Author: Chris Snelgrove Published
Sometimes, an anime has so many different shows and movies released over the years that it’s hard for new fans to know where to start. Perhaps there’s no better offender than the Gundam series: it started way back in 1979, and there are now a staggering 51 different series available to watch.
If you want to get into this iconic mecha series and don’t know where to start, then we recommend starting with 1995’s New Mobile Suit Gundam Wone of the most popular series in the series. Here’s what you need to know to be a Gundam fan.
Starting from New Mobile Suit Gundam W
One reason to buy based on your age New Mobile Suit Gundam W It’s likely that you already have some familiarity with the characters and setting. Toonami brought this anime to fans back in the ’90s, and surprisingly, it became far more popular in the West than in Japan.
In short, if you have even a semi-vague memory of watching the show after school or watching it in one of its many Cartoon Network reruns, it’s easier to start from scratch than to start a different show entirely.
one of the other reasons New Mobile Suit Gundam W It’s perfect for newcomers, for the same reason long-time fans sometimes deride the series: it takes place in a separate universe that’s simpler and easier to understand than the Universal Century (UC) timeline.
This timeline is a fan-favorite, but to understand it you have to watch about 17 different series (which is almost as good as catching up one piece). In contrast, New Mobile Suit Gundam W is a standalone universe that still introduces you to many concepts from the UC timeline, so you can enjoy it on its own or as an appetizer to the Gundam main course.
Started with Gundam W Giving you the chance to relive anime history in a very powerful way.
Additionally, we recommend starting a franchise New Mobile Suit Gundam W Because its characters and stories are easier to understand for ordinary audiences. For example, it was the first series to focus primarily on younger characters, giving us teenage protagonists, and the show’s creators aimed to appeal to a new generation of fans.
While this appeal is limited in Japan, Western audiences who grew up watching the film Voltron and power rangers Instantly connect with this story of teenagers using giant robots to fight for a better future.
While die-hard anime fans will yell at us for watching dubbed shows, another reason to start is New Mobile Suit Gundam W is that it has a really great English voice actor. David Kaye, for example, turns Treize Kushrenada into the perfect badass that everyone loves to hate, while Brian Drummond perfectly voices Zechs Merquise, an enemy warrior with a strict code of honor.
We have to root for Campbell Lane as the narrator. With his talent, even the most basic descriptions will inevitably prepare you for the next battle.
Gundam that is light on legend but heavy on action
Which brings us to the next reason why you should start a franchise New Mobile Suit Gundam WIn fact, the show has less story and more action. Longtime fans of the franchise often criticize this particular ratio, as they feel the show takes a very complex franchise and turns it into something simple and compelling.
We recommend starting a franchise New Mobile Suit Gundam W Because its characters and stories are easier for general audiences to grasp.
However, when you’re getting familiar with a series with decades of complex stories and dozens of different series that’s both action-packed and easy to follow, that’s a good thing.
Your chance to experience the power of animation
Finally, although this will be your first series in the series, from New Mobile Suit Gundam W Giving you the chance to relive anime history in a very powerful way. If the show hadn’t been a hit on Toonami, the Gundam series likely wouldn’t have become popular in North America in the first place, so you’re left with this series being a real shot in the arm for the series.
Whether they admit it or not, most Western Gundam fans grew up Gundam Wso you’ll effectively start where most fans start.
final, Gundam W It’s the perfect entry for anime fans who want to join this long-running series. At the same time, this is a great standalone series for those looking for big characters, bigger mechs, and the most intense combat. Just remember, don’t say “Mission Accomplished” until you’ve watched the entire series and the excellent OVA New Gundam W Endless Waltz.
