I consider myself somewhat of a Gundam fanatic. It’s true that I haven’t seen all of the animes, nor read all the mangas, nor played all of the games; but I aim to change all that. So, in my quest to be a Gundam genius, I’ve seen the question asked “Where do I start?” Gundam can seem very daunting to the beginner, so I¡m going to provide a nice little outline of what to watch depending on your level of interest.

Young Anime Fan: If you’re young(er), and want a quick action-filled Gundam, then try out Gundam Wing. It’s the show that got me into Gundam. It’s quick, lots of action, and will keep you waiting for more. If you enjoy Wing, then make sure you watch the OVA Endless Waltz. It finishes up the story with an interesting twist. If you love Wing and want more of the same, check out Gundam 00. It’s brand-spanking new, and it’s also very action-oriented. If you find 00 too close to Wing, then try Seed and Destiny. I haven’t watched but a few episodes, so I can’t really comment a lot on them.

Older Anime Fan: If you’re a little older, then you’ll most likely want something with a little more story, and a little less focus on action. Without a doubt, watch First Gundam. It’s great, and it really sets up the story and mood for every Gundam series after it. Then, skim to Char’s Counterattack which is a little more mature and ties up the story of the first Gundam.

Wannabe-Gundam Meister: If you’re looking to watch all the Gundam shows, there’s an easy answer here. Watch it in chronological order! At the bottom of that page, you’ll see a list of all the animes, books, mangas, etc in the Gundam universe. I would heartily recommend watching first Gundam, as it’s the base for all Gundam, then go in chronological order from there.

Hit IGLOO, 08th MS Team, War in the Pocket,  Stardust Memories, Zeta Gundam, ZZ Gundam, Char’s Counterattack first. It’s the basic conflict between Zeon and the Federation, so it’s the longest story arc. If you want, feel free to skip IGLOO, 08th MS Team, War in the Pocket and ZZ Gundam, they’re somewhat not as central (ZZ Gundam being the most important of those). The other series can be watched in the order of the site, or in any order, they’re not connected at all. Note that Destiny seems to be the continuation of Seed.

Well, there you have it. In any case, First Gundam is one of the best, and is a great starting point.