I was debating whether to talk about Full Metal Alchemist or Mobile Suit Gundam and I was writing just a comment first but then it was too long already and so I made it into a post.
In the end, Mobile Suit Gundam won out because I watched it earlier and also made me into a Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Model) addict at one point.
Just like most westerners, my first exposure to the Mobile Suit Gundam universe was 1995 Mobile Suit Gundam Wing aired in Cartoon Network's Toonami program on 2000.
I took one look at it and was immediately hooked! There will be mild spoilers in this post so proceed with caution.
# Operation Meteor
The timeline of the Mobile Suit Gundam universe is too vast to discuss but may be searched on with additional reading [here](http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Gundam_Wiki:Timelines).
The event takes place on After Colony 195. When the Earth is unified under the United Earth Sphere Alliance. Space has been conquered and mankind has set to creating space colonies who provide food, shelter, and resources to its inhabitants.
The Alliance treats the space colonies as 2nd class citizens and so they set out to free themselves from the tyrannical rule with the pacifist Heero Yuy attempting to do it through peaceful means. He was later on assassinated and this started a more aggressive assault as five scientists created the Gundams.
# The Five Gundams and their Pilots
Gundams are specialized Mobile Suits created for war and is often leagues apart from the mass produced mobile suits used by the armies. These machines are often humanoid-looking robots that have a variety of weapons and armors.
### Gundam Wing Zero
<center>[Source](https://static.zerochan.net/Mobile.Suit.Gundam.Wing.full.33841.jpg)</center>
The titular character of the series the Gundam Wing Zero it is armed with a beam rifle that can shoot a massive energy blast. It is also equipped with a beam saber and shield for close quarter combat.
It has the perfect combination of mobility and high firepower both close and long range combat. It has a Bird mode transformation that gives it the ability to fly at high speeds.
<div class="pull-left">https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmTTVbCgYodQveHMwyUiAQ5grufRu8cgpSocGZJu7hQFo6</div>
It is piloted by the very serious Heero Yuy, no relation to the previously indicated pacifist martyr which may indicate it is a not his real name.
I thought that he was so cool with the way that he carried himself as just focused on his mission and saying all sorts of cool stuff throughout the series. Boys just wanted to be him. Well, I did!
<hr>
### Gundam Heavy Arms
<center></center>
<center>[Source](http://gundam-musou.jp/image/ms/ms9_3.jpg)</center>
If you are going to war then this is definitely what you want to bring. The Gundam Heavy Arms is literally armed to the teeth! Sporting a Gatling gun on its left arm and two chest mounted Gatling guns as well, it also had several pods of missiles on its shoulders and legs. This was a walking tank with enough firepower to level an army.
<div class="pull-left">https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmWEY8Pn9zGuAwegN7rPhiVqkwgZFE8qGeJzsLiffvFkCb</div>
Piloted by the enigmatic Trowa Barton who is always cool under pressure and very efficient in dispatching enemies. There is a similarity between Heero and Trowa in terms of their personality.
He has a very mysterious past and one that was being explored in the anime and also in the subsequent OVA Endless Waltz.
<div>
<hr>
### Gundam Deathsycthe
<center>[Source](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/6b/9a/eb6b9a0e30df90881ee2d32eb2dfcb44.jpg)</center>
When they were thinking of the concepts for these models someone might have said what is cooler than a Gundam? A Gundam modeled after the Grim Reaper! And so here we are with a Gundam armed with a beam scythe and a cloaking technology that could render it invisible until it ready to slice the enemy in half!
Colored black, white and with red accents it really looked bad ass but one drawback I saw was its limitation to close quarter combat except if it launches its beam shield.
It is piloted by the self-described lady magnet Duo Maxwell, who is loud and hotheaded which is contrary to the silent assassin type of his Gundam machine. He often jokes around and being silly.
<hr>
### Gundam Sandrock
<center></center>
<center>[Source](https://i.gifer.com/QJ9v.gif)</center>
Gundam Sandrock is armed with two shotels who can be heated to increase its deadliness. He also has a beam machine gun for mid-range battles but generally prefers close quarter combat.
<div class="pull-left">https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmVgqMyiXhuinRvdQd3TA2mv3BUjZWxk7NLwfqbt2jAnhe</div>
Piloted by Quatre Raberba, born of a wealthy family that has a lot of connections. He appears to be the youngest among the five pilots and one that is seen as kind as compared to the rest.
<hr>
### Gundam Shenlong
<center>!
</center>
<center>[Source](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/c/cf/XXXG-01S_Shenlong_Gundam.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20120315183940)</center>
The Gundam Shenlong clearly is going for a dragon motif here with a dragon head shaped shield on its right arm which can also be used as a flame thrower. It also has a Beam Spear which it uses to poke and destroy enemies, finding weak spots on their armor.
<div class="pull-left">https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmPuw5AbHKcTCMyqw6QDz33kDC92G5R8P8esmXzb5YR9dD
</div>
Chang Wufei while appearing calm is also known to have periods of bursting into anger which often has disastrous results for him. In both Gundam Wing and the OVA Endless Waltz his character was not really built up but on the prequel manga Episode Zero he has a compelling backstory.
<hr>
### Tallgeese
<center></center>
</center>[Source](https://orig00.deviantart.net/160b/f/2016/311/b/e/lineart_color__mg_tallgeese__anime_colors__by_darkton93-danktek.png)</center>
Although technically not a Gundam but it was the prototype on which all Gundams were based on. It is equipped with a beam rifle and has a shield which also contains two beam sabers.
Just like the Gundam Wing, it is a perfect meld of long range and close quarters combat, coupled with high mobility and speed.
<div class="pull-left">https://ipfs.busy.org/ipfs/QmSs4MJ8VPfYuAoLf5jWUeFTmCS9susoXZzoWDkjNcqs2q
</div>
Zechs Merquise is a masked pilot who is considered an ace in the Organization of the Zodiac, which is the military arm of the Alliance. He is the rival of the main protagonist Heero Yuy and the duels they fought are awesome.
There is more than meets the eye though.
<hr>
Little did I know that Zech's is very similar to a very iconic character in the Gundam Universe, [Char Aznable](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Char_Aznable)
An antagonist and even an anti hero in several Gundam titles, Char even overshadowed the main protagonist in several occasions that the Gundam series almost always inserts a Char-like character in their show.
This has led some people to see the Gundam series as too formulatic as it revolves around a young man discovering these incredible machines called Gundams. The main Gundam would often have the red, white and blue color motif.
There would be a war that the protagonist will be thrust on unwillingly but he would eventually discover himself and save the day. There is usually a female love interest.
Yet to me each series is great and I have watched most series and even watching the original one Mobile Suit Gundam, although the animation has not aged well.
Some of my other favorites are Gundam Seed, Gundam Turn A, the short Gundam Thunderbolt that has a kick ass sound and Gundam 00.
If I was to be asked what is my favorite I would answer Mobile Suit Gundam Wing however after watching [Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Suit_Gundam:_Iron-Blooded_Orphans) that has become my top pick now and would fully recommend you to watch it.
<hr>
So this is my answer to this contest [Share Your Favorite Anime Challenge - Engage With Fellow Steemians](https://steemit.com/animechallenge/@fycee/share-your-favorite-anime-challenge-engage-with-fellow-steemians) by @fycee
Watching anime is something that I really enjoy and I have lost countless hours watching it. It is a great way to see heroes, anti-heroes, villains and the story behind them.
Growing up watching Gundam Wing was something that I really enjoyed as it showed me that Anime and cartoons were not merely for kids as it tackled the very adult topic of war and the choices that you make will impact other people.
So what's your favorite anime?
[Source for Heero](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/b/b6/Heero-196.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20110225214648)
[Source for Trowa](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/dynastywarriors/images/c/cf/Trowa-dwg3.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20111005193546)
[Source for Quatre](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/f/fe/Quatre_winner.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20130211014604)
[Source for Wufei](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTEvL7BShx3rPdmHvvAWy2VRBU_9TtakF8lVpFvk3DVD_JgZjeh)</center>
[Source for Zechs](https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/gundam/images/9/99/Masked_zechs.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20121130044333)