Work is wrapping up on the 1:1 scale statue of the eponymous giant robot in the groundbreaking Mobile Suit Gundam anime - standing 59 feet tall in the middle of Shiokaze Park in Odaiba, Japan.
Back in March, we reported that those crazy Japanese were planning on celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic Mobile Suit Gundam mecha anime ... by building a life-size replica of the titular mech. The finished product - built from fiberglass-reinforced plastic over a steel frame - would tower 18 meters (59 feet) over Odaiba's Shiokaze Park, radiate light at 50 points on the body, shoot mist from other parts, and feature a movable head.
Well, it's finished. And it's awesome.
Though the original RX-78-2 Gundam design looks painfully retro these days, and wouldn't look nearly as cool as, say, a 1:1 replica of the Zeta, Freedom, or the Nu - shut up, Keane - it has an iconic status in Japanese pop culture like no other. Really, there wasn't ever a choice, here. Maybe a Char Custom Zaku, but then again, how can something be three times as fast when it's standing still?
Mobile Suit Gundam, by Yoshiyuki Tomino, told the story of an interplanetary war between the Earth Federation and the space-dwelling Duchy of Zeon, when young engineer Amuro Ray falls into the cockpit of the prototype Gundam and - upon actually reading the owner's manual - uses it to kick Zeon ass. The series would pioneer the "real robot" genre of mecha anime, featuring giant robots in (relatively) realistic military situations instead of fighting giant magical monsters. It would spawn a franchise largely consisting of angsty teenage pilots and mysterious mask-wearing rivals.
The 18-meter Gundam will stand for two months in Shiokaze Park before being disassembled. By disassembled, they of course mean taken to their secret underground laboratories where they'll finish the design and make it fully functional. We're still onto you, Japan.
Now if you'll pardon me, I need to go have a fanboy freak-out for a little while. Because holy crap, guys. Life-size Gundam!
CantFaketheFunk: Though the original RX-78-2 Gundam design looks painfully retro these days, and wouldn't look nearly as cool as, say, a 1:1 replica of the Zeta, Freedom, or the Nu - shut up, Keane - it has an iconic status in Japanese pop culture like no other.
Uh, you mean awesomely retro?
And the Nu su- oh, alright. Yeah that's right, I don't even need to say it. Fin funnels = garbage.
CantFaketheFunk: Though the original RX-78-2 Gundam design looks painfully retro these days, and wouldn't look nearly as cool as, say, a 1:1 replica of the Zeta, Freedom, or the Nu - shut up, Keane - it has an iconic status in Japanese pop culture like no other.
Uh, you mean awesomely retro?
And the Nu su- oh, alright. Yeah that's right, I don't even need to say it. Fin funnels = garbage.
I'm using my psycommu system to crush your head, Keane.
Bah, Gundam Wing. For all Treize Khushrenada was awesome, Wing itself was merely "okay."
Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, 0080: War in the Pocket, 08th MS Team, Turn A Gundam, Gundam SEED... all better than Wing, and then some. ;)
Hey I liked me that Deathscythe gundam and Sandrock gundam and their pilots. Also yeah there were some great Gundam series. 08th MS team was a great one for being short(Loved that tall redhead) and of course Mobile Suit Gundam while good didn't make me like it as much as Gundam Wing. Guess it was because I saw Gundam Wing first.
As for Mech series I ate em up when I was younger. First saw Robotech, then Gundam, then Zoids. Man it was great to be young, and there were games to fulfill those fantasies like Virtual On, and Armored Core.
xmetatr0nx: Man, japan really needs to restart their imperilism. They very obviously need something to do.
Yeah who doesn't need another Rape of Nanking.
Well obviously the chinese probably wouldnt fancy it. I wont go into japans all out denial or burial of anything they did during the war, my reasons for not being a fan of japan are many.
xmetatr0nx: Man, japan really needs to restart their imperilism. They very obviously need something to do.
Yeah who doesn't need another Rape of Nanking.
Well obviously the chinese probably wouldnt fancy it. I wont go into japans all out denial or burial of anything they did during the war, my reasons for not being a fan of japan are many.
Yeah they've definitely committed some major atrocities. But atleast their game shows are funny.
That was quick, just the other day I was reading about how they'd finally got the legs done. Shame its only gonna be up for 2 months though, wonder what theyre gonna do with it afterwards.
CountFenring: They should do Gundam Wing, that was a good show, I don't remember watching the show with that one.
Bah, Gundam Wing. For all Treize Khushrenada was awesome, Wing itself was merely "okay."
Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, 0080: War in the Pocket, 08th MS Team, Turn A Gundam, Gundam SEED... all better than Wing, and then some. ;)
NOT SO FAST!
You thought you could sneak that in there did you? I don't think seed deserves all the hate it gets...but better than wing? Surely you are joshing me.
And regardless of what you think of the series, the wing MS designs kicked...ASS
Seeing Wing or Epion standing there would be beyond awesome.
No, I actually do think SEED was better than Wing. Not on the levels of the others I mentioned (or 00 part 1), but it was more consistent in its message, the characters actually made sense sometimes, and it wasn't trying to sell something as completely ridiculous as "And no one fought anymore forever."
Also, it had Mwu la Flaga. And Mwu la Flaga is totally awesome.
CountFenring: They should do Gundam Wing, that was a good show, I don't remember watching the show with that one.
Bah, Gundam Wing. For all Treize Khushrenada was awesome, Wing itself was merely "okay."
Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, 0080: War in the Pocket, 08th MS Team, Turn A Gundam, Gundam SEED... all better than Wing, and then some. ;)
NOT SO FAST!
You thought you could sneak that in there did you? I don't think seed deserves all the hate it gets...but better than wing? Surely you are joshing me.
And regardless of what you think of the series, the wing MS designs kicked...ASS
Seeing Wing or Epion standing there would be beyond awesome.
No, I actually do think SEED was better than Wing. Not on the levels of the others I mentioned (or 00 part 1), but it was more consistent in its message, the characters actually made sense sometimes, and it wasn't trying to sell something as completely ridiculous as "And no one fought anymore forever."
Also, it had Mwu la Flaga. And Mwu la Flaga is totally awesome.
Japan Finishes Life-Size Gundam
Work is wrapping up on the 1:1 scale statue of the eponymous giant robot in the groundbreaking Mobile Suit Gundam anime - standing 59 feet tall in the middle of Shiokaze Park in Odaiba, Japan.
Back in March, we reported that those crazy Japanese were planning on celebrating the 30th anniversary of the classic Mobile Suit Gundam mecha anime ... by building a life-size replica of the titular mech. The finished product - built from fiberglass-reinforced plastic over a steel frame - would tower 18 meters (59 feet) over Odaiba's Shiokaze Park, radiate light at 50 points on the body, shoot mist from other parts, and feature a movable head.
Well, it's finished. And it's awesome.
Though the original RX-78-2 Gundam design looks painfully retro these days, and wouldn't look nearly as cool as, say, a 1:1 replica of the Zeta, Freedom, or the Nu - shut up, Keane - it has an iconic status in Japanese pop culture like no other. Really, there wasn't ever a choice, here. Maybe a Char Custom Zaku, but then again, how can something be three times as fast when it's standing still?
Mobile Suit Gundam, by Yoshiyuki Tomino, told the story of an interplanetary war between the Earth Federation and the space-dwelling Duchy of Zeon, when young engineer Amuro Ray falls into the cockpit of the prototype Gundam and - upon actually reading the owner's manual - uses it to kick Zeon ass. The series would pioneer the "real robot" genre of mecha anime, featuring giant robots in (relatively) realistic military situations instead of fighting giant magical monsters. It would spawn a franchise largely consisting of angsty teenage pilots and mysterious mask-wearing rivals.
The 18-meter Gundam will stand for two months in Shiokaze Park before being disassembled. By disassembled, they of course mean taken to their secret underground laboratories where they'll finish the design and make it fully functional. We're still onto you, Japan.
Now if you'll pardon me, I need to go have a fanboy freak-out for a little while. Because holy crap, guys. Life-size Gundam!
(Dannychoo, via Kotaku)
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