Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans

On a terraformed, post-disaster Mars, a group of young security mercenaries break away from the people who raised and used them as tools. They pilot battered mobile suits to protect a vulnerable political client and to carve out an independent future, while outside powers from Earth try to control the planet and its resources. The narrative follows their field operations, the day-to-day work of keeping a fledgling organization afloat, and the bonds that form among fighters who rely on one another for survival, hope, and a sense of family amid political violence.

The series premiered in 2015, credited to creators Yoshiyuki Tomino and Mari Okada, and produced by Sunrise. It ran as an original television anime rather than an adaptation, and it introduced a grittier tone to modern mecha storytelling.

The show stood out for treating child soldiers and mercenary life with unflinching seriousness, sparking conversations about ethics in war and the costs of political ambition. Its aesthetic, grounded mechanical designs, and focus on labor and money in warfare influenced fan discussions and fuelled a lasting fandom that keeps model kits and scenes circulating online.

Critical reception was mixed to positive, reflected in a user vote average of 7.483 out of 10 from 59 votes, with many viewers praising its political stakes, action choreography, and familial themes, while others critiqued pacing and tonal shifts. Major themes include loyalty, the consequences of violence, class and resource exploitation, and how found family can become both strength and vulnerability amid larger geopolitical struggles.

While it did not dominate major international award circuits, the series earned strong viewership and fan recognition, and it continues to be referenced when anime tackles war, politics, and morally gray protagonists, maintaining relevance in genre discussions years after its release.