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How Gundam Finally Conquered America: The Story of Gundam Wing

Secret Galaxy

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Mobile Suit Gundam Wing, also known in Japan as New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (新機動戦記ガンダムWウイング, Shin Kidō Senki Gandamu Wingu), is a 1995 Japanese mecha anime series directed by Masashi Ikeda and written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa.

Gundam Wing aired on Cartoon Network's weekday afternoon after-school programming block Toonami, premiering on March 6, 2000 and almost immediately exploded in popularity.

The Gundam franchise was finally big in America, ushering in all kinds of merch and Gunpla, making Gundam more mainstream in the US than it had ever been and paving the way for a broadcast of the original Mobile Suit Gundam and Wing's sequel Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz

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20 Comments

@jeffharrisTXB 4 years ago

That Gundam Wing Toonami promo is still god-tier more than 20 years later. The series was definitely a network-building hit.

@JoelCarroll 4 years ago

It's SO interesting that Wing was originally written and created to appeal to the female demographic, similar to G being marketed for kids the year before. The five young pilots were even designed to emulate a boy band. But both in Japan AND America, ALL demographics ended up digging it beyond expectations

@krim7 4 years ago

I remember being absolutely blown away by the animation, the tone and the story of Gundam Wing. It truly was so, so different than anything else we had on TV at that time.

@XdarzethX 4 years ago

Gundam was my first introduction to the mobile suit franchise. But Gundam Wing was the one I loved and made me want to watch more.

@LordEradicus 4 years ago

When Gundam figures were easily available in almost every US department store, it was heaven for me. There weren't many Gundam figures I didn't grab.

@TheBronyBraeburn 4 years ago

It blew my teenage mind, an uncut anime available on cable rather then expensive DVDs or expensive tape trading websites.

@bzr116 4 years ago

Everyday of middle school I’d rush home to see this show. Deathscythe and the soundtrack sealed the deal for me. Epic show, I’ve been a gundam fan ever since. Awesome video!

@Aldrnari956 4 years ago (edited)

Gundam Wing was a big deal to me and my friends from high school. It was something we could be openly fans of without being pegged as nerds. The theme of war and hard action compared to American cartoons gave it an air of “grown up” material despite the fact that its core appeal is really no different than something like Transformers or Power Rangers. We were just watching to see the colorful robots punch each other and used the actual mature themes as a deflection.

@baldytalkinnerdy3462 3 years ago

I still remember the music from the Wing’s transformation, as well as that iconic line…

“ITS A GUNDAM!”

@leodraconus 4 years ago

It's really understated how much of an event Endless Waltz was when it came out on Toonami, and to this day Tallgeese 3 is my favorite mobile suit.

@geardog24 4 years ago

Hearing Peter Cullen narrated the trailer to Gundam makes me wish we had a Transformers/Gundam crossover.

@senbrisbane5352 4 years ago

I remember setting up the VCR to record the uncut episodes. That is how old this show is to me. We had to use VCRs to record programs off of cable. No DVR, just magnetic tape using cassettes. But the show was and still is worth it.

@scoobers90 4 years ago

I remember seeing the promos for this on CN and being so curious about it. They had character promos, and I thought as a fairly savvy 10 year old "The main character can't be named Heero can he? That's ridiculous!" Safe to say after the first episode I was hooked. This is still my favorite Gundam series. Duo was and still is my boy.

@Enlapanlima 4 years ago

Any Gundam contents are always appreciated!

@Dizmas1 1 year ago

This video is 3 years old and i feel its time we revisit the Gundam franchise again.

@shinpathome 4 years ago

"We need gunDAM pilots" 🤣🤣

@asm42 4 years ago

The words, "after colony 195" are cemented in my head.

@TheImmortalRedFox 4 years ago

Watched every day and every night after school, shenlong, Wing zero and tallgeese were my first builds...soundtrack still slaps....man oh man....what a time to be alive. Thanks toy galaxy!

@angelserenade 4 years ago

Gundam Wing will always be my favorite Gundam series. Despite its flaws, no one can deny the impact in opening 90s audience in the mecha anime genre in the Philippines. No, sadly we don't have Toonami, but they did release Gundam Wing in a local channel. DBZ, Sailor Moon, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurounin Kenshin, Gundam Wing, I'm so glad I grew up watching these anime!

Also, thank you very much for covering everything that happened when Gundam Wing was released in the Western audience. This really shines a new light on Gundam Wing and hopefully new generation of gundam fans would take a look once more on this classic.

@infinition 4 years ago

I can still remember finding the whole set of 1/144 Gundams hidden in a closet at my house (they were my Christmas presents that I wasn't supposed to know about.) Every weekend, while Mom and Dad were gone to the grocery store, I'd sneak in there and just stare at those boxes. The wait until the holiday seemed like forever.
I'm 36 now, still a Gundam fan, albeit more into Universal Century than the alternate timelines. However, once my baby girls grow up a little and I've got some more time on my hands, I've got a couple Master Grade Gunpla to build. Epyon and, my favorite, the Tallgeese. Winglove runs deep.