Gundam Recommendations

[Kae]

So I know there's a few weebs here and hopefully some of you watch Gundam or similar media, but the thing is I recently watched Gundam Irond Blooded Orphans and Gundam Thunderbolt and I really liked both, more for the narrative than anything else but I feel it's a world I really can enjoy, the problem is of course Gundam is a huge franchise and incredibly varied so I need help deciding which route to the rabbit hole to take next.

Basically since Gundam can be anything from silly to really serious and gritty and it's quality varies wildy I'm looking to which thing to watch next, it doesn't have to be Gundam but I assume that these sort of stories aren't really an anomaly to the Gundam Universe.

Also I'm really into tabletop RPGs and I haven't found one that can do a Gundam like setting yet, so if you know of one that would also be good to hear, my assumption was Battletech but maybe there's something out there more similar to Gundam where Mechs are more agile and also double as fighter ships.

 

[09philj]

As far as RPGs go, some Fa/tg/uys made Mobile Suit Mechanicus, which is a modification to Adeptus Evangelion, which is a modification to the Warhammer 40,000 RPG Dark Heresy. https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Mechanicus

 

[Saelune]

I personally prefer to stick to the UC (Universal Century) aka main canon timeline. I also had been watching them in chronological order starting with the original Gundam series, which I liked.

That said, you might like Gundam Seed, it is a loose remake of the original series, but more modern anime style.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I still hold Gundamn Wing is the best of the entire franchise by far, so you should watch it. But just be warned most of the other shows will seem goofy or way way WAY too melodramatic to get into after GW.

 

[Kae]

As far as RPGs go, some Fa/tg/uys made Mobile Suit Mechanicus, which is a modification to Adeptus Evangelion, which is a modification to the Warhammer 40,000 RPG Dark Heresy. https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Mechanicus

Got it, will read it when I get home.

I personally prefer to stick to the UC (Universal Century) aka main canon timeline. I also had been watching them in chronological order starting with the original Gundam series, which I liked.

That said, you might like Gundam Seed, it is a loose remake of the original series, but more modern anime style.

I actually do like the retro anime style so I don't mind that, as to Seed, well my maim concern is if it is well written, as long as that is true and it's competently directed it should be fine.

I still hold Gundamn Wing is the best of the entire franchise by far, so you should watch it. But just be warned most of the other shows will seem goofy or way way WAY too melodramatic to get into after GW.

That sounds like what I'm looking for, let's hope it's as good as you say.

 

[09philj]

I still hold Gundamn Wing is the best of the entire franchise by far, so you should watch it. But just be warned most of the other shows will seem goofy or way way WAY too melodramatic to get into after GW.

Gundam Wing is extremely melodramatic and very, very silly indeed. (Not least because it's played so straight) I still like it, and the Wing Gundam was the first Gunpla I bought, but I'd never call it a monument to gritty realism.

 

[Silentpony_v1legacy]

I still hold Gundamn Wing is the best of the entire franchise by far, so you should watch it. But just be warned most of the other shows will seem goofy or way way WAY too melodramatic to get into after GW.

Gundam Wing is extremely melodramatic and very, very silly indeed. (Not least because it's played so straight) I still like it, and the Wing Gundam was the first Gunpla I bought, but I'd never call it a monument to gritty realism.

Oh for sure, but the other shows are somehow even worse. Like O8 MS team is about a magical girl who might have psychic powers, piloting a giant crab like robot. And its supposed to be one of the best and I was just laughing my head off.

Gundam Wing is goofy yes, but as you say it plays it straight which to me means its not laugh out loud silly.

 

[I can't enter my old name]

I personally prefer to stick to the UC (Universal Century) aka main canon timeline.

Seconding this.

Gundam 0079 (or the movie trilogy for better animation and pacing) -> Gundam Zeta -> Char's Counterattack -> Gundam Unicorn OVA is a pretty quick rundown. Skip Zeta if it is too long and not enjoyable.

 

[stroopwafel]

My favorites are still the original movies from '79-'82. They hold up extremely well and in the re-releases they also cleaned up the animations quite nicely. I actually liked a lot of Gundam shows(except Seed since it's more of a sappy love story) but I can never really commit to 25 episodes or double that for those that run two seasons.

But yeah, I concur that Iron Blooded Orphans is really good if you're only into newer stuff. I also really liked Gundam 00. It had some of the best political intrigue of the series imo. Atleast of those I've seen.

Gundam Wing, 08th MS Team and War in the Pocket were a really big deal when they were aired/released in the west considering both anime and the internet weren't really mainstream yet. So I guess there is still al lot of nostalgia for them among aging fans(like myself I guess. )

 

[Drathnoxis]

Also I'm really into tabletop RPGs and I haven't found one that can do a Gundam like setting yet, so if you know of one that would also be good to hear, my assumption was Battletech but maybe there's something out there more similar to Gundam where Mechs are more agile and also double as fighter ships.

Speaking of tabletop RPGs, is the Escapist one still going to happen or is it cancelled? The future of the site looked pretty shaky there for a while, but it seems like we're not getting shut down just yet.

 

[Kae]

I personally prefer to stick to the UC (Universal Century) aka main canon timeline.

Seconding this.

Gundam 0079 (or the movie trilogy for better animation and pacing) -> Gundam Zeta -> Char's Counterattack -> Gundam Unicorn OVA is a pretty quick rundown. Skip Zeta if it is too long and not enjoyable.

I've seen one 50 Episode show and one 4 episode show, I have no idea what's going on with the Gundam timeline and to be honest I don't really care, just tell me what's good and I'll watch it, I'm likely to start with the shorter stuff like the movies unless I'm particularly hyped for a show which is unlikely.

My favorites are still the original movies from '79-'82. They hold up extremely well and in the re-releases they also cleaned up the animations quite nicely. I actually liked a lot of Gundam shows(except Seed since it's more of a sappy love story) but I can never really commit to 25 episodes or double that for those that run two seasons.

But yeah, I concur that Iron Blooded Orphans is really good if you're only into newer stuff. I also really liked Gundam 00. It had some of the best political intrigue of the series imo. Atleast of those I've seen.

Gundam Wing, 08th MS Team and War in the Pocket were a really big deal when they were aired/released in the west considering both anime and the internet weren't really mainstream yet. So I guess there is still al lot of nostalgia for them among aging fans(like myself I guess. )

I'll probably start with the original movies since those are likely shorter than most shows but I've heard good things about Gundam 00 and I do like political intrigue so that might be a good thing to watch.

Also I'm really into tabletop RPGs and I haven't found one that can do a Gundam like setting yet, so if you know of one that would also be good to hear, my assumption was Battletech but maybe there's something out there more similar to Gundam where Mechs are more agile and also double as fighter ships.

Speaking of tabletop RPGs, is the Escapist one still going to happen or is it cancelled? The future of the site looked pretty shaky there for a while, but it seems like we're not getting shut down just yet.

Well that was just poor timing when that was going to happen was just when the site was practically dead, I couldn't access it and considering I had no communication with most of you it kinda died off, I would definitely would be willing to give it another go, however with the decrease in members I seriously doubt there would be as much interest so it might be better to do something in a different scale, plus I'm still salty about 5E D&D so I'm not sure if I want to do 5E, but yeah if people still care yeah, sure I would still like to do it.

 

[I can't enter my old name]

I've seen one 50 Episode show and one 4 episode show, I have no idea what's going on with the Gundam timeline and to be honest I don't really care, just tell me what's good and I'll watch it, I'm likely to start with the shorter stuff like the movies unless I'm particularly hyped for a show which is unlikely.

Okay, the most enjoyable and accessible ones are Gundam 00 and Gundam Unicorn OVA. Unicorn is the conclusion of the UC storyline, so it's better if you watch at least the original movie trilogy. 00 is wacky yet takes itself seriously, kind of like Code Geass.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

What the hell are you doing here reading stuff?
Go watch Gundam The Origin. Do it now. Get some sexy Char in your life. And, like, everything else that is amazing about those hour long episodes.
That's the start of episode 1.
Edit: The Origin (currently 5 one hour episodes, sixth out soon) sets the scene for, like, all of the Universal Century stuff, so watch that and you'll have decent knowledge up to the One Year War. For reference, Thunderbolt is set during the One Year War.

 

[Tanis]

Turn-A Gundam is one of my favorites.
-The OST was done by Yoko Kanno (Cowboy Bebop, Escaflowne, Wolf's Rain).

It's its own timeline, so you just have to watch the series itself, no spin-offs or anything.
Though it is a LOT less action heavy than some of the others.


Gundam Universal Century (0079) AKA: OG Timeline - Movies:
The OG series is a classic for a reason, but it has aged...like a lot of stuff started in the late 70s/early 80s.
The movies do a solid jobs of cutting out the 'crap' and delivering a good story with action.

08th MS Team:
Very much a 'down to earth' Gundam series set in the original timeline. Short. To the point. A little corny.

Gundam Wing:
Terrorists are the good guys...kind of, maybe, eventually.

 

[Worgen]

Well Gundam Wing is viewed as one of the best of the gundam series, but for my money I liked Gundam 08th MS Team the most.
Just felt like a more grounded war story even though it had giant robots.

If you want a silly giant robot series with fan service and such then check out Godannar. Its a bit in your face the first few episodes but it gets really good once you get a hang of it.

 

[Kae]

Well thanks for the recommendations, I decided on watching Gundam 00 because it's one that had been recommended to me even when I wasn't looking for Gundam stuff and it was actually the one I was able to get my hands on first since a friend owns the DVDs[footnote]I have no problem with streaming but why bother looking around online if it's already here, plus most legal platforms that have Gundam aren't available in M?xico and I don't feel like messing around with proxys at the moment.[/footnote], but regardless if you wish to continue recommending stuff it's fine because I do plan on checking more Gundam stuff out even if I end up not liking 00.

Might want to get into Macross too, I don't know if that's as good as Gundam though.

 

[Tanis]

Macross is solid, but it's a totally different beast.
-THE POWER OF SINGING ENDS WARS, YA'LL!

I REALLY love Robotech, even if it did mash 3 series into one and screwed up the Macross IP's international distribution.