Mobile Suit Gundam (anime)

Mobile Suit Gundam is the inaugural entry in the Gundam multimedia franchise and aired in Japan from 1979-1980. It was directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino with mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara, character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko and featured a score by Yuji Matsuyama and Takeo Watanabe. Known as the progenitor of the “real robot” genre, Mobile Suit Gundam contrasted itself from “super robot” series of the era like Mazinger or Getter Robo. Set in UC (Universal Century) 0079, the series focuses on Amuro Ray, a civilian turned reluctant soldier caught in the middle of the One Year War between the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon. Originally planned for a 52 episode run, the TV series was canceled during production but received an extension to finish at 43 episodes. The popularity of the show in reruns eventually led to the creation of a compilation movie trilogy released in Japanese theaters from 1981-82. These compilation movies revised elements of the storyline and added new animation. Just three years later, the series received its first TV sequel, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. More than two decades after its original Japanese broadcast, the series aired in North America in 2001 on Cartoon Network’s Toonami block. The TV series and movies were originally released on home video in North America by Bandai Entertainment, but both have been re-released by Nozomi Entertainment.