The series premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between April 7, 1979 and January 26, 1980, spanning 43 episodes. The English adaptation premiered in the United States on Cartoon Network's Toonami programing block between July 23, 2001 and September 12, 2001.[2] Episode 38 was skipped due to the September 11 attacks, and the show was removed after Episode 39. The final episode did premiere on Toonami's "New Year's Evil" special presentation. Animax Asia also broadcast the English adaptation across Southeast Asia and South Asia. The 15th episode, "Cucuruz Doan's Island" never aired in English.
Two pieces of theme music by Koh Ikeda are used for the episodes, one opening theme and one closing theme. The opening theme is "Fly! Gundam" (Tobe! Gundam), and the closing theme is "Forever Amuro" (Eien ni Amuro).
Staff
Episode Crew
Animation
Studio Z, Sunrise, Nakamura Productions, Anime Friend
Backgrounds
Art Take One, Studio Apple, Production Ai, Tetsuo Anzai, Yukari Nagano, Masaaki Hirose, Magic House
Ink and Paint
Shaft, Studio Deen, BEM
Rostrum Camera
Asahi Productions
Episode list
No. overall
No. Eng
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original air date
English air date
1
1
"Gundam Rising" Transliteration: "Gandamu Daichi ni Tatsu!!" (Japanese: ガンダム大地に立つ!![note 1])
9 months after the start of the One Year War, The Earth Federation detects a group of Zakus from the Principality of Zeon, lead by Char Aznable, preparing to launch a surprise attack on Side 7, initiating an evacuation order to White Base. Meanwhile, one of the colonies residents, a mechanic named Amuro Ray and her partner Frau Bow, plan on leaving the colony, but are eventually caught in a crossfire in an emergency shelter. Willing to take risks to help the civilians, Amuro goes out to find his father, who plans to utilize his latest creations, the mobile suits, to overpower the Zeon troops and end the war for good. However, upon witnessing an explosion on caused by a hijacked federation missile car, he inadvertently stumbles across a manual containing combat intel on of the mobile suits: The Gundam. With the situation becoming bleaker than ever, along by Frau Bow’s mother being killed while attempting to flee, Amuro is forced to pilot the Gundam as his last resort. Using the manual’s instructions, he manages to defeat the zakus easily, despite several struggles.
In order to evacuate Side Seven, Amuro Ray and the Gundam duel Char Aznable and his custom Zaku in space.
3
3
"Vote to Attack" Transliteration: "Teki no Hokyūkan o Tatake!" (Japanese: 敵の補給艦を叩け![note 3])
Hideyoshi Ojika Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshihisa Araki
April 21, 1979 (1979-04-21)
July 25, 2001
In order to improve their chances of eluding Char Aznable's pursuit of White Base, the crew has to vote whether or not to attack a Zeon supply ship.
4
4
"Escape From Luna II" Transliteration: "Runa Tsū Dasshutsu Sakusen" (Japanese: ルナツー脱出作戦[note 4])
Shinya Sadamitsu
Masaru Yamamoto
April 28, 1979 (1979-04-28)
July 26, 2001
After arriving at a Federation asteroid military base, the White Base is confiscated and its crew are arrested for violating military protocol by allowing civilians to use top secret government property.
5
5
"Re-Entry to Earth" Transliteration: "Taikiken Totsunyū" (Japanese: 大気圏突入[note 5])
Ryoji Fujihara Yoshiyuki Tomino
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
May 5, 1979 (1979-05-05)
July 27, 2001
Bright Noa is instructed to take the White Base to a military base on Earth, but first they have to take on Char Aznable's forces near the atmospheric entry point.
White Base arrives on Zeon territory due to Char Aznable's strategy; Garma Zabi, eager to impress his sister Kycilia and his friend Char, decides to attack White Base.
Garma's task force consisting of Gaws pursue White Base to the now ruined city of New Yark.
11
11
"Icelina- Love's Remains" Transliteration: "Iserina, Koi no Ato" (Japanese: イセリナ,恋のあと)
Shinya Sadamitsu
Yoshihisa Araki
June 16, 1979 (1979-06-16)
August 6, 2001
Icelina Esconbach asks a Zeon officer to lead a special mission to destroy White Base, responsible for the death of her boyfriend Garma.
12
12
"The Threat of Zeon" Transliteration: "Jion no Kyōi" (Japanese: ジオンの脅威)
Yuichi Yokoyama Yoshiyuki Tomino
Kenichi Matsuzaki
June 23, 1979 (1979-06-23)
August 7, 2001
Gihren Zabi uses the death of his brother Garma as a rallying point for the Zeon cause while a new task force led by Ramba Ral and Gouf mobile suit pursue White Base.
Amuro Ray is reunited with his mother Kamaria when the crew of White Base coincidentally decides to rest near the place where he was born.
14
14
"Time, Be Still" Transliteration: "Jikan yo, Tomare" (Japanese: 時間よ,とまれ)
Shinya Sadamitsu Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshiyuki Tomino
July 6, 1979 (1979-07-06)
August 9, 2001
Time is running out for Amuro when a small squadron of Zeon soldiers in hovering bikes plant time bombs all over the Gundam's frame.
15
—
"Cucuruz Doan's Island" Transliteration: "Kukurusu Doan no Shima" (Japanese: ククルス·ドアンの島)
Yoshiyuki Tomino Shinya Sadamitsu
Yoshihisa Araki
July 14, 1979 (1979-07-14)
Unaired
When a distress signal is detected on a small island in the Pacific, Amuro is dispatched with the Core Fighter to investigate the source.
Note: This episode was neither broadcast nor made available on DVD in North America, per series creator and director Yoshiyuki Tomino's request. The episode was later adapted into the film Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island (Japanese: 機動戦士ガンダム ククルス·ドアンの島, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu Kukurusu Doan no Shima). The film was released in Japan on June 3, 2022.[3]
When the crew runs out of salt, Sayla Mass sorties with the Gundam without authorization in the hopes of finding out whether Char Aznable is her long lost brother. They find salt in the end.
Bright Noa decides to relieve Amuro as pilot of the Gundam after a tactical blunder made by the latter on the field of battle nearly results in defeat.
The crew of White Base searches for the Amuro and the Gundam; Amuro hopes to end the war by attacking a mine believed to be the main source of iron ore for the Zeon war industry.
Lieutenant Matilda's supply corps is attacked by Zeon Goufs when they attempt to send upgrade modules for the Gundam and supply and repair parts for White Base.
A mole inside the Federation tips off Zeon HQ, who then send the Black Tri-Stars special team ordered to destroy the White Base and her prototype mobile suits.
25
24
"The Battle of Odessa" Transliteration: "Odessa no Gekisen" (Japanese: オデッサの激戦)
Shinya Sadamitsu
Yoshihisa Araki
September 22, 1979 (1979-09-22)
August 23, 2001
Amuro discovers the Zeon mole, stops a nuclear bomb, and faces off the remaining two members of the Black Tri-Stars as the battle at Odessa continues.
26
25
"Char Returns" Transliteration: "Fukkatsu no Shaa" (Japanese: 復活のシャア)
Ryoji Fujihara Yoshiyuki Tomino
Kenichi Matsuzaki
September 29, 1979 (1979-09-29)
August 24, 2001
Under the command of Char Aznable, new Zeon amphibious mobile suits attack White Base, docked in a Federation base at Belfast.
27
26
"A Spy on Board" Transliteration: "Onna Supai Sennyū!" (Japanese: 女スパイ潜入![note 19])
Hiroshi Hisano Yoshiyuki Tomino
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
October 6, 1979 (1979-10-06)
August 27, 2001
Kai Shiden develops a friendship with Miharu Ratokie, a local girl, while Char prepares a second amphibious attack on the Federation at Belfast.
28
27
"Across the Atlantic Ocean" Transliteration: "Taiseiyō, Chi ni Somete" (Japanese: 大西洋,血に染めて[note 20])
Osamu Sekita Yoshiyuki Tomino
Masaru Yamamoto
October 13, 1979 (1979-10-13)
August 28, 2001
Thanks to intelligence acquired from Miharu, Flanagan Boone and his Mad Angler squadron attack the White Base en route to Jaburo headquarters in South America.
29
28
"Tragedy in Jaburo" Transliteration: "Jaburō ni Chiru!" (Japanese: ジャブローに散る![note 21])
Shinya Sadamitsu Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshihisa Araki
October 20, 1979 (1979-10-20)
August 29, 2001
The White Base finally reaches Jaburo general headquarters; Zeon then launches a massive invasion on the base led by Char and his custom MSM-07 Z'Gok.
30
29
"A Wish of War Orphans" Transliteration: "Chiisana Bōeisen" (Japanese: 小さな防衛線[note 22])
Ryoji Fujihara
Masaru Yamamoto
October 27, 1979 (1979-10-27)
August 30, 2001
Char infiltrates Jaburo with a squadron of MSM-04 Acguy mobile suits and plant time bombs on the Federation's new mass-produced GMs, but not before being discovered by Katz, Kikka, and Letz.
31
30
"A Decoy in Space" Transliteration: "Zanjibaru, Tsuigeki!" (Japanese: ザンジバル,追撃![note 23])
Hiroshi Hisano Yoshiyuki Tomino
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
November 3, 1979 (1979-11-03)
August 31, 2001
White Base and the Gundam confront the cruiser Zanzibar, led by Char, and a mobile armor called MA-05 Bigro in low earth orbit.
A task force of Musai cruisers and Rick Doms led by Dren attempt to destroy the White Base as it heads towards the neutral colony of Side Six.
33
32
"Farewell in Side Six" Transliteration: "Konsukon Kyōshū" (Japanese: コンスコン強襲[note 25])
Shinya Sadamitsu Yoshiyuki Tomino
Masaru Yamamoto
November 17, 1979 (1979-11-17)
September 4, 2001
In need of repairs, the White Base is attacked outside the neutral Side Six by a fleet led by Captain Conscon.
34
33
"A Fateful Encounter" Transliteration: "Shukumei no Deai" (Japanese: 宿命の出会い)
Ryoji Fujihara
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
November 24, 1979 (1979-11-24)
September 5, 2001
Inside Side Six, Amuro meets a beautiful girl named Lalah Sune and tensions run high when a Zanzibar ship led by Char Aznable docks next to the White Base.
35
34
"The Glory of Solomon" Transliteration: "Soromon Kōryakusen" (Japanese: ソロモン攻略戦[note 26])
Hiroshi Hisano
Kenichi Matsuzaki
December 1, 1979 (1979-12-01)
September 6, 2001
A massive Federation combined space fleet attacks the Principality of Zeon's Fortress of Solomon, commanded by Dozle Zabi.
As the battle continues, a hulking mobile armor piloted by Dozle Zabi inflicts heavy losses on the Federation; Amuro and Sleggar come up with a plan to stop its onslaught.
37
36
"The Duel in Texas" Transliteration: "Tekisasu no Kōbō" (Japanese: テキサスの攻防)
Shinya Sadamitsu Yoshiyuki Tomino
Masaru Yamamoto
December 15, 1979 (1979-12-15)
September 10, 2001
Amuro Ray's Gundam duels Colonel M'Quve's YMS-15 Gyan on the abandoned and dilapidated colony of Texas while Char and Lalah watch from afar.
38
37
"Char and Sayla" Transliteration: "Saikai, Shaa to Seira" (Japanese: 再会、シャアとセイラ[note 28])
Ryoji Fujihara
Kenichi Matsuzaki
December 22, 1979 (1979-12-22)
April 9, 2002
Char Aznable's Gelgoog takes over M'Quve on engaging the Gundam while the White Base enters the Texas colony and sends Sayla Mass and Job John to search for Amuro.
Gihren Zabi sends Char a Newtype to pilot the new Braw Bro; Amuro's own Newtype abilities are growing as he senses the presence of Lalah.
40
39
"Lalah's Dilemma" Transliteration: "Erumesu no Rarā" (Japanese: エルメスのララ[note 29])
Osamu Sekita Yoshiyuki Tomino
Yoshihisa Araki
January 5, 1980 (1980-01-05)
June 2, 2002
The Gundam is upgraded and Lalah's Elmeth enters combat for the first time; Amuro and Lalah cross paths again but this time as enemies.
41
40
"A Cosmic Glow" Transliteration: "Hikaru Uchū" (Japanese: 光る宇宙[note 30])
Shinya Sadamitsu
Kenichi Matsuzaki
January 12, 1980 (1980-01-12)
June 2, 2002
Amuro and Lalah fight each other for the second time and communicate telepathically, while Gihren Zabi inspects the construction of the Solar Ray.
42
41
"Space Fortress: A Baoa Qu" Transliteration: "Uchū Yōsai A Baoa Kū" (Japanese: 宇宙要塞ア·バオア·クー)
Ryoji Fujihara Yoshiyuki Tomino
Hiroyuki Hoshiyama
January 19, 1980 (1980-01-19)
June 2, 2002
Federation forces, including White Base, proceed to invade the Fortress of A Baoa Qu despite losing half of their combined fleet due to Zeon's Solar Ray; Amuro and Char—now piloting the Zeong—engage in battle again.
The Battle of A Baoa Qu reaches a critical point; White Base is deep within enemy territory, Amuro and Char's relentless duel continues, and Kycilia Zabi struggles in command.
