Gundam is one of the biggest anime franchises of all time, having released series for over four decades. During that time, Gundam has expanded from a multiple-series storyline to a massive world that spans multiple timelines and alternate universes. Gundam is so popular that it has become a touchstone of Japan's culture.
Because of how many Gundam series there are, it can be hard for newcomers to decide where they want to start their journey. Each timeline has its own particular features and story elements that might appeal to different kinds of people. Here are the best Mobile Suit Gundam timelines, excluding those of spin-off series like Gundam Build Fighters.
10 Advanced Generation
Advanced Generation is the timeline that Mobile Suit Gundam AGE takes place. In this timeline, space is generally peaceful until the Unknown Enemy attacks the colony Angel, starting off a terrible event called the One Hundred Years War.
The story of Gundam AGE follows the men of the Asuno family as the One Hundred Years War progresses, in a story progression similar to that of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Unique to this timeline is the concept of X-Rounders, humans that are able to use a normally-inaccessible part of their brains, increasing their spatial awareness and ability to predict the future.
9 After War
After War is the timeline that After War Gundam X takes place. After a horrific war caused nuclear winter on Earth, killing off 99% of humanity, the remaining humans on Earth try to make a living as best they can.
The After War timeline is interesting because it features Newtypes, a concept otherwise unique to the Universal Century. After War Gundam Xprovides a look at a post-apocalyptic version of the Gundam universe, where instead of climactic battles between great empires, small factions struggle for survival on a destroyed Earth.
8 Ad Stella
Ad Stella is the newest timeline in the Gundam universe, being the timeline that The Witch from Mercury takes place. In this universe, space is dominated by corporations, and conflict is centered more around economic domination rather than deadly warfare.
Despite this, there is still little peace as the poor and struggling Earthians desperately fight back against the rich and elite Spacians. While political scheming and backdoor dealings take precedence over the space-roaming mecha battles Gundam fans are used to, this era is still rife with conflict.
7 Cosmic Era
The Cosmic Era is the home of the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny series, being the only Gundam timeline outside of the Universal Century with multiple TV series. The timeline focuses on the conflict caused by the existence of Coordinators, humans who have had their genes manipulated to give them superior abilities and skills.
The Cosmic Era is heavily based on the Universal Century, with many characters and events mirroring the events of those series. Nevertheless, the SEED series have many differences that make it stand out from its influences.
6 Post-Disaster
The Post-Disaster era is the timeline for Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. The timeline began after the end of a horrific event called the Calamity War, where humans were locked in battle against an army of autonomous Mobile Armors controlled by AI.
Three hundred years after the Calamity War, the organization Gjallarhorn now acts with an iron fist to control society. In response, a private security company formed by orphaned child soldiers named Tekkadan is created to oppose them.
5 Future Century
The Future Century is where Mobile Fighter G Gundam takes place, marking the first time that a Gundam series did not take place during the Universal Century. The series takes on quite a different tone from previous series, being more action-focused and exaggerated compared to the more realistic and cynical storylines of the Universal Century.
G Gundam generally revolves around the Gundam Fight, an event where each nation sends a representative in a Mobile Fighter to battle against others. The winning nation will be allowed to lead Earth and all of its colonies for the next four years.
4 Anno Domini
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is unique among the various Gundam series in that it takes place in the real world's timeline, albeit several hundred years in the future. In this timeline, the world is constantly beset by war due to the conflict between three major factions, each one in control of a part of the Earth.
As the three factions sit in a deadlock, they are attacked by Celestial Being, a paramilitary group that intends to intervene in any military action until all factions agree to peace. The conflict between the three factions as well as Celestial Being forms the backdrop for much of this series' story.
3 After Colony/Mars Century
After Colony is the third most developed timeline after the Cosmic Era and the Universal Century, being the timeline where Mobile Suit Gundam Wing takes place. In it, the colonies are ruled oppressively by the military organization OZ. In order to fight back and gain independence for the colonies, five scientists create Gundams and send young soldiers down to Earth to fight against OZ.
After Colony is unique in that it actually comes to an end in the Gundam Wing novel Frozen Teardrop, where the era has changed to the Mars Century. Gundam Wing is easily one of the most popular Gundam series, and it has a fair amount of supplementary material fans should check out.
2 Correct Century
Turn A Gundam takes place during the Correct Century, at a point that is incredibly far in the future. In this world, the destruction of civilization caused humans to flee Earth for the Moon, only to return once the Earth had healed from its destructive wars.
Correct Century is supposedly the theoretical endpoint for a number of Gundam timelines, particularly those that were established before Turn A Gundam. The main conflict is between that of the Moonrace and the humans that were born on Earth after humanity left.
1 Universal Century
The Universal Century is the largest and most iconic Gundam timeline, being the first to ever exist. The timeline primarily features the conflict between the Federation, which represents the people living on Earth, and Zeon, which represents those living in space.
The Universal Century is home to a large number of Gundam TV series, movies, OVAs, and more. Furthermore, unlike other timelines, the Universal Century is still receiving new stories even today. It would be an absolute mistake for any Gundam fan to miss out on the Universal Century.