The Ratings Failure That Launched an Empire: The Story of Mobile Suit Gundam

Mobile Suit Gundam ( 機動戦士ガンダム, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu, also known as First Gundam, Gundam 0079 or simply Gundam '79) was a ratings failure causing the episode count to be reduced and the story cut short. But it did introduce the world to RX-78-2.

And then Bandai stepped in with their model kits and created what would eventually be known around the world as Gunpla.

Mobile Suit Gundam was eventually imported to the US where it was again a ratings failure... twice!

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[deathsyth]

"War. War is hell. But giant fighting robots are cool!"
- Gundam in a nutshell

[kappazo]

True story: the Gundam show and original movies were so important to my Japanese wife, our daughter’s middle name is Sayla, as in Sayla Mass, her favorite character.

[NotThatGuy_YepThatGuy]

Little bit of a nitpick @4:44

The creators of Gundam have specifically stated that Newtypes are not simply ESPers (a catch all term for which japanese people use to reference those whom posses what we in the west call Extra Sensory Perception [which is where the term originated]) so while saying their senses are hightend and their means to percieve things are altered and superior to that of Old Types, saying Newtypes poses "extra sensory perception" walks a thin line. Generally speaking it is obviously true, but as being the next stage in a continually growing human evolution a conscious effort was made to separate them from the concept we Old Types are so familiar with.

Also, hearing you say "history of Gundam " gave me chills. I have been waiting for this for a while.

[gustavohernandeza.]

Toy Galaxy finally covering Gundam: The question "It. Is. CANON?" will never be the same...

[adrian_veidt]

Universal Century is the best gundam timeline.

War in the pocket is my favorite as it embodies Tomino's message the most.

[Theonewhoisinfinite]

This franchise means so much to me, I say as I look at my 90+ Gundam models on my shelf. I absolutely loved this video, and want to share it with my friends who may finally get a little taste of my personal passion for Gundam. Thank you Dan, this was wonderful!

[LouisTheBassman]

I have been waiting for you to make a Gundam video 😁 super stoked!

[ReaverPrime]

Gundam is the obvious basis for ExoSquad, one of my favorite shows ever and one that was never done the justice of having its story finished. While I loved the Gundam franchise once it did finally make it over here years later, ExoSquad was first in my life and had a profound impact on my early teen mind.

Also, the theme from Iron Blooded Orphans is such an earworm.

[Gappasaurus]

Outstanding job crunching 40+ years of Gundam history down into a 25-minute episode guys! 😎👍🏼 Give yourselves a pat on the back… but watch out for your beam saber hilts back there 😉

[mandisaw]

Been waiting/hoping for this ep for years! I'm an original UC Gundam fan from like '95. Got the chance to see Char's Counterattack theatrical with a live Q&A from Tomino, and introduced my kid brother & his friends to Gunpla back in the day.

Y'all did a great job touching on everything important - it was a monumental series, a perfect blend of meaningful storytelling and the backers/market to support it. For so many of us, Gundam is right up there with the likes of Transformers & Voltron, and this knocked it out of the park.

[joeolivo]

I've been waiting to see if you'd tackle this, I wish I could have been a part of it. Gundam has been a part of my life for 21 years.

[RichRetr]

I just starting really getting into Gundam earlier this year. Watched a little bit when I was younger but I drifted away from it. There's just so much I don't know if I should stay with a certain watch order or what. So far I've seen MSG, 08th MS Team, Thunderbolt, 0080, and Chars Counterattack

Great episode guys!

[kantusprime]

I feel like Toy Galaxy is stalking my internet history. Scary right? I’m starting to get into Gundam and have been watching historical videos for the different timelines and now you drop this?

[StoneyHoliday]

I got into Gundam this summer. One of the best genre franchises of all time. Love Unicorn, Thunderbolt and the 8th MS Team.

[SabinStargem]

Considering that the RX-78 is a prototype, it being colorful isn't an surprise - it would have to show off to the military brass, full of pomp. It is a toy...for those who pilot desks and wield the pen like a sword.

[roddricktillman]

This is hands down one of my all time favorite episodes!!! Thank you guys for covering the Gundam legacy!!!! 💯👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[MJRLHobbyStuff]

Sadly, because of the pandemic, travel to japan is extremely limited. Basically only people that live there can travel away and come back in. Normal tourism is not allowed:, ( I pray I can see the Yokohama Gundam before it gets taken down.

[CurtElliott]

Well done. I had some random Gundam 0079 and 0083 laser discs back in the day. Couldn't understand a word of it, but man it sure looked cool!

[vustvaleo]

the Gundam with "realistic colors" that Tomino originally envisioned did return with the RX-78-3 Gundam "G-3" while the RX-78-2 Gundam's predecessor the RX-78-1 "Prototype Gundam" color scheme is said to be a homage to Mazinger Z.

[PlayWearTalkRed]

Thank you thank you thank you! We appreciate the work that went into crafting this episode. Y'all crushed it.