Ever since it debuted, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has been a landmark property within the mecha anime genre. Beforehand, the genre was dominated by "Super Robot" anime, with Gundam ushering in the age of the Real Robot. It did so by circumventing several tropes and expectations, with these changes, additions, and absences cementing the Real Robot subgenre.
Source:https://www.cbr.com/og-gundam-anime-subverts-giant-robot-cliches/