By Vaughn Bui
Have you ever been sharing your life with a friend and the question “So, what do you like to do?” comes up, leading you to ramble passionately about your beloved hobby? Well, I always love bringing up my lifelong hobby: building plastic model kits of Gundam. Yet, every time I do so, I hear time and time again without fail:
“What’s Gundam?” they would say.
“They’re giant piloted robots from a television show!” I would say.
“Oh, so Transformers!” they say.
Well, I’m tired of reliving that Groundhog Day scenario. Despite its unique and fun model kits and shows, the Gundam franchise remains generally unknown. It’s time to remove the idea that Gundams are knock-off transformers, and it’s time to get into Gunpla.
Gunpla is a specific category of the Gundam franchise that describes the model-kits only, excluding the animated television series.
One of the common criticisms of the Gundam franchise is that it seems to be a knock-off of Transformers. However, when we look at each franchise’s origins, it’s apparent who came first.
“Mobile Suit Gundam” first aired on television in 1979, animated by the studio Nippon Sunrise, and is now part of Bandai. Despite initial failures, in 1980, Bandai debuted a series of model kits where buyers would have to self-assemble the figure. The affordable pricing of the kits led to a surge in popularity within Japan. Eventually, it grew to consist of the current Gundam franchise of model kits we have today.
In 1984, Takura Tomy and Hasbro released “The Transformers” alongside a Transformers toy line. The early franchise would see great success in both Japan and North America. The transforming gimmick of robots into vehicles made the toys more favorable to kids, compared to Gundam’s traditional robotic figure.
Gundam’s unique figurines differentiated the two franchises’ toys in the process of assembly. Gundams require careful assembly of many individual parts to form the figure, whereas Transformers toys are often pre-assembled out of the box. The idea of building what you bought adds a personal value to your purchase, a value that is not felt by the cheap plastic toys of Transformers.
Some may complain that the meticulous construction of Gunpla makes it less enticing. However, Gunpla model kits offer a wide variety of choices for people of all ages, regardless of their skill level in craft. For those who prefer casual building, Entry Grade and Super Deformed grade kits can be snapped together with just your fingers. High-grade kits strike a fine balance between detail and ease of building and are generally the most common Gunpla sold. Real Grade, Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits are usually intended for those who want a challenging and more detailed product.
Each grade of kit may require minimal tools such as a nipper or a small cutting tool. Other tools can be used to enhance the detail of Gunpla; sandpaper may be used to refine stress marks, and a Gundam Marker can be used to trace and detail the figure. Some people even paint Gunpla parts to hide scratches or give a Gunpla a unique twist of color.
No matter the “grade” title labeled on a Gunpla model kit, an endless selection of kits makes finding the right one difficult.
Some may believe that the prices of Gunpla model kits are high, but the prices vary alongside its “grade” title. High-Grade kits, the most common kit sold, often cost around 20 dollars. The typical Transformer would cost you around the same price, yet also fluctuates depending on the figure.
Snapping the last pieces of a Gunpla together always feels fulfilling. Taking a step back to see a figure that was put together by your own hands adds a value that pre-assembled kits may never provide. It’s a figure that you put together, a figure that you can call your own.
Gunpla kits can be found in Japanese merchandise shops such as Tokyo: Lifestyle, HobbyHolics and may even be found at Target. Finishing one may inspire you to get another Gunpla, build higher-grade kits or slowly build your collection. It’s an affordable hobby open to everyone.
