When anyone hears the term mecha, the term of an image of a Gundam will almost always come to mind. After all, the signature design and color scheme of any main Gundam is iconic not just to the anime scene but perhaps in the whole of pop culture. Due to its immense popularity, it’s no doubt the series spawned an entire franchise since Mobile Suit Gundam premiered in 1979.
With more than 30 anime and films scattered across nine timelines (so far), the upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury will, without a doubt, show another new protagonist with not just a unique aesthetic but personality as well. However, of all Gundam protagonists out there, just who stands at the top?
Updated on December 16, 2022, by Rhenn Taguiam: With Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury marking the start of a new age of Gundam with Suletta Mercury as the first-ever female protagonist in the series, it makes sense for newcomers and vets of the franchise to look back to previous titles and make comparisons. Whereas youngling Suletta has a mixture of hardheadedness and child-like naivete, other protagonists of the Gundam franchise indeed had equally-bizarre personalities. Among fan-favorites would include Gunpla Battle contestants with a love for building and a love for fighting, an optimistic neophyte who grows into a battle-hardened warrior after experiencing the harshness of war firsthand, and a scavenger in a technologically-advanced Earth who seems to be the only “adult” among single-minded soldiers in conflict.
15 Sekai Kamiki (Gundam Build Fighters Try)
Contrary to the meek Sei Iori of Gundam Build Fighters, it’s Sekai Kamiki of the sequel Gundam Build Fighters Try that embodies the stereotype of the shonen protagonist more. A martial artist student of Seiho Academy that stumbles upon the local Gunpla Battle scene, Sekai Kamiki became a standout fighter - so much so that struggling Gunpla Battle Club president Fumina Hoshino and embittered Gunpla builder Yuuma Kousaka are encouraged to join him.
Compared to other protagonists in the franchise, Sekai Kamiki’s resolve and drive to do what he can no matter what is a simple yet extremely relatable sentiment. And while Build Fighters Try doesn’t explore extremely complex themes, Sekai Kamiki’s hard work and determination remain an inspiration - enough to transform Build Fighters Try into an ideal show to watch for those who want a burst of motivation.
14 Shiro Amada (Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team)
One of the most tragic tales to happen throughout the Gundam franchise likely takes place in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, where viewers are treated to a closer and more personal view of the one-year war. In this story, Ensign Shiro Amada becomes the newly-appointed commander of the titular 08th MS Team of the Earth Federation, where his eventual interactions with opposing Principality of Zeon pilot Aina Sahalin.
What’s incredible about Shiro’s journey is that his optimistic, black-and-white view of the One-Year War suddenly changes when he sees the perspective of the Zeon soldiers. It’s his eventual growth and the dread of the tragedies that may await him.
13 Garrod Ran (After War Gundam X)
Compared to other Gundam protagonists where pilots almost always come from engineering backgrounds and somehow possess supernatural abilities, Garrod Ran of After War Gundam X is rather as realistic as protagonists could get. Starting as a street-level criminal, Garrod Ran reflects something Gundam doesn’t always show - civilians forced into odd jobs and desperate measures in the thick of war.
In the post-war, post-apocalyptic landscape of After War Gundam X, Garrod Ran is thrust into the brink of war as his membership in the Freeden crew will have him and his team choose between the New United Nations Earth and the Space Revolutionary Army. What makes Garrod Ran more impressive, however, is his equally brash yet frank approach to matters, which allows him to become the voice of reason whenever the adults around him tend to make rash and hasty decisions.
12 Iori Sei (Gundam Build Fighters)
Contrary to most Gundam series, Gundam Build Fighters is set primarily in a fictional analog of the real world where Gunpla are able to engage in realistic combat with each other through Gunpla Battle. In turn, people ranging from kids and adults alike are able to not just build Gunpla but engage in battle with them, with Iori Sei being a meek teenager who inherited his incredible building skills from his father, also a prominent Gunpla Battle competitor.
While shy and hesitant to battle to a degree, it’s his friendship with the foreigner Reiji that motivated him to not just expand his potential as a fighter but develop a deeper love for Gunpla. Compared to other protagonists, Sei is a more relatable example of a modern Gundam fan - someone who loves building so much that it’s infectious, capable of motivating even the audience to grab a kit of their own.
11 Amuro Ray (Mobile Suit Gundam)
Perhaps the most iconic Gundam protagonist remains the first one. Starring in Mobile Suit Gundam is Amuro Ray, a Newtype that has quite the promising potential to stop the devastation wrought from the war between the Earth Federation and Principality of Zeon with the all-powerful Gundam.
Earning an infamy as the pilot to turn the tide for the Earth Forces, Amuro and his rather peaceful and kind nature earned the respect and interest of the likes such as Char Aznable, the Red Comet, and Ace of the Principality, who would eventually become his constant rival throughout the series.
10 Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED/Destiny)
Probably the most recognizable Gundam character of the 2000s, Kira Yamato starred as the ever-hesitant protagonist of Gundam SEED and one of the three leads in the sequel SEED Destiny. Starting as the unwilling pilot of the Strike Gundam, the Coordinator Kira grew as the pilot of the much stronger Freedom Gundam and Strike Freedom Gundam - using his machine’s powers to stop senseless war between the Earth Federation and ZAFT.
Interestingly enough, while SEED Destiny puts newcomer Shinn Asuka as its lead, Kira Yamato swoops in and steals the spotlight simply to help stop the war between the two factions once and for all. While Kira’s relentless unwillingness to fight makes him an annoying protagonist (like Lacus Clyne, his rather “naive” counterpart as female protagonist), his position as this particular franchise’s “best pilot” makes him unironically recognizable.
9 Heero Yuy (Gundam Wing)
When it comes to representing teenage angst at its height during the early 1990s, it’s probably Heero Yuy among the Gundam Pilots of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Tasked to pilot the Wing Gundam, Heero is one of five teenage pilots deployed around the world with the sole mission of leading the charge against the oppressive Zodiac government.
Similar to the other pilots, Heero has quite a personal arc to get through over the course of the story - but his is perhaps the most gripping, at least in the context of internal growth. Despite his rather cold demeanor, Heero is actually extremely kindhearted, having been trained to keep his emotions in check in order to avoid heartbreaks in battle. It’s thanks to the efforts of Relena Peacecraft that Heero was able to open up a bit.
8 Mikazuki Augus (Iron-Blooded Orphans)
In their quest to fight back against the adults that continue to take advantage of them, Mikazuki Augus and the Gundam Barbatos are the frontline fighters of the Tekkadan in Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans. While just as deadly and tactically-astute as other Gundam protagonists, Mikazuki has two natures as an individual - making him quite unique in the context of the entire franchise.
While quiet and meek outside combat, Mikazuki tries his best to look at the big picture. His open personality makes him likable to his teammates, even when he appears blunt most of the time. In combat, however, Mikazuki becomes too engrossed in protecting those around him that he loses his sense of self, becoming berserk.
7 Domon Kasshu (G Fighter)
It’s not all the time that a Gundam protagonist has a mysterious past that never seems to leave them, which in the case of Domon of Mobile Suit G Fighter gives him an air of intrigue that perfectly matches his ferocity in the series. Set in a post-apocalyptic Earth where space colonists wage their wars through representatives in a tournament, Domon represents Neo Japan with the G Gundam. However, he also has a personal agenda in between matches: find his missing brother.
While his quest brings Domon to a journey of helping various people across the world, he eventually has to come to terms as to what really happened to his brother and how Domon’s fate becomes intertwined with that of the world. Not to mention, his brash and impulsive behavior makes his penchant for martial arts quite the exciting thing to watch - considering all the Gundams in the series are also tied to their user’s physical movements.
6 Kamille Bidan (Zeta Gundam)
Protagonist Kamille Bidan of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is uniquely known for his hatred for his rather feminine name, which he compensates for by learning the fundamentals of amateur mobile suit creation. Like other protagonists, he tends to be thoughtless and act on his own judgment, giving him a particular air of arrogance that doesn’t help his angsty and emotionally-vulnerable exterior.
It’s thanks to the influence of the likes of Char Aznable (as Quattro Bajeena) that Kamille eventually overcomes his childish aspects and grows into a true Newtype soldier - one who can follow orders, act accordingly, and put the welfare of others behind his own needs. While Kamille remains emotionally fragile throughout the series, this does fuel his thoughts on war in general.
5 Judau Ashta (Gundam ZZ)
Contrary to the rather meek yet naturally acute nature of the protagonists before him, Judau Ashta of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ has a kind of fire that isn’t easy to find during the final stages of the war against the Principality of Zeon. With a story that shows just how capable of horrors the Earth Federation could be after being the previously-peaceful faction, Judau becomes a member of the Gundam Team and uses the Zeta Gundam to lead the charge against these oppressive forces.
What perhaps makes Judau Ashta such an iconic character is his smart-mouthed and brash demeanor - always motivated by greed at the start of the series, which he eventually changes as the series progresses. It’s also interesting how his 14-year-old self seems to have despised the adults around him, which he blames for the war that is currently happening.
4 Setsuna F. Seiei (Gundam 00)
Who better to become one of “the best” Gundam protagonists out there than the person who popularized the “I am Gundam!” meme - Setsuna F. Seiei himself? Serving as the protagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Setsuna pilots the Exia Gundam prior to its transformation into the 00 Gundam. Formerly a child soldier, Setsuna joined the enigmatic Celestial Being to finally put a stop to war once and for all.
More or less a quiet protagonist, Setsuna’s mysterious past and ambiguous development makes him a good starting point for any Gundam series. The more “existential” take on his journey compared to his comrades makes Setsuna a great lens to view the growth of his companions in the two Gundam 00 seasons.
3 Banagher Links (Gundam Unicorn)
For someone to pilot the groundbreaking Unicorn Gundam, Banagher Links is quite the naive protagonist. Starring in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Banagher Links and his relationship with Mineva Lao Zabi will have him at the center of the conspiracy that would affect the nature of not just Earth but the colonies around them, especially when the Unicorn Gundam he is piloting is said to help lead to the mythical Laplace’s Box.
As a person, Banagher is known to be extremely kind-hearted and passionate to a fault and is especially concerned with the welfare of others around him. His good-natured sense of self also makes him extremely careful in battle, always resorting to non-lethal tactics even in the face of extreme danger.
2 Uso Ewin (Victory Gundam)
Unlike other protagonists before and after him, Uso Ewin of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam is known particularly for his innocence, being always in touch with the suffering of others that affects his view in combat. Although the pilot of the Victory Gundam, Uso has never been quite used to the war around him, and it’s these thoughts that fuel the anger he carries with him throughout his battles. Such is his compassion that Uso tries to keep casualties at the minimum, even on the side of the opponents.
Outside the cockpit, Uso is also quick to defend others, and is even quicker to act in their defense. It’s these characteristics that make Uso Ewin both feared and admired, even by those he faces in the battlefield.
1 Suletta Mercury (Gundam: The Witch From Mercury)
Aside from holding the distinction of being the first female protagonist in the Gundam franchise, Suletta Mercury of Gundam: The Witch From Mercury is a breath of fresh air from the rather brooding protagonists of the franchise. A survivor of the tragic Folkvangr incident, Suletta Mercury from the planet Mercury once again becomes entangled into dangerous affairs after enrolling into the Asticassia School of Technology.
What makes Suletta such a great Gundam protagonist separate from the other male heroes of the franchise is her timid exterior that hides an unrelenting resolve deep beneath. Her view on courage is straightforward as well, often holding respect for others willing to stay through the thick of the fight. Unlike other protagonists who seem to be without weakness, the isolated Suletta often shows a lack of social skills, as well as a lack of foresight in the political machinations that surround her life. Her naivete makes her perspective quite interesting in the often-serious world of Gundam.