Universal Century

By Jenxi Seow

Published

Updated

Universal Century (UC) is the timeline of the original Gundam anime series. It starts with the migration of humanity to populate space, after construction of the first space colony at Side 1 was completed. By far the most proliferative background universe, Universal Century makes up the dominating majority of the entire franchise.

Many new Gundam stories are told in their own parallel universe with independent timelines, giving them a greater degree of creative freedom. Despite its age, the UC storyline continues to be extremely popular for a variety of reasons. It established the franchise, and delivered many of its best moments. Nostalgia for the oldest of the Gundam shows and Gundam’s resulting status as a pop-culture icon in Japan are major factors in the continuing success of the series.[1]

Timeline

Main article: Universal Century timeline

Although there are many series in the Universal Century timeline, these can generally be grouped under several main series, usually based on the events and the characters in the series. For example, Mobile Suit Gundam revolves around the crew of White Base during the One Year War. The Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin series is about the events before the War.

SeriesYear
Mobile Suit Gundam: OriginUC 0068 to UC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOOUC 0079 January
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketUC 0079 December to UC 0080
Mobile Suit Gundam ThunderboltUC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’sUC 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryUC 0083
Mobile Suit Zeta GundamUC 0087
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZUC 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack UC 0093
Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornUC 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam Twilight AXISUC 0096
Mobile Suit Gundam NarrativeUC 0097
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s FlashUC 0105
Mobile Suit Gundam F91UC 0123
Mobile Suit Victory GundamUC 0153
G-SaviourUC 0223

Mecha

Main article: Universal Century mecha

The mecha designs in the Universal Century timeline has become icons of the Gundam series, with the RX-78-2 Gundam being two of the most recognisable mobile suits. Alternate universes regularly make tributes to or are inspired by the mobile weapons in the Universal Century. The trademark red, blue, yellow and white colour scheme of the RX-78-2 Gundam is often used by the main mobile suit of other series.

As the Universal Century is the most expansive universe, it depicts the gradual adoption of prototype technology into mass produced models. Mass production mobile suits in the later years easily surpasses early prototype models in performance. The use of psycommu systems featured prominently in experimental models. These were designed specially for Newtype characters.

Series & films

Main article: Gundam series and films

List of Universal Century Gundam animated series and movies and live-action films in the order of their release:

TitleTypeRelease date
Mobile Suit GundamTVApril 7, 1979 – January 26, 1980
Mobile Suit GundamMovieMarch 14, 1981
Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of SorrowMovieJuly 11, 1981
Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in SpaceMovieMarch 13, 1982
Mobile Suit Zeta GundamTVMarch 2, 1985 – February 22, 1986
Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Heirs to the StarsMovieMay 28, 2005
Zeta Gundam A New Translation II: LoversMovieOctober 29, 2005
Zeta Gundam A New Translation III: Love is the Pulse of the StarsMovieMarch 4, 2006
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZTVMarch 1, 1986 – January 31, 1987
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s CounterattackMovieMarch 12, 1988
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketOVAMarch 25, 1989 – August 25, 1989
Mobile Suit Gundam F91MovieMarch 16, 1991
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryOVAMay 23, 1991 – September 24, 1992
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: The Afterglow of ZeonMovieAugust 29, 1992
Mobile Suit Victory GundamTVApril 2, 1993 – March 25, 1994
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS TeamOVAJanuary 25, 1996 – April 25, 1999
The 08th MS Team: Miller’s ReportMovieJuly 25, 1999
Gundam the Ride: A Baoa QuMovieJuly 20, 2000
G-SaviourMovieDecember 29, 2000
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green DiversMovieAugust 10, 2001
Gundam EvolveOVAMay 17, 2001 – January 26, 2007
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year WarOVAJuly 19, 2004 – November 3, 2004
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079OVAApril 27, 2006
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity FrontOVAOctober 24, 2008 – April 24, 2009
Mobile Suit Gundam UnicornOVAMarch 12, 2010 – June 6, 2014
Mobile Suit Gundam: The OriginOVAFebruary 28, 2015 – May 5, 2018
Mobile Suit Gundam ThunderboltONADecember 25, 2015 – July 14, 2017
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn RE:0096TVApril 3, 2016 – September 11, 2016
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: December SkyMovieJune 25, 2016
Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight AxisONAJune 23, 2015 – September 1, 2017
Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis – Red TraceMovieNovember 18, 2017
Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit FlowerMovieNovember 18, 2017
Mobile Suit Gundam NarrativeMovieNovember 30, 2018
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin – Advent of the Red CometTVApril 29, 2019 – August 11, 2019
Mobile Suit Gundam HathawayMovieMay 7, 2021
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s IslandMovie2022

Manga

Main article: Gundam manga

List of Universal Century Gundam manga in alphabetical order:

TitleAuthor(s)IllustratorRelease Date(s)
Advance Of Zeta: The Flag of TitansBin KonnoTatsu Mizuki2003-Present
Artificial Newtypes Story: Another Zeta Gundam StoryKaoru Morishita1991 – 1992
Artificial Newtypes Story: Mad Wang 1160Kaoru Morishita1994 – 1995
Developers: Mobile Suit Gundam Before One Year WarHosui Yamazak2002 – 2003
Go! Go! Our V GundamTsukasa Kotobuki1992 – 1994
G-SaviourTakuto1993
Gundam Sentinel: The Day BeforeKatoki Hajime1989
Jupiter MirageHitoshi Niki,
Makoto Kobayashi,
Masato Tanaka
1989
Magical Ensign Blaster MariKei ikeda1989 – 1990
Mobile Suit Crossbone GundamYoshiyuki TominoYuichi Hasegawa1994 – 1997
Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam Side Story: Skull HeartYuichi Hasegawa2003 – 2004
Mobile Suit Crossbone Gundam: The Seven of SteelYuichi Hasegawa2006-Present
Mobile Suit Gundam 0079Kazuhisa Kondo1993 – 2005
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the PocketShigeto Ikehara1989
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080 Visual Comic1989
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Hero of StardustMasafumi Matsuura2000 – 2001
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust MemoryMitsuru Kadoya1992
Mobile Suit Gundam 0084: Psi-trailingKenji Mizuhara1993
Mobile Suit GundamYu Okazaki1979 – 1982
Mobile Suit Gundam AlmaryaYuji Ushida1989
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s CounterattackToshiya Murakami1987
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s CounterattackKoichi Tokita1998 – 1999
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Deleted Affair: Portrait Of Young CometHiroyuki Kitazume2001-Present
Mobile Suit Gundam: Ecole du CielHaruhiko Mikimoto2002-Present
Mobile Suit Gundam F90Hiroshi YamaguchiRei Nakahara1990 – 1991
Mobile Suit Gundam F90Masahiro Kanda1990 – 1991
Mobile Suit Gundam F91Daisuke Inoue1991
Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Formula Report 0122Toshiya Iwamura1991
Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Formula Report 0122Daisuke Inoue1991
Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War ChroniclesMasato Natsumot2002
Mobile Suit Gundam: Moon CrisisMasafumi Matsuura1993 – 1994
Mobile Suit Gundam: MS GenerationRei Nakahara1989 – 1990
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOOMEIMU2005-Present
Mobile Suit Gundam: Record of MS WarsMasaya TakahashiKazuhisa Kondo1984
Mobile Suit Gundam REONMasafumi Matsuura1994 – 1995
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079 (Vol. EFSF)Tomohiro ChibaHideyuki Matsurioka1999
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079 (Vol. Zeon)Tomohiro ChibaTomotake Kinoshita2000
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of a FlashTomohiro ChibaMasahito Natsumoto2003
Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91Hiroshi Yasuda1992 – 1995
Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91 in U.C. 0123 (Vol. Cluster Gundam)Toshiya Iwamura1993
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue DestinyMizuho Takayama1997
Mobile Suit Gundam: The OriginYoshikazu Yasuhiko2001 – 2011
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Revival of ZeonKazuhisa Kondo1988
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZToshiya Murakami1986 – 1987
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ: Seaside PanicKenji Mizuhara1993
Mobile Suit Variations: Ace Pilot StoryMasahiro OdaKen-ichi Ishibashi1984
Mobile Suit Victory GundamToshiya Iwamura1993 – 1994
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam Side StoryYuichi Hasegawa1993
Mobile Suit Vor!!Kazuhisa Kondo1988 – 1989
Mobile Suit Vs. Giant God of Legend: Gigantis’ Counterattack (Gundam vs Ideon)Yuichi Hasegawa1990
Mobile Suit Zeta GundamKazuhisa Kondo1985 – 1986
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation: Heirs to the StarsHisao Tamaki2005
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam A New Translation II: LoversKotoni Shiraishi2005 – 2006
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Day After Tomorrow – From Kai Shiden’s ReportTsukasa Kotobuki2005-Present
Night=Hawks!Ayumi Konomichi1990 – 1991
Operation BuranKazuhisa Kondo1990
Outer GundamMasafumi Matsuura1990 – 1992
Program MasterMasafumi Matsuura1989
Record of MS Wars IIKazuhisa Kondo1988 – 1994
Stampede: The Story of Professor MinovskyMasaya TakahashiHajime Oki1988
Under the Gundam: Double-FakeYuji Ushida1989
War in the PocketKenji Mizuhara1994
Zeta Gundam: Side StoryKazuhisa Kondo1987

Novels

Main article: Gundam novels

List of Universal Century Gundam novels in order of release:

TitlePublished date
Mobile Suit Gundam
Kidou Senshi Gundam
1979-1980
Mobile Suit Gundam
Kidou Senshi Gundam
1980
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam
1985-1986
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Four Story – And to a soldier…
Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam: Four Story – Soshite Senshi ni…
1986
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Four Story – And to a soldier…
Kidou Senshi Zeta Gundam: Four Story – Soshite Senshi ni…
1986
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Kidou Senshi Gundam ZZ
1986-1987
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hi Streamer
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Hi Streamer
1987-1988
Gaia Gear1987-1989
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack – Beltorchika’s Children
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gyakushu no Char – Beltorchika’s Children
1988
Gundam Sentinel
Gundam Sentinel: Alice no Zange
1988-1990
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Kidou Senshi Gundam 0080: Pocket no Naka no Sensou
1989
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Kidou Senshi Gundam 0080: Pocket no Naka no Sensou
1989
Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senkou no Hathaway
1989
Mobile Suit Gundam F91
Kidou Senshi Gundam F91
1991
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
Kidou Senshi Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
1992
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
Kidou Senshi Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
1992
Mobile Suit Gundam Silhouette Formula 91
Kidou Senshi Gundam Silhouette Formula 91
1992-1993
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
Kidou Senshi V Gundam
1993-1994
Look for Avenir
Avenir wo Sagasite
1995
Mobile Suit Gundam: Secret Rendezvous
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Mikkai – Amuro to Lalah
1997
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny
Kidou Senshi Gundam Gaiden: The Blue Destiny
1997
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny
Kidou Senshi Gundam Gaiden: The Blue Destiny
1997
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079 (Vol. EFSF)
Kidou Senshi Gundam Gaiden: Colony no Ochita Chi de… (Renpou Hen)
1999
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Dai 08 MS Shoutai
1999
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Dai 08 MS Shoutai
1999
For the Barrel2000
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story 0079 (Vol. Zeon)
Kidou Senshi Gundam Gaiden: Colony no Ochita Chi de… (Zeon Hen)
2000
G-Saviour2000-2001
Zeonic Front: Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
Zeonic Front: Kidou Senshi Gundam 0079
2001
Zeonic Front: Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
Zeonic Front: Kidou Senshi Gundam 0079
2001
Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles
Kidou Senshi Gundam Senki: Last War Chronicles
2002
Advance Of Zeta: The Flag Of Titans
Advanced of Z: Titans no Hata no Moto ni
2002
Mobile Suit Gundam: Ecole du Ciel
Kidou Senshi Gundam Ecole du Ciel: Tenku no Gakko
2002
Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles
Kidou Senshi Gundam Senki: Last War Chronicles
2002
Advance Of Zeta: The Flag Of Titans
Advanced of Z: Titans no Hata no Moto ni
2002
Mobile Suit Gundam: Ecole du Ciel
Kidou Senshi Gundam Ecole du Ciel: Tenku no Gakko
2002
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of a Flash
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Utyu, Senkou no Hate ni
2003
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Space, To the End of a Flash
Kidou Senshi Gundam: Utyu, Senkou no Hate ni
2003
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO
Kidou Senshi Gundam MS IGLOO: Ichinen Sensou Hiroku
2005
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO
Kidou Senshi Gundam MS IGLOO: Ichinen Sensou Hiroku
2005
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Kidou Senshi Gundam Yunikon
2007

Original design series

Due to the sheer popularity of the Gundam franchise, especially the mobile suit design, several original design series were published. These series are drawings and precise specifications for additional mobile suit units not found in the original animated material.

  • Mobile Suit Variations (1983) – also known as MSV, the variations from the One Year War, considered to be official and canonical
  • Mobile Suit X (1984) – also known as MSX, new models for a proposed but never produced new animation series, considered to be official and canonical
  • Z-MSV – variations from the Zeta Gundam series
  • ZZ-MSV – variations from the Gundam ZZ series
  • CCA-MSV – variations from the Char’s Counterattack movie
  • Kunio Okawara’s MS Collection (M-MSV) – Kunio Okawara’s personal reinterpretations
  • F91-MSV – variations from the F91 movie
  • V-MSV – variations from the Victory Gundam series

Video games

Main article: Gundam video games

Arcade

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: EX Revue
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: the Card Builder
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon Dual Stars of Carnage
  • Mobile Suit Gundam vs Series
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX
  • Mobile Suit Z Gundam: AEUG vs Titans
  • Mobile Suit Z Gundam: AEUG vs Titans DX
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Gundam
  • Quiz Mobile Suit Gundam: Monsenshi

Microsoft Windows

  • Universal Century Gundam Online
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Network Battle
  • Mobile Suit Gundam

Nintendo Entertainment System

  • Mobile Suit Z-Gundam: Hot Scramble

Super Nintendo Entertainment System

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Cross Dimension 0079
  • Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: Away to the Newtype
  • Mobile Suit Gundam F91: Formula Wars 0122
  • Mobile Suit Victory Gundam

Nintendo GameCube

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Zeta Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Ace Pilot

Nintendo Wii

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: MS Sensen 0079

Sony PlayStation

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Gundam v2.0
  • Gundam Battle Assault
  • Gundam Battle Assault 2
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren’s Greed, Blood of Zeon

Sony PlayStation 2

  • G-Saviour
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The One Year War
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Z: AEUG vs Titans
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam vs Zeta Gundam
  • Gundam: Battle Assault 3 featuring Gundam SEED
  • MS Saga: A New Dawn
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Climax UC
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2

Sony PlayStation 3

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Battlefield Record UC 0081

Sony PlayStation Portable

  • Gundam Battle (series)
  • Gundam Battle Tactics
  • Gundam Battle Royale
  • Gundam Battle Chronicle
  • Gundam Battle Universe
  • Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna

Sega Saturn

  • Mobile Suit Gundam
  • Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Kouhen
  • Mobile Suit Z Gundam: Zenpen
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Gihren’s Greed
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 1
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 2
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny Vol. 3

Dreamcast

  • Gundam Battle Online
  • Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation vs Zeon DX
  • Gundam Side Story 0079: Rise From the Ashes
  • Mobile Suit Gundam Gihren’s Greed – Blood of Zeon

Xbox 360

  • Mobile Ops: The One Year War
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
  • Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3

References

  1. 機動戦士ガンダムは、同じくバンダイグループの(株)サンライズが制作し、1979年4月~1980年1月にテレビシリーズ第1作が放映されて以来、テレビシリーズ8作品、劇場用映画9作品などが公開され、20年以上にわたり人気を保っています。米国をはじめ、ヨーロッパ、アジアでも作品が放映され、各地で高い人気を得ています。