There’s one underrated gem from the franchise’s history that deserves serious consideration for a modern comeback: Mobile Suit G Gundam.
The Gundam franchise is experiencing a genuine renaissance right now, and it’s impossible to ignore. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX just wrapped up its 12-episode run from April to June 2025, becoming “the shortest in the franchise’s history by episode count” while introducing new audiences to the Universal Century through Studio Khara’s innovative storytelling approach. Meanwhile, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom became a massive theatrical success in 2024, earning over 5 billion yen at the Japanese box office and becoming the highest-grossing Gundam film of all time.
The celebrations continue with Gundam Wing’s 30th anniversary, bringing theatrical re-releases of Endless Waltz in 4K, new manga bridging the gap between Endless Waltz and Frozen Teardrop, and a commemorative video directed by Toru Iwasawa. And then there’s the exciting development that’s got Filipino fans particularly excited: the new Gundam Card Game, which launched globally in 2025 and has been gaining serious traction in the Philippines through events like BANDAI CARD GAMES Fest 25-26 in Manila.
This card game has become a fantastic gateway for introducing past Gundam series to fans who might not be familiar with the deep lore but are drawn to the iconic mobile suit designs and characters. It’s the perfect time for newcomers to discover what makes each Gundam series unique.
Why G Gundam Is Exactly What We Need Right Now
Let’s be honest about something: G Gundam is cheesy. It’s campy. It’s absolutely, unapologetically a product of its time, from its 1994 sensibilities right down to its over-the-top national stereotypes and martial arts tournament premise. And you know what? That’s exactly why it’s the cultural vibe we need right now.
In an era where prestige anime increasingly focuses on psychological trauma, existential dread, and morally gray protagonists committing war crimes (looking at you, every other Gundam series), G Gundam stands as a refreshing beacon of straightforward entertainment. Here’s a show where the good guys are clearly good, the bad guys are clearly bad, and the solution to most problems involves giant robots punching each other with the power of burning passion.
This isn’t to diminish the narrative complexity that makes other Gundam series compelling, but sometimes you just want to watch something that won’t leave you emotionally devastated for a week. G Gundam delivers drama and character conflict without weighing you down with the psychological burden of watching your favorite teenage pilot slowly lose their humanity in the cockpit of a war machine.
Instead, G Gundam offers honorable combat as its central ethos. The Gundam Fight is literally a regulated tournament where nations settle their differences through one-on-one mobile suit combat rather than all-out war. Sure, there are villains who try to cheat or escalate things, but the core premise celebrates martial arts honor, personal growth, and the power of determination over despair.
The Story: Martial Arts Meets Mecha Mayhem
G Gundam takes place in the Future Century timeline, where Earth has become an ecological disaster and most of humanity lives in space colonies. Instead of waging destructive wars, the space nations hold a Gundam Fight tournament every four years to determine which country gets to rule Earth for the next cycle.
Our protagonist is Domon Kasshu, representing Neo Japan with his burning red God Gundam (originally called Burning Gundam). But this isn’t just about winning a tournament—Domon is on a personal quest to find his brother Kyoji, who stole the dangerous Dark Gundam and disappeared. Along the way, he encounters fellow Gundam Fighters from around the world, each piloting mobile suits that embody their nation’s fighting spirit and cultural identity.
What makes G Gundam special is how it treats its tournament structure. Each opponent isn’t just an obstacle to overcome but a character with their own motivations, fighting styles, and personal growth arcs. Whether it’s the noble knight Andrew Graham with his Rose Gundam, the mysterious masked Schwarz Bruder, or the passionate Chibodee Crocket with his boxing-inspired Gundam Maxter, every fight feels meaningful.
The series masterfully balances episodic tournament battles with an overarching plot involving the Dark Gundam’s true nature and a conspiracy that threatens all of humanity. It’s Dragon Ball Z meets Real Robot anime, complete with power-ups, special attacks with names you’ll be shouting at your screen, and the kind of escalating spectacle that makes every episode feel like a climactic battle.
What Makes G Gundam Awesome
The Fights Are Actually Fights: Unlike traditional Gundam series, where mobile suits are military weapons, G Gundam’s mobile suits are martial arts fighters scaled up to giant robot size. Each Gundam has a distinct fighting style—boxing, ninja techniques, pirate swordsmanship, you name it. The battles are choreographed like martial arts movies, complete with special techniques, power-ups, and dramatic finishing moves.
Multicultural Cast Done Right: Yes, some of the national stereotypes haven’t aged perfectly, but G Gundam genuinely celebrates fighting traditions from around the world. The Shuffle Alliance brings together fighters representing different continents, and their combined strength becomes central to the story’s climax. It’s about unity through diversity, long before that became a mainstream theme.
Master Asia: Quite possibly one of the greatest antagonists in anime history. Domon’s former master, the “Undefeated of the East,” whose fall from grace and twisted philosophy creates genuine emotional stakes. His relationship with Domon anchors the entire series with real pathos.
The School of the Undefeated of the East: The martial arts philosophy underlying the series isn’t just window dressing. Concepts like “the winds of the king” and fighting with one’s emotions create a surprisingly coherent worldview that influences everything from individual battles to the cosmic-scale finale.
Sekiha Love-Love Tenkyoken: Any series brave enough to make “love” a literal special attack deserves respect. The way G Gundam integrates romance, friendship, and passion into its power system is both ridiculous and genuinely touching.
Perfect Binge-Watch Pacing: Each episode delivers satisfying action while building toward larger story beats. You can easily watch several episodes in a row without feeling emotionally exhausted—it’s comfort food anime that happens to feature incredible mecha action.
A Different Take Worth Experiencing
G Gundam operates on a completely different logic from the conventional Gundam series, and that’s precisely its strength. There’s no tragic war commentary here, no complex political maneuvering, no morally ambiguous Federation vs. Zeon dynamics. Instead, it’s a celebration of hot-blooded determination, martial arts philosophy, and the power of friendship to overcome impossible odds.
This approach makes it incredibly accessible to newcomers who might be intimidated by the Universal Century’s dense continuity or put off by the heavy themes of series like Iron-Blooded Orphans. At the same time, it offers longtime Gundam fans a completely different perspective on what giant robot anime can be.
The mobile suit designs are wonderfully absurd—from the windmill-powered Nether Gundam to the literal pharaoh sarcophagus that is Pharaoh Gundam IV—but they’re all treated with complete sincerity within the story’s context. This commitment to its own ridiculous premise is what makes G Gundam work.
The Perfect Time for a Comeback
With streaming platforms hungry for content that offers comfort viewing and the current success of tournament-style anime like Demon Slayer, G Gundam’s format feels remarkably contemporary. Its episodic structure with overarching narrative threads would translate perfectly to modern viewing habits.
More importantly, in our current cultural moment where anxiety and doom-scrolling dominate media consumption, G Gundam’s relentless optimism and clear moral framework offer genuine therapeutic value. Here’s a show that believes problems can be solved through honest communication, personal growth, and occasionally punching things really, really hard.
The success of the new Gundam Card Game in markets like the Philippines shows there’s a genuine appetite for exploring the franchise’s diverse offerings. G Gundam’s colorful cast of international fighters and their distinctive mobile suits would translate beautifully to card game mechanics, potentially introducing a whole new generation to Domon’s burning passion.
An Invitation to Experience Something Special
If you’ve never given G Gundam a chance, now is the perfect time to dive in. Don’t expect Universal Century complexity or Cosmic Era political intrigue. Instead, prepare yourself for 49 episodes of pure, concentrated enthusiasm delivered through the medium of giant robots performing martial arts techniques.
Yes, it’s cheesy. Yes, it’s over-the-top. Yes, characters regularly scream attack names at maximum volume while their mobile suits glow with fighting spirit. But it’s also sincere, exciting, and ultimately life-affirming in ways that more “sophisticated” anime often struggle to achieve.
G Gundam proves that the Gundam name can encompass wildly different storytelling approaches while still honoring the core appeal of giant robots and human drama. In a franchise renaissance that’s already embracing new directions and celebrating its heritage, maybe it’s time to give the King of Hearts another shot at ruling our screens.
After all, in a world that often feels like it’s falling apart, sometimes what we need most is a reminder that burning passion and unshakeable friendship can overcome any obstacle. Even if that reminder comes delivered via giant robot punches to the face.
This hand of mine is burning red! Its loud roar tells me to give G Gundam the comeback it deserves!
Be sure to check out Migo’s G Gundam post at our VRSUS Facebook page, as well as other cool stuff!
Read More:
Our First Impressions of the Gundam Card Game – VRSUS
Gundam Wing Returns With a New Manga That Bridges Endless Waltz and Frozen Teardrop – VRSUS
An Awesome, Practical Collab! Gundam X Momax Limited Edition Chargers – VRSUS
