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 humankind 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, on the Tokyo Broadcasting System Television and MBS TV networks, beginning a broadcast partnership with the franchise.