T5W#307-Top 5 Gundam TV Series of the 1990s

With Darling in the Franxx wrapping up on Friday, we’re closing in on our annual Extended Summer Series Review.  It might feel a bit unnecessary to call it that now since ive reviewed much longer Anime in the last year and a half and most of those have been Gundam shows.  Still, tradition is tradition and as such, we’re in a year where it’s another Gundam series’ turn in the event.  Mobile Suit Victory Gundam was the last of the old school era of Gundam I’ve yet to watch, the batch I’d heard about from the 90’s after I got into Gundam through Gundam Wing.  The 90’s proved to be a pretty big and mostly successful decade for the Gundam franchise as it expanded into new Movies, OVAs and TV Shows that were either sequels or spin offs in a new direction.  I guess you could call todays Top 5 Wednesday kind of a filler week but still it’s a topic I’ve thought about addressing for a bit.  So today we’re taking a look at the Top 5 Gundam TV Series of the 1990s.  TO be clear, I’m ranking the 5 major TV Shows that aired from 1993-2000, which means Gundam F91, Gundam 0083, Gundam 08^th MS Team, and Gundam Wing Endless Waltz wont be on here save for a mention or two. 

#5-Mobile Suit Victory Gundam (1993)

Wont say too much about this one since I’m about to do a full series review next week.  Victory Gundam is a critical point for the Gundam franchise.  It was the last of the original Universal Century shows helmed by Yoshiyuki Tomino and the farthest we’ve ever ventured into the future of Gundam’s first universe.  Seeing as how Tomino had a particularly rough time putting this show together, Victory has a pretty hefty body count and some of the darkest moments in all of Gundam.  Like I said though, we’ll be talking about this in greater detail over the next few weeks.  At least things got a bit more sunnier after it was done.

 

#4-After War Gundam X (1996)

Gundam X might be seen as a failure for the franchise but I think that’s unfair.  It had a lot going against it for sure: being the fourth consecutive Gundam series in four years produced a bit of franchise fatigue AND it had to follow up the massive success of its predecessor, Gundam Wing.  But if you look past that, the weak villains and a forced ending, Gundam X is a gem that deserves more love.  The What If scenario it presents about a potential outcome for the One Year War is haunting and fascinating.  The story is a great character study and there are two of the best leads in the franchise at the heart of a fast moving plot.  It’s worth checking out if you ever get a chance.

 

#3-Mobile Fighter G Gundam (1994)

This was the first Gundam to step out of the Universal Century and into a world all its own.  And while there are plenty of tropes to still see this as a Gundam show, G Gundam never fails to be fun and wildly entertaining.  It leans into its whimsical premise of having every country in the world send a Gundam to Earth to fight for who controls the planet for four years.  The action is incredible, the characters all get arcs that are equally compelling and it’s a treasure trove of mecha designs you need to see to believe (Tequila Gundam FTW).  For a franchise that does take itself seriously, G Gundam wasn’t afraid to be the entry that just wanted to have fun.

 

#2-Turn A Gundam (1999)

If you look past the intent to bring all of the Alternate Universe Gundam shows and the Universal Century under one umbrella, Turn A Gundam is the perfect way to celebrate the 20^th Anniversary of one of the greatest Anime sagas of all time.  The setting is gorgeous (so’s the animation for that matter), presenting one of the most unique Gundam worlds in the multiverse.  Loran Cehek is easily one of the more likeable and cheer worthy lead characters and the whole Anime boasts a production value that rivals most movies.  Throw in the skilled directorial hands of Yoshiyuki Tomino, mecha designs by American futurist Syd Mead (Blade Runner, Tron) and a haunting score from Yoko Kanno, and you’ve got a Gundam series that is incredibly close to perfect.

 

#1-Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (1995)

No one could have predicted just how huge of a title this one would become.  Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was a hit in Japan in 1995 thanks to great mecha designs and the attractive male character designs opening the doors to a wider female fanbase.  But fast forward five years and it became a juggernaut in the US seemingly overnight.  The adventures of Heero, Duo, Trowa, Quatrea and Wufei became the coolest thing to talk about on Toonami and the show became the gateway for many American fans to the world of Gundam (including yours truly).  While it might’ve been a one hit wonder stateside (along with the Endless Waltz OVA), the success of Wings example would pave the way for other Gundam projects to follow in the future such as Gundam SEED and Gundam 00.  And truthfully, without Gundam Wing, I wouldn’t be a Gundam fan.  I do enjoy other titles more…but this is the show that made me the Gundam and Anime fan I am today.