After Mobile Suit Victory Gundam finished airing in Japan in early 1994, Bandai celebrated Gundam's 15th anniversary by trying something new: free the franchise from the continuity of the Universal Century (and sell more model kits). Thus, the alternate universes were born that are the settings for every TV series following Victory Gundam.

Premiering in 1994, Mobile Fighter G Gundam was the first alternate universe series, and perhaps 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 (some of which are really ridiculous looking), and the Gundams fight on Earth until only one is left. Set in 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 fulfill a personal quest.

See also:

• List of Gundam series.