Gundam: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 17:48, 21 April 2008
Gundam | |
![]() RX-78-2 Gundam (Art by Katoki Hajime) | |
Genre | Mecha, Drama, Action, Sci-Fi |
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Gundam (ガンダム, Gandamu) is one of the longest running series of Japanese anime, featuring giant robots or mecha, created by Sunrise. Currently(as of 21 Janurary 2008), the Gundam Franchise is a 50 billion yen trademark.[1] Gundam is the collective term for the Universal Century (UC) series, like Mobile Suit Gundam and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, and series in alternative timelines, such as New Mobile Report Gundam Wing, After War Gundam X, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED or Mobile Suit Gundam 00. In the 2008 Anime average sales figure ranking of copies sold in Japan (1970~2008 total sales figure averaged by episode), Gundam series got 4 positions out of the top 5. While Mobile Suit Gundam ranking second position, the third, fourth, fifth position is Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam respectively. Also, New Mobile Report Gundam Wing ranked 18th and Mobile Suit ZZ Gundam ranked 20th.[2]
Overview
Concept
Mobile Suit Gundam was developed principally by renowned animator, Yoshiyuki Tomino, along with a changing group of Sunrise creators who went under the collective pseudonym "Hajime Yatate".
During its conceptual phase, the series was originally titled Freedom Fighter Gunboy or simply Gunboy, because the title included a robot armed with a gun and the target demographic was primarily shōnen. In the early stages of production, there were numerous references to the word "freedom", such as the White Base being originally named "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter as the "Freedom Wing", and the Gunperry named the "Freedom Cruiser". The collective Yatate team combined the English word, "gun", with last syllable of the word "freedom", "dom", to form the word Gundom. Tomino then changed the name to the current title, suggesting that the name Gundam signifies a powerful unit wielding a gun that is strong enough to hold back enemies, like a hydroelectric dam holding back floods.
Most Gundams appear as large, bipedal vehicles controlled by their human pilots in cockpits. Like many of the "mobile suits" (the name for these vehicles, including the Gundam) appearing in the various series, the machine is usually piloted from the torso area with a camera built into the head, transmitting the image to viewscreens in the cockpit, allowing the pilot to perceive the outside world. Some exceptions have been known to mount cockpits on other areas of the chassis (ie. the Psyco Gundam, where the cockpit is located in the unit's head).
While Gundams are non-sentient units, there are some exceptions, depending on the story. In the side-story called Gundam Sentinel, an artificial intelligence called A.L.I.C.E. was specified to have developed its own emotions, wanting to become human at the very end of the story,[3] and in The Blue Destiny, another side-story, four mobile suits (where one of them is not a Gundam) built with the EXAM System, which shares a Newtype human soul, allows them to act accordingly on their own.[4] These are the only canonical and specified plot-related Gundams that contains self-sentience.
Innovation
Mobile Suit Gundam is said to have pioneered the real robot area of mecha anime.[5] Unlike its super robot cousins, Gundam attempts at realism in robot design and weaponry, as well as the thematic and ethical roles of the robots themselves. Zambot 3 was an earlier program by Tomino, where he began developing the ideas in Gundam, and along with Super Dimension Fortress Macross, would form the basis of the genre.
The inherent theme of all the various Gundam series is the harsh depiction of the atrocities of war. All the machines, including the Gundams, are always depicted realistically, that is, they run out of energy and ammunition, they break and malfunction like all machines do. The technology, at least that of the Universal Century, is practical and is either derived from true science, including Lagrange points in space, the O'Neill cylinder as a living environment, or at least well-explained technology that is potentially feasible, and/or requiring only a few fictional elements inserted into real science to function (Minovsky Physics, as a means of energy production from helium-3).
The narrative itself revolves around the emotions of the characters, who are usually thrown into conflict without much choice and faced with the death, destruction and dehumanization inherent in war. With few exceptions (mostly in side stories), there are no absolute heroes and villains; all have their motives, failings, and virtues. Political battles are as likely to determine the outcome of a war, as it often is. Gundam also features debate on various important philosophical issues and political ideals, both historical ones, and some of those likely to crop up in the future. Of particular note are the frequent explorations of 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 personalities, points of view, and actions may (or may not) change dramatically, as the events on the series unfold. This makes the plot seem more realistic. In early super robot animated series, the hero and cast usually act in the same predictable manner in most episodes, occasionally seeming to have no connection between episodes. In the various Gundam series, the characters' personalities and actions are transformed/developed by the turn of events surrounding them; some achieve their goals, others are hardened by war, and some even switch allegiances (whether for their own agendas, or following their conscience, after a change of philosophy). 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.
Gundam's realistic scientific setting has gained its reputation in the field, as well. On July 18, 2007, as MIT's Astronautics Department's Professor Dava Newman displays her Biosuit, the normal suit as seen in the Gundam series was referenced as Mobile Suit Gundam's Normal Suit is now real by various news.[6][7] On February 14, 2008, as NASA proposed its beginning of the nuclear thermal rocket engine research, Technobahn, a scientific journal in Japan relates it to the Gundam universe, having wide usage of nuclear thermal rocket engines on its mobile suits.[8]
Distinctive characteristics
Gundam is the name or nickname of several mobile suits or mobile fighters, although some works, such as G-Saviour and Mobile Suit Gundam: MS IGLOO do not have units containing the term Gundam.
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.
All mobile weapons have serial numbers, usually additions to previous mobile weapons in its lineage. For example, the Earth Federation in the Universal Century timeline uses "R" (from Chikyū Renpō) to designate their mobile suits, with "X" for experimental units, "GM" (Gundam Mass-Produced\General Machine) or "GC" (Guncannon, another V-Project mobile suit) for production mobile suits derived from the original V-Project suits and "MS" for mass-produced mobile suits derived from the One Year War-era Principality of Zeon mobile suits.
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 stealth under radar, due to its nature of absorbing electromagnetic waves. 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 continuity, presenting an alternate scenario, with many of the mecha designs loosely based on Universal Century suits.
In the CC (Seireki) timeline, the name Gundam is given to the SYSTEM ∀-99 (WD-M01) ∀ Gundam "Turn A"/White Doll mobile suit by a specific character, who was originally ace pilot, but 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 always spells "GUNDAM", thus, these suits are called Gundam. However, this is retconned by later toys and scale models tagging the Gundam, after the unit's own name.
The different series have had different ways of maintaining the tradition, and the only unique feature that all Gundams have in common is the name. The following characteristics are distinctive (but not unique) to many Gundams:
- Humanoid form.
Exceptions: MSA-0011[Bst] S Gundam Booster Unit Type, JDG-009X (JDG-00X) Devil Gundam and certain other mobile fighters. - Face with two human-like eyes, which flash when the unit is activated.
Exceptions: Monoeye Gundam - V-fin (V-shaped) communication antenna on the head, more often than not, painted in gold. Some units possess two V-fins.
Exceptions: LM312V06 Victory Gundam Hexa, RX-79[G] Ez-8 Gundam Ez8, SYSTEM ∀-99 (WD-M01) ∀ Gundam "Turn A" (its fin is placed on the chin), RX-0 Unicorn Gundam (the fin is mounted on the head, like the horn of a unicorn, which later folds out into a V-fin when a certain system is activated) - Mohawk-like crest on the head.
- A prominent red, blue or yellow "chin" or goatee, initially thought to be a mere stylistic touch, but may actually be a cover for a port to transfer data between the Gundam and an outside computer (some fans speculate that it might also be a heat vent for the Gundam's on-board computer).
Exceptions: MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the Z Plus Series, MSA-0011 S Gundam and its variants, ORX-013 Gundam MK V and various others. - In any given series, at least one Gundam, usually piloted by the story's protagonist, will have a blue torso and white limbs and head - the so called "parade colors". Yellow and/or red highlights are often added.
Exceptions: In Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, the RX-93 Nu Gundam has a black torso (later retconned to dark navy blue), and in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, the RX-79[G] Gundam Mass-Production Ground Type has grey limbs. In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, The ZGMF-X56S Impulse Gundam's armor color changes based on the equipped Silhouette mission pack: The Force Silhouette keeps the standard "parade colors", The Sword Silhouette gives it a red torso, with black and grey highlights, and the Blast Silhouette gives it a black torso, with blue and green highlights. - Usually has two vents in the head, mounted on the "mouthplate" area.
Exceptions: MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, RX-93 Nu Gundam (has three vents), RX-78GP02A Gundam "Physalis" and various others. - Generally superior and overall performance, in comparison to other mobile suits of its era. Mass-produced mobile suits from later times may equal or surpass an outdated Gundam's performance.
The Huckebein series of mecha from the Super Robot Wars series also share many Gundam-like characteristics; not surprising, since its mechanical designer is Hajime Katoki, who has done many redesigns of previous Gundam models.
Calendar system
The majority of Gundam works, including the earliest ones, occurs in the Universal Century (UC, for short) calendar. Later series are set in alternate calendars or timelines that are mostly unrelated to the UC system. There is a basic premise or back-story common to all the Gundam series: in each timeline, Earth has at some point established space colonies within the Solar System, but eventually engages in an armed conflict against them. On a side note, at least three calendar systems are initially numbered after the year that the series premiered. For example, Mobile Suit Gundam takes place in UC 0079 (it premiered in 1979) , New Mobile Report Gundam Wing in After Colony 195 (a 1995 premiere) and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 takes place in 2307 (with a 2007 premiere). In addition, the initials for the Cosmic Era calendar, C.E., is the same for as the initials for Common Era, a designation of the Gregorian calendar.
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam takes place in the Future Century (FC). In this timeline, the 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, referring to the years after the foundation of the first space colony. Unlike the UC and FC, Earth firmly maintains repressive control over its colonies.
- After War Gundam X takes place in the After War (AW) timeline, referring to the years after the conclusion of the 7th Space War, where the Earth was devastated by massive colony drops. As a result, the story features distinct post-apocalyptic undertones, in addition to the common space war themes.
- ∀ Gundam takes place in the CC (正歴, Seireki) calendar system, where 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 C.E. referring to the years after the foundation of the first space colonies. This timeline mostly mirrors the UC's balance of power between Earth and the colonies.
- The latest entry in the franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam 00, is the first series to incur the Anno Domini (西暦, Seireki) timeline.
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.
Gundam franchise
Animated/live-action series and movies
In order of release:
- Mobile Suit Gundam (Also known as the First Gundam, it is the nickname used by Japanese fans, once sequels appeared' Gundam 0079 has also been established for use, as a nickname derived from its spinoff manga and games used by the international community.)
- TV: 1979
- Compilation movies: 1981 - 1982
- Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- TV: 1985
- Compilation movies: 2004 - 2006
- Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
- TV: 1986
- Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
- Movie: 1988
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
- OVAs: 1989
- Super Deformed Gundam
- Movie: 1988 - 1989, 1991, 1993
- OVAs: 1988, 1990
- TV: 1993
- Mobile Suit Gundam F91
- Movie: 1991
- Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
- OVAs: 1991
- Compilation movie: 1992
- Mobile Suit Victory Gundam
- TV: 1993
- Mobile Fighter G Gundam
- TV: 1994
- Mobile Suit Gundam Wing
- TV: 1995
- Compilation OVAs: 1996
- Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team
- OVAs: 1996
- Compilation movie: 1998
- After War Gundam X
- TV: 1996
- New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz
- OVAs: 1997
- Compilation movie: 1998
- Turn A Gundam
- TV: 1999
- Compilation movies: 2002
- Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu
- Amusement park attraction movie: 2000
- G-Saviour
- Live action TV movie: 2000
- Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Divers
- Specialty format movie: 2001
- Gundam Evolve
- Short films: 2001 - 2005
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
- TV: 2002
- Compilation specials: 2004
- Superior Defender Gundam Force
- TV: 2003 - 2004
- Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO
- Movies: 2004
- OVAs: 2006
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
- TV: 2004
- Compilation specials: 2006 - 2007
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer
- ONAs: 2006
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00
- TV: 2007
- Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: The Movie (?)
Original Design Series/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 in 22 September, 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 adorpted 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 in stead of the current official timeline January 0079.)[9][10] the book is regarded as the pioneer of the realism of the Gundam franchise, and is acknowledged in Gundam Officials 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.
- GUNDAM 00V
- Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 series.
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. Gundam-related manga is also published in English in Singapore, by Chuang Yi.
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 |
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 |
An Unreal mod called Mech Assault Genesis exists, based on the Gundam franchise.
A mod for StarCraft, originally named GundamCraft, but later changed, due to Blizzard Entertainment's request of name change to Gundam Century, featured all buildings, units, images and sounds to that of the Universal Century timeline. The developer, Stuart Ng of Genesoul.net, has stopped the project.
Super Robot Wars
The Gundam metaverse makes regular appearances in the Super Robot Wars series by Banpresto. In fact, there hasn't been a single non-Banpresto Original title which hasn't 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 Nintendo 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.
Series based On Gundam models
Although not directly related to Gundam, these series incorporate Gundam models as part of the stories. It is also noted that Genshiken and Sgt. Frog was created by a subdivision of Bandai, Media Factory and Sunrise, respectively:
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 accesories 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 maintains 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, attempting to blast its minions with its 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).[11] Not only were stamps published, the Agriculture Minitry was reprimanded for contribution to Japanese wikipedia Gundam related pages, 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.
Japanese agriculture ministry
On October 5, 2007, an employee in Japan's agriculture ministry was reprimanded for allegedly contributing 260 times to the Japanese-language Wikipedia article about Gundam. Ministry official Tsutomu Shimomura noted, “The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam.”[12][failed verification]
Fire fighting poster
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 of the main pilot on two stamps in the 20th Century Stamp Series. [13]
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. [14]
Japan Self-Defense Forces
The code name for the under-development Japan Self-Defense Forces' advanced personal combat equipment is "Gundam".[15][16][17] On the display exhibition on 7 November 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 equipement 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.[18]
Tram station monument
On 23 March 2008, a RX-78 Gundam monument in the south exit of the Kamiigusa Station (上井草駅), and an original Gundam head mark will be on display on the Seibu Shinjuku Line train until 4 April 2008. The music of the train departing is also changed to the melody of the opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam. The event also featured free Gundam eco-bags. The monument pose is directed by Tomino, the original creator of Gundam, and featured a pose of Gundam pointing its hand towards the sky symbolizing paragenesis and hoping for the future. According to the director, it corresponds to the title of the first episode of Gundam, ガンダム大地に立つ!!, and carries a meaning of from Earth.[19]
Isuzu VX2
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1c/VX2.jpg/220px-VX2.jpg)
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.[20]
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. [21]
Lancer Evolution
According to Gundam-san 4 koma comic, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution appearance is influenced by the RX-78-2 Gundam.[22]
See also
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
Bibliography
- Yoshiyuki Tomino. "Mobile Suit Gundam". Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network.
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- Yoshiyuki Tomino. "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam". Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network.
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- Yoshiyuki Tomino. "Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ". Sunrise. Nagoya Broadcasting Network.
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References
- ^ Otona no Gundamu Perfect, 大人のガンダム完全版
- ^ 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
- ^ Gundam Sentinel
- ^ Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny
- ^ Oppliger, John (2007-10-12). "Ask John: Which Gundam Series Have Had the Most Impact on Anime?". AnimeNation. Retrieved 2007-10-26.
{{cite web}}
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(help) - ^ tehnobahn, 機動戦士ガンダムのノーマルスーツが現実に
- ^ Ming Pao, 19 July, 2007
- ^ 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
- ^ Gundam Century Renewal Version
- ^ Gundam Officials, references
- ^ Nekkei BP mook, Otona no Gundamu Perfect (Gundam for Adult's Perfect), Business & History+Character+Mechanic, Nekkei Entertainment, ISBN978-4-8222-6317-1
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "The 20th Century Stamp Series 15". Retrieved 2007-01-10.
- ^ "Anime Hero and Heroine Series II - Gundam". Retrieved 2007-01-13.
- ^ yahoo news
- ^ yahoo news picture
- ^ 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).
- ^ 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)
- ^ 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)
- ^ http://www.mhi.co.jp/news/sec1/020220nl.html
- ^ "MHI Jobcon 2005" (in Japanese). 4 February 2005. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
{{cite web}}
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(help)(Website prevented deep linking, see Year of 2004 and link to 4 Feb 2005) - ^ Mobile Suit Gundam-san(Kidou Senshi Gundamu san), P.123
External links
- Official Gundam website Template:Jp icon
- GundamOfficial Official website for Gundam in North America
- Official Gundam website in Taiwan Template:Zh icon
- Gundam at Curlie
- Template:Anime-links
- Gundam at the Mecha Anime Headquarters website
- Gundam at Gears Online
- Gundam at Wikia
- Gundamology-A Mobile Suit Gundam Wiki
- Gundam Reference Data