Mobile Suit Gundam books, set 1
First Gundam and The Origin
MS Gundam Roman Album Extra 35
機動戦士ガンダム ロマンアルバム・エクストラ35
Color and B&W, 208 pages
Tokuma Shoten, 1980
The first major publication on the original series. Tokuma Shoten’s Roman Album series set the standard for coverage with several components: story digest, chara/mecha/world guide, design works, original art, production interviews, merchandising, and promotional records. The formula was developed to perfection with the Gundam Roman Albums, and their standard is still reflected across the entire anime publishing spectrum.
Soldiers flying in space, Gundam Century (Renewal Version)
宇宙翔ける戦士達 ガンダム・センチュリー
Color and B&W, 176 pages
Shueisha, 2000
Reissue of the earliest book (originally published in 1981) that substantially fleshed out the prehistory of First Gundam with extensive illustrations, articles, and staff interviews. A true piece of Gundam lore that brought previously-unseen worldbuilding to the anime.
MS Gundam Movie 1 program book
Color, 36 pages
Sold in theaters with the first feature film compilation, 1981
MS Gundam Movie 1
Roman Album Extra 42
機動戦士ガンダム <劇場版 I> ロマン アルバム エクストラ 42
Color and B&W, 208 pages
Tokuma Shoten, 1981
Complete coverage of the first feature film compilation.
MS Gundam Movie 2, Soldiers of Sorrow program book
Color, 36 pages
Sold in theaters with the second feature film compilation, 1981
MS Gundam Movie 2, Soldiers of Sorrow Roman Album Extra 44
機動戦士ガンダムⅡ 哀 戦士編 ロマン アルバム エクストラ 44
Color and B&W, 192 pages
Tokuma Shoten, 1981
Complete coverage of the second feature film compilation.
MS Gundam Movie 3, Encounters in Space program book
Color, 44 pages
Sold in theaters with the third feature film compilation, 1982
MS Gundam Movie 3, Encounters in Space • Roman Album Extra 50
機動戦士ガンダムIII めぐりあい 宇宙編 ロマン アルバム エクストラ 50
Color and B&W, 192 pages
Tokuma Shoten, 1982
Complete coverage of the third feature film compilation.
MS Gundam III Drawing Book
機動戦士ガンダム III
Monochrome, 24 pages
Gakken, 1982
A bonus item with Animedia magazine (April ’82) containing animation layouts for two scenes from Gundam movie III, presented as a mini art book.
MS Gundam Encyclopedia
One-Year War Edition
機動戦士ガンダム 大事典 一年戦争編
Color and B&W, 216 pages
Rapport Deluxe, 1998
A substantial overview of the TV series with story guide, design works, interviews, and a lot of prehistory.
Mobile Suit Gundam English-language novels
Del Rey/Ballantine, 1990-91
It’s hard to believe this actually happened, and I’m surprised by them every time my eyes drift past them on the bookshelf. Translations (by Frederik L. Schodt) of a trilogy published in 1987 and ostensibly written by series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino. They are not a direct adaptation of the anime, and contain substantial story differences. But hey. English.
Gundam Archive
ガンダム アーカイヴ
Color and B&W, 392 pages
Mediaworks, 1999
The biggest, baddest First Gundam book you will EVER find. Published for the 20th anniversary, it is a MASSIVE hardcover (10″x14″) containing nothing but development art and animation model sheets. It appears to be the entire catalog for the TV series, with some images taking up full pages. Eliminates the need to buy any other book for this material.
Our Favorite Gundam DX
僕たちの好きな ガンダム DX
Color and B&W, 384 pages
Takarajima, 2004
A huge encyclopedia reprinting three previously separate volumes dedicated to characters, story, and mecha. A bonus section rounds up the rest of the UC anime productions up to the date of publication.
A book to learn English with Gundam
ガンダムで英語を身につける本
Color, 120 pages
Takarajima Co., 2007
As per the title, this is a series of English lessons for Japanese readers using First Gundam as a teaching tool. English words and phrases are learned through translation of famous scenes and dialogue, and Gundam characters are placed in everyday situations to engage in typical conversation. Order it from Amazon here.
MS Gundam, Chronicle of the
One-Year War UC 0079-0080 (part 1)
機動戦士ガンダム一年戦争全史 U.C.0079-0080 (上)
Color and B&W, 162 pages
Gakken, 2007
Official description: A never-before-seen real military history of Gundam warfare, deciphered from the “strategic and tactical theory” and “weapon theory” of the space century! Contains approximately 100 newly-drawn visuals by Yoshiyuki Takani and others.
MS Gundam, Chronicle of the
One-Year War UC 0079-0080 (part 2)
機動戦士ガンダム一年戦争全史 U.C.0079-0080「下」
Color and B&W, 162 pages
Gakken, 2007
Imaginatively produced, these two books offer an academic and historical look at the One-Year War with illustrations and model photography found nowhere else. Events in the anime are referenced within a much larger context.
MS Gundam Yoshikazu Yasuhiko
Original Anime Art Collection Booklet
機動戦士ガンダム 安彦良和 アニメ原画集小冊子
Color, 40 pages
Kadokawa Shoten, 2013
Collection of animation layouts by Yas. Bonus booklet bundled with Gundam Ace magazine to promote a larger book.
MS Gundam Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Animation Original Art Collection
機動戦士ガンダム 安彦良和アニメーション原画集
Color and B&W, 272 pages
Kadokawa Shoten, 2013
Massive landscape-format collection of Yas layouts from the TV series and all three feature films, thousands of images in color that capture the raw intensity of high-pressure anime production. HIGHLY recommended! Order it here.
The Art of Gundam
Color, 232 pages, 2014
A museum book that accompanied “Art of Gundam” exhibitions in 2014 and 2015; art and design works from all phases of production up to and including merchandising.
Mobile Suit Gundam: the Origin manga series
機動戦士ガンダム ジ・オリジン
No other single Gundam manga project compares to The Origin, a monumental series begun by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko in 2001 and completed over a decade later. As the chief character designer and animator on the first series, he was the only writer/artist both qualified and capable of such a feat. He single-handedly adapted and modified the entire series as the framing device for a multi-volume backstory that essentially rebuilt First Gundam from the ground up. It created such a sensation that Yas went on to direct the anime version in six theatrical films that have since been imported to the English-speaking world.
The manga was fully translated and published in 12 handsome hardcover volumes by Vertical Inc. and can be ordered from Amazon.com starting here. It belongs on your shelf, too.
MS Gundam the Origin I
Blue-eyed Casval program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN I 青い瞳のキャスバル
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the first film, 2015.
MS Gundam the Origin II
Artesia’s Sorrow program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN II 哀しみのアルテイシア
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the second film, 2015.
MS Gundam the Origin III
Dawn of Rebellion program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN III 暁の蜂起
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the third film, 2016.
MS Gundam the Origin IV
Eve of Destiny program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN IV 運命の前夜
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the fourth film, 2016.
MS Gundam the Origin V
Clash at Loum program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN V 激突 ルウム会戦
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the fifth film, 2017.
MS Gundam the Origin VI
Rise of the Red Comet program book
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN VI 誕生 赤い彗星
Color, 28 pages
Sold in theaters with the sixth film, 2018.
MS Gundam the Origin Vol. 21.5
B&W paperback, 132 pages
A bonus item with Gundam Ace magazine, 2011; guidebook to the story of the anime and the manga leading up to the climax.
MS Gundam The Origin Historia
機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN ヒストリア
Color, 112 pages
Takarajima, 2019
Overview of the six films with story digest and world guide. Order it here.