Kotaku: Gundam

Giant Gundam? No, Tiny (and Adorable) Gundam.

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:10:00 EST

Japan is famous for its giant mecha statues. But not all Gundam are huge. At this weekend's Wonder Festival in Chiba, a little kid showed up with his father, ready to cosplay. The kid wore a homemade Gundam costume, proving once and for all that you're never too young to dress like a giant mecha. More »

Gundam Is Getting a Japanese Theme Park

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:30:00 EST

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On April 19, a new theme park dedicated to Mobile Suit Gundam is opening in Japan called "Gundam Front". More »

This Creepy Chinese Gundam Copy Will Blow Your Mind [Update]

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 06:00:00 EST

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　Holy crap! China reworked Gundam Seed, and a bunch of other things, into this mind melting cartoon extravaganza. More »

Let's Look at Robot Butts. Together.

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:30:00 EST

Robots are badass! You know that. I know that. Everybody knows that. But in basking in their awesomeness, we've forgotten something important: their backsides. More »

Gundam Mecha Modded into Young, Cute Girls

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 04:00:00 EST

Gundam Mecha Modded into Young, Cute Girls" alt="Click here to read Gundam Mecha Modded into Young, Cute Girls" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2012/01/small_a009a31e36f10776b8b26c7cd11153c0.jpg"/>

March 11, 2011 was a horrible day. Japan was ravaged by a powerful earthquake and tsunami, resulting in destruction and death. Tokyo felt it, sure, but areas like Fukushima were hit hardest. More »

These Are the Best Gundam Statues in the World

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 14:00:00 EST

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The Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011 is the world cup of Gunpla, or Gundam plastic model building. With entries from countries all over the world, spanning two divisions (one for over-fifteen years-old and there other for under-fourteen), it showcases the most stunning Gunpla in the world. More »

Watch People Build a Giant Mecha Before Your Very Eyes

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST

They are building the life-sized Gundam—again! They being these folks in hardhats and overalls. More »

She's Only Eight Years Old!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 07:30:00 EST

The stereotype is that Gundam is for males. That it's only men in their forties and thirties who build Gundam models. The stereotype is wrong. Don't believe me? More »

Some of the World's Best Young Gundam Model Makers

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:30:00 EST

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You've already seen the best Gundam models made by Japanese fans. Now, you get to see some of the best Gundam models in the world. Lucky you! More »

Let's Overdose on Plastic Figures, M'Kay?

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 23:00:00 EST

Starting today, the Tamashii Nation 2011 figure event kicked off in Akihabara. Wrapping up on Nov. 27, the event showcases upcoming plastic figurines. More »

Giant, Life-Sized Gundam Is Returning!

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST

Many a Tokyo visitor has asked me, "Brian, where can I see the giant Gundam?" I always tell them, "Random person, you cannot see it anymore. It's gone." Next spring, that will change. The giant Gundam is coming back. More »

Gundam in Gold Leaf

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:30:00 EST

Gundam in Gold Leaf" alt="Click here to read Gundam in Gold Leaf" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/11/small_63a8e0a7a5696b3b831eed1621b825b6.jpg"/>

Ishikawa is famous for its lacquer ware. For centuries, skilled craftsmen have produced Yamanaka lacquer ware. Bowls and dishes are most traditional. Gundam models are not. More »

From Dark Souls to Gundam Unicorn

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 07:40:00 EST

From Software, the studio behind Armored Core and Dark Souls, is currently working on a Gundam Unicorn game. It is a PS3 exclusive, and it will be out next spring. More info in the link. [Mecha Damashii] More »

This Man-Sized Gundam Model is Amazing

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 01:00:00 EST

And that's just when you're looking at the pretty pictures of it. Its amazingness levels up when you find out the whole thing is made out of paper. More »

The Best Gundam Models in Japan. Made by Fans

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:30:00 EST

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The world cup of Gundam plastic model making has been streamrolling Japan, impressing all "Gunpla", or "Gundam model", fans with impressive diorama and stand-alones. Because, really, who doesn't love models of giant mechs? More »

Japan's Most Iconic Heroes. Crawling Through Dungeons.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:40:00 EDT

Ultraman. Kamen Rider. Gundam. These three heroes are going forces in the upcoming role-playing game Lost Heroes for the 3DS. It's a dungeon crawler—with badasses. More »

Lady, That Isn't an iPhone. It's an iPod.

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 03:00:00 EDT

Like elsewhere, the iPhone is hugely popular and hard to get in Japan. Earlier this week, actress Yumiko Shaku did a post in which talked about getting her first smartphone—the "new iPhone model". More »

Do You Like Mecha Figures? Like Z.O.E. and Gundam?

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EDT

Z.O.E. and Gundam?" alt="Click here to read Do You Like Mecha Figures? Like Z.O.E. and Gundam?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/10/small_105.jpg"/>

Sure you do! At the recent All Japan Plamodel Hobby Show held outside Tokyo, a whole bunch of figures were on display. There were the standard bishoujo ("beautiful girl") statues, along with mecha and robot figures. Let's focus on those. More »

This PS3 Collaboration Disappoints Me

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:00:00 EDT

Late last month, a countdown clock appeared, teasing a collaboration between Tecmo Koei and Namco Bandai. More »

Gundam in Awesome Toy Trailer Form

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EDT

Gundam in Awesome Toy Trailer Form" alt="Click here to read Gundam in Awesome Toy Trailer Form" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/08/small_yu0w3mvqsmg.jpg"/>

Game trailers? Whatever. All the cool kids like watching figurine trailers, because there's something fist pumping about watching moving images of plastic mecha flying through the air. More »

Why Big, Badass Robots (and Mecha) Rule Japan

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EDT

The heat was unbearable. A group of kids scurried to find shade, but they did't find it under trees. More »

When Gundam Meets Professor Layton

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 05:00:00 EDT

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Well, Professor Layton's creator, that is. Level-5 honcho Akihiro Hino is penning the new Gundam cartoon series, Mobile Suit Gundam Age. More »

Time To Rock Your Balls Off

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:00:00 EDT

Japanese pop, rather Jpop, is pigeonholed as cute, ear saccharine. That might not exactly be fair. But there's no arguing, sometimes Jpop needs more guitars. More awesome hair. Sometimes it needs more metal. More »

A Giant Gundam Hand Fit for Your Ass?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Gundam Hand Fit for Your Ass?" alt="Click here to read A Giant Gundam Hand Fit for Your Ass?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/08/small_plh6cdq2u2ei487degrfj75n1v14h41j.jpg"/>

From August 13 to August 21 (my birthday!), the life-sized Gundam statue will be on display in Tokyo's Odaiba. But it won't be looming tall. It will be in pieces, strewn on the ground. More »

Let a Giant Mecha Show You Around

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 04:00:00 EDT

Bandai Namco is releasing a Gundam themed navigational app for the iPhone. More »

Don't Worry, Gundam Mechas Won't Talk

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 10:00:00 EDT

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Level-5, best known for its talking role-playing games and Professor Layton puzzle games, is behind the new Gundam series called Mobile Suit Gundam Age. Does that mean the giant mecha will speak? More »

Giant Gundam Wants You to Boil

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 15:20:00 EDT

Ah, cup noodles. You love 'em, I love 'em, Gundam loves them. More »

This Is the World Cup of Gundam Model Making

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:00:00 EDT

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This December, Bandai Namco is holding the "Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011", the first international competition devoted to Gunpla, or Gundam model building. More »

It's Like a Silent Hill Game You Can Actually Experience

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:00:00 EDT

Silent Hill Game You Can Actually Experience" alt="Click here to read It's Like a Silent Hill Game You Can Actually Experience" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_scary.jpg"/>

It's summer. In Japan, that means beaches and snow cones. It also means having the shit scared out of you. More »

How About Another Life-Sized Gundam Statue?

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 05:00:00 EDT

Gundam Statue?" alt="Click here to read How About Another Life-Sized Gundam Statue?" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/07/small_3613129065_ab71aed7c8_o.jpg"/>

In 2009, a life-sized Gundam statue (pictured) was erected. At the time, people said, if only there was a life-sized Zaku. Turns out, there might be. More »

A Gallery of Bad-Ass Helmets

Brian Ashcraft — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 04:00:00 EDT

When Bandai Namco isn't making video games, it's making Gundam toys. And when it's not making Gundam toys, it's making Super Sentai toys. Super Sentai are totally awesome. More »

Let's Look at Plastic Mechs!

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:00:00 EDT

There's a new Gundam series, penned by Professor Layton designer Akihiro Hino. It's dubbed Gundam Age. New Gundam means new Gundam toys. More »

Professor Layton Studio Making Gundam Game

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EDT

Professor Layton Studio Making Gundam Game" alt="Click here to read Professor Layton Studio Making Gundam Game" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/06/small_gundamage.jpg"/>

Makes sense! Especially seeing how Layton designer Akihiro Hino is penning the story for new Gundam series, Gundam Age. His studio, Level-5, is also working on a new Gundam RPG for unspecified hardware. More »

Chinese Toymaker Forced to Apologize for Gundam Ripoffs

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 18 May 2011 02:00:00 EDT

Gundam Ripoffs" alt="Click here to read Chinese Toymaker Forced to Apologize for Gundam Ripoffs" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/05/small_chinagundam.jpg"/>

China loves Gundam. But China doesn't always love copyright law. That can be a problem! More »

Life-Sized Gundam Vehicles You Could Drive

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:00:00 EDT

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Spotted at the Shizuoka Hobby Show by Hobby Blog, these are life-sized vehicles that appear in the Gundam series. Mechs don't ride in these, people do! More »

These Star Wars and Gundam Dioramas Will Melt Your Face

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 16 May 2011 05:00:00 EDT

Star Wars and Gundam Dioramas Will Melt Your Face" alt="Click here to read These Star Wars and Gundam Dioramas Will Melt Your Face" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/05/small_holysmoke.jpg"/>

As a kid, I was always impressed with models. I was more impressed with full-blown dioramas—still am. These dioramas, though, aren't merely impressive; they're brain-destroying. More »

College Cosplay Tradition Banned

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 05:00:00 EDT

Year after year, new graduates of prestigious Kyoto University eschew the traditional suit or kimono in favor of their school's own custom: showing up at graduation in cosplay. More »

Darkstalkers' Most Versatile Voice Now Managing Popstars In Heaven

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 03:00:00 EST

Darkstalkers' Most Versatile Voice Now Managing Popstars In Heaven" alt="Click here to read Darkstalkers' Most Versatile Voice Now Managing Popstars In Heaven" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/03/small_kan.jpg"/>

You may not know his name, but if you like Japanese games with mechas, fighters or idols, you probably know his voice. More »

Does This Look Like Gundam To You?

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 06:30:00 EST

Whether it's video games, anime or plastic toys, Gundam is a Japanese cultural institution. No wonder the country wasn't happy when a Chinese theme park ripped it off. Lawyers attacked, and the statue was removed. Now, it's back. More »