Gundam (ガンダム, Gandamu), also known as the Gundam series (ガンダムシリーズ一覧, Gandamu Shirīzu ichiran), is a Japanese science fiction media franchise/media mix created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise that features giant robots (mecha) with the name "Gundam" (after the original titular mecha). The franchise began on April 7, 1979 with Mobile Suit Gundam, a TV series that defined the "real robot" mecha anime genre by featuring giant robots called mobile suits in a militaristic setting.