>>34
Disregard that anon, IBO is terrible.
If you have even a remote interest in anime Gundam can't be skipped, it's one of the most influential works in the medium.
The first series (079) had a small budget and was made in the late 70s, so expect a lot of QUALITY animation, but at the same time a really engrossing plot with some amazing character (especially the protagonist and his rival). It's a war drama about child soldiers, so expect tragedy.
079 has 3 compilation movies but opinions on them are mixed, especially because the 2nd movie cut some of the best parts in the series, I recommend for this reason the series. The 3rd movie is good though, so you may want to watch it after finishing the series.
Zeta and ZZ are direct sequels, making the original triology with an exyremely higher budget (especially Zeta). Zeta has a depressingly dark tone to the point that ZZ's first half was made a full comedy to contrast Zeta's soul-crushing ending.
The series end with Char's Counterattack, a movie that was supposed to be a series. Its plot is rushed, but everything about the protagonists is still amazing and it gives closure to the original continuity.
These are all well worth watching and everyone will agree on that (opinions are split on ZZ, some love it some hate it but you really should try it, the second half is great). After this point Gundam was passed around many directors who all gave their unique spins on it to various degrees of success.
Some of the most popular are
>0080 War in the Pocket
A fantastic short OVA that takes place 1 year after the original series, it features a smaller scope focusing on a random kid and a couple of low-ranking soldiers and terrorists. You won't see hamburgers in the same way ever again.
>0083 : Stardust memory
Prequel to Zeta, the plot is a fucking mess because of a stupid love triangle that bogs down the OVA. Nevertheless, it has extremely high production values and forthis it may be worth your time depending on your opinion.
>08th MS Team
Very popular in the States, it's about a random unit during the first series events. Very good smaller scale OVA. Basically mecha Vietnam war.
>G Gundam
For the 15th aniversary Imagawa made an over-the-top tourneyfag shonen series. It's the firt Alternate Universe series, and still one of the craziest. Super cheesy but in the best way possible, stereotypes everywhere (there's literally a mexican Gundam with a sombrero and all, search Tequila Gundam). If you dig super robo don't skip this.
>Wing
The fujoshi's Gundam. It's often retarded and full of stocks, but it's got fujobaits and gay undertones.
>After War X
Something cool came out after Wing at least. Post-apocalyptic Gundam featuring a normal human instead of a newtype, it's a breath of fresh air in the franchise. It was pretty fucking good but fatigue from having a Gundam series every fucking year made it flop hard, to the point it was cut short at 39 eps instead of the usual 50.
>Turn A
Tomino, director of the classic triology, came back to do an unusual series celebrated by fans. Featuring unique and beautiful visuals, helped by Syd Mead's mechanical design, it takes place in a strange setting, with a slow but well done character-driven story and one of the best rivals ever. There are themes of info manipulation too, it's a really interesting series.
>Seed and Seed Destiny
For the love of God skip them.
They're like bad reboots that get worse and worse as they go on.
Destiny may well be the worst mainline Gundam series.
For whatever reason they were very popular in Japan.
>00
Set in our times, it's a series that takes inspiration from the middle-eastern war to have a cool conflict in the middle of deserts and shit. The protagonist is literally a religious extremist for Gundam. Fujo undertones but not too much. The second half throws the great setting out of the window and moves the series to space. Still, it's one of the better series in the sea of shit that is post 2000 Gundam.
It also has a movie that introduces ayylmaos, opinions on it vary. At least Setsuna gets to finally become a Gundam.
>Build Fighters
The first of the sub-series that keeps getting shitty sequels. It's one of those things that have no right to be as good as they are. Shonen tourney series about fucking gunplas (model kits) but it's so charming, hype and fun that you WILL love it. A love letter to Gundam and its fans, it has some really memorable moments, an amazing soundtrack and great animations used in fantastic battles.
None of the sequels managed to catch its magic.
Pretty much that's about it, there is Unicorn but it's cancer that shits on the original triology. Obviously my opinion aren't definitive, but they are pretty common in the fanbase except for X, sometimes it feels I'm the only one who watched it.
You can't skip the original stuff, but the rest is all up to you. There's something for everybody in Gundam, I hope I was of any help.