Musha Gundam

Musha Gundam (武者 頑駄無, Musha Gandamu^?) are Gundam units modelled after samurai, ninja, or other forms of feudal Japanese warriors. Inheriting the base SD Gundam design, typical design element include changing beam sabre into katana, sheath that act as a gun, removable armour suits. Although the concept began with more typical Gundam proportions, the idea is most famous for inspiring a long-running SD Gundam franchise.

Outline

The Musha Gundam series is the longest running SD Gundam series, lasting over 15 years.

Since the series is set in the Warring States period, use of katakana is avoided and kanji is used heavily. With exception of Musha Senki and Musha Generation, names of characters, items, and places usually makes no literal sense unless you read it, similar to Mondegreen. For example, '頑駄無' is pronounced 'Gan Da Mu', or 'Gundam'.

Apart from Musha Generation and the Tekki Musha(鉄機武者), all the Mushas from Musha Gundam series are not viewed as mechanical robots. They portrayed as living beings that grow and mature similar to humans. Furthering this, often relationships between mecha in the main series are turned into family ties. For example, the Musha versions of Psyco and Pscyco Mk II are rendered as brothers.

Themes of heritage, duty and honor run strongly through Musha Gundam. Many motifs are frequently revisited, such as a central hero aided by four others. These heroes will often receive powers, armours and ranks handed down by predecessor similar teams. Later Musha Gundam works would also introduce characters passed over for the ranks of the central heroes. These characters would ultimately come to respect the heroes as superior candidates or destroy themselves through their own ambition.

Origins

Musha Gundam first appeared in "Plamo Kyoshiro"<プラモ狂四郎> (Story by Craft dan and art by Koichi Yamato). In the story it is an original Gundam created by Kyoshiro (the protagonist) for the showdown with Shigeru. The original design of the SD form Musha Gundam is credited to Koichi Yamato and Craft dan representative, Yasui Hisashi.

With a growing fanbase and raging popularity, Musha Gundam products like the 1987 SD Gundam Gashapon MK13 and in 1988 BB Senshi No.17 where created. The products were extremely popular with the school children. And thus Musha Gundam graduated from SD Gundam to a stand-alone genre.

The story of Musha Gundam, SD Sengokuden, originated from the manga "Seven Gundams" of the "Comic World" series by MARSHI (a.k.a Susumu Imaishi) which is published in the assembly manual of the BB Senshi No.17 Musha Gundam kit. SD Sengokuden then expanded via a tie-up plan between BB Senshi maker Bandai and Comic Bom Bom. And so in Comic Bom Bom there is "Ganso! SD Gundam" by Koji Yokoi (alias. Retsu Toriyama), who is the person that devised the SD Gundam design, to supplement the "Musha Shichinin Shuu" manga that is serializing in "Comic World".

In 1990, "SD Musha Gundam Fuunroku" debuted in Comic Bom Bom's supplement "Bom Bom Special". It is drawn by Koichi Yamato, the father of Musha Gundam. With this full-length manga series, the story told in Comic World is allowed to expand beyond the restrictions of an assembly manual manga. It is able to supplement the Comic World story and give it more detail although there is often minor differences in the story of the two mediums.

Besides manga and plamo, Musha Gundam also expanded to anime and games.

Appearances in video games

Musha Gundam makes a non-SD appearance in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam as a major antagonist in the games Original Mode storyline. In Original Mode, a mysterious planet appears near Earth, and characters from numerous Gundam series and timelines fight each other to control the planet's power. However, once a victor is declared, Musha Gundam is awakened and threatens the destruction of Earth. In the PS2 Version, Musha Gundam has another assistant, Musha Gundam Mk-II, however, neither was satisfied with the other, and end up killing each other. In the Xbox 360 and PS3 version, Musha Gundam is an unlockable unit. The player must defeat the Musha Gundam to save Earth. In Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2 Both Musha Gundam and Musha Gundam Mk-II also appear as unlockable playable units.

Series list

SD Sengokuden relations

SD Sengokuden

This series uses designs from the Universal Century Gundam series, up to Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack.

• Musha Shichinin Shuu Hen (1988–1990)
• Fuurinkazan Hen (1990–1991)
• Tenka Touitsu Hen (1991–1992)
• Tenka Taihei Hen (1993)

Shin SD Sengokuden relations

Shin SD Sengokuden

This series centers around Gundam F91, V Gundam and G Gundam designs.

• Chijou Saikyou Hen (1992–1993)
• Densetsu no Daishougun Hen (1993–1994)
• Shichinin no Choushougun Hen (1994–1995)
• Chou Kidou Daishougun Hen (1995–1996)
• Kidou Musha Taisen (1996, PlayStation game)

Chou SD Sengokuden

• Bushin Kirahagane (1996–1997)
• Touba Daishougun (1997–1998)
• Tensei Shichinin Shuu (1998–1999)

Musha Senki

This series is heavily influenced by Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz designs.

• Musha Senki ~Hikari no Hengen Hen~ (1999–2000)

Musha Generation

This is the first series where an SD Gundam unit is driven by (equally deformed) human pilot. Unlike regular series, the rampant use of ateji on robots was absent.

• SD Gundam Musha Generation (2000)

Mushamaruden

In this series, Musha Gundam travels through time to a place known as the Pegasus Nation, which is early 21st century Japan. Many of the old SD Mushas made guest appearances.

• SD Gundam Mushamaruden (2001–2002)
• SD Gundam Musha Maruden 2 (2002–2003)
• SD Gundam Musha Maruden 3 (2003–2004)

Musharetsuden

This series is a loose remake of Musha Shichinin Shuu Hen.

• SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden Bukabuka Hen (2004–2005)
• SD Gundam Force Emaki Musharetsuden Zero (2004–2005)

Musha Banchō Fūunroku

This series features Gundams who can combine in pairs.

• SD Gundam Musha Banchō Fūunroku (2006–2007)

BB Senshi Sangokuden

Ongoing Musha Gundam adaptation of Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

• Fuuun Gouketsu Hen (2007–2008)
• Eiyuu Gekitotsu Hen (2008–2009)
• Senjin Kettou Hen (2009–2010)

World view

Ark (天宮) A country with a Japanese feel. This country is where the mushas populate and the country where most of the chapters happen at. In the first three chapters the places are often unnamed, only from Chijou Saikyou Hen are places named. Ark is affiliated to the Phoenix. Abram (影舞乱夢) A country with a Chinese feel. Officially introduced in the Chijou Saikyou Hen but its citizens (Bushin Gundam) first appeared in Ark long before the time of Chijou Saikyou Hen. Abram is affiliated with the Dragon. Albion (赤流火穏) A country with an Indian feel. The third country that first appeared in Chijou Saikyou Hen. Albion is affiliated with the Lion. Crossbone Island (黒守暴穏島) A cursed island in the middle of the three countries. Dark clouds cover the skies there, leaving an opening in the shape of a four-pointed star where red light shines through.
Peace (緋州の国) The country north of Ark where the events of Tensei Shichinin Shuu take place. It too has a Japanese feel like Ark. So far it has only been featured in Tensei Shichinin Shuu and mentioned in Musha Senki.	Map of Peace
Pegasus (天馬の国) More commonly known as modern Japan. Japan is the setting for the Mushamaruden trilogy.
Mirisha (三璃紗): Shou, Gou, Giga (翔, 轟, 機駕) The continent where the three kingdoms that build the setting for BB Senshi Sangokuden reside. According to the "G Chronicle" in the story, Mirisha is the future name of Abram.

See also

• Knight Gundam
• SD Command Chronicles
• Superior Defender Gundam Force