Mobile Suit Gundam/Episodes

Mobile Suit Gundam is a 43 episode Japanese anime series created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. Mobile Suit Gundam was produced by Nagoya Broadcasting Network, Sotsu Agency, and Sunrise. The English adaptation of the anime is licensed by Bandai Entertainment. The series was not popular when it first aired, and in fact came close to being cancelled. The series was originally set to run for 52 episodes but was cut down to 39 by the show's sponsors, which included Clover (toy company) (the original toymakers for the series). However, the staff was able to negotiate a one month extension to end the series with 43 episodes.

The series was broadcast in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between April 7, 1979 and January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes. The English adaptation aired in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami programing block from July 23, 2001 until September 12, 2001, when it was removed due to the September 11th Attacks. Episode 38 was skipped due to the attacks, and the show removed altogether from the block after Episode 39. The final episode of the series eventually air on Toonami's "A Night of New Years Eve-il" special on January 1, 2002. The 15th episode - "Cucuruz Doan's Island" never aired in English. On June 8, 2002, the series was given another chance by Cartoon Network on their late-night Adult Swim block, but it was again pulled before completing its run because of low ratings.

Following the success of the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, Yoshiyuki Tomino returned in 1981 and reworked the footage into three separate compilation movies. The first two movies, Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam: Soldiers of Sorrow, were released in 1981. The third movie, Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space, was released in 1982.

Each of the three movies is largely composed of old footage from the TV series, however Tomino felt that some things could be changed for the better. Tomino removed several aspects of the show which he felt were still too super robot-esque for the real robot series he intended Gundam to be, such as the Gundam Hammer weapon. The G-Armor upgrade parts were also completely removed and replaced in the narrative by the more realistic Core Booster support fighters, and Hayato receives a RX-77 Guncannon at Jaburo to replace the disadvantaged RX-75 Guntank. The third movie also includes a substantial amount of new footage expanding on the battles of Solomon and A Baoa Qu.

On May 30, 2006, Bandai Entertainment re-released the English dub of the TV series in a 10 volume DVD set. In 2011, Bandai released the series in two sets.