Future Century
Future Century (FC) is the timeline of Mobile Fighter G Gundam and its related projects. It was the first timeline in the Gundam franchise to exist entirely outside the Universal Century, marking a significant departure from the established Gundam universe. In the Future Century, humanity’s ruling elites abandoned Earth for space colonies, establishing the Gundam Fight tournament as a peaceful means of determining political leadership through martial arts combat rather than warfare.
Unlike other Gundam timelines that focus on large-scale military conflicts, the Future Century emphasises individual combat between Gundam fighters representing their respective colony nations. This unique approach transformed the traditional concept of mobile suit warfare into a tournament-based martial arts competition.
Timeline
Main article: Future Century timeline
The Future Century timeline spans from the initial migration to space through multiple Gundam Fight tournaments. The series takes place during the 13th Gundam Fight in F.C. 60, following Domon Kasshu as he pilots Neo Japan’s mobile fighter whilst searching for his brother and the stolen Ultimate Gundam.
| Event | Year |
|---|---|
| Ruling elites migrate to space colonies | F.C. 1 |
| War develops on Earth between nations | F.C. 3 |
| United Colonies Federation formed | Unknown |
| Professor E.C. Ducer proposes Gundam Fight | Unknown |
| 1st Gundam Fight (won by Neo Greece) | F.C. 8 |
| 2nd Gundam Fight (won by Neo America) | F.C. 12 |
| 3rd Gundam Fight (won by Neo Egypt) | F.C. 16 |
| 4th Gundam Fight (won by Neo China) | F.C. 20 |
| 5th Gundam Fight (won by Neo France) | F.C. 24 |
| 6th Gundam Fight (won by Neo Italy) | F.C. 28 |
| 7th Gundam Fight (won by Neo Germany) | F.C. 32 |
| 8th Gundam Fight (won by Neo Russia) | F.C. 36 |
| 9th Gundam Fight (won by Neo England) | F.C. 40 |
| 10th Gundam Fight (won by Neo England) | F.C. 44 |
| 11th Gundam Fight (won by Neo England) | F.C. 48 |
| 12th Gundam Fight (won by Neo Hong Kong) | F.C. 56 |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam | F.C. 60 |
Mecha
Main article: Future Century mecha
The mobile suits of the Future Century are called mobile fighters and represent a radical departure from traditional Gundam design philosophy. Each mobile fighter is designed to embody the cultural characteristics and fighting styles of its representative nation, resulting in highly distinctive and often stereotypical designs.
Mobile fighters utilise the Mobile Trace System, which allows the pilot’s movements to be directly transmitted to the mobile fighter, creating a martial arts-based combat system. This technology enables techniques impossible with conventional mobile suit controls, such as the Shining Finger and other special attacks.
Notable mobile fighters include:
- GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam - Neo Japan’s initial entry, piloted by Domon Kasshu
- GF13-017NJII God Gundam - The upgraded form of the Shining Gundam
- JDG-00X Devil Gundam - The corrupted Ultimate Gundam that serves as the primary antagonist
- GF13-001NHII Master Gundam - Piloted by Master Asia
- GF13-006NA Gundam Maxter - Neo America’s boxer-themed mobile fighter
Series & Films
The Future Century timeline consists primarily of Mobile Fighter G Gundam and its related projects:
| Title | Type | Release date |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam | TV | 22 Apr 1994–31 Mar 1995 |
Manga
Main article: Future Century manga
Several manga have expanded the Future Century universe, providing additional stories and background information:
| Title | Author(s) | Release Date(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam | Kōichi Tokita | 1994–1995 |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam Side Story: Flying Dragon Legend | Toshiya Murakami | 1994–1995 |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam Side Story: 7th Fight | Kitaro Ototoi | 1996 |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam Side Story: The Next Generation | Kitaro Ototoi | 1995–ongoing |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Revenge of the J Gundam | Unknown | Unknown |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam: Edge of Gunsmoke | Unknown | Unknown |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam Side Story: Tower of Death | Unknown | Unknown |
| Super-Class! Mobile Fighter G Gundam | Unknown | Unknown |
Novels
List of Future Century Gundam novels:
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam | 1995–1997 |
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam Side Story: The East is Burning Red | 2024–ongoing |
Video Games
Main article: Future Century video games
The Future Century timeline has been featured in various video games, primarily fighting games that capture the martial arts essence of the series:
Super Famicom
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| Mobile Fighter G Gundam | 1994 |
Multi-platform
| Title | Release date |
|---|---|
| SD Gundam G Generation series | Various |
| Super Robot Wars series | Various |
| Gundam Extreme Vs. series | Various |
Legacy
The Future Century timeline established several important precedents for the Gundam franchise:
-
First alternate timeline - It was the first Gundam series to be set completely outside the Universal Century, proving that Gundam could succeed with different settings and themes.
-
Martial arts focus - The emphasis on hand-to-hand combat and martial arts techniques influenced later series and established new possibilities for mobile suit combat.
-
Cultural representation - The national stereotypes and cultural themes, whilst sometimes controversial, created memorable and distinctive mobile suit designs.
-
Tournament structure - The Gundam Fight concept provided an alternative to traditional military conflicts, offering a different narrative structure for mecha anime.
Despite being limited to a single main series, the Future Century timeline continues to be referenced and celebrated in crossover games and anniversary projects, demonstrating its lasting impact on the franchise.
External links
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam on the official Gundam website
- Future Century on the Gundam Wiki