Mobile Suit Gundam SEED is the ninth installment in the Gundam franchise. The series is the first of the series set in the "Cosmic Era" in which mankind is divided between normal Earth dwelling humans, known as "Naturals", and genetically altered super-humans known as Coordinators. The story revolves around a young Coordinator Kira Yamato who becomes involved in the war between the two races. The television series was broadcast in Japan between 2002 and 2003. It was licensed by Bandai Entertainment for broadcast in North America and began airing in the U.S. and Canada in 2004.