Every Gundam Series Ever Explained*

Let's explain every Gundam series ever, because why not.

I will confess right off the bat however that I am an unashamed FAN of the anime and giant space robots in general, although not quite enough to build anything other than the chibi capsule toy ones.  Also, to my knowledge, only the most recent series "Gundam Build Fighters" breaks this plot pattern - but it also deviates widely as Gundams are not actually real in the series.  GBF centers around the pokemon-ing of plastic toy kits, as one would wish were true of real life.

So you've got "mobile suits" which, while mobile, are anything but suit-like.  These are giant (30-50 ft tall) walking, flying, sometimes transforming, robot space tanks.  Usually there's been war as a result, or there is still war going on.  Whatever.

But it's not enough to build the ultimate super weapon that can be mass produced; you have to build the Gundam.  The nigh invincible super robot space tank of legend.  It's usually fairly plain looking, designed somewhat like a WWI era soldier's kit.  Also no one seems to know why it's called Gundam.  Whatever.

So the military, or some secret organization, spends billions in resources to make this ONE super robot space tank.  Then some enemy attacks with better space robot tanks than the mass produced ones the good guys have.  So the only hope is GUNDAM.  Good thing they built it, causing the enemy to attack.  Maybe they should try to just talk it out? Whatever.

So, only one effective weapon, the Gundam, against hundreds of enemies.  It represents billions in resources and man hours to make.  It is the most advanced weapon ever.

They will give it to a kid (preteen to mid teens) pilot.  Because giving their only hope to a child who has no real conception of the real world, remains hopelessly idealistic, has no military training, no experience piloting a giant multi-ton walking space tank, is the last thing the enemy would think of, and therefore the best option.

Also, this super advanced walking robot space tank's best weapon is a sword (or some other 8th century weapon); it's best defense is a shield.  Like, a giant metal shield.  Attached to the arm.  So basically, if knights from medieval times rode around inside giant robots instead of on horses, and also they were entering puberty, that's Gundam.  Seriously, all the technology to make a self-powered, 30 foot tall, multi ton, flying, walking armored robot tank of annihilation, and the best weapon and defense they can invent is a sword and shield.  Sometimes it's not even an energy sword.  Come on.

But so that will fool the enemy for like, 5 minutes.  But then they just up and kidnap the kid, because he is a kid and they are adults, and that's pretty much how that works.  Sometimes the kid ends up fighting for the enemy, so good decision giving him your best weapon.

And then a lot of stuff explodes, and war is resolved.

Take Gundam-AGE for example (Advanced Gundam Evolution? Artificial Gundam Evolving? Fried Gundam?).  It takes place over the course of 3 generations.  Also, spoilers.

The very first gundam is made by the military with the help of a 11 year old kid.  Because his parents were awesome robot designers, and genetics.  But also they are dead, so the kid is better than nothing.  The kid is also traumatized from seeing his parents (and indeed, entire space colony) get killed in front of his eyes by dragon-alien robot tanks.  But they don't bother sending him to a psychiatrist or anything.

More dragon robots attack.  This kid is the only person who can pilot the gundam, the only one of its kind because it was that expensive.  I guess the military, desperate because all their weapons are totally ineffective at even scuffing the enemy, aren't desperate enough to take the KEY from the kid.  So ok, no training, no association to the military, no accountability, no maturity.... but he's got spirit!

So they have adventures.  It largely centers around the incredible AGE device that allows his gundam to improve.... incrementally.  Also, although it can improve the space carrier, it can't do anything for the mass produced suits that are more like the gundam than the space carrier.  Also, the army still sends people out in the mass produced suits, even though they literally do no damage and just explode.

Kid grows up, has a kid of his own.  Joins the military, builds an even better gundam, and then gives it to his kid because 1) nepotism, and 2) it's a proven track record.  Everything pretty much repeats.  The son has a child, and then goes off to join pirates.  So grandpa builds an even more betterer third gundam to give to the grandson, because two wrongs make a really awesome super robot space tank.

Grandson gets kidnapped and pretty much turns out to be an uber idealist.  And then they all blow up all technology, and everyone learns to get along.

Anyway, it all goes to prove, exciting battles between giant super robot space tanks trumps pretty anything.