Gundam: Order To Watch All The Anime In The Universal Century Timeline

Anyone who’s ever watched a Gundam series would remember that the “original” Gundam series takes place within the Universal Century timeline, where space colonies under the Principality of Zeon have declared war against the Earth Federation. And with the Earth Federation on the losing side, they unleash their secret weapon: a prototype piloted robot named the RX-78 Gundam to fight back.

The Universal Century timeline popularly depicts the rivalry between Earth Federation’s Amuro Ray and the mysterious masked Char Aznable, and how their separate ideals create an indelible impact to the future of the war. However, the Universal Century timeline also spawned multiple series, movies, and miniseries to accompany its setting. It also doesn’t help that the upcoming Gundam: The Witch From Mercury still doesn’t have an established premise, meaning it may also occur within the same timeline. For newcomers to the franchise, what is the best viewing order for the Universal Century?

Updated on November 26, 2023 by Rhenn Taguiam: With Gundam Build Metaverse celebrating the 45th Anniversary of the highly acclaimed mecha franchise, newcomers to the Gundam series and Gunpla culture might be wondering why the likes of the transforming Zeta Gundam, a custom Red Zaku, and the RX-78 Gundam remain iconic staples across celebratory media. However, in order to fully grasp these mecha’s importance in the franchise, Gundam viewers need to go not just as far back as 1979’s original Mobile Suit Gundam, but its sequels in the Universal Century Timeline.

17 Mobile Suit Gundam (TV Series, 1979)

UC 0079

While there are arguably other media that occurred prior to the events of the original Gundam series, the best way to start the Universal Century timeline is with the anime that started it all. Events of the anime take place during the historic One-Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

While the space colonies are gaining the upper hand, the Earth Federation unveils its experimental RX-78 Gundam mobile suit that ends up in the hands of a civilian pilot. This young pilot, Amuro Ray, would become instrumental in the Earth Federation’s war efforts, and would pique the interest of Char Aznable, ace pilot of the Principality.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Perhaps the “core” story in the Universal Century Timeline, Mobile Suit Gundam encapsulates the sheer gravity of the One Year War to its inhabitants. The initial rivalry between youngster Amuro Ray and Char Aznable as “aces” of their respective factions eventually reveal their motivations in the conflict, and the escalation of the War’s events culminate into revelations of both the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon’s true stakes and motivations in the conflict.

16 The Origin (OVA, 2015)

UC 0068 – UC 0079

With the backdrop of the original Gundam series serving as important contextual material, fans could begin understanding the inner workings of the Principality of Zeon through its origins. Viewers can deep dive into these developments primarily through Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, which adapts Volumes 9 to 12 of the manga of the same name.

Its story gives a visual take on the transformation of the Autonomous Republic of Munzo into the Principality of Zeon after the deaths of influential historical figures. The OVA also highlights the development of the first mobile suits and the initial battles of the One Year War.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Despite The Origin being the story of Char Aznable’s origins as Casval Rem Deikun, the prequel becomes a significant part of the Universal Century Timeline in its revelation of events that would eventually become the One Year War. Thanks to The Origin, the shocking reveal of Char as the son of the original Zeon Republic’s founder in Mobile Suit Gundam has become impactful after watching the initial series.

15 Advent Of The Red Comet (Anime, 2019)

UC 0068 – UC 0079

It’s thanks to Char Aznable that the Gundam franchise developed one of its most iconic tropes: the masked antagonist. However, his transformation into a trope isn’t just because of his iconic look but also because of his tragic story.

This is something highlighted by Mobile Suit Gundam: Advent Of The Red Comet, which narrates not just Char’s transformation into the Red Comet, but also his perspective on the formation of the Principality of Zeon and his exposure to other famous aces.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

While Advent of the Red Comet is essentially The Origin recompiled to fit a television series format, Gundam fans may want to view Advent as a “prequel anime” from a production standpoint and not as mere events in the past of Mobile Suit Gundam. This active change of perspective gives an episodic profile-esque format to Char’s past as Casval before continuing into the war documentation of the One Year War as depicted in Mobile Suit Gundam.

14 The 08th MS Team (OVA, 1996-1999)

UC 0079

While the original Gundam series largely narrated the events of the One-Year War, some of its “smaller” skirmishes were the “biggest” battles in the lives of some people. Such was the case of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.

Set in Southeast Asia during the One-Year War, two star-crossed lovers end up in the middle of the crossfire, as Zeon banks on Aina Sahalin and the Apsaras Project to secure victory for the region while the Earth Federation relies on Ensign Shiro Amada to succeed in the area’s capture. The two must choose between themselves and their respective sides.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

While the events of the 08th MS Team is smaller in scale from Amuro’s participation in the One Year War, the anime’s events encapsulate the little details in the sidelines that contribute to the overall war effort. The OVA depicting the Principality of Zeon testing its new Asparas Project to create new mobile armors is similar to the Earth Federation’s Project V that gave rise to the Gundams.

13 MS IGLOO (OVA Series, 2004-2008)

UC 0079

It’s perhaps wartime that could force various parties to start developing weapons and become desperate to gain the upper hand, and exactly the same thing happened during Gundam’s One-Year War. As narrated in the MS IGLOO OVA series, both the Principality of Zeon and Earth Federation approached the War from differing points of view. In the first two films (The Hidden One Year War, Apocalypse 0079), the former civilian cargo ship Jotunheim was commissioned by the Principality to test new weapons.

Meanwhile, the third film (IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front) shows the Earth Federation’s attempt in forcing Zeon soldiers back to their territory. All three films showcased numerous smaller battles as depicted in the original anime, this time from the perspective of other soldiers.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Zeon researching mobile armors in 08th MS Team establishes further R&D efforts on both sides to gain the upper hand, with more of the war’s hidden tragedies revealed further in the MS IGLOO OVA series. MS IGLOO also showed attempts of both sides to create game-changing war technologies such as the Hidolfr tank, the Jormungand Cannon, and prototype mobile suits (the Ze’Gok, Oggo, Big Rang, and Zudah).

12 0080: War In The Pocket (OVA, 1989)

UC 0079 – 0080

While OVAs are not new to the Gundam series, it’s Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War In The Pocket that is a first for the franchise. In the context of the story, War In The Pocket takes place in December UC0079, where an experimental Earth Federation Gundam has escaped the clutches of the elite Zeon MS Cyclops Team and Zeon Intelligence.

And when the Gundam appears and seems to have “converted” neutral space colony Side 6 to Federation side, Zeon threatens a nuclear strike unless their commando destroys the Gundam. What’s perhaps harsh about this series is that the OVA happens from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

While War in the Pocket showcases a smaller and more personal story in the One Year War, the OVA is perhaps one of the few Gundam anime to show the horrific reality of the Universal Century’s grandest conflict from the eyes of not just its 10-year-old protagonist but also the people around him. Before viewers venture further into the aftermath of the One Year War, seeing an alternate point of view from the eyes of both non-combatants and personnel on the sidelines adds much-needed weight to the conflict.

11 Thunderbolt (Anime, 2015)

UC 0079 (Non-Canonical)

Set once more in the One-Year War, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt depicts the effects of the War at the “Thunderbolt Sector” in the former Side 4 Colony. It stars Io Fleming, ace Federation pilot and jazz enthusiast, as he becomes the face behind Gundam prototypes that the Earth Federation hopes could change the tides of battle.

Its second season occurs just eight months after the One-Year War, where post-war turmoil and Zeon remnants begin shattering the peace.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Although non-canonical to the original story, Thunderbolt remains an integral look into the perspective of space conflicts in the early days of Gundam anime. Its story depicts the efforts of warring forces to secure supply routes, this time in the form of the Thunderbolt Sector of destroyed colonies. Seeing separate divisions from both the Earth Federation (Moore Brotherhood) and the Principality of Zeon (Living Dead Division) wrestle control over this area while the One Year War rages on is symbolic to how even the “smallest” areas can affect the greater war effort.

10 0083: Stardust Memory (OVA, 1991)

UC 0083

Set as both a sequel to Gundam and prequel to Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory takes place in UC0083 when Zeon intelligence discovers a prototype Gundam capable of nuclear attack being developed in Anaheim Electronics. After Zeon captures the unit as a part of Operation Stardust, the Earth Federation deploys the MS carrier Albion to pursue the said Gundam.

Starring young test pilot Kou Uraki, he gets embroiled in the events of Operation Stardust, and it’s through his involvement that its true objective is revealed. The OVA ends in the creation of the Titans, the Federation-sanctioned anti-Zeon forces, who will also become the main antagonists of Zeta Gundam.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Fans looking for the immediate aftermath of the One Year War can watch 0083: Stardust Memory for a glimpse of the clandestine “Operation Stardust” that pit the increasingly-tyrannical Earth Federation against the Delaz Fleet of the Zeon Remnants. Records would eventually call this the Delaz Conflict, beginning with the theft of an experimental Gundam belonging to Anaheim Electronics’ secret Gundam Development Project (GP Project) and ending with a colony drop that devastated North America. Beyond this horrific incident, a portion of the data about the GP Project were revealed to the public in UC 0099, explaining the “gap” between the first-gen mobile suits of Mobile Suit Gundam and the next generation in Zeta Gundam.

9 Zeta Gundam (Anime, 1985)

UC 0087

When the Earth Federation’s Titans become overzealous in their hunt of Zeon remnants, Kamille Bidan becomes orphaned after his parents are killed in a Titan attack. He’s taken in and trained by Quattro Bajeena to become a pilot for the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG), a resistance movement specifically against the Titans.

Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam begins as Quattro and the AEUG infiltrate a Titans base and procure the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, which becomes Kamille’s primary machine. Thanks to his intelligence and engineering expertise, he designs the Mk-II’s successor, the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

The Gryps War slowly unveiled the hidden corruption within the Earth Federation, particularly inside its Titans faction that the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) vehemently opposed. They were eventually joined by Earth-based Karaba who also hated the Titans, and met an enemy in the Zeon remnants of Axis Zeon. Events in the Gryps War were crucial in the eventual revelation of the Titans’ oppressive nature, and the slow rise of Axis Zeon as a world power despite internal politicking.

8 Gundam ZZ (Anime, 1986)

UC 0088

By the end of Zeta Gundam, the AEUG and the battleship Argama’s work isn’t done yet as they have to stop the forces of Neo Zeon from starting another war all over again. To make this happen, Captain Bright Noa recruits a group of teenage junk collectors to pilot the Argama’s mobile suits.

Led by the arrogant Newtype Judau Ashta, this “Gundam Team” is comprised of iconic mobile suits such as the MSZ-010 Double Zeta Gundam, and returning suits such as the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, and the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki.

Impact In The Universal Century Timeline

When Haman Karn led Axis Zeon in their “reclamation” of Earth, she renamed the group Neo Zeon in the hopes of restoring glory to the Principality. This resulted in the First Neo Zeon War, where the few numbers of Neo Zeon used their technologically-advanced Newtype-empowered Psycommu mobile suits against the inferior but numerous mass-production suits of the Earth Federation. Stuck on a dangerous corner is the remnants of the AEUG, as they only had the MSZ-010 ZZ Gundam as their ace in the hole.

7 Char’s Counterattack (OVA, 1988)

UC 0093

Serving as the culmination of the original Gundam storyline, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack finally settles the rivalry between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable and also marks the formal end of the conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon.

All of these events happen as the backdrop of a central conflict, where Char, now the head of Neo Zeon, has arranged to drop an asteroid on the planet while a special task force composed of ace pilots like Amuro Ray and Bright Noa attempt to stop this from happening.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

After Quattro Bajeena resurfaces as Char Aznable after the First Neo Zeon War, he establishes Newborn Neo Zeon and declares war against the Earth Federation. This declaration officially begins the Second Neo Zeon War, where Char will deliberately push humanity on a path towards evolution by dropping the asteroid Axis on Earth. If successful, Char’s plans would have mankind forced to inhabit space colonies or else risk dying in the resulting nuclear winter. His plans were eventually thwarted by the Earth Federation’s Londo Bell task force, culminating in a climactic battle between Char and long-time rival Amuro Ray.

6 Gundam Unicorn (OVA, 2010)

UC 0001, UC 0096

Based on the novel of the same name, Mobile Suit: Gundam Unicorn officially chronicles events three years after Char’s Counterattack, where civilian Banagher Links becomes embroiled in an ages-old conspiracy after an unexpected meeting with the young Audrey Burne.

Through the eponymous mobile suit Gundam Unicorn, Banagher and his friends soon unravel the true nature of the events of the Laplace terror incident, a terrorist attack that took place in UC 0001 at the start of human space colonization.

Impact In The Universal Century Timeline

With the “defeat” of Char’s Newborn Neo Zeon still fresh for both sides, two new groups from both the Earth Federation and Neo Zeon would once again engage in conflict. Central to the Laplace Incident is the Laplace’s Box and its “key,” the Unicorn Gundam. “Laplace’s Box” takes its name from the Laplace Space Colony where the Common Era ended and introduced the Universal Century. Throughout the conflict between the Sleeves of Newborn Neo Zeo and Londo Bell of the Federation, it’s revealed that the Laplace’s Box contained the “original” copy of the UC Charter that declared space colonies having more autonomy than what was originally implied.

5 Gundam Twilight Axis (ONA, 2017)

UC 0096

Serving more of a side story, Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis takes place in the late UC0096, where the Earth Federation has organized the Mastema spec-ops team to further study the nature of the “psycho-frame” as a threat. Under the leadership of Lieutenant JG Mehmet Merca, Mastema is to enter the shattered asteroid Axis and investigate its remains.

However, the Mastema soon comes under attack by a new Gundam model, all the while Mastema member and former Zeon engineer Arlette Almage seems to have an agenda of her own.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Events in Gundam Twilight Axis resume the behind-the-scenes implications of Gundam Unicorm’s events. The introduction of the RX-0 units heavily implied the continuation of supposed-disbanded research on using dangerous Psycommu-based Psycho-Frames. As a result, both the Earth Federation and remnants of the Principality agreed to dismantle the RX-0 units and end Psycho-Frame research.

4 Gundam Narrative (OVA, 2018)

UC 0097

Taking place a year after the events of Unicorn, Mobile Suit Gundam Narrative takes place just after the historic “Laplace’s Box” has been finally opened. As revealed in Unicorn, this should finally reveal the previously-discarded part of the Universal Century Charter that acknowledges both the existence and rights of Newtypes, who were discriminated against in the original series.

However, while psycho-frame mobile suits RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 2 Banshee have been hidden away, the relative peace on Earth will be disrupted by the appearance of a third model, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Shortly after the discovery of the Laplace’s Box’s contents, Earth has had little time to understand the full extent of the Universal Century Charter’s original recognition of space colony autonomy and rights of Newtypes. The emergence of the RX-03 Gundam Phenex forces both the Earth Federation and the Repubic of Zeon to launch independent efforts to capture the rogue unit, with the Earth Federation’s Luio & Co. taking the charge of their initiative with the RX-9 Narrative Gundam.

3 Gundam Hathaway (OVA, 2021)

UC 0105

Set more than a decade after the second Neon Zeon War in Char’s Rebellion and the Axis Shock in Twilight Axis, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway shows a status quo of chaos that the Earth Federation military, despite growing corruption, is desperately trying to maintain. Due to this, an anti-Federation organization simply called “Mafty” gained prominence.

Led by Mafty Navue Erin, the organization took a stand against the Federation’s corruption, resorting to means such as assassinations and terrorism. It’s led by Hathaway Noa, the son of famous Earth Federation officer Bright Noa.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Mismanagement in both Earth and its colonies led to worsening pollution, as well as Man Hunts where illegal Federation inhabitants on Earth are forcibly detained in space. This led to the creation of Mafty, the anti-Federation organization whose main goal is to take a stand against the corruption of the Earth Federation. Despite acts of terrorism, assassination, and violence, Mafty has slowly gained support from the general populace.

The revelation that the man behind Mafty’s leader Mafty Navue Erin is actually the son of Amuro Ray’s companion Bright Noa will force a comparison between the philosophies of Amuro, Char Aznable, and their respective factions’ One Year War ideologies.

2 Gundam F91 (OVA, 1991)

UC 0123

Taking place three decades after Char’s Counterattack, the Earth Federation has begun creating new space colonies to accommodate the growing human population. Unfortunately, the corrupt Crossbone Vanguard seized this population as an opportunity to seize various colonies to create an extraterrestrial empire.

Similar to other series, Mobile Suit Gundam F91 begins as pilot Seabook Arno gets involved in the crossfire as he’s tasked to pilot the Gundam F91 to ensure that the colonies are saved from the wrath of the Crossbone Vanguard militia.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

Established as an attempt to create a new Gundam saga within the Universal Century timeline, Gundam F91 introduces a new independent faction named the Crossbone Vanguard which attempts to create the Cosmo Babylonia aristocracy among the Earth Federation’s newest space colonies. While any remnants of the Principality of Zeon are absent in the film, the plan to establish Cosmo Babylonia is similar to pre-One Year Plans of creating the Republic of Zeon as an entity separate to the Earth Federation.

1 Victory Gundam (Anime, 1993)

UC 0153

Serving as the final anime of the Universal Century timeline, Mobile Suit Victory Gundam takes place just years after the events of Gundam F91. Due to the conflict against the Crossbone Vanguard weakening the Earth Federation, the spaceborne Zanscare Empire’s BESPA Forces has begun its offensive in the hopes of taking the Earth Sphere for themselves.

The only team that stands in their way is the League Militaire, and they have the Victory Gundam as their ace in the hole in their efforts to defeat the BESPA Forces.

Impact on The Universal Century Timeline

With the invasion of the spacefaring Zanscare Empire of Side 2 taking the Earth Sphere by surprise in Victory Gundam, the Earth Federation suffers a severe economic crisis that leads to the creation of the League Militaire as one of the few factions opposing the new regime. In their efforts to turn the war in their favor, the League Militaire and sponsors from Anaheim Electronics created he “Victory Project,” leading to the creation of the LM312V04 Victory Gundam and their mass-produced LM111E02 Gun-EZ.

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