Anime A classic.
Mobile Suit Gundam, the original series, is one of the giants of anime history - up there with Mazinger Z in terms of the impact it has had on the medium. It created the Real Robot genre and popularized the concept of science fiction anime aimed at a mature audience. In this aspect, MSG can be viewed as Japan's Star Trek, a comparison made all the more apt by the fact both series had to contend with a shoestring budget and the looming threat of cancellation throughout most of their initial broadcasting.
With this in mind, newcomers to the MSG series probably shouldn't start at the beginning. The reason for this is simple; it is an ugly show. The animation is just plain bad in many places, and while it gets much better towards the last third of the series, it isn't good even by contemporary standards. There are enough off model moments, shading errors, color palette miss-matches and Uncanny Valley facial animations present in MSG to make a fairly lethal drinking game out of. That said, the combat is quite visceral and entertaining by the standards of the time, with lots of tense moments early on. The show does an excellent job of portraying the maturation of the White Base crew from the typical rag-tag band of misfits into mature combat veterans capable of acting as a decisive force in numerous engagements.
Another thing MSG does well is serve as a template for further additions to the genre. While there are still some (rather forced) comedic elements, the series does not shy away from the brutality of war, the casualties inflicted upon innocents by an occupying force, and the horrific destruction caused by the colony drops. Some of MSG's most iconic imagery comes early in the series, when the White Base is dropping off civilians in what was once a highly populated area, but is now nothing but a barren wasteland where only isolated communities survive.
Overall, MSG is a great show to watch after the viewer has found something to like about the franchise as a whole. I'd recommend watching Wing or SEED first to get a grounding in what Gundam can be at its best, then watch MSG. It is a series that requires a distinct adjustment in viewer expectations, but those that can manage that won't be disappointed.
Anime Much better than I expected
As you can glean from the main page, Mobile Suit Gundam was a watershed in anime history. Not only did it mark the beginning of one of anime's most successful and important franchises, it spawned a new subgenre of Humongous Mecha anime. It is fondly remembered by Gundam otaku, but it's also from 1979/80. How well does it hold up today? Having seen other '70s anime like Gatchaman, I expected something really cheesy and dated, with lots of bombast and overacting.
Surprisingly, that's not what I got. Yes, the biggest problem is probably the art and animation, which are about what you'd expect from this era. Colors are severely limited, character designs are plain and sometimes downright weird-looking, and the animation is often stiff and poorly done. Even the mecha designs are not up to snuff. But I was very impressed with the story. The characters themselves are very believable and well-fleshed out, the plot is as complex and involving as any other Gundam offering, and the series' themes are surprisingly mature and thoughtful for a kids' show. It definitely shares features with other Gundam series: moral ambiguity, an emphasis on war and politics over personal heroics and grandstanding, and just enough behind-the-front-lines soap opera drama and emotion to keep viewers entertained. But this gets credit for doing it first, and doing it in the '70s. Watching this, you are seeing the development of tropes that would inspire Japanese for decades to come. Amuro's vacillating interest in the war he is fighting in foreshadows Evangelion's Shinji, and Char's Magnificent Bastard personality has always resonated in Japan.
This old show holds up very well to more modern Gundam offerings like Seed and 00. However, this raises the question: why not just watch the newer shows? Most modern anime fans will probably just do that, and it's understandable. The show does have its flaws, and it's creaky by modern standards. But if you watch Seed or 00 and get curious about how the Gundam mythos began, it's worth your time to check out this old classic. It's basically the Japanese equivalent of Star Trek The Original Series, or perhaps Star Wars (closer in age). It may look like crap, but sit down for an episode (or one of the compilation movies) and you may find yourself drawn in.
Anime Much better than I expected
As you can glean from the main page, Mobile Suit Gundam was a watershed in anime history. Not only did it mark the beginning of one of anime's most successful and important franchises, it spawned a new subgenre of Humongous Mecha anime. It is fondly remembered by Gundam otaku, but it's also from 1979/80. How well does it hold up today? Having seen other '70s anime like Gatchaman, I expected something really cheesy and dated, with lots of bombast and overacting.
Surprisingly, that's not what I got. Yes, the biggest problem is probably the art and animation, which are about what you'd expect from this era. Colors are severely limited, character designs are plain and sometimes downright weird-looking, and the animation is often stiff and poorly done. Even the mecha designs are not up to snuff. But I was very impressed with the story. The characters themselves are very believable and well-fleshed out, the plot is as complex and involving as any other Gundam offering, and the series' themes are surprisingly mature and thoughtful for a kids' show. It definitely shares features with other Gundam series: moral ambiguity, an emphasis on war and politics over personal heroics and grandstanding, and just enough behind-the-front-lines soap opera drama and emotion to keep viewers entertained. But this gets credit for doing it first, and doing it in the '70s. Watching this, you are seeing the development of tropes that would inspire Japanese for decades to come. Amuro's vacillating interest in the war he is fighting in foreshadows Evangelion's Shinji, and Char's Magnificent Bastard personality has always resonated in Japan.
This old show holds up very well to more modern Gundam offerings like Seed and 00. However, this raises the question: why not just watch the newer shows? Most modern anime fans will probably just do that, and it's understandable. The show does have its flaws, and it's creaky by modern standards. But if you watch Seed or 00 and get curious about how the Gundam mythos began, it's worth your time to check out this old classic. It's basically the Japanese equivalent of Star Trek The Original Series, or perhaps Star Wars (closer in age). It may look like crap, but sit down for an episode (or one of the compilation movies) and you may find yourself drawn in.
Anime Where it all began: what constitutes the original real mecha series?
A 1979 anime series that spawned an entire genre, the impact and influence of the initial installment of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise can be felt to this day, and you can easily see why. In a subversion of the typically expected hero's journey, what the series presents is a sophisticated and realistic war story in an incredibly elaborate and believable sci-fi world. And by this, I mean that the World Building and concept for this series was well ahead of its time, since instead of a Power Fantasy or dramatic adventure, it gives us a scenario of scale and premise sufficient to pass as plausible, even at the expense of suspense or drama, but therein lies the appeal and power of this series as a progressive symbol in the Mecha genre.
Along with this comes lore and characters that flesh out the world and history around them, as well as being intricately written in and of themselves. It goes without saying that some of these characters have gone on to become icons, but this can't be said about every single one, as the realism, and the facts that you can't place your bets on any single one, detracts from the opportunity to explore or develop certain figures. This is accentuated by the often episodic structure of the anime, which leads to several pacing issues that make the series harder to stick to, especially for those of us attempting to binge watch it. This, along with the dated nature of the animation, is one of the most commonly cited issues with the series, and while watching the compilation movies offers a short term fix, it doesn't change the fact that they must be confronted.
In addition to the issues with art and pacing, I personally felt there was a fatal lack of Exposition in the series, since it may have been trying too hard to appeal to casual audience at the time. What this results in is a loss of technical detail that already exists in the series (and is introduced or referenced later), but isn't presented directly enough for us to digest, which is a shame, given the amount of depth it adds to your understanding and appreciation of the narrative, which is inherently complex enough to stun even a modern viewer.
To that effect, I'd have to leave the decision of choosing between the anime and movies to you, but bear well in mind that for all the promise the series holds in concept (including narrative structure, characterization, and technical worldbuilding), it has several shortcomings in execution, which may impede your progress with the series. Nonetheless, I would encourage you to give it a shot if you feel obligated to its classic status, as the series is riddled with gems for those that can stick with it.
Verdict — 6/10, mildly recommended