Isn’t she lovely? This is a custom “gyaru” edition of a Gundam figure, the MG Gyan. Apparently a staffer at Bandai was “inspired” to give the figure a more “feminine air” and is now auctioning the results off, and it’s currently at ¥39,000 (about $370 USD). The seller’s desired price is ¥50,000 (about $475), and they’ve got another two days to make it.
I wonder how many people are preparing to snipe that sucker from space like Lockon?
Via Sankaku Complex, who also has more shots of the figure (and a picture of the original MG Gyan it was derived from).
Wait, what do you mean it wouldn’t be finished until 2011?! Well, fine, buy it for my birthday THAT year. Or Christmas. I’m not picky!
According to an over-a-week-old (zomg missed it!) Wired article, Future Robotics Technology Center director Takayuki Furuta fears that kids aren’t interested in robots anymore. (On what planet, exactly?)
So what does he decide to do? Build a Gundam, of course! At first he developed plans for a a 60-foot-tall version, but decided to scale it down to 13 for financial reasons, the wuss.
I don’t bother with a punchline, because Wired’s already got the best one:
He aims to have it working by 2011, when, ideally, someone will have created something for it to fight.
No, seriously: a three-foot tall Gundam statue has been erected at Kamiigusa Train Station in Suginami-ku in Tokyo, very near the studios of Sunrise, the anime studio behind the Gundam franchise. This was actually announced a while back, but it’s neat to see that it happened.
By the way, Alafista reports that Keroro Gunso (alias: Sergeant Frog) is now the acting stationmaster at Kamiigusa Station. So…I guess Sunrise bought out the train company?
I’m actually not technically back from Anime Matsuri, btw, just crashed at the home of Japanator’s John Martone (his mom? SO hot). I know I failed to get the spring preview up, but I promise it’s coming! ♥♥
Well, a Gundam statue anyway. Gunota Headlines reports that a Gundam monument is being erected at the Shinjuku line’s Kamiigusa Station, which is being unveiled on March 23rd.
Why does Japan get cool stuff like that? Why isn’t there, like, a Batman statue at my local MAX transit center? (In our defense: my city DOES haveBatman’s grave.)
Wow, it only took ‘em almost 30 years: the Mainichi reports that Cospa is going to start selling Earth Federation Army uniforms from the original Mobile Suit Gundam– the Matilda-style grey jacket, white pants uniform. It goes on sale this June– which is also when a new Char cosplay will go on sale, too.
It don’t come cheap– Char’s outfit will cost 6万5100円, about $627 USD. Matilda’s comes at the practically cheap price of 1万290円, about $99.
Gunota Headlines reports on a new Gundam manga that started up today in V Jump titled Fusion Clashes: Gundam Battle-Rave.
Actually with a name like Fusion Clashes I half-expect it to involve crossovers with other manga series. So maybe the first one would be Gundam crossed with RAVE.
Yeah, I’m making shit up. I don’t know what it’s about. But that WOULD be kinda funny.
Gunota Headlines spotted posts on Akiba Souken and Akiba Blog about a pair of Gundam cosplay bars that are going to open in Akihabara later this month.
They’re called Mobile Suit Bar Zeon and Mobile Suit Bar Federal Forces, and they are based on the original Gundam series, plus Z and ZZ. The food and drinks are themed and they’re currently seeking female staff.
Which I guess means you won’t be able to have Kira Yamamoto wait on you. How silly.
Original Source: Akiba Souken, AkibaBlog
Secondary Source: Gunota Headlines
Nipping on the heels of an announcement that a couple of classic Gundam flicks are being released on Sony’s Blu Ray, two other very popular anime movies have been announced for the next-gen format: Vision of Escaflowne and Cowboy Bebop: Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.
The Gundam discs are out February 22nd; Escaflowne and Bebop are due January 25th.
Edit: Oops, I forgot my source, anime!anime!. Bad journalist! No cookie!
Okay, the phone itself looks like your average slider, but the charging base! The charging base! The charger is designed to look like a Zaku 2 helmet, though it also kinda reminds me of Doom, or Storm Troopers. Check it out here.