSucks: The design of the Turn A Gundam, by American Syd Mead was ''very'' different from the standard Franchise/{{Gundam}} look, and a lot of fans didn't like it; even Tomino himself has mentioned he wished he'd been more involved in reviewing Mead's designs.
* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: A surprising number of fans wish that Gym Ghingham's plan to restart the Dark History had been enacted, if only because of the possibility of seeing the various Gundams battle against the Turn A (although as noted under "NotHisSled", this does happen in the ''Super Robot Wars'' games). That being said, many fans did agree that the ending that the series has is one of the best.
* ValuesDissonance: In episode 36, Harry Ord points out that were Michael and the others who attempted a mutiny members of the Moonrace they would have been executed for their actions, noting this to be customary for a mutiny and mentioning that it is a capital offense after all. Loran and Sochie are fairly shocked by this. Falls under TruthInTelevision however, as a common punishment for mutiny is death.
* VindicatedByHistory:
** While the series wasn't very successful with its initial ratings, it's grown in popularity over time, and nowadays, it's seen as one of Tomino's best ''Gundam'' works. People are still spilt on the reveal of the Black History, though.
** The titular mobile suit itself seems to be a walking definition of this trope. The machine has an almost uncanny ability to grow on people. Many find it to look ridiculous upon first exposure only to have it slowly becoming much more endearing in peoples eyes over time.
* {{Wangst}}: Poe Eiji, whose constant whining over even the slightest thing starts to get grating even to some characters in-universe after a time. There is even an episode titled "Crybaby Poe" hanging a lampshade at this.
* {{Woolseyism}}: In the final episode, Lily snaps at Guin that he should just put on a skirt to chase after Loran, and his reply is that Ameria wouldn't accept someone in a skirt as a leader. The fan translation implies that anyone in a skirt would be unacceptable, but the official one is more that they wouldn't want ''him'' in a skirt.
* WTHCostumingDepartment: Harry Ord whenever he's not in his uniform. We'll just let [[http://i.imgur.com/IkPDh.jpg this image]] speak for itself. Also, his pajamas are [[RealMenWearPink pale purple with yellow stars]].
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