Ask John: Can You Explain Gundam To Me?

Question:
Alright. Can you PLEASE explain Gundam to me (not necessarily story line, which I pretty much get). What order should one view this series? How many series are there in Japan? What are they in order? I understand the three movies are condensed versions of a first season? Is that correct? Gundam 79, 80, 83, W, Destiny, which is what and in what order??!?!?!

Answer:
Well, this is really a gigantic question considering that Gundam itself is virtually a genre unto itself. To begin with, the Gundam anime appeared in roughly this order: Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, first three movies (which re-cap the first TV series), MS Zeta Gundam, MS ZZ Gundam, fourth movie – Char’s Counterattack, 0080 OAV series, 0083 OAV series, Gundam F91 movie, V Gundam TV series, G Gundam TV series, Gundam Wing TV series, MS 08th Team OAV series, Gundam Wing OAV series, Turn A Gundam TV series. The main Universal Century continuity proceeds roughly in the following continuity order: Gundam TV series or movies 1-3, OO80 OAV series, MS 08 OAV series, 0083 OAV series, Zeta Gundam then ZZ Gundam TV series, Char’s Counterattack, Gundam F91, then V Gundam. All of the other Gundam TV series are non-continuity, self-contained series. There are also condensed movie version of 0083, Gundam Wing OAVs and MS 08 Team.