English Title: Mobile Suit Gundam
Japanese Title: 機動戦士ガンダム
Director(s): Tomino Yoshiyuki & others
Screenwriter(s): Tomino Yoshiyuki, Hoshiyama Hiroyuki & others
Studio: Sunrise
Released: 1979
Runtime: 43 episodes, ~24m each.
Starring: Furuya Toru, Ikeda Shuuichi, Suzuoki Hirotaka, Inoue You
Mobile Suit Gundam was one of the first mecha anime in which mechs piloted by humans are realistically portrayed. These “mobile suits”, usually of bipedal configuration, are complex machines that require maintenance and repair after battle and have limited capacity for energy and ammunition.
The original series was first released in 1979 with 42 episodes and one unaired episode.
It has three compilation films. The first film approximately covers Episode 1 to Episode 13. The second film approximately covers Episode 16 to Episode 30, and the third film covers the remainder. Like many compilation films, it is essentially scenes from the series that are reworked and improved.
Premise and Setting
It is set in its own fictional timeline referred to as the Universal Century (UC) although there are a few references to our history. (Not all subsequent Gundam series are set in UC with many set in their own timeline.)
The plot begins in 0079 UC, about nine months after the beginning of the war between the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation when the former declared its independence. During this era, humanity has colonized space and many live in massive space cities called “Sides”.
Zeon is space-based but it has occupied parts of Earth for its natural resources. After one month of fighting, the war reached a stalemate and so far both sides have lost half their population.
The main character is Amuro Ray, a 15-year-old boy who lives in Side 7. He is a gifted hobbyist of electrical and mechanical systems. His father, Dr Tem Ray, is an engineer of the Earth Federation working on the latest mobile suit RX-78 “Gundam”, a superior unit to the Zeon’s “Zakus”, and the warship White Base.
When a Zeon unit commanded by Char Aznable attacks Side 7, Amuro jumps into the cockpit of the Gundam. Many of the Earth Federation’s military personnel are killed but Amuro manages to defend Side 7 and White Base long enough for the ship along with himself and some civilians to evacuate. The plot follows Amuro and the White Base as they escape Side 7 and all the battles they fight until the end of the war.
Characters
Amuro Ray is not quite the “teen genius” trope but he is very capable in some respects. His hobby gives it some plausibility. Although he willfully enters the Gundam, it is one of the earliest examples of what has become the “somehow ends up in the nearest mech cockpit” trope. He is no wimp and wants to survive and help. He occasionally complains too much which is understandable although going rogue on one occasion is annoying.
Char Aznable is the main antagonist. He is almost always masked, presumably inspired by the likes of Darth Vader. He, however, is way more sophisticated and charismatic. He at least feigns courtesy and understanding when dealing with his fellow officers and subordinates. He is a brilliant pilot and tactician, and the fact that he comes across as half-nice just makes him all the more threatening.
The mystery of Char is directly tied to his backstory, not merely the way he carries himself. Hints of his history are revealed throughout the series, directly connected to the political maneuvers of the Zabi family.
When watching this original series for the first time, one probably wants more expositions regarding this background but enough is given so that the viewer knows his motivations. On balance, it is probably not a bad thing as it maintains a degree of mystery. The 2015 series Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is a retelling of the original series with different viewpoint characters and includes the story of Char’s background.
There is an ensemble of secondary characters which is necessary given the length of the series. As most of the Earth Federation military personnel on Side 7 are killed, the few remaining along with the civilians, including Amuro, fill their positions on the White Base. They are not quite “fish out of the water”—as a group, they are more like a bunch of misfits.
The ship is captained by Bright Noa, a new officer who is thrust into the commander’s chair. He comes across as way more mature and capable than his age suggests. Whilst he is a likable enough guy, his command abilities are just too convenient. He has the poise of a veteran when he has no combat experience.
The main weakness is not that any characters are particularly bad or unrelatable, just that the emotional resonance is not strong with any of them. It is a plot- and theme-driven work. Macross, on the other hand, aims for strong characters with more intense emotional resonance.
Plotting
The plotting is straightforward. Once the White Base escapes Side 7, Bright Noa attempts to deliver the new warship to Earth Federation command more-or-less as originally planned. However, the insensitive and incompetent hierarchy gives them silly orders making them go to one place after another and so they participate in one battle after another.
As such, the series is somewhat like a gauntlet run but there is a discernable three-act structure. Eventually, they enter Earth’s atmosphere and are ordered to join in the operations on the ground before heading back out to space for a major battle. Part of the subplot is seeing Amuro and the crew of White Base gain experience and learn combat operations.
On balance, the pacing may be slow by today’s standards but, as the first series, the pacing is the norm at the time.
Worldbuilding and Themes
As military sci-fi, it is heavy on mecha action. However, it is not limited to mecha. A broad range of vehicles—ground, sea, air and space—are shown. Most are for combat but some are for support. Not only does all this demonstrate the technological status of humanity in this fictional universe, it also adds realism and conveys the scope of the conflict.
It is normal to see how the White Base operates, from showing their sensor screens on the bridge to the maintenance of mobile suits. It is, however, not intense on military protocol compared to the likes of the 2004 re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica.
As a war drama, there is no shortage of onscreen deaths. Whilst not necessarily gruesome in the conventional sense of gore and flying body parts, the violence is nonetheless intense given that beam weaponry and explosions often engulf and vaporize/dematerialize people.
Whilst the theme of the futility of war is apparent, that is not exclusively the message. The anti-war message is implied but not dwelled on—self-defense, including defense of the realm, and the defense of one’s ideals are not necessarily rejected.
Of course, whilst some may be naively honorable, “propaganda”, “politics” and backstabbing are also the norm and it is obvious such conduct is criticized. The hierarchy of both sides has the honorable and not-so-honorable types. The Earth Federation, as if the prove Zeon’s point, has people who do not care about their men.
Whilst Earth Federation’s useless “democracy” and bureaucracy are shown, Zeon is presented as a fascist aristocracy run by the Zabi family with Degwin Sodo Zabi at the head. His five children (although only four are shown in the anime) have very different personalities and ambitions, hence the abovementioned backstabbing.
Unlike Star Trek, there is little sci-fi technobabble. But there is more than what is seen in Star Wars. Tech references are mostly grounded in the sense that they are recognizable or it is necessary to how the technology functions.
Colonization is still just outside of Earth, including on the moon. Given the time required to travel to those locations, it shows the limitations of their propulsion systems. The engines even need time to warm up.
Whilst energy weapons are the norm for capital ships, they are generally not on small platforms like mobile suits which is why the Gundam, armed with a beam rifle, is such a game-changer. Projectile weapons are still widely used.
The concept of Minovsky particles is not explained in detail, and it should be. It is presumably related to their power generation systems. As a worldbuilding device, these particles can disrupt communications and just about any electrical system. As such, it can render long-range guided missiles useless. This conveniently justifies the need for mobile suits and ships blowing each other up at close enough range to fit in one frame. It is, thankfully, not cheaply used as a convenient plot device.
Other Themes: Population Control & Transhumanism
The motivation for space colonization is at least partly over-population on Earth. This is not explored or explained. Although this questionable point is not dwelled on, it is simply assumed.
The Earth Federation is a form of one-world government, implied to be a necessity due to the above “problem”. Again, this history is not explained. It is part of the premise. To be fair, Zeon sees it as a fake and useless democracy even if some of the Zeon characters are fascists.
Like many sci-fi works, space is so dangerous that humans may need to be “more”. In this series, the phenomenon of “Newtypes” is of interest to elements of the Earth Federation and Zeon. Newtypes are humans with exceptional intuitive and possible psychic abilities. This is presumably inspired by the Jedi which itself is partly taken from Eastern religions. For worldbuilding purposes, it partly explains Amuro’s abilities.
In this series, there is no genetic engineering or cybernetic implants. Nothing is done to people apart from allowing stressful situations to awaken their abilities. In this respect, there is no “transhumanism”. Nonetheless, the idea that humans need to be “more” to conquer space (or nature in general) and that Newtype is considered the next step in “evolution” is convenient and suspicious.
Perhaps less ambiguous are the implications: since not all humans are Newtypes, it follows that not all may venture out into space. What will be the policy of the Earth Federation and Zeon regarding space travel? Gihren Zabi, the eldest sibling and the most hawkish of the Zeon ruling elite, is happy to practically get rid of anyone who isn’t a Newtype and merely keep a small population for easier control.
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On balance, the original Gundam series is a complex enough series that is solid in most respects. The pacing is measured and, setting aside a few questionable themes, it has good worldbuilding and plenty of action. It is mostly clear how the world works and the narrative mostly sticks to that. Obviously, there are conveniences for dramatic moments.
The main weakness is the lack of emotional resonance with the main characters. But then again, it is not intended to be like Macross with its intense characters and relationships. In this regard, I would not classify Gundam as a space opera but it can be epic.
It is no surprise that the series has spurned a large number of Gundam manga, anime and films. No doubt this is partly for merchandising and revenue, but whilst some series are weak, some are well done.
It has no doubt influenced other works as well; for example, The Expanse series with its rich worldbuilding, Earth’s UN against a technologically superior but numerically inferior Mars, realistic technology with limitations, and humanity operating within the solar system.
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