Mobile Suit
Gundam
Format: Television series, theatrical motion pictures
Story Date: Universal Century 0079
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This space-war epic was the first Gundam story, both in real life and in the Gundam universe's internal chronology. It was initially produced as a television series, which debuted in 1979. The series fared poorly in its first broadcast run and was terminated early. At first the series was to be cut from the planned 52 episodes to a mere 39, but the creators wrangled a one-month extension so they could wrap up the story. Subsequent reruns drew ever-larger audiences, and two years later the story was retooled and reprised as a motion picture trilogy.
These movies are made up mostly of recycled TV episode footage, and partly of new animation directed by character designer Yoshikazu "Yas" Yasuhiko - about 30% of the animation in the second movie, and 70% of the third, is new. The first Mobile Suit Gundam movie covers episodes 1 to 13 of the television series; Mobile Suit Gundam II, "Soldiers of Sorrow", covers episodes 16 to 30; and Mobile Suit Gundam III, "Encounters in Space", covers episodes 31 to 43. The movies for the most part follow the story of the television series, occasionally juggling the order of events for dramatic effect.
Like every other Gundam story, the original series is credited to co-creators Yoshiyuki Tomino and "Hajime Yadate." The latter is actually a collective pseudonym used by the Sunrise animation studio.