Series: Mobile Fighter G Gundam
Mobile Fighter G Gundam (機動武闘伝Ｇガンダム) , or G Gundam for short, is an anime series set in the Future Century timeline of the Gundam metaseries.
After Mobile Suit Victory Gundam finished airing in Japan in early 1994, Bandai commemorated Gundam’s 15th anniversary by trying something new: developing the franchise outside the continuity of the Universal Century. Thus, the non-Universal Century worlds were born that are the settings for every TV series following Victory Gundam.
Premiering in 1994, Mobile Fighter G Gundam was the first non-Universal Century animated Gundam series, and one of the most controversial. Directed by Giant Robo’s Yasuhiro Imagawa, this series takes a vastly different approach to the Gundam saga. Instead of having wars between the colonies and the Earth, a fighting tournament is held to determine the ruler of the colonies. Called the Gundam Fight, it is held once every four years by the United Colonies Federation. Each country has its own representative Gundam, and the Gundams fight on Earth until only one is left. Set in Future Century (FC) 60, this series chronicles the 13th Gundam Fight and stars Neo Japanese Gundam Fighter Domon Kasshu, who is in the fight as much to win as to fulfil a personal quest.
Detractors criticize G Gundam as either an ugly parody of the Gundam world or a thinly disguised take on the Street Fighter/Dragon Ball Z trend with the Gundam name. There is a following of G Gundam fans who liked its out of worldliness and willingness to play up exaggerated national stereotypes for comedic effect.
The TV show did not achieve high ratings in Japan. However, its model sales were strong, and Bandai has deemed the show a success. Also, after the inclusion of G Gundam in the Super Robot Wars games, it became very popular. (Wikipedia)