Gunpla Anime Announced

Taking the Gundam anime franchise in a completely new direction, Bandai has announced the development of a three episode mini-series titled “Mokei Senshi Gunpla Builders Beginning G,” that will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Mobile Suit Gundam plastic model franchise and serve as a promotion for the upcoming “Beginning Gundam” line of plastic model kits. Unlike the previous sci-fi Gundam anime, the “Gunpla” series will occur in the present day real world and star Haru Irei, a teen boy who develops a love for collecting and building Gundam plastic model kits. Gundam anime production studio Sunrise will animate with Kou Matsuo (Kure-nai, Red Garden) directing and Yousuke Kuroda (Hellsing, Gundam OO) scripting. The first episode will screen at this summer’s Gundam Super Expo publicity event. The following episodes will air on the NHK BS11 network.

Over 400 million Gundam plastic model kits have sold in Japan since the line premiered in July 1980.

Setting aside blatant commercialism, we’ve seen Gunpla figure prominently in Genshiken and Keroro Gunso, so it makes sense to finally see them in a literal Gundam anime. And after 31 years, this is a neat way to continue taking the Gundam anime franchise in new directions.

Source: Anime News Network