By the way, watched the first episode of Shining Gundam and it is the cheesiest show I've ever watched.
I have never heard of the show Shining Gundam. I think you mean Mobile Fighter G Gundam, that has the Shining Gundam and the pilot Domon Kasshu as its main character.
If you are starting to watch Gundam for the first time, than Gundam SEED, Gundam Wing or Gundam 0079 are probably the best to start with. With SEED still being my all time favorite.
Uhm, Theforeshadower. The gundam series have multiple timelines. There are no real timelines between the various universes. The gundam series are like the Zelda games. Some series are sequels to other series but since Mobile Fighter G Gundam (and to a lesser extend Mobile Suit Victory Gundam) each series started a new timeline. These are the timelines and order of the series:
Universal CenturyMobile Suit Gundam (aka Gundam 0079) ->
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam ->
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (Double Zeta) ->
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack ->
Mobile Suit Gundam F91 ->
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
Then there are some movies and miniseries that happen during and between Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. But these are better watched at the end in order not to spoil suprises.
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Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket-
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory (also 0083: Last blitz of Zeon)
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Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team ( also Miller's Report)
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Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: - The Hidden One Year War
- Apocalypse 0079
- 2: The Gravity Front
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Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (new and still airing)
Future CenturyA complete new and alternate universe that no longer has any ties to Universal Century timeline. It has only one series:
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Mobile Fighter G GundamAfter ColonyAnother new timeline, with one series and one movie/miniseries:
New Mobile Report Gundam W(ing) ->
New Mobile Report Gundam W(ing): Endless WaltzAfter WarThis timeline also only has one series:
After War Gundam XCorrect CenturyOnly one series in this timeline:
Turn A Gundam (or ∀ Gundam)
Cosmic EraThe only timeline since Universal Century that has more than one full length series. Two series and one miniseries:
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED ->
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny ->
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: StargazerAnno DominiThe first timeline that is nonfictional. The series is:
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (Double Oh)
This series in this timeline often refers to actual problem area's with war situations, like the Middle East and Northern Ireland. The series is also set in 2307 AD. There is also some discussion about whether it is one series or two series, because the second season began broadcasting about 6 months after the first season had ended. Also there is a 4 year gap in the story between the first and second season.
There are a lot of additional novels and short movies, as well as the series
Mobile Suit Gundam Evolve and
SD Gundam that give some extra story elements. Oh, yeah. The Americans also made a movie based on the Universal Century Gundams, which is also set to be at the end of the Universal Century. This movie is called
G-Saviour.