Special Feature:Here you'll find some of the translations I've made from Japanese-language sources devoted to the Gundam seres. In recent years, the Japanese publications have become somewhat repetitive, consisting mainly of jumbled text recycled from multiple previous works. By looking at these primary sources as individual entities, I hope we can untangle some of the confusion.
The text you'll find here represents some of the most historically significant sources of information on Mobile Suit Gundam and its Universal Century setting. Inevitably, some of this information has been revised by later writers or invalidated by later filmed works, but it's still interesting to see this material in its original context. Placing these original accounts in chronological order also gives us an opportunity to trace the evolution of the Gundam world we know today.
One final note: The policy of the Sunrise studio regarding the Gundam seres is apparently that "only filmed works are official." Technically, then, none of the information below should be considered official until it's been validated onscreen.
In the following list, I've followed the technical distinction between "books" and "mooks" (magazine-books). The latter are published with magazine codes instead of, or in addition to, ISBN identifiers.
Format: Planning document
Creation Date: January 1979
Although these settei-sho, or "setting notes," for the original Mobile Suit Gundam series were drafted at the beginning of 1979, they were intended only as a reference source for the show's staff and weren't initially available to the public. These notes were first published in the first volume of the Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Works, which was released in December 1979. Here is a full translation.
Format: Television series
Release Date: April 7, 1979—January 26, 1980
Opening Narration
The following is a literal translation of the opening narration from the first episode. This narration was repeated almost verbatim in the first theatrical motion picture, which premiered in March 1981.
Half a century has already passed since humanity migrated its excessive population to space. The huge artificial cities around the Earth became humanity's second home, where people bore children, and raised them... and died.
Universal Century 0079. Side 3, the space city furthest from Earth, began a war of independence against the Earth Federation government under the name of the Principality of Zeon. In just over one month of fighting, the Principality of Zeon and Federation Forces caused the deaths of half the total population. People were horrified by their own actions. The war reached a stalemate, and more than eight months have now passed.
The war became a stalemate. Eight months have passed.
In addition to this minimalist introduction, the television series provides a few details about the earlier battles of the One Year War and the history of the Principality of Zeon. Episode 15 explains that the conflict broke out two years after the construction of Side 7 started, and led to the destruction of four space colony clusters, sparing only Side 3 and Side 6.
We are told that the war began with a One Week Battle (episode 5), rather than the Three Day Battle described in the setting notes. During the the Battle of Loum, Char Aznable destroyed five Federation battleships (episode 2) and the Black Tri-Stars team captured General Revil (episode 24). When Char Aznable and Sayla Mass meet at the Texas colony (episode 38), they talk of how their father founded the Republic of Zeon which was then taken over by the Zabi family, and their real names are revealed to be Casval Rem Deikun and Artesia Som Deikun. And Kycilia later mentions that she played with young Casval when he was four years old (episode 41).
According to the animation script for episode 20, in Sayla's flashback scene with Ramba Ral, they are 7 and 25 years old respectively.
Format: Planning document
Creation Date: June 1979
This legendary document, drafted by director Yoshiyuki Tomino, outlines the planned 52-episode storyline for Mobile Suit Gundam. Written in early June of 1979, apparently after the series had been approved for a full year but before its broadcast run was shortened by two months, it includes many characters, mobile suits, and events that were cut from the animated story. Some of these mobile suits were later included in the planned MS-X series, which was announced and then canceled in 1984. A partial version of this memo was published in volume 5 of the Mobile Suit Gundam Complete Works, which was released in October 1980, and a more complete annotated version was included in the laser disc Memorial Box released in 1998. Here is a full translation.
Format: Fanzine
Release Date: July 1979
This was the first volume of a pioneering dojinshi, or fanzine, created by the fan group known as GFC. Gun Sight was perhaps the first publication to connect the world of Mobile Suit Gundam to real science and technology, and the technical explanations which appeared in this amateur magazine were a major influence on later works such as Gundam Century and the Roman Album Extra series.
Format: Magazine
Release Date: November 1979
This issue of Animec magazine featured the third in a series of four interviews with Mobile Suit Gundam director Yoshiyuki Tomino, in which he discusses many details of the story setting. I've provided a full translation.
Format: Novel
Release Date: November 1979
Director Yoshiyuki Tomino's novelization of the original Mobile Suit Gundam story differed dramatically from the animation, but its first volume provided the very earliest published accounts of the history of the Gundam world and the opening events of the devastating One Year War. An English edition of these novels, translated by Frederik L. Schodt, is available from Stone Bridge Press.
Only part of the information from Tomino's novels was accepted by the authors of later Gundam works. The Mechanical History section of Roman Album Extra 42 included a condensed version of the historical background from the first volume of the novels, representing almost everything that was retained by later publications. The Rank Administration that governs Side 6, and Prime Minister Darcia Bakharov of Side 3, were featured in the Gundam III theatrical motion picture after being introduced in this volume. And while early publications generally omitted the details of the Principality of Zeon's use of chemical weapons against the space colonies, the account in this novel seems to have gained more credibility after the use of similar tactics by the Titans in Mobile Suit Z Gundam.
Format: Magazine
Release Date: March 1980
In his fourth and final Gundam interview, director Yoshiyuki Tomino confirmed that the series spanned a period of about four months and stated that the One Year War ended on January 1, U.C.0080, which remains the official date.
Format: Novel
Release Date: September 1980
The second volume of director Yoshiyuki Tomino's Mobile Suit Gundam novelization introduced new characters and machines such as the Newtype pilot Kusko Al, the gray G-3 Gundam, and the Pegasus-class warship Thoroughbred, not to mention the Corregidor shoal zone which lies between the space fortresses Solomon and A Baoa Qu. These were later referenced in the Mobile Suit Variation series, while Char Aznable's red Rick Dom was largely forgotten until it was revived in the Gihren's Greed video games. This volume also introduced the codename Operation Cembalo, used here for a Federation Forces attack on A Baoa Qu but now commonly used for the Solomon offensive in the animated series.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: March 14, 1981
The first installment in a three-part theatrical adaptation of the original television series. (Unlike the subsequent Gundam II and Gundam III movies, it had neither a Roman numeral nor a subtitle.) Though it reordered and relocated some story events, this movie made no notable changes or additions to the setting.
Format: Novel
Release Date: March 1981
The third and final volume of director Yoshiyuki Tomino's Mobile Suit Gundam novelization introduced the new character Cecilia Irene, Gihren Zabi's personal secretary, who subsequently appeared in the Gundam III theatrical motion picture. This volume also repeated the claim that Zeon Zum Deikun's followers assassinated the second son of the Zabi family, identified here as Sasro Zabi.
Format: Mook
Release Date: March 1981
A collection of mechanical cutaway diagrams and blueprints published by Asahi Sonorama, and supervised by mechanical design Kunio Okawara and scriptwriter Ken'ichi Matsuzaki. The mobile suit and vehicle specifications published here prefigure those in Gundam Century, and served as reference for Roman Album Extra 44 and 50.
Format: Mook
Release Date: May 1981
This was one of several books published in conjunction with the first Mobile Suit Gundam theatrical motion picture. Although its main focus was on the new animation produced for the movie, this book also featured a set of four original illustrations by mechanical designer Kunio Okawara, depicting specialized Zaku variants designed for land, sea, desert, and anti-air combat. Together with the gray G-3 Gundam introduced in the second volume of Yoshiyuki Tomino's novels, these laid the foundation for the later Mobile Suit Variation series.
Okawara continued to produce new mobile suit designs over the following months. Kodansha's Mobile Suit Gundam Story Book 2, published in June 1981, featured prototype versions of the Gouf and Dom. Hobby Japan's How To Build Gundam modeling manual, published in July 1981, debuted the Prototype Gundam, the GM Cannon, and the space pod on which the Ball was based. Kodansha's SF Plamo Book 1: Mobile Suit Gundam Real Type Catalog, published in February 1982, depicted optional backpacks for the Zaku and Gelgoog and introduced Okawara's interpretation of the MS-06R Zaku II described in Gundam Century.
Format: Mook
Release Date: May 1981
This reference book from Tokuma Shoten included a Science Establishment feature by scriptwriter Ken'ichi Matsuzaki, in which he introduced some of the technological concepts that would be further developed in the pages of Gundam Century. The book's Mechanical History section also featured a brief summary of Universal Century history and the One Year War drawn largely from Yoshiyuki Tomino's novels, as well as technical explanations derived from the fanzine Gun Sight. Here is a partial translation of this Mechanical History section.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: July 11, 1981
Opening Narration
The following is a literal translation of the opening narration from the second theatrical motion picture. Unlike the original setting notes, this narration indicates that only half the total human population lives in the space colonies.
Huge space colonies float around the Earth, and half of humanity are now space-dwellers.
Universal Century 0079. Side 3 began a war of independence against the Earth Federation government under the name of the Principality of Zeon. After just over one month of fighting at the beginning of the war, the war reached a stalemate. Eight months later...
According to the animation script, when Sayla remembers Char's departure, she is about 10 and he is 13 years old.
Format: Mook
Release Date: September 1981
A legendary reference book created by many of the staff of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, as well as many of the key members of the famous Studio Nue. Along with Yoshiyuki Tomino's novels, this publication essentially created the Universal Century world we know today. Here is a partial translation, covering the book's history and mechanics sections.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: March 13, 1982
Opening Narration
The following is a literal translation of the opening narration from the third theatrical motion picture, which repeats the claims of Gundam II regarding space colony population.
Hundreds of huge space colonies float around the Earth, and it has been half a century since people turned their inner walls into a second home. Half of humanity are now space-dwellers.
Universal Century 0079. Side 3 began a war of independence against the Earth Federation government under the name of the Principality of Zeon. Half the total population was killed at the beginning of the war, and people were horrified by their own actions.
This motion picture also included a few references to director Yoshiyuki Tomino's Mobile Suit Gundam novelization, with cameo appearances by Cecilia Irene and Darcia Bakharov and a brief mention of the Rank Administration that governs Side 6.
Format: Plastic Model Kit Series
Release Date: April 1983
An original series of plastic model kits released by Bandai. These model kits were based on new designs by mechanical designer Kunio Okawara, and the accompanying kit manuals include detailed explanations of their development history and combat exploits, written by Masahiro Oda of the Stream Base modeling collective.
Format: Mook
Release Date: February 1984
Released as part of the Kodansha Pocket Card Series, this book consists of 56 color illustrations of machines from the Mobile Suit Variation series accompanied by brief profiles.
Format: Mook
Release Date: April 1984
Released as part of the Kodansha Pocket Hyakka Series, this book presents profiles and background information on the machines of Mobile Suit Gundam and the Mobile Suit Variation series. Here is a partial translation, covering the book's history and mobile suit development sections.
Format: Mook
Release Date: April 1984
The second Mobile Suit Variation volume released as part of the Kodansha Pocket Hyakka Series. Here is a partial translation, covering the book's history section and continuing the story of the Zeon War. I've also translated the "Principality of Zeon Military Register" section, which provides biographies of several Zeon ace pilots, as well as the mobile suit and mobile armor development history sections.
Format: Mook
Release Date: July 1984
The final Mobile Suit Variation volume released as part of the Kodansha Pocket Hyakka Series. Here is a partial translation, covering the book's history section and concluding the story of the Zeon War.
Format: Novel series
Release Date: February 1985—February 1986
Unlike his Mobile Suit Gundam novels, director Yoshiyuki Tomino's five-volume novelization of the sequel series followed the setting and plot of the TV anime fairly closely. I've translated some selected passages that offer supplemental explanation for the anime viewer.
Format: Television series
Release Date: March 2, 1985—February 22, 1986
The first animated sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam introduces the term ichi-nen sensô, or "One Year War," to describe the original conflict between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon. This series also featured appearances by mobile suits from the Mobile Suit Variation and MS-X series, establishing them as part of the official Gundam world.
Format: Mook
Release Date: May 1985
Released under Kodansha's Comic BomBom imprint, this book serves as an introduction to the recently launched Z Gundam series. As well as setting materials and an overview of the Mobile Suit Variation and MS-X series, it includes a Universal Century timeline based largely on Yoshiyuki Tomino's Mobile Suit Gundam novels.
Format: Magazine
Release Date: September 1985
Zeta World was a series of illustrated articles by Mobile Suit Z Gundam mecha designer Kazumi Fujita, presenting his own account of the development and technological background of the story's main mobile suits. This is a translation of the particularly noteworthy second installment.
Format: Magazine Insert
Release Date: February 1986
Gundam ZZ Book, a bonus booklet included with the April 1986 issue of Kadokawa Shoten's Newtype magazine, featured a detailed Universal Century timeline covering the events of Mobile Suit Gundam and Z Gundam. Revised and updated in later issues of Newtype and various Bandai publications, this timeline was the basis for those in the Entertainment Bible and Data Collection series, and ultimately the current official Universal Century timeline.
Format: Television series
Release Date: March 1, 1986—January 31, 1987
Format: Book
Release Date: March 1986
A "modeling support manual" devoted to Mobile Suit Z Gundam, featuring new and republished material from the modeling magazine Model Graphix. It includes the legendary Epsy Gundam and several other original Gundams from the pages of Model Graphix, as well as the first iteration of the "Imidam" glossary.
Format: Mook
Release Date: April 1986
The last in a series of Z Gundam reference books published by Kindai Eiga-sha. It is particularly noteworthy for its Mobile Suit Development History section, which classified the mobile suits into distinct "generations" and provided a new set of detailed specifications for the mobile suits of the original series. The Shindosha studio, whose members went on to write most of the Entertainment Bible volumes, also contributed to this book.
Format: Plastic Model Kit
Release Date: July 1986
The development timeline in this model kit's manual was one of the very first to cover the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam, Z Gundam, and Gundam ZZ. It was revised and expanded in Model Graphix's Gundam Wars II: Mission ZZ, released in February 1987, and I've covered both versions in this composite timeline.
Format: Mook
Release Date: August 1986
In addition to setting explanation, staff interviews, and so forth, this reference book provides yet another interpretation of the Universal Century chronology. In this timeline, the events of Mobile Suit Gundam and Z Gundam are listed by year and month.
Format: Book
Release Date: February 1987
A "perfect modeling manual" devoted to Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ, featuring new and republished material from the modeling magazine Model Graphix. This volume is most notable for its Gundam Development History feature, which includes an updated version of the timeline from the 1/100 Scale Full Action ZZ Gundam kit manual, and its design notes on the mobile suit variations featured in the second half of Gundam ZZ.
Format: Serial novel/novel series
Release Date: May 1987—March 1988
Written by director Yoshiyuki Tomino, and originally published as a serialized novel in Animage magazine, this is effectively a prequel to the animated film Char's Counterattack. The three volumes of the novel begin with the collected Animage serial and then continue with a fairly straightforward adaptation of the movie story. I've translated some selected passages that discuss the views and motivations of the main characters.
Format: Book
Release Date: February 1988
The first edition of this popular catalog, originally published by Bandai, which provides images and descriptions of every mobile suit from the major works of the Gundam series. The profiles and background information in the early editions of this book were compiled by the members of the Shindosha studio who wrote most of the Entertainment Bible volumes, and there is a considerable amount of overlap in their contents. This partial translation is based on the 1992 edition, the third and final one published by Bandai. Several updated editions have since been released, the most recent one in 2012.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: March 12, 1988
Format: Mook
Release Date: May 1988
A supplement to the tactical board games published by Tsukuda Hobby, this obscure book includes its own timeline for the events of the One Year War, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Z Gundam, as well as some rare and unique organizational charts.
Format: Book
Release Date: February 1989
The first in a series of pocket reference books published by Bandai. Drawing on earlier sources such as Gundam Century and the Mobile Suit Variation books, this volume established the generally accepted version of One Year War history and technology. This partial translation covers most of its contents except the MS pilot manual and the MS design collection. The latter is largely replicated in the Mobile Suit Gundam MS Encyclopedia.
Format: Original video series
Release Date: March 25, 1989—August 25, 1989
Format: Book
Release Date: October 1989
Also published by Bandai, this book is notable mostly for its updated mobile suit specs chart, based on those in Gundam Century and Entertainment Bible 1.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: March 14, 1991
Format: Original video series
Release Date: May 23, 1991—September 24, 1992
Format: Book
Release Date: December 1991
A volume of Bandai's pocket reference book series which presents a detailed account of the One Year War in the style of real-world military history. Though much of its content contradicted previous sources, Entertainment Bible 39 has been hugely influential on later writers, and parts of its setting were later referenced in Gundam The Origin and the Gihren's Greed strategy game series.
Format: Motion picture
Release Date: August 29, 1992
Format: Serial Novel
Release Date: February 2007
The opening chapter of Harutoshi Fukui's Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn novel, later adapted for animation, is a prologue set at the dawn of the Universal Century. During the main action, we hear excerpts of an expert interview which provides some interesting facts and figures about the space colony project.
Mobile Suit Gundam is copyright © Sotsu • Sunrise. Everything else on this site, and all original text and pictures, are copyright Mark Simmons.