Gundam Build Fighter (2013)

The next big Gundam anime series will not actually be about giant robots fighting in space. Instead, the new series will feature mobile suits that may physically be small in stature, but are nevertheless a a huge deal to fans; we’re talking the world of 1/144 scale Gundam plastic models, also known simply as “Gunpla”.

Entitled Gundam Build Fighters, the new series was announced this morning at a press conference held in Odaba’s Gundam Front Tokyo entertainment complex. The new show will begin airing on Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo, as well as all of its affiliates all over Japan, this October.

Set in a near future where Gunpla models can be pit against one another in Gunpla Battles, Gundam Build Fighters tells the story of Sei Iori, a first-year middle school/junior high student, and the only child to the family who runs Iori Hobby Figure Shop, a mom-and-pop shop that deals in 1/144 scale Gunpla figures.
Sei possesses remarkable Gunpla construction skills, possibly due to his parents’ influence.

However, when he enters his first Gunpla Battle tournament, he is elminated from the competition right from his very first match.

That’s when Sei meets Reiji, a mysterious teenage boy who displays extraordinary skill in remote-operating Gunpla mobile suits. The two decide to form a duo and aim towards qualifying for the worldwide Gunpla Battle championships.

As it’s themed around Gunpla, Gundam Build Fighters will feature mobile suit units both old and new.

For instance, the original Gunpla unit that Sei puts together – Build Strike Gundam – is a unit that uses parts from Strike Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed) as a base.

Other such “remixed” versions of past mobile suits include new suits based on parts from Zaku-II (called the Zaku Amazing), Wing Gundam, and Gundam X (Gundam X Maoh/Devil King). Official Gunpla kits for Build Strike Gundam, Zaku Amazing, and Gundam X Maoh will be sold in stores beginning November.

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