Gundam

This article is about the anime series. For the mecha themselves, see Mobile weapons.

RX-78-2 Gundam. Art by Hajime Katoki.

The Gundam Series (ガンダムシリーズ, Gandamu Shirīzu^?) is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots (or "mecha") called "Mobile Suits" (MS); usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam.

The metaseries started on April 7, 1979, as a serial TV show called Mobile Suit Gundam. That first TV series has since spawned a franchise that has come to include works released in numerous media. Titles have appeared in the form of multiple television series and OVAs, movies, manga, novels and video games, among other modes. The story from the original 1979 series has been considerably extended with sequels, prequels, side stories and alternate timelines. As a result, the title Gundam has become a collective term for the seven distinct but related timelines that can be pieced together from the stories that appear in the Gundam franchise. Generally speaking, the timelines do not intersect, but they do contain a few common elements such as the titular war machines called Gundam. However, all Gundam timelines and worlds, long after their own anime series, do eventually intersect and combine in the series Turn A Gundam.^[1][2]

The original timeline for the Gundam series was the Universal Century (UC) series, which included Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985). Since the 1990s, alternative timelines have been produced and developed, including the Future Century, After Colony, After War, Correct Century, Cosmic Era, Anno Domini and Advanced Generation timelines.

As of January 21, 2008, the Gundam franchise is a 50 billion yen trademark.^[3] A year 2000 press release stated that retail sales of Gundam items had totaled $5 billion.^[4] In the 2008 ranking of average sales figures for anime copies sold in Japan (1970-2008 total sales figures averaged by episode), Gundam series were in four of the top five places: Mobile Suit Gundam ranked second, with Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny third, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED fourth, and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam fifth. Also, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing ranked 18th and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ ranked 20th.^[5] Gunpla's (Gundam Plastic model) holds 90% of the Japan character plastic model market.^[6]

Academic fields in Japan have also viewed the series as a good inspiration in research fields, with the Gundam academy (or officially International Gundam Society) being the first academic institution based on an animated TV series.^[7]

Overview

Concept

Mobile Suit Gundam was principally developed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Tomino, along with a changing group of Sunrise creators who went under the collective pseudonym of "Hajime Yatate".

During its conceptual phase, the series was titled Freedom Fighter Gunboy, or simply Gunboy for the gun the robot was armed with, and the primary target demographic were shōnen (boys). In the early production stages, there were numerous references to the word "freedom": the White Base was originally "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter was the "Freedom Wing", and the Gunperry was the "Freedom Cruiser". The Yatate team combined the English word "gun" with the last syllable of the word "freedom" to form the name Gundom. Tomino then changed it to the current title, suggesting that Gundam signified a powerful unit wielding a gun powerful enough to hold back enemies, like a hydroelectric dam holding back floods.^[8]

Most Gundams are large, bipedal vehicles controlled from cockpits by a human pilot. The majority of these "mobile suits" have a cockpit in the "torso" of the machine, with a camera built into the "head" to transmit images to the cockpit (with the exception of the head-mounted cockpits in Psyco Gundam) and are non-sentient machines, with the exceptions of the artificial intelligence A.L.I.C.E. in the side-story Gundam Sentinel^[9] and four mobile suits built with the EXAM System and sharing a Newtype human soul in The Blue Destiny.^[10]

Innovation

Mobile Suit Gundam is said to have pioneered the real robot era of mecha anime.^[11]

Unlike its super robot cousins, Gundam attempted a realism in the robot design and weaponry, by running out of energy and ammunition or breaking and malfunctioning. The technology is practical and is either derived from true science (such as Lagrange points in space and the O'Neill cylinder as a living environment) or at least well-explained, feasible technology, requiring only a few fictional elements to function (such as Minovsky Physics as a means of energy production from helium-3).^[12]

The necessity of developing humanoid robots is also explained, albeit fictional. The fictional Minovsky particle pervasive in Universal Century is depicted as interfering with radar-guided long-distance cruise missiles, anti-aircraft guns, missiles, and all early warning systems, with weapons systems having to rely on human eyes. In Universal Century, the space-based Principality of Zeon rebels against Earth Federation, requiring a weapons system that could function in zero and normal gravity and be able to open and close air locks, plant demolition charges, and engage with enemy tanks and planes; with a robotic giant being an excellent choice. Once mobile suits have been developed by one side, the opposing force had to develop a similar system, just as British invention of tanks lead to the development of tanks in Germany, and eventually led to tank-to-tank battles.

Gundam's realistic scientific setting has gained a reputation in the field itself as well. On July 18, 2007, when MIT's Astronautics Department's Professor Dava Newman displayed a biosuit, the suit was referenced as Mobile Suit Gundam's Normal Suit is now real by various news agencies.^[13][14] On February 14, 2008, when NASA proposed research into nuclear thermal rockets, Technobahn, a scientific journal in Japan, referred to the usage of nuclear thermal rocket engines on mobile suits in the Gundam universe.^[15]

Narrative

The narrative itself revolves around the mobile suits and their pilots fighting in a war, in which destruction and dehumanization are inherent, through multiple sides; each faction having their own heroes and villains, all of which have their own unique motives, failings, and virtues. Gundam also features political battles and debates on various important philosophical issues and political ideals on the nature and meaning of war, the ideal of pacifism, and the continuing evolution - natural or engineered - of humanity and its consequences. These are often framed in the series as a debate between the protagonist and antagonist over the course of a duel, as they try to convince each other of the righteousness of their causes.

Finally, most of the stories are basically structured as "coming-of-age" dramas, where the main protagonist (and sometimes the main antagonist) and most of the cast's personalities, points of view, allegiances, goals, and actions may or may not change dramatically as events unfold. This makes the plot seem more realistic than earlier super robot animated series where the hero and cast usually act in the same predictable manner, with little connection between the episodes. The best example of this is how the personalities of longtime rivals, Amuro Ray and Char Aznable, are influenced by their experiences in the Gundam saga.

Characteristics and variations

As a metaseries, Gundam functions with different designs and coloring (with most following Kunio Okawara's original Gundam design). Producer Masahiko Asano wrote in his notes on the production of S Gundam that everyone seemed to have their own idea of Gundam and in the meeting, they were trying to find the asymptotic view for everyone in the meeting.^[16]

• In the Universal Century timeline, "Gundam" is the name of the Earth Federation's (Chikyū Renpō, 地球連邦) first experimental general-purpose mobile suit, which is incredibly powerful, compared to most of the mass-produced models eventually used by either side. Afterwards, many powerful mobile suits based on the Gundam's design also carry the name, such as the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II, MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, LM312V04 Victory Gundam, etc. The Anaheim Gundams, or Greek alphabet Gundams are a series of mobile suits developed by the fictional company Anaheim Electronics, some of them are notably carrying different style heads than other Gundams in the series, like the Rick Dias (Gamma Gundam) and Hyaku Shiki (Delta Gundam). In this timeline, Gundam often stands for General-purpose Utility, Non Discontinuity Augmentation Maneuvering weapon system.
• In the Future Century timeline, the word "Gundam" refers to a space colony's entry in the "Gundam Fight", a competition that determines which colony would rule the Earth for the next 4 years. The pilots who use these Gundams are known as "Gundam Fighters". However, some suits that are called Gundams are not entries in the Gundam Fight at all, with the most operative examples being the JDG-009X (JDG-00X) Devil Gundam and the JMF-1336R (JMF1336R) Rising Gundam.
• In the After Colony timeline, the word "Gundam" refers to most mobile suits constructed out of a special alloy called "Gundanium", which can only be mined and produced in space. This alloy gives the Gundams high resistance to conventional weaponry and renders them stealthy under radar, due to its nature of absorbing electromagnetic radiation. Every Gundam has a unique name that befits the nature of the suit and/or its origins, such as the XXXG-01W Wing Gundam, XXXG-01D Gundam Deathscythe and the XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam.
• The After War timeline is a loose continuation of the Universal Century, presenting an alternate scenario, with many of the mecha designs loosely based on Universal Century suits. The "Gundam" in this show refers to mobile suits from the previous era built from lunar titanium alloy, and suits made in the After War era that were based on Gundams.
• In the Correct Century timeline, the name "Gundam" is given to the Gundam "Turn A" mobile suit by a specific character, who was originally an ace pilot, but was placed under suspended animation. The color scheme of the Turn A reminds the character of the Gundam mobile suits from previous eras.
• In the Cosmic Era works, Gundams are mobile suits that carry a specific type of operating system, first secretly produced (without the programmer himself knowing what he is programming the system for) by the one of the protagonist's robotics research group, and faced a few upgrades by various factions throughout the story. The acronym of the operating system's original version and its variations always spells "GUNDAM", hence the name of the suits. However, this is retconned by later toys and scale models tagging the "Gundam", after the unit's own name.
• In the Anno Domini timeline of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, the term Gundam is the generic designation of a line of unique and highly effective mobile units developed by Celestial Being, such as the GN-001 Gundam Exia and GN-002 Gundam Dynames. Distinct from concurrently introduced weapons, suit torsos contain a core generator system known as the GN Drive or Solar Furnace, capable of sustaining independent unit function for an indefinite period of time without needing to refuel. In addition, onboard propulsion recycles the generator's GN particle exhaust for high-speed, virtually unlimited output. The particle exhaust disrupts the use of conventional radar and a range of wireless communications.
• In the Advanced Generation of Mobile Suit Gundam AGE, the Gundam was a legendary mobile suit developed by ancestors of main character Flit Asuno. When he inherits the AGE Device from his mother, which contains plans of a mobile suit that resembles a painting of the Gundam he saw, he decides to name the new mobile suit "Gundam".

See also the Japanese article for Gundam Type /ガンダムタイプ for details.

Calendar system

The majority of Gundam, including the earliest series, occur in the Universal Century (UC) calendar, with later series set in alternate calendars or timelines mostly unrelated to the UC system (at least three of these calendar systems were actually initially numbered after the year that the series premiered, with 1979's Mobile Suit Gundam taking place in UC 0079, 1995's Mobile Suit Gundam Wing in After Colony 195, and 2007's Mobile Suit Gundam 00 taking place in 2307).

• Mobile Fighter G Gundam takes place in the Future Century (FC), where space colonies have gained the upper hand over Earth, consequently attempting to put an end to the internal power struggles now plaguing the planet.
• Mobile Suit Gundam Wing takes place in the After Colony (AC) calendar system, set after the foundation of the first space colony, where Earth firmly maintains repressive control over its colonies.
• After War Gundam X takes place in the After War (AW) timeline, set after the conclusion of the 7th Space War, where the Earth is devastated by massive colony drops.
• ∀ Gundam takes place in the CC (正歴, Seireki^?) calendar system, which director Yoshiyuki Tomino intended as the distant future of all previous timelines. The CC sees the colonies becoming much stronger than the Earth, but unlike the FC timeline, takes a more aggressive stance towards it. The English acronym of CC is Correct Century (コレクトセンチュリー), in the official Japanese ∀ guide book.
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, its sequels, and spinoffs take place in the Cosmic Era, with CE referring to the years after the foundation of the first space colonies.
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00, is so far the only series to occur during the non-fictional Anno Domini (西暦, Seireki^?) timeline. This is reflected in the show with a worldview that more reflects the modern world, and the presence of real-life conflicts and rebel groups such as RIRA and the Tamil Tigers.
• Mobile Suit Gundam AGE takes place in the Advanced Generation (AG) calendar system, which is set after hundreds of years of space colonization and is characterized by the end of all wars in the Earth sphere and a period of peace before the sudden attack of the UE.

Bandai and Japanese-speaking fans unofficially refer to projects not directly related to the first Gundam series or its staffers (such as Gundam Sentinel and Mobile Fighter G Gundam) as "Another Gundam" stories, and to projects made after 1989 as "Heisei Gundam" stories. On a survey for a video game that would become Gundam: True Odyssey, the Cosmic Era series (including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Astray) were collectively referred to as "21st Century First Gundam" (a reference to the original Mobile Suit Gundam series). English-speaking fans have used the term "Alternate Universe" ("AU" for short) as a nickname for the stories that do not take place within the Universal Century timeline, but this is made unofficial for use in Japan.

Franchise

Animated series and films

Name	Media	Year(s)	MSG Date
Mobile Suit Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1979-1980 1981-1982	U.C. 0079
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1985-1986 2005-2006	U.C. 0087
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ	TV series	1986–1987	U.C. 0088
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack	Movie	1988	U.C. 0093
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket	OVA	1989	U.C. 0080
Super Deformed Gundam	Movie OVA TV series	1988–1989, 1991, 1993 1988, 1990 1993	Unknown
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory	OVA Compilation movie	1991 1992	U.C. 0083
Mobile Suit Gundam F91	Movie	1991	U.C. 0123
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam	TV series	1993	U.C. 0153
Mobile Fighter G Gundam	TV series	1994–1995	F.C. 60
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing	TV series Compilation OVA	1995-1996 1996	A.C.195
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team	OVA Compilation movie	1996 1998	U.C. 0079
After War Gundam X	TV series	1996	A.W. 0015
Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz	OVA Compilation movie	1997 1998	A.C.196
Turn A Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1999-2000 2002	C.C. 2345
Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu	Amusement park attraction movie	2000	U.C. 0079
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Divers	Specialty format movie	2001	U.C. 0087
Gundam Evolve	Animated shorts	2001–2005	various
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED	TV series Compilation specials	2002-2003 2004	C.E.71
Superior Defender Gundam Force	TV series	2003–2004	Neotopia
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: The Hidden One Year War	Movies	2004	U.C. 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny	TV series Compilation specials	2004-2005 2006-2007	C.E.73
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO: Apocalypse 0079	OVA	2006	U.C. 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer	ONA	2006	C.E.73
Mobile Suit Gundam 00	TV series Compilation specials	2007-2008 2008-2009	2307-2312 AD
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO 2: The Gravity Front	OVA	2009	U.C. 0079
Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn	OVA	2010-?? (In Production)	U.C. 0096
SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors	Movie TV series	2010	Mirisha
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer	Movie	2010	2314 AD
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: The Movie	Movie	To be Announced	C.E.
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G	OVA	2010	2010 AD
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE[17]	TV Series	2011-?? (In Production)	A.G. 115
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin[18]	TBA	TBA	U.C. 0079

Further development

In an interview in the February 2009 issue of OtonaFami, Yoshiyuki Tomino commented on the lack of planning of Sunrise and Bandai and that because a good movie needs 3–4 years of production time, it is too late for him to do anything for 2009, the 30th anniversary of Gundam. However, he did comment that it was not too late to begin considering the 35th anniversary. His wish was that in the future, a common sentence people would use would be to Think like Gundam.^[19]

Super Deformed Gundam

Main article: Super Deformed Gundam

SD Gundam originated from a contributed illustration of a junior high school student from Nagoya by the name of Koji Yokoi to the "Model News" magazine that Bandai was issuing in the 1980s. The illustration is of a Gundam but with an unusual proportion where the overall height of the Gundam is equal to twice that of its head. This illustration interested the chief editor and so leading to Koji Yokoi serializing SD Gundam in 4 frame comics in "Model News".

The super deformed design was suitable for capsule toys and so SD Gundam started merchandising with the Gashapon series "SD Gundam World" in 1985. Although at first SD Gundam started out as a parody of the Gundam series by the 1990s SD Gundam spawned many spin-off series, SD Sengokuden (Musha Gundam) which has a Sengoku setting, SD Gundam Gaiden (Knight Gundam) which has a fantasy medieval setting and SD Command Chronicles which has a modern military style to name a few.

With its popularity, SD Gundam merchandise expanded to include manga, trading cards, anime and video games.

Live-action film

Main article: G-Saviour

G-Saviour is a live-action television movie set in the Universal Century timeline of the Gundam metaseries. It also officially marks the last events of the Universal Century.^[20]

Manga and novels

Main article: List of Gundam manga and novels

The manga narration of the original series is published in English in North America by a variety of companies, such as Viz Media, Del Rey Manga, and TOKYOPOP, among others, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

Series based on Gundam models

Although not directly related to Gundam, these series incorporate Gundam models as part of the stories (it might be noted that Genshiken and Sgt. Frog were created by subdivisions of Bandai and Media Factory and Sunrise, respectively):

• Sgt. Frog
• Genshiken

Series about Gundam modeling simulation battle

These series are based on lead characters building their own Gundam Plastic Model and have them battle on a simulation arena.

• Plamo-kyo Shiro(1982–1986)
  • A series mainly based on the models of the first Gundam series along with its Mobile Suit Variation series. It is the first series on Gundam models. Series features modification of existing models and creating new ones, like the PF-78-1 Perfect Gundam, Red Warrior, and Musha Gundam, which were endorsed by Bandai and was later released as official models and figures, and also as units featured in various games.^[21] The series started the idea for G Gundam of pilot's emotion reflecting the emotion of the unit.^[22] Various series basing on the same plot model were published, including sequels like:
    • New Plamo-kyo Shiro
    • Super Warrior Gundam yaro
    • Plamo-kin Taro
• Plamo-Wars(1994~1998)
• Gunpla Musashi

Video games

Main article: List of Gundam video games

Following the popularity of Gundam, various video games feature original characters previously not found in other media. Some video games have been converted into comics or novels.

Games	Book title	Book type	Description
Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story	Gundam Blue Destiny	Comic
Gundam Side Story: Rise from the Ashes	機動戦士ガンダム外伝―コロニーの落ちた地で…〈上〉角川スニーカー文庫 機動戦士ガンダム外伝―コロニーの落ちた地で…〈下〉角川スニーカー文庫	Novel
Mobile Suit Gundam: Lost War Chronicles	機動戦士ガンダム戦記―Lost War Chronicles〈1〉角川スニーカー文庫 機動戦士ガンダム戦記―Lost War Chronicles〈2〉角川スニーカー文庫	Novel
Mobile Suit Gundam: Zeonic Front	ZEONIC FRONT―機動戦士ガンダム0079〈1〉角川スニーカー文庫 ZEONIC FRONT―機動戦士ガンダム0079〈2〉角川スニーカー文庫	Novel

Super Robot Wars

The Gundam metaverse makes regular appearances in the Super Robot Wars series by Banpresto. In fact, there has not been a single non-Banpresto Original title which has not featured at least one Gundam series and characters. Some series come and go, but Amuro Ray, often in his RX-93 "ν Gundam", is a regular character and has actually never missed a single game. This all changed in Super Robot Wars Judgement for the Game Boy Advance and Super Robot Wars W for the Nintendo DS. So far, almost every single major Gundam series has made at least one appearance in the series.

The mobile suit units are considered the representing unit in the "real robot" type of mecha. The games' units are often separated by being "super robots", powerful mecha that often have near-limitless powers and technology, but have a shorter range of movement, and real robots, mecha that are physically weaker, but possess a wider range of movement and accuracy. There have been so many mobile suit units that it is impossible to tell a distinct style, however, mobile suits are extremely agile and have an enormous variety of weapons.

Original design series and variations

Due to the sheer popularity of the Gundam franchise, especially the mobile suit design, several "Original Design Series" were published. These series are drawings and precise specifications for additional mobile suit units not found in the original animated material:

• Gundam Century (1981)

Gundam Century was a book published on September 22, 1981. At first it is an unofficial anime guide of Mobile Suit Gundam, published by Minori books(みのり書房) as an extra appendix of the monthly magazine 月刊OUT. The book served as the basics of all the technology and realistic demonstration of Gundam, in which at publish, it is a collection of fan material along with interviews and off-time works from the original Gundam creators like Yoshiyuki Tomino, Kunio Okawara and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko. Also collected various real world space exploration science and referenced scientific journals like L5 News, Science, Physics Today. The settings in the book has since then been adopted and endorsed by the official company Sunrise and Bandai. Although most of the numbers and history has since then been changed a few times, (for example, the One Year War started in November 0079 instead of the current official timeline January 0079).^[23][24] the book is regarded as the pioneer of the realism of the Gundam franchise, and is acknowledged in Gundam Official and is republished by as an official publication in the year 2000, named as Gundam Century Renewal Version.

• Mobile Suit Variations (1983)
  • Also known as "MSV", these variations exist from the One Year War, and considered to be official and canonical in the Universal Century timeline.
• Mobile Suit X (1984)
  • Also known as "MSX", these are new models for a proposed, but never produced new animation series, and considered to be official and canonical in the Universal Century timeline.
• Z-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam series.
• ZZ-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Double Zeta Gundam series.
• CCA-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack movie.
• Kunio Okawara's MS Collection (M-MSV)
  • Kunio Okawara's personal reinterpretations of his original designs.
• F91-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam F91 movie.
• V-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Victory Gundam series.
• SEED-MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series.
• SEED Destiny MSV
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny series.
• 00V
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 series.

Merchandise

Bandai, the primary licensee of the Gundam trademark, makes a variety of products for the Gundam fan. Other companies produce unofficial toys, models, t-shirts, etc. Categories of products include the "Mobile Suit In Action" ("MSiA") action figures, and Gundam Model Kits in several scales and design complexity. Generally, each series listed above will have its own set of products, although the MSiA and models lines, such as Master Grade and High Grade Universal Century, may extend across series. The most popular line of action figure in recent year; however, is the "Gundam Fix" series. This line of figures include the mecha shown in the animated series/manga/novels, but also included new accessories to create a more updated version.

Internet

Bandai maintains a number of sites to promote various Gundam projects. Most prominent amongst these is "Gundam Perfect Web", the official Japanese site. Its English language counterpart is the US maintained "Gundam Official". For a brief trial period in 2005, the site hosted the "Gundam Official User Forum". These forums were based on the existing fan forum, "Gundam Watch", and made use of many of its staff. When the project was retired, Gundam Watch was reborn, before passing the torch onto "Gundam Evolution", which maintained many of the same traditions and staff.

A number of series specific websites have been produced. These are often available for a limited time, usually to promote a DVD release. Common content includes character and mecha listings, lists of related merchandise and pay-for-download content. "Special" pages are also frequent, often presenting downloadable wallpaper or a small game. The Superior Defender Gundam Force site, for example, offers a game where players take the role of the villain Commander Sazabi, attempting to blast his subordinate with his weapons. After completion, users are rewarded with a papercraft of the Ark fans featured frequently in the show's second half.

As a cultural icon

Gundam is a popular cultural icon of Japan; it is a 50 billion yen business of Bandai Namco (projected 50 billion yen income of the company and reached a highest number of 54.5 billion yen in 2006).^[25] Not only were stamps published, an employee of the Agriculture Ministry was reprimanded for contribution to Japanese Wikipedia Gundam related pages,^[26] the Japanese Self Defense Forces code-named its developing advance personal combat system as Gundam and the Fire department used Gundam to promote the future of fire fighting developments. A tram station stood a monument of the original Gundam and used the main theme of the first Gundam anime as its departure melody and other businesses like Mitsubishi not only created a test-type simulator for concept cars with a version of Gundam cockpit, it also held recruitment seminars using "How to make a Gundam" as a demo of what their development process is and based their Lancer Evolution design on Gundam. Isuzu also used a Gundam to model the VX2. A conference as a preparation for the "International Gundam Society" (国際ガンダム学会) was held on the August 24 in Hiroshima, using Gundam as the main topic to discuss about the relationship of the science and technology in science fiction anime and the real world.

Fire fighting poster

An official poster of the Japanese Fire department depicting the RX-78 Gundam and two MEDEA cargo planes.

The RX-78-2 Gundam and 2 Medea transport planes were featured in a fire fighting poster in Japan. The RX-78-2 was equipped with water spraying equipment instead of weapons.

Japanese stamps

The RX-78 Gundam was recognized as a culturally significant subject by the nation of Japan on October 23, 2000, with the inclusion of the suit and the main pilot on two stamps in the 20th Century Stamp Series.^[27] On March 25, 2011, a set of 10 stamps called Gunpla Frame Stamp Collection 30th Anniversary will be released in Japan. Featuring 10 of the titular Mobile Suit RX-78-2 Gundam's plastic models for 1980 to 2010.^[28]

Additionally, this mobile suit and other notable mecha from various Gundam series were recognized in the second set of "Anime Heroes and Heroines" stamps, released in 2005. It was one of only four franchises to be given the honor; the others were Pokémon, Galaxy Express 999, and Detective Conan.^[29]

Japan Self-Defense Forces

The code name for the under-development Japan Self-Defense Forces advanced personal combat equipment is "Gundam".^{[30][31][32][33]} On the display exhibition on November 7, 2007, the equipment of the set contains infra-red camera and scope that can verify the incoming target is friend or foe, along with a monitor display that can browse the internet. The equipment has a total weight of 9 kg and the powered suit can run for 8 hours. The testing team consisting of troopers claims that the major improvement should be focused on increasing the battery life of the system. The researchers are also aiming for funnel type systems including missiles that can stay/hover in air and mini scouting robots.^[34]

Tram station monument

In 2008, a RX-78 Gundam monument was displayed at Kami-Igusa Station.^[35]

Isuzu VX2

The concept of Isuzu VX 2 official link is inspired by RX-178 Gundam Mk-II as concept design arts released in the Jan/Feb 1998, as seen in issue no. 71 of the magazine Axis published in Japan.

Mitsubishi

Test-type simulator

Mitsubishi has cooperated with Bandai to create a simulator for concept cars, which will show up in various places including car shows and factory sites for visitors to test run different cars. The simulator features an up to 0.5G simulated acceleration, a 100 inch screen with 24 bit digital sound and accommodation for 4 people in a 2 line formation that the front seaters will control the simulated vehicle. Although the commercial release will be a car simulator, the test-type of this simulator will be decorated like the Gundam cockpit and become a simulation theatre in the Toyota theme park, Mega Web, located in Tokyo.^[36]

Seminars

As part of MHI Jobcon 2005 (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Job Convention 2005), a recruiting event of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, seminars were held in six Japanese cities. The topic of these seminars was "Mobile Suit Gundam Development Story"; which indicated the requirements and processes that Mitsubishi would have to implement if the company had been required to build an RX-78 mobile suit.^[37]

Lancer Evolution

According to Gundam-san 4 koma comic, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution appearance is influenced by the RX-78-2 Gundam.^[38]

Nissan GT-R(R35)

Nissan Chief Creative Officer Shiro Nakamura said that the angular lines and high-tech vents of the GT-R were inspired by the Japanese anime series Gundam.^[39][40]

Ink and wash painting

In 2008, the ink and wash painting of Gundam drawn by Hisashi Tenmyouya in 2005 was sold in the Christie's auction held in Hong Kong with a price of US$600,000.^[41][42]

International Gundam Society

On August 24, 2008, a conference was held in Hiroshima with hundreds of academic professionals in different fields joining together to discuss about the relationship of anime science and technology with the modern world, including military, economics, linguistics, and the possibility of the Universal Century (human colonizing space). Many envisioned that the technology portrayed in Gundam is not far from our time.^[43][44][45] One aeronautics expert in the project said thermonuclear rockets and spherical helper bots should be pursued.^[7]

1:1 Life-size Gundam

As part of the 30th Anniversary of the Gundam series, the company officially announced a project on March 11, 2009 called Real-G to build a 1:1 real-size, scaled Gundam statue in Japan.^[46] The project was finished in early June 2009^[47] and opened to the public on July 11, 2009.^[48] It was located in Shiokaze Park on Odaiba island in Tokyo, Japan, and attracted over 4 million visitors. The statue was then taken down in September. It was re-erected in the city of Shizuoka in July 2010, this time with a beam saber. ^[49]

30th Anniversary music

Throughout 2009, Japanese record labels released various albums to honor the 30th anniversary of Gundam. The first of these albums was album I, Senshi: Ai Senshi Tribute, featuring various covers of the song "Ai Senshi" from the Soldiers of Sorrow film. American musician Andrew W.K. released an album called Gundam Rock on September 9, 2009 in Japan. The album consists of covered music from the Gundam series to celebrate its 30th anniversary.^[50] Lantis also had several of its artists including JAM Project, CooRie, Minami Kuribayashi, and Faylan record covers of various theme songs, producing Gundam Tribute from Lantis. Other albums were

• Gundam 30th Custom
• "2009 'Tobe! Gundam' & 'Eien ni Amuro'": covers of the opening and ending themes featuring Akira Asakura of Romantic Mode, Mami Ayukawa, Yoshifumi Ushima of Top Gun, Tomohisa Kawazoe of Top Gun & Lindberg, TSUKASA, Jyosei Nagatomo of infix, MIQ, Hiroko Moriguchi, and Chihiro Yonekura
• Moeagare! Gundam Brass by Naoto Ohtomo leading the Tokyo Symphony Brass
• Gundam World Dance Track 0079
• Gundam Unplugged: Acogui de Gundam A.C.2009
• Gundam Symphony by Toshihiko Sahashi leading the London Symphony Orchestra

MTR X Gundam

The Hong Kong MTR issued a special set of tickets featuring Gundam theme in December, 2009.^[51]

See also

• Bandai Museum

Bibliography

• Mobile Suit Gundam. Yoshiyuki Tomino. Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network. 1979-04-07–1980-01-26.

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. Yoshiyuki Tomino. Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network. 1985-03-02–1986-02-22.

• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Yoshiyuki Tomino. Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network. 1986-03-01–1987-01-31.

References

1. ^ SD Gundam G-Generation Promotional Leaflet, second last page
2. ^ Turn A Gundam "Moon's Wind", Gundam Ace, 2006
3. ^ Otona no Gundam Perfect, 大人のガンダム完全版
4. ^ Gundam Wing Phenomenon Grows With Addition of New Licensees as Television Ratings and Toy Line Sales Surge, Business Wire, 2000-6-13
5. ^ TV anime sales history total sales figure ranking averaged by episode, Latest version. TVアニメ歷代売上累計平均ランキング最新版TOP25
6. ^ Flow of the Japan toy industry (日本の玩具産業の動向), Japan Economic Department, Information section (日本経済情報課)
7. ^ ^{a b} Gundam cartoon academy to turn science fiction into reality in Japan^{[dead link]}
8. ^ Gundam Archives, production notes
9. ^ Gundam Sentinel
10. ^ Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny
11. ^ Oppliger, John (2007-10-12). "Ask John: Which Gundam Series Have Had the Most Impact on Anime?". AnimeNation. http://www.animenation.net/blog/2007/10/12/ask-john-which-gundam-series-have-had-the-most-impact-on-anime/. Retrieved 2009-07-28. 
12. ^ Gundam Science, The High Frontier - G.K. O'neil's Space colonization plan, Gundam Century, Out Magazine special edition, Renewal Version
13. ^ tehnobahn, 機動戦士ガンダムのノーマルスーツが現実に
14. ^ Ming Pao, July 19, 2007
15. ^ technobahn ガンダムにも搭載予定? NASAが研究開発中の熱核ロケットエンジン
16. ^ What's "Sentinel", Masahiko Asano, Model Graphix Special Edition "Gundam Wars III" Gundam Sentinel The battle of "Real Gundam", ISBN 4-499-20530-1
17. ^ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-09/level-5-to-help-create-gundam-age-anime-this-fall
18. ^ http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-22/gundam-the-origin-manga-to-launch-anime-project
19. ^ Yoshiyuki Tomino scolding the 30th anniversary of Gundam (富野由悠季｢ガンダム｣30周年を叱る), OtonaFami (オトナファミ) 2009 February
20. ^ official chronological order of animation and films.
21. ^ "Perfect Plamo-Kyoshiro". Plamo.tripod.com. http://plamo.tripod.com/pm.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
22. ^ Continue(コンティニュー)magazine interview, vol. 40.
23. ^ Gundam Century Renewal Version
24. ^ Gundam Officials, references
25. ^ Nekkei BP mook, Otona no Gundamu Perfect (Gundam for Adult's Perfect), Business & History+Character+Mechanic, Nekkei Entertainment, ISBN 978-4-8222-6317-1
26. ^ "Japanese workers in Wikipedia row". BBC News Online. October 5, 2007. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7029685.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
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28. ^ http://www.jp-network.japanpost.jp/notification/pressrelease/2011/document/3001_08_04_811031401.pdf
29. ^ "Anime Hero and Heroine Series II - Gundam". http://yushu.or.jp/english/e_sdate/05jpn/05kine/050801c1.html. Retrieved 2007-01-13. 
30. ^ yahoo news^{[dead link]}
31. ^ yahoo news picture^{[dead link]}
32. ^ original pdf file from Technical Research And Development Institute Ministry of Defense, ガンダムの実現に向けて(先進個人装備システム), Aiming to archieve (in building a) Gundam (Advanced personal equipment system).
33. ^ The actual Gundam developing by the Defence Forces is (防衛省が開発する｢ガンダム｣の正体とは)
34. ^ "防衛省：“ガンダム”新装備を公開 暗視カメラに生体認証、ファンネル？も (まんたんウェブ) - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)". Mainichi.jp. 2010-03-15. http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/graph/anime/20071107/. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
35. ^ "機動戦士ガンダム：上井草駅に記念オブジェ 富野監督も祝福(まんたんウェブ) - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)". Mainichi.jp. 2010-03-15. http://mainichi.jp/enta/mantan/graph/anime/20080323/. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
36. ^ "三菱重工｜「機動戦士ガンダム」のシミュレーターを製作 アミューズメントエキスポに試作機を参考出展". Mhi.co.jp. http://www.mhi.co.jp/news/sec1/020220nl.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
37. ^ "MHI Jobcon 2005" (in Japanese). February 4, 2005. http://www.mhi.co.jp/news/sec1/200502044313.html. Retrieved 2007-01-11. (Website prevented deep linking, see Year of 2004 and link to February 4, 2005)
38. ^ Mobile Suit Gundam-san (Kidou Senshi Gundamu san), p. 123.
39. ^ "Nissan GT-R Coupe's Redesign Inspired by Gundam Anime". Anime News Network. 2007-11-27. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2007-11-27/nissan-gt-r%27s-redesign-inspired-by-gundam. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
40. ^ Vella, Matt (2007-11-26). "Nissan Redesigns a Japanese Icon". Businessweek.com. http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/nov2007/id20071119_902449.htm?chan=top+news_top+news+index_innovation+%2Bamp%3B+design. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
41. ^ "史上最貴高達水墨畫拍出60萬美元天價-游戲-人民網". Game.people.com.cn. http://game.people.com.cn/BIG5/48602/48968/7304425.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
42. ^ "遊戲基地-新聞:史上最貴鋼彈RX-78-2水墨畫 拍出1800萬台幣天價". Gamebase.com.tw. http://www.gamebase.com.tw/news/gb_news.html?sno=82974936. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
43. ^ SDガンダム ジージェネレーション ワールド(通常版). "J-Cast". J-Cast. http://www.j-cast.com/2008/07/29024259.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
44. ^ Chugoku shinbun online 中國新聞
45. ^ GNN Gamer News Network Taiwan
46. ^ [1]^{[dead link]}
47. ^ "Photos: Nocturnal Gundam ~ Pink Tentacle". Pinktentacle.com. 2009-06-12. http://www.pinktentacle.com/2009/06/gundam-night-pics/. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
48. ^ "Giant Gundam comes to life!". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLIciIRK6jM. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 
49. ^ Ashcraft, Brian. "Giant Gundam Returns With Giant Beam Saber". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5498808/giant-gundam-returns-with-giant-beam-saber. 
50. ^ "Gundam Rock English Cover Album to Ship in Japan". Anime News Network. http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-08-14/gundam-rock-english-cover-album-to-ship-in-japan. Retrieved 2009-09-16. 
51. ^ "港鐵 > 其他資訊". Mtr.com.hk. http://www.mtr.com.hk/chi/whatsnew/gundam.html. Retrieved 2011-03-13. 

External links

• Official Gundam website (Japanese)
• GundamOfficial Official website for Gundam in North America
• Gundam at the Open Directory Project
• Gundam (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Gundam at the Mecha Anime Headquarters website