Gundam Plastic models , Gundam Plamo , or Gunpla ( ガンプラ , Ganpura ) are model kits depicting the mecha machinery and characters of the fictional Gundam multiverse by Bandai Spirits .
50-911: These kits became popular among mecha anime fans and model enthusiasts in Japan and nearby Asian countries beginning in the 1980s. Gundam modeling spread in the 1990s with North America and Europe being exposed to Gundam through anime and manga . The name Gunpla derives from an abbreviation of " Gun dam pla stic model" phrase, since most kits are made of plastic. Bandai sold over 100 million Gundam plastic model units between 1980 and 1984, and over 300 million units by May 1999. Recently, Bandai had sold an estimated 450 million units worldwide across nearly 2,000 different Gundam models. As of March 2021, Bandai Namco has sold 714.84 million Gundam plastic model units, including 538.24 million standard Gundam units (since 1980) and 176.6 million SD Gundam units (since 1987). Gundam models are based on
100-433: A " gate " where the runner connected to the cavity. The kit builder must cut away this excess plastic - eg with a pair of side cutting pliers - to free each part, then (optionally, but usually) clip, carve or sand away the remaining plastic tip where the gates attached to leave a clean surface. Once the parts have been freed, the builder must then snap them together to assemble the model. Early kits required glue, but from
150-445: A finished model of about MG level. These types of models usually take days to build. As with hobby models based on real-world military equipment, Gundam models are intended to be "scaled down" replicas of realistic designs, based on the dimensions given in the fiction. These scales are given in terms of the ratio of actual model size to the size the machine would have if it were actually built. 1:60, for instance, means that every inch of
200-553: A large number of super robot anime had been created, including Brave Raideen and Danguard Ace . The market for super robot toys also grew, spawning metal die-cast toys such as the Chogokin series in Japan and the Shogun Warriors in the U.S., that were (and still are) very popular with children and collectors. The super robot genre became heavily commercialized and stagnant, creating an opening for innovation, which
250-422: A large scale for use in wars. The real robot genre also tends to feature more complex characters with moral conflicts and personal problems. The genre is therefore aimed primarily at young adults instead of children. The genre has been compared to hard science fiction by its fanbase, and is strongly associated with sales of popular toy models such as Gunpla . One of the "founding fathers" of real robot design
300-539: A separate marque, B-Club . These models are made of unpainted resin with no decals provided and often require touch-up work by the builder due to the inherent limitations of the manufacturing process. While comparably more expensive (some surpassing $ 400) and more complex to assemble compared to plastic kits, they offer higher detail for the dedicated and experienced model builder. A few select kits have also been manufactured from metal. These kits are offered by several different manufacturers and most commonly will result in
350-619: A sub-line of the HG called "HG Revive", which consists of re-engineered 1:144 scale kits of the RX-78-2 Gundam and other classic mobile suit designs. From late 2016 onwards, every Bandai produced model kit, including Gunpla, were made with Japanese and English text on the box and manuals. In 2017, Bandai began the Gundam Evolution Project, which sought to improve Gunpla technology with various groundbreaking kits, such as
400-432: A variety of glueless, toolless joints, such as ball-and-socket pivots, or posts on one component that fit tightly into holes on another. While models are designed to be posed for display, these joints are not intended to hold up to action figure-style play; even during gentle pose adjustments, it is possible for parts to come loose and need to be pushed back together. Components are made of plastic materials selected to fit
450-450: A very small component, but is built around a very small doubly-articulated hinge. The fully assembled leg unit uses many more parts which allow it to bend at two major joints, and also has trim panels which slide apart as the leg is bent to allow the motion. Gundam model kits can be made of several materials. The typical mass-market kit is made from thermoplastics , such as ABS , polypropylene or polystyrene . These are referred to in
500-458: Is a genre of anime and manga that feature mecha in battle. The genre is broken down into two subcategories; "super robot", featuring super-sized, implausible robots, and "real robot", where robots are governed by realistic physics and technological limitations. Mecha series cover a wide variety of genres, from action to comedy to drama, and the genre has expanded into other media, such as video game adaptations. Mecha has also contributed to
550-484: Is a popular pastime among mecha enthusiasts. Like other models such as cars or airplanes, more advanced kits require much more intricate assembly. Lego mecha construction can present unique engineering challenges; the balancing act between a high range of motion, good structural stability, and aesthetic appeal can be difficult to manage. In 2006, the Lego Group released their own somewhat manga-inspired mecha line with
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#1732782793318600-461: Is needed. In 1990, Bandai introduced the High Grade (HG) line, which began an ongoing process of increasing model quality, and the creation of a grade system to describe the detail and quality of each kit. HG kits had much higher detail and articulation, as well as features normally found in larger-scale models, despite being 1:144 scale . One example is the 'Gundam Core Block System', in which
650-642: The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, which debuted in 1979 as a television show. The show was not highly successful, and the toys produced by Clover did not sell well. In 1980, Bandai obtained the rights to produce models based on the Gundam franchise. While Clover's models were produced in the style of most children's toys - fully assembled and ready for play - Bandai designed theirs as plastic kits to be assembled, similar to military vehicle models. While Clover's products targeted children, Bandai's approach
700-503: The 1:48 Mega Size Model RX-78-2 Gundam kit as part of the franchise's 30th anniversary campaign. This kit features many innovations that make it easy to assemble for first-time Gunpla collectors. For example, the parts are attached to sprue gates thin enough to break without the need to use of plastic cutters, and excess gate plastic can be removed from the parts without using a hobby knife . Some sprues have been designed to snap together for easy and quick removal of assembled parts. In
750-591: The Entry Grade (EG) line, a low-cost model series similar to the 1:144 NG and FG lines, sold only in parts of Asia. Unlike other kits of the same scale, the first line of EG kits were made in China and the series was initially discontinued until the line was rebooted in 2020 with kits from non-Gundam franchises. Also in 2011, Bandai introduced the Advanced Grade (AG) line, a budget line that focuses more on
800-637: The April 1989 issue of Newtype , about his views on the first Gundam anime that was not directed by him, he commented on the realism of the show, in which he sees the sponsors, Sunrise , as imaginary enemies of Gundam , since they did not accept a certain level of realism. Armored Trooper Votoms is viewed by Famitsu magazine as the peak of real-robot anime. The concepts behind "real robots" that set it apart from previous robot anime are such as: This ubiquitous subgenre features mecha piloted internally as vehicles. The first series to feature such mecha
850-431: The Gundam shows of the 1990s usually received sizable 1:144 model lines. In 1995, the 1:100 scale Master Grade (MG) line was introduced. This line featured more parts, better detail and improved articulation than past kits of the same scale. In 1998, Bandai introduced the 1:60 Perfect Grade (PG) line. This line features extensive detail and articulation, light-up features, and a "body on frame" skeletal system in which
900-895: The West. This refers to mecha that are powered exoskeletons rather than piloted as vehicles, such as in Genesis Climber MOSPEADA (1983), Bubblegum Crisis (1987) and Active Raid (2016); merge with the mecha, such as in Detonator Orgun (1991) & The King of Braves GaoGaiGar (1997); combine with the robots, such as in Transformers: Super-God Masterforce (1988); or become mechanical themselves, such as in Brave Command Dagwon (1996) and Fire Robo (2016). Assembling and painting mecha scale model kits
950-407: The adoption of a new joint system or a new LED system for large-scale kits. This was in preparation for the 40th anniversary of Gunpla in 2020. Gundam model kits come in many varieties, but the majority made from the late 80s on - standard "plastic" kits - are manufactured and assembled similarly. Kits come as a collection of plastic parts, decals , and sometimes other decorative accessories which
1000-601: The arrangement of colored parts, thus sacrificing more articulation than the previous budget lines. The AG line incorporates a microchip that enables collectors to use the kit in the Gage-ing arcade game. In 2014, as part of the 35th anniversary celebration of Gundam , Bandai released the MG RX-78-2 Gundam ver. 3.0, which incorporates the engineering techniques used in the MG 2.0 and RG kits. In 2015, Bandai introduced
1050-456: The community simply as "plastic" models, and use the snap-fit assembly method described in this article. Plastic Gundam model kits are manufactured in Japan or China by Bandai , which has an exclusive license in manufacturing and marketing them around the world. A less common type, known as a garage kit or resin kit , is made from a thermoset resin , typically polyurethane , often simply referred to as "resin." These are not assembled with
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#17327827933181100-928: The early 1980s, when he created the Diaclone toy line in 1980 and then the Macross anime franchise in 1982. Some of Kawamori's most iconic transforming mecha designs include the VF-1 Valkyrie from the Macross and Robotech franchises, and Optimus Prime (called Convoy in Japan) from the Transformers and Diaclone franchises. The concept later became more popular in the mid-1980s, with Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984) and Zeta Gundam (1985) in Japan, and with Transformers (1984 adaptation of Diaclone ) and Robotech (1985 adaptation of Macross ) in
1150-478: The exterior panels of the model are separate components attached to a completely functional, articulated internal frame. This design element would later appear (sometimes in a limited form) in lower-grade models. The PG line is typically the most expensive among all Gunpla kits, and only a select few mobile suits have been released in this line. In 1999, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise, Bandai released 1:144 First Grade (FG) kits of mobile suits from
1200-687: The first mecha featured in manga and anime were "super robots" (スーパーロボット sūpā robotto ). The super robot genre features superhero -like giant robots that are often one-of-a-kind and the product of an ancient civilization, aliens or a mad genius . These robots are usually piloted by Japanese teenagers via voice command or neural uplink , and are often powered by mystical or exotic energy sources. Their abilities are described as "quasi-magical". The later real robot (リアルロボット riaru robotto ) genre features robots that do not have mythical superpowers, but rather use largely conventional, albeit futuristic weapons and power sources, and are often mass-produced on
1250-410: The late 80s onward all kits assemble without special tools or materials. Some kits use an internal frame - a complete "skeleton," fully articulated and able to stand on its own - to which panels are then attached to finish the appearance of the mecha. ‹The template Manual is being considered for merging .› When it comes time to assemble the panels making up the external appearance of
1300-457: The manga and anime into a success. The series also was the genesis for different tropes of the genre, such as the idea of a robot as a "dynamic entity" that could join with other machines or humans to become unstoppable. Anime critic Fred Patten wrote that almost all mecha anime plots, such as monster of the week shows, were actually metaphors for re-fighting World War II, and defending Japan and its culture from Western encroachment. By 1977,
1350-496: The mecha genre and aesthetic in the West . Neon Genesis Evangelion , created by Hideaki Anno in 1995, was a major influence on the super robot genre, arriving when the real robot genre was dominant on television. A deconstruction of classic mecha anime tropes, it recast the "saintly" inventor/father as a sinister figure, and the enthusiastic teenage protagonist as a "vacillating" introvert. Due to its unusual psychological themes,
1400-577: The mecha genre was Mitsuteru Yokoyama 's 1956 manga Tetsujin 28 , which was also released as an anime in 1963. Yokoyama was inspired to become a manga creator by Osamu Tezuka , and began serializing the manga in Shonen , an iconic boy's magazine, in 1956. In this series, the robot, which was made as a last-ditch effort to win World War II by the Japanese military , was remote-controlled by
1450-699: The model can be assembled and displayed using nothing more than a side-cutter. Most models, once assembled, are poseable to some degree. Many are "fully poseable," with a wide latitude of motion. To help hold models in "dynamic" poses, gunpla can be mounted on a stand, with some recent models having a dedicated attachment point for this purpose. Over the decades, Gundam plastic models have been available in many forms, with many levels of intricacy and functionality, from immobile display units that are static once assembled, to fully poseable, highly articulated models with interchangeable parts (weapons, shields, etc.) and complex mechanical engineering. All parts fit together with
1500-450: The model, the builder may choose to customize the model in a wide variety of ways. The most basic is simply to paint the model, which allows for a large amount of personal creativity. Applying decals is also a common technique - decals are included with most models, but are also available as separate products for customization. Every conceivable modification is possible, with some more common options including: All of these are optional, and
1550-412: The models height is equivalent to 60 inches of the machines height if it was real. Generally, finished model heights range from 4~5 inches for small-scale models, 6~8 inches for mid-scale models, and 12 inches for large-scale models. Common scales, and the grades typically associated with them, include: Mecha anime and manga Mecha , also known as giant robot or simply robot ,
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1600-417: The neck, hips, shoulders, and feet. These are budget models, usually retailing much lower than other models; and this line was extensive, covering nearly every machine to be featured in that TV series. Gundam SEED also featured non graded 1:100 models, identical in quality to Bandai's High Grade offerings. It was also during this decade that the term "Gunpla" was coined by Bandai. In 2010, Bandai released
1650-456: The needs of each part. A given unit, like a foot or leg, may use parts made of multiple different materials. Bandai casts colored pigment into each part to provide a basic color scheme for the finished model, so the builder does not need to paint it if undesired. The picture above illustrates the detail level of a higher end (Real Grade, 2011) model. This is one part of the model's "foot", less than an inch across, which not only has many details in
1700-554: The original series. Marketed as budget models, these snap-fit kits featured the simplicity of the original kits, but with more modern designs based upon the corresponding Perfect Grade kits. For the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED models a new type of non-graded (NG) 1:144 model was introduced, with a completely different design plan. While these still feature snap-fit and color molding, they omit major joints, opting instead to only allow critical pieces to move—typically
1750-467: The pilot sits in a "Core" which can be removed from the Gundam to become a distinct vehicle, and the Zeta Gundam 's transformation feature. In 1993, a unified set of poly-cap joints was created for smaller scale models that allowed easy mass production of models that all shared the same basic skeletal frame. This standardization allowed Bandai to release more models over a shorter period. As a result,
1800-457: The popularity of scale model robots . The 1940 short manga Electric Octopus ( デンキダコ , Denki Dako ) featured a powered, piloted, mechanical octopus. The 1943 Yokoyama Ryūichi's propaganda manga The Science Warrior Appears in New York ( 科学戦士ニューヨークに出現す , Kagaku Senshi New York ni Shutsugensu ) featured a sword-wielding, steam-powered, giant humanoid mecha. The first series in
1850-450: The protagonist Shotaro Kaneda, a twelve-year-old detective and "whiz kid". The story turned out to have immense mass appeal, and inspired generations of imitators. In 1972, Go Nagai defined the super robot genre with Mazinger Z , which was directly inspired by the former series. He had the idea to create a mecha that people could control like a car, while waiting to cross a busy street. The concept became "explosively popular", making
1900-406: The purchaser assembles by hand into the finished model. The plastic parts are delivered in the exact form they exit the injection molding machine , on a " sprue tree" - a grid of interconnecting plastic rods, called runners, created by the channels in the mold that carried the molten plastic into the cavities that create each part. Each part is connected to the runners by a small plastic nub called
1950-460: The response to Gundam was lukewarm at first, efforts by dedicated fans led to it becoming a success. It created a massive market for mecha model robots, and became an industry that earned Bandai ¥42.8 billion in 2004. Many real robot series and other media were later created, such as Full Metal Panic! and the video game series Armored Core . 1990 saw the release of Patlabor , an animated movie directed by Mamoru Oshii that popularized
2000-551: The same year, Bandai introduced the 1:144 Real Grade (RG) line, which takes design elements from the MG line such as an inner skeletal frame to improve upon the HG line. Both Mega Size Model and RG variants of the RX-78-2 Gundam were patterned after the 1/1 scale Gundam statue on display in Odaiba . Bandai also released Ecopla, a series of High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) and super deformed (SD) kits molded in black and made entirely out of recycled sprues. In 2011, Bandai released
2050-657: The sentient category, usually because of an AI system to assist and care for the pilot, as featured in Blue Comet SPT Layzner (1985) and Gargantia on the Verdurous Planet (2013), or going berserk because the mecha has biological aspects, as featured in Neon Genesis Evangelion (1995). These are mecha that have the ability to be self-aware, think, and sometimes feel emotion. The source of sentience varies from aliens, such as
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2100-434: The show became a massive success, and further caused Japanese anime culture to spread widely and rapidly around the world. The mecha anime genre (as well as Japanese kaiju films) received a Western homage with the 2013 film Pacific Rim directed by Guillermo del Toro . Similarly the genre was inspirational for the 1998 first-person shooter Shogo: Mobile Armor Division developed by Monolith Productions . Some of
2150-404: The snap-fit approach, and the builder must assemble them with glue. Many other assertions of this article will also not apply to resin kits, since they make up a very small minority of the product line. Garage kits were originally made by amateur or small-scale manufacturers (hence the name,) a cottage industry that predates gunpla, but Bandai has released some first-party Gundam resin kits under
2200-418: The titular characters of American-produced and Japanese-animated series, The Transformers (1984), to artificial intelligence or synthetic intelligence , such as the robots of Dragon's Heaven (1988) & Brave Police J-Decker (1994) to magic, such as Da-Garn of The Brave Fighter of Legend Da-Garn (1992). The first series that featured a sentient giant robot, also the first mecha anime in color,
2250-406: Was Astroganger (1972). These are mecha that are controlled externally. The first mecha anime, Tetsujin 28-go (1966), and Giant Robo (1967) are famous examples. A transforming mech can transform between a standard vehicle (such as a fighter plane or transport truck) and a fighting mecha robot. The concept of transforming mecha was pioneered by Japanese mecha designer Shōji Kawamori in
2300-461: Was Kunio Okawara , who started out working on Gundam and continued on to other real robot series such as Armored Trooper Votoms . Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) is largely considered the first series to introduce the real robot concept and, along with The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982), would form the basis of what people would later call real robot anime. In an interview with Yoshiyuki Tomino and other production crew members in
2350-524: Was System Injection , a technique which permitted a single "part" to be cast in multiple colors of plastic simultaneously, minimizing the need to paint the finished model. In 1985, Bandai introduced use of poly-caps (soft plastic, typically Polyethylene ) as connectors for better articulation of joints. The 1987 the model line for Gundam Sentinel introduced snap-fit models, which needed little or no glue to assemble. This would become standard in 1988, after which all kits use snap-fit assembly and no glue
2400-456: Was Go Nagai's Mazinger Z (1972). In a 2009 interview, Go Nagai claimed the idea came to mind when he was stuck in a traffic jam and wished his car could sprout arms and legs to walk over the cars in front. Other examples include Science Ninja Team Gatchaman (1972), Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), The Super Dimension Fortress Macross (1982), and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (2007). There are series that have piloted mecha that are also in
2450-477: Was more appealing to the teenage and adult consumers that were more typical of Mobile Suit Gundam's audience, and was received extremely well. Nearly every mecha in the series was made into a model kit, from mobile suits to support aircraft and space battleships. Parts came in up to three different cast-in colors. These early kits are distinguished by their lack of articulation and low detail and, unlike later generations, require glue to assemble. A later development
2500-422: Was seized upon by Yoshiyuki Tomino in 1979 with the creation of Mobile Suit Gundam , a complex "space saga" that was called the " Star Wars of Japan" and birthed the real robot genre, which featured more realistic, gritty technology. Tomino did not like the formulaic storylines and overt advertising of the super robot shows he had worked on, and wanted to create a movie where robots were used as tools. While
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