Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam (機動戦士ガンダム Kidō Senshi Gandamu) is the first anime series in the Gundam franchise.

Plot Summary
In the year U.C. 0079, the Principality of Zeon has declared independence from the Earth Federation, and subsequently launched a war of independence called the One Year War. The conflict has directly affected every continent on Earth, also nearly every Space Colony and lunar settlement. Zeon, though smaller, has the tactical upper hand through their use of a new type of humanoid weapons called Mobile Suits. After half of all humanity perishes in the conflict, the war settled into a bitter stalemate lasting over 8 months.

The story begins with a newly deployed Federation warship, the White Base, arriving at the secret research base located at the Side 7 colony to pick up the Federation's newest weapon. However, they are closely followed by Zeon forces. A Zeon reconnaissance team member disobeys mission orders and attacks the colony, killing most of the Federation crew and civilians in the process. Out of desperation, young Amuro Ray accidentally finds the Federation's new prototype arsenal the Gundam, and manages to beat back Zeon forces. Scrambling everything they can, the White Base sets out with a newly formed crew of civilian recruits and refugees in a journey of survival.

On their journey, the White Base members often encounter the Zeon Lieutenant Commander Char Aznable. Although Char antagonizes Amuro in battle, he takes advantage of their position as Federation members to have them kill members from Zeon's Zabi family as part of his revenge scheme. Amuro also meets ensign Lalah Sune with whom he falls in love, but accidentally kills when facing Char. When the Federation Forces invade the Fortress of A Baoa Qu to defeat the Zeon forces, Amuro engages on a final one-on-one duel against Char due to both blaming the other for Lalah's death. Having realized he forgot his true enemy, Char stops fighting to kill the last surviving Zabi member, Kycilia Zabi. Amuro then reunites with his comrades as the war reaches its end.

Production
The series was produced and animated by Sunrise (known as Nippon Sunrise at the time), created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate while Yoshikazu Yasuhiko did the character designs and Kunio Okawara was responsible for the mechanical designs.

Compilation Films
In 1981, the series was re-edited for theatrical release and split into three films.

Distribution
It premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network and its affiliated ANN stations on April 7, 1979, and lasted until January 26, 1980, running up to 43 episodes.

Reception
During it's initial run, the series had low ratings that caused the series' cancellation.