Slitzkin said:
Okay...so after finishing Gurren Lagann I'm left with a severe need for some more mecha anime. I've considered watching Evangelion again but I think it is time for something new.
I haven't seen any of the Mobile Suit Gundam series, so which would I start with? The very first from the late 70s? I hear that MSG Zeta is the series golden series and is universally considered the best of them all.
What is Code Geass like? I dont' know much about it but it always looked like the Naruto of mecha anime, I've never been remotely interested in it. Try to change my mind.
Code Geass is the Naruto of Mecha? In what way exactly?
I personally recommend Code Geass, its got some questionable writing, depending on your suspension of disbelief but overall is a fun mecha series with solid mecha action and a MC whose not your average mecha protagonist . First season is solid though the 2nd season is where the majority of the series flaws crop up but at least manages to end on a high note. Like others have said its kinda like Death Note crossed with mecha.
As for the Gundam franchise
Universal Century Timeline
Mobile Suit Gundam (original)- If you can look past the dated animation (which personally I don't find to be a problem at all) I'd say its a must. It may be 35 years old but the writing still hold up really well and it will allow a for a better under of events that transpire in the sequels and side stories that occur in the Universal Century. There is the Original 43 episode series and the movie trilogy. The movie trilogy is the better of the two due to the fact the it cuts out a lot of the pointless material in the TV series. However, the TV series is still good so give it a try if you like the movies and have the time.
Zeta Gundam- Yeah there are lot of people that hold Zeta to be the gold standard, but in truth the fanbase is really divided about that. The older fans (Universal Century fans) love it but a lot of the newer fans seem to dislike it. Be sure to temper your expectations before jumping in.
Now I liked it, but I never really thought it was better than the original MSG. Zeta Gundam is to the Gundam franchise what "The Dark Knight" (comic book) is to the Batman franchise. Zeta Gundam was a lot darker and depressing ( lot of people die) than its predecessor so lot of people saw it as being more mature. Now as a series about war this does work at times, but there also time when it feels like its trying too hard and is doing it purely for shock value. The writing can also be pretty weird at times. Still if you like the first series then definitely give Zeta Gundam a try though watch the original before Zeta.
Some people here recommend the Unicorn Gundam OVA and while I do believe it is one of the best entities in the Gundam franchise it is not for newcomers. Gundam Unicorn builds upon the themes and events from the gundam series that came before it and the OVA kind of acts like a finale. I personally wouldn't recommend it until you have seen the original MSG, Zeta, and "Char's Counterattack" (movie). It would also be a good idea to briefly read about the events that transpired in ZZ gundam (sequel to Zeta gundam) from a wiki page.
The side story OVAs
(0080: War in the Pocket, The 08th MS team, and 0083: Stardust Memory) are probably the best place for newcomers to start (at least for those interested in the Universal Century timeline) since their animation is not nearly as old as the original. They don't require you to have seen the original MSG, but it would not hurt to quickly look up some info about the "One year War" (the central conflict in MSG) if only to provide a little bit of context to the conflict present in these side stories. They each range from 6-12 episodes and I recommend all three of them
0080: War in the Pocket- To me this is probably the best entry in the franchise in terms of story. Its only six episode so it doesn't require a huge time investment. Now the only possible downside is that compared to other gundam entries there is significantly less mecha action. But this makes sense since the story is about an 11 year old boy who becomes friends with an enemy solider who has infiltrated his colony.
The 08th MS Team- This is generally the most well liked entry in the Gundam franchise (in the West). Personally I don't think its the best, but you will be hard pressed to find someone who dislikes it. Most people like it because it focuses on the grunts and its combat is more realistic compared to other gundam shows. It's story and characters are not as good as 0080, but the characters are likable and the story is alright.
0083: Stardust Memory- While this series has arguably the weakest story and characters of the three OVAs, its animation is the gold standard when it comes to the Gundam franchise. So if you are looking for giant robots blowing each other up then you should definitely give this series a try. Now its a prequel to Zeta gundam so the significance of its ending might be a little unclear to you if you don't know the basic outline of Zeta Gundam.
Any of the Alternate Universes are as good a place to start since they aren't connected to the original MSG or its timeline.
Gundam 00 (AD era)- If you are looking for a more modern gundam series then this is probably the best place to start. The 1st season is good and 2nd season is alright but it loses a lot of the complexities that made the first season good. The movie is kind of meh in the writing department, but it does manage to bring the series to satisfying, if flawed, end.
Gundam Seed (Cosmic Era)- Most fans will describe this as a modern re-imagining of the original MSG, which is true up until the the halfway point. Its definitely not as good as the original, but I still really liked it. Stick to the TV series and stay away from the compilation movies. I also recommend staying away from its sequel
Gundam Seed Destiny (so much wasted potential).
Turn A Gundam (Correct Century)- Arguably the best Gundam TV series in terms of characters and story, but has a some very...unorthodox mecha designs that might turn you away. I recommend you watch some gundam shows (ones that aired before Turn A) to truly appreciate it.
Gundam Wing (After Colony era)- Its the one that brought the gundam franchise to the west. Personally I don't think it hold up as well as it did when it first aired in the US, but its still not a bad place to start.
G Gundam (Future Century)- This series is a lot closer to Gurren Lagann than any of the other gundam entries since it is much more of a super robot anime. It has nothing to do with war and is centered around a fighting tournament.
Gundam X (After War Era)- Gundam in a post apocalyptic setting.
Non-Gundam series
Super Dimensional Fortress Macross: Second only to Gundam in terms of popularity. Definitely a must for anyone mecha anime enthusiast. If the animation is too dated for you then try
Macross Plus (basically Top Gun the anime) which is completely stand alone. There is also
Macross Zero(prequel) and
Macross Frontier(most recent one) and while they do have some connections to the original Macross it is not vital to have seen it.
Rahxephon- Best way to describe it is an Eva clone. You got humanity being pushed to the brink of extinction by an abstract alien race and the only way to fight them is with a mysterious robot. Despite being an Eva clone its still very good and shouldn't deter you from seeing it. Some even say that it's Evangeline done right. Do not watch the movie (its a retelling) unless you have seen the series
Fafner: Dead Aggressor- Another Eva clone, but again a very good Eva clone. One of my personal favorites and woefully underrated. One thing that stood out to me is that it actually attempts to address the moral and practical complications of using children in war machines. Not as psychological as Evangeline, but it does delve into a decent amount of existentialism. Can get really sad and depressing at times. Overall, good story and characters. Animation hasn't aged as well but its decent. Has a prequel
Right of Left, movie sequel
Heaven and Earth, and sequel series
Exodus(currently airing). Original series is a must in order to view the other entries.
Full Metal Panic- High school Comedy meets Giant Robots. May seem like an odd combination but it works pretty well. The first season is good, but its season 2 (
Fumoffu) and season 3 (
The Second Raid) where it truly shines. Though granted Fumoffu doesn't count as mecha since in focuses solely on the comedy and light hearted elements of the series. Probably my second favorite mecha anime series after Mobile Suit Gundam.
