The Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows of All Time: Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)

The Greatest Sci Fi/Fantasy TV Shows: Considering the case for the sci fi and fantasy television shows that should be counted among the greatest of all time.

What Is It?

This anime is set in the Universal Century, where humanity has spread into space and war erupts between Earth and the space-based Principality of Zeon. The story centers on civilian teenager Amuro Ray, who is thrust into combat when he becomes the pilot of the experimental RX-78-2 Gundam aboard the Federation ship White Base. While reluctant at first, he and the Gundam may prove to be an important weapon against the Zeon.

Aired: ANN, 1979-80, 2 Seasons Totaling 43 Episodes

Starring: Tôru Furuya, Hirotaka Suzuoki, Michael Kopsa, Kiyonobu Suzuki, Toshio Furukawa

Created By: Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino

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Argument to Count It as One of the Greatest Sci Fi TV Shows:

At the time when Mobile Suit Gundam arrived on television in Japan in 1979, the super robot formula had dominated Anime for many years as exemplified by Getter Robo, UFO Robot Grendizer, Combattler V, and the one that got it all started, Mazinger Z. These typically featured cockpit-piloted giant robots, and were more along the lines of superhero shows aimed at younger viewers. Gundam changed that formula though, as it presented more realistic mecha and in a military setting with real life and death consequences.

This series also fundamentally redefined how science fiction could portray war. Instead of presenting giant robots as fantasy heroes, it treated them as military hardware and focused on the human cost of conflict such as fear, trauma, moral compromise, and unintended consequences. Its depiction of young soldiers, civilian displacement, political propaganda, and ideological extremism brought a level of realism and emotional weight rarely seen in television science fiction at the time, animated or otherwise.

Equally important is Gundam’s thematic ambition. The show avoids simple good-versus-evil storytelling, portraying both the Earth Federation and Zeon as flawed systems driven by power, fear, and self-interest. Through characters like Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, it explores identity, evolution, and whether humanity can transcend violence or is doomed to repeat it. That combination of political complexity, character-driven storytelling, and long-form narrative ambition not only reshaped the mecha genre but influenced decades of science-fiction television that followed and counts Mobile Suit Gundam as a true genre-defining classic that stands among the all-time greats.

Argument Against:

While Mobile Suit Gundam was an important early entry for mecha-based Anime, it ultimately delivered an uneven series. It had budget limitations and a rushed production schedule that led to inconsistent animation quality, recycled footage, and abrupt tonal shifts. And while it did have some good arcs for the central characters, many of the others only received limited development. The show definitely had a notable influence on the genre and science fiction in general, but its storytelling flaws weighed it down at times. And ultimately, this series falls short of counting as an all-time sci fi TV great.

Johnny Jay’s Take:

My first introduction to Anime was Speed Racer and later shows like Battle of the Planets and Force Five. Then, in the 80s, I discovered Robotech and realized that Anime could be much more than kid-friendly cartoons, afterwhich I started to devour as much of it as possible. Sadly, one of the pivotal entries in the genre–Mobile Suit Gundam–was not available with an English dub at that time, though I knew it existed and was always curious about the show. Finally, when Cartoon Network brought it to the States after Gundam Wing proved popular, I got the chance to enjoy this sci fi epic for the first time.

I definitely noticed similarities to the story structure of Macross, and that series was actually originally intended as a parody of sorts of Gundam. But the earlier show definitely had a depth of story to it and mature themes, similar to Space Battleship Yamato (aka Star Blazers, more on that one at this link) and Captain Harlock which had also come out in the 1970s. These shows definitely represented Anime growing up and taking full potential of their format to deliver epic sagas. And these shows have since become favorites of mine in the genre. Mobile Suit Gundam can be uneven at times and repetitive in places, but for the most part, it shines through, standing out as an important early sci fi entry for Anime that should be recognized for its accomplishments.

Where Can You Watch It?

The series did get a Blu-ray release in Japanese with subtitles (which is better than the dubbed version), but that has since gone out of print. You can buy it VOD from some sellers (though apparently not Amazon), and it is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Do you consider Mobile Suit Gundam one of the greatest sci fi TV shows of all time, or has it not stood the test of time? Chime in with your thoughts in the comments below.

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