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Gundam (ガンダム ,Gandamu^?) is a metaseries of Japanese anime, featuring giant robots, or "mecha", created by Sunrise studios. The series started in April 1979 as a TV series called Mobile Suit Gundam, and later became a franchise name with more sequels, prequels, side stories and alternative timelines, published and aired in various media including TV anime, OVA, manga, novels, and video games. Gundam became a collective term for 7 different time lines, all featuring their own story-lines, with a few common denominators and war machines called Gundam.

The original timeline for the Gundam series was the Universal Century (UC) series, which included Mobile Suit Gundam (1979) and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (1985). Since the 1990s, alternative timelines have been produced and developed, including the Future Century, After Colony, After War, Correct Century, Cosmic Era and Anno Domini timelines.

As of January 21, 2008, the Gundam franchise is a 50 billion yen trademark.^[1] In the 2008 ranking of average sales figures for anime copies sold in Japan (1970-2008 total sales figures averaged by episode), Gundam series were in 4 of the top 5 places: Mobile Suit Gundam ranked second, with Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny third, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED fourth, and Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam fifth. Also, New Mobile Report Gundam Wing ranked 18th and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ ranked 20th.^[2] Gunpla's (Gundam Plastic model) income is 90% of the Japan character plastic model market's income.^[3]

Academic fields in Japan have also viewed the series as a good inspiration in research fields, with the Gundam academy (or officially International Gundam Society) being the first academic institution based on an animated TV series.^[4]

Contents 1 Overview 1.1 Concept 1.2 Innovation 1.3 Narrative 1.4 Characteristics and Variations 1.5 Calendar system 2 Franchise 2.1 Animated series and films 2.1.1 Further development 2.2 Live-Action Film 2.3 Manga and novels 2.3.1 Series based on Gundam models 2.4 Video games 2.4.1 Super Robot Wars 2.5 Original design series and variations 2.6 Merchandise 2.7 Internet 3 As a cultural icon 3.1 Fire fighting poster 3.2 Japanese stamps 3.3 Japan Self-Defense Forces 3.4 Tram station monument 3.5 Isuzu VX2 3.6 Mitsubishi 3.6.1 Test-type simulator 3.6.2 Seminars 3.6.3 Lancer Evolution 3.7 Ink and wash painting 3.8 International Gundam Society 4 See also 5 Bibliography 6 References 7 External links

[edit] Overview

[edit] Concept

Mobile Suit Gundam was principally developed by renowned animator Yoshiyuki Tomino, along with a changing group of Sunrise creators who went under the collective pseudonym of "Hajime Yatate".

During its conceptual phase, the series was titled Freedom Fighter Gunboy, or simply Gunboy for the gun the robot was armed with, and the primarily target demographic were shōnen (boys). In the early production stages, there were numerous references to the word "freedom": the White Base was originally "Freedom's Fortress", the Core Fighter was the "Freedom Wing", and the Gunperry was the "Freedom Cruiser". The Yatate team combined the English word "gun" with the last syllable of the word "freedom" to form the name Gundom. Tomino then changed it to the current title, suggesting that Gundam signified a powerful unit wielding a gun powerful enough to hold back enemies, like a hydroelectric dam holding back floods.^{[citation needed]}

Most Gundams are large, bipedal vehicles controlled from cockpits by a human pilot. The majority of these "mobile suits" have a cockpit in the "torso" of the machine, with a camera built into the "head" to transmit images to the cockpit (with the exception of the head-mounted cockpits in Psyco Gundam) and are non-sentient machines (with the exceptions of the artificial intelligence A.L.I.C.E. in the side-story Gundam Sentinel and four mobile suits built with the EXAM System and sharing a Newtype human soul in The Blue Destiny. ^[5][6]

[edit] Innovation

Mobile Suit Gundam is said to have pioneered the real robot era of mecha anime.^[7]

Unlike its super robot cousins, Gundam attempted a realism in the robot design and weaponry, by running out of energy and ammunition or breaking and malfunctioning like all machines do. The technology (at least in the Universal Century) is practical and is either derived from true science (such as Lagrange points in space and the O'Neill cylinder as a living environment) or at least well-explained, feasible technology, requiring only a few fictional elements to function (such as Minovsky Physics as a means of energy production from helium-3). ^[8]

The necessity of developing humanoid robots is also explained, albeit fictional. The fictional Minovsky particle pervasive in Universal Century is depicted as interfering with radar-guided long-distance cruise missiles, anti-aircraft guns, missiles, and all early warning systems, with weapons systems having to rely on human eyes. In Universal Century, the space-based Principality of Zeon rebels against Earth Federation, requiring a weapons system that could function in zero and normal gravity, be able to open and close air locks, plant demolition charges, and engage with enemy tanks and planes; with a robotic giant being an excellent choice. Once mobile suits have been developed by one side, the opposing force had to develop a similar system, just as British invention of tanks lead to the development of tanks in Germany, and eventually lead to tank-to-tank battles.

Gundam's realistic scientific setting has gained a reputation in the field itself as well. On July 18, 2007, when MIT's Astronautics Department's Professor Dava Newman displayed a biosuit, the suit was referenced as Mobile Suit Gundam's Normal Suit is now real by various news agencies.^[9][10] On February 14, 2008, when NASA proposed research into nuclear thermal rockets, Technobahn, a scientific journal in Japan referred to the usage of nuclear thermal rocket engines on mobile suits in the Gundam universe.^[11]

[edit] Narrative

The narrative itself revolves around the mobile suits and their pilots fighting in a war, in which destruction and dehumanization are inherent, through multiple sides; each faction having their own heroes and villains, all of which have their own unique motives, failings, and virtues. Gundam also features political battles and debates on various important philosophical issues and political ideals on 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's personalities, points of view, allegiances, goals, and actions may or may not change dramatically as events unfold. This makes the plot seem more realistic than earlier super robot animated series where the hero and cast usually act in the same predictable manner and little connection between the episodes. 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.

[edit] Characteristics and Variations

As a metaseries, Gundam functions with different designs and coloring (with most following Kunio Okawara's original Gundam design). Producer Masahiko Asano wrote in his notes on the production of S Gundam that everyone seemed to have their own idea of Gundam and in the meeting, they were trying to find the asymptotic view for everyone in the meeting.^[12]

• 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. The Anaheim Gundams, or Greek alphabet Gundams are a series of mobile suits developed by the fictional company Anaheim Electronics, some of them are notably carrying different style heads than other Gundams in the series, like the Rick Dias (Gamma Gundam) and Hyaku Shiki (Delta Gundam).
• 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 Correct Century 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.
• In the Anno Domini timeline of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, the term Gundam is the generic designation of a line of unique and highly effective mobile units developed by Celestial Being, such as the GN-001 Gundam Exia and GN-002 Gundam Dynames. Distinct from concurrently introduced weapons, suit torsos contain a core generator system known as the GN Drive or Solar Furnace, capable of sustaining independent unit function for an indefinite period of time without needing to refuel. In addition, onboard propulsion recycles the generator's GN particle exhaust for high-speed, virtually unlimited output. The particle exhaust disrupts the use of conventional radar and a range of wireless communications.

See also the Japanese article for Gundam Type /ガンダムタイプ for details.

[edit] Calendar system

The majority of Gundam, including the earliest series, occur in the Universal Century (UC) calendar, with later series are set in alternate calendars or timelines mostly unrelated to the UC system (at least of these three calendar systems were actually initially numbered after the year that the series premiered, with 1979's Mobile Suit Gundam taking place in UC 0079, 1995's New Mobile Report Gundam Wing in After Colony 195, and 2007's Mobile Suit Gundam 00 takes place in 2307).

• Mobile Fighter G Gundam takes place in the Future Century (FC), where 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, set after the foundation of the first space colony, where Earth firmly maintains repressive control over its colonies.
• After War Gundam X takes place in the After War (AW) timeline, set after the conclusion of the 7th Space War, where the Earth is devastated by massive colony drops.
• ∀ 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 CE referring to the years after the foundation of the first space 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.

[edit] Franchise

[edit] Animated series and films

Name	Media	Year(s)
Mobile Suit Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1979-1980 1981-1982
Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1985-1986 2004-2006
Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ	TV series	1986-1987
Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack	Movie	1988
Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket	OVA	1989
Super Deformed Gundam	Movie OVA TV series	1988-1989, 1991, 1993 1988, 1990 1993
Mobile Suit Gundam F91	Movie	1991
Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory	OVA Compilation movie	1991 1992
Mobile Suit Victory Gundam	TV series	1993
Mobile Fighter G Gundam	TV series	1994
Mobile Suit Gundam Wing	TV series Compilation OVAs	1995 1996
Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team	OVAs Compilation movie	1996 1998
After War Gundam X	TV series	1996
New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz	OVAs Compilation movie	1997 1998
Turn A Gundam	TV series Compilation movies	1999-2000 2002
Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu	Amusement park attraction movie	2000
Gundam Neo Experience 0087: Green Divers	Specialty format movie	2001
Gundam Evolve	Animated shorts	2001-2005
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED	TV series Compilation specials	2002-2003 2004
Superior Defender Gundam Force	TV series	2003-2004
Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO	Movies OVAs	2004 2006
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny	TV series Compilation specials	2004-2005 2006-2007
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer	ONAs	2006
Mobile Suit Gundam 00	TV series	2007-2009
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Movie	Movie	2010 (tentative)
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: The Movie	Movie	To be announced

[edit] Further development

In an interview in the February 2009 issue of OtonaFami, Yoshiyuki Tomino commented on the lack of planning of Sunrise and Bandai and that because a good movie needs 3–4 years of production time, it is too late for him to do anything for 2009, the 30th anniversary of Gundam. However, he did comment that it was not too late to begin considering the 35th anniversary. His wish was that in the future, a common sentence people would use would be to Think like Gundam. ^[13]

In 2009, a new series based in Universal Century to be announced as part of the 30th anniversary celebration. ^[14]

[edit] Live-Action Film

[edit] 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, and in Singapore by Chuang Yi.

[edit] Series based on Gundam models

Although not directly related to Gundam, these series incorporate Gundam models as part of the stories (it might be noted that Genshiken and Sgt. Frog were created by subdivisions of Bandai and Media Factory and Sunrise, respectively):

• Plamo-kyo Shiro
• Plamo-Wars
• Sgt. Frog
• Genshiken

[edit] 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	Description
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

[edit] Super Robot Wars

The Gundam metaverse makes regular appearances in the Super Robot Wars series by Banpresto. In fact, there has not been a single non-Banpresto Original title which has not 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 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.

[edit] Original design series and variations

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)

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 adopted 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 instead of the current official timeline January 0079).^[15][16] the book is regarded as the pioneer of the realism of the Gundam franchise, and is acknowledged in Gundam Official 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.
• 00V
  • Variations from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 series.

[edit] 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 accessories to create a more updated version.

[edit] 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.

[edit] As a cultural icon

This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail which may only interest a specific audience. Please relocate any relevant information, and remove excessive trivia, praise, criticism, lists and collections of links. (March 2009)

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).^[17] Not only were stamps published, an employee of the Agriculture Ministry was reprimanded for contribution to Japanese Wikipedia Gundam related pages ^[18], 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. A conference as a preparation for the "International Gundam Society" (国際ガンダム学会) was held on the 24 August in Hiroshima, using Gundam as the main topic to discuss about the relationship of the science and technology in sci-fi anime and the real world.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Japanese stamps

The RX-78 Gundam was recognized as a culturally significant subject by the nation of Japan on 23 October 2000, with the inclusion of the suit and of the main pilot on two stamps in the 20th Century Stamp Series. ^[19]

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. ^[20]

[edit] Japan Self-Defense Forces

The code name for the under-development Japan Self-Defense Forces advanced personal combat equipment is "Gundam".^{[21][22][23][24]} 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 equipment 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.^[25]

[edit] 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.^[26]

[edit] Isuzu VX2

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.

[edit] Mitsubishi

[edit] 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.^[27]

[edit] 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. ^[28]

[edit] Lancer Evolution

According to Gundam-san 4 koma comic, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution appearance is influenced by the RX-78-2 Gundam.^[29]

[edit] Ink and wash painting

In 2008, the ink and wash painting of Gundam drawn by Hisashi Tenmyouya in 2005 was sold in the Christie's auction held in Hong Kong with a price of US$600,000.^[30][31]

[edit] International Gundam Society

On 24 August 2008, a conference was held in Hiroshima with hundreds of academic professionals in different fields joining together to discuss about the relationship of anime science and technology with the modern world, including military, economical, linguistics, possibility of the Universal Century (human colonizing space) and beam weaponry in the Gundam world. Many envisioned the science in Gundam is not far from our time.^[32][33][34] One aeronautics expert in the project said Thermal nuclear rockets and spherical helper bots should be pursued.^[35]

[edit] See also

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Gundam

• Bandai Museum

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Gundam website (Japanese)
• GundamOfficial Official website for Gundam in North America
• Official Gundam website in Taiwan (Chinese)
• Gundam at the Open Directory Project
• Gundam (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
• Gundam at the Mecha Anime Headquarters website
• Gundam at Gears Online
• Gundam at Wikia
• Gundam Reference Data

v • d • e Gundam Universal Century Anime Mobile Suit Gundam · Zeta Gundam · Gundam ZZ · Char's Counterattack · MS IGLOO · The 08th MS Team · 0080: War in the Pocket · 0083: Stardust Memory · Gundam F91 · Victory Gundam Books The Origin · The Blue Destiny (manga) · Gundam Sentinel · Double-Fake: Under the Gundam · Gundam Unicorn · Hathaway's Flash · Crossbone Gundam · Gaia Gear Live G-Saviour Events One Year War · Post-One Year War · Operation Stardust · Gryps Conflict · Neo-Zeon Movements · Late UC Topics Characters · Episode list · Locations · Technology · Mobile units · MSV · MS-X · Nations and factions · Newtypes · Superweapons · Vehicles and craft Future Century Anime G Gundam Topics Characters · Mobile suits After Colony Anime Gundam Wing · Endless Waltz Books Episode Zero · The Last Outpost Topics Characters · Episode list · Locations · Mobile units · Nations and factions After War Anime Gundam X Books Under the Moonlight Topics Characters · Mobile units · Technology CC (Seireki) Anime ∀ Gundam · ∀ Gundam I: Earth Light · ∀ Gundam II: Moonlight Butterfly Topics Characters · WD-M01 Turn A Gundam · Concept-X 6-1-2 Turn X Cosmic Era Anime Gundam SEED · SEED: Special Edition · MSV: Astray · Gundam SEED Destiny · SEED Destiny: Special Edition · C.E. 73: Stargazer · Gundam SEED: The Movie Books Gundam SEED Astray · Gundam SEED Destiny Astray · SEED Destiny: The Edge · C.E. 73 Δ Astray · Club Yonkoma · Gundam SEED (novel) Events First Bloody Valentine War · Second Bloody Valentine War Topics SEED characters · SEED Astray characters · Episode list · Human enhancements · Locations · Mobile units · Music · Nations and factions · Superweapons · Technology · Vehicles and aircraft · Warships and spacecraft Anno Domini Anime Gundam 00 (First Season · Second Season) Books Gundam 00 (manga) · Gundam 00P · Gundam 00F · Gundam 00V · Aoi Kioku · Another Story: Mission-2306 Topics Albums · Characters · Episode list · Media · Mobile Weapons · Technology · Warships and spacecraft Miscellaneous Anime Gundam Evolve · SD Gundam · SD Gundam Force Books Manga and Novels · Mobile Suit Gundam Alive Topics Mobile weapons · Space colony Other Video games · Gundam War Collectible Card Game