The classic OVA series "Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team" is renowned for its gritty, realistic military take on the One Year War, setting it apart from the original "Mobile Suit Gundam." Its compelling story—featuring star-crossed lovers on opposing sides and the evolving camaraderie of soldiers who go from mockery to trust—has earned it critical acclaim. Even 25 years later, it remains a top recommendation for newcomers to the Gundam franchise. This year, Bandai Spirits' TAMASHII NATIONS brand is rolling out a new line of "The 08th MS Team" figures in its popular "Robot Spirits ver. A.N.I.M.E." series, promising fans the ability to recreate numerous famous scenes from the show. The hype is real!
Today, we're diving into a hands-on review of the first release from "The 08th MS Team" lineup: the "Robot Spirits
▼ The box art and packaging design.
▼ In addition to the main figure, the set is packed with accessories, including four pairs of optional hands, a hand storage deck, a weapon container, a 100mm machine gun, a 180mm cannon, a short shield, a complete set of various effect parts, and marking stickers.
While the silhouette of the RX-79(G) Gundam Ground Type strongly resembles the iconic "granddaddy" RX-78-2 Gundam, its lore explains that it was constructed from surplus, non-standard parts from the RX-78 project for terrestrial combat. Its armor is made from the same Lunar Titanium Alloy as the RX-78-2, and its power plant boasts equivalent output, making its performance virtually identical in ground warfare. In the series, these units were assigned to the 04th, 06th, and 08th MS Teams, including the one led by protagonist Shiro Amada.
▼ The "Robot Spirits
▼ Aside from the metallic green of the head camera and the unit markings, most of the figure is rendered in its molded plastic colors. The armor primarily uses a matte, off-white plastic, which, combined with the hefty sculpt, avoids a cheap look and gives it a convincing sense of visual weight.
▼ A closer look reveals that the Gundam Ground Type's armor is far from the simple, symmetrical design of the original Gundam. It's packed with practical, combat-oriented features. For instance, the asymmetrical chest houses an exhaust vent on the right and a vulcan gun and multi-launcher on the left. The shoulder armor features hoist hooks, while both knees have spikes to improve grip during kneeling firing poses. The outer calf armor even opens to store Beam Saber hilts. All these details have been meticulously recreated in this figure.
▼ The neck articulation is similar to past Gundam releases, allowing for basic tilting up and down and turning side to side.
▼ The chest is intricately segmented, allowing the left and right sections to swing forward horizontally. This enhances the arms' range of motion for more natural posing.
▼ The shoulder joints feature a pull-out mechanism, allowing them to swing forward and back and lift upwards independently.
▼ A small, segmented piece above the shoulder joint moves in tandem with the joint as it's raised, further expanding the range of motion.
▼ The elbow joint has an impressive bend range, allowing the forearm to almost touch the shoulder armor.
▼ The waist uses a ball joint, providing a decent range of motion in all directions.
▼ The leg joints all offer excellent articulation. The feet, in particular, feature segmented parts that allow them to splay out significantly, making kneeling firing poses look much more natural.
Next up are the various weapon accessories. In the series, the Gundam Ground Type operates in diverse terrains like jungles, deserts, and cities. Its effectiveness depended not only on the mobile suit's performance but also on its versatile arsenal. The Ground Type is equipped with a beam rifle, 100mm machine gun, beam sabers, and a shield, along with various munitions and a 180mm cannon stored in its back-mounted weapon container, ready for short, medium, and long-range engagements.
▼ First is the close-quarters weapon, the "Beam Saber." As mentioned, the hilts can be stored in the calf armor. The set includes three different beam effect parts: standard, large, and curved. Attaching them to the hilts lets you create dynamic, slashing action poses!
▼ Next are the mid-to-long-range armaments: the 100mm Machine Gun, 180mm Cannon, and Short Shield.
▼ The magazines on both firearms are detachable, allowing you to pose the figure as if it's reloading.
▼ The Short Shield is emblazoned with the "08" designation of the 08th MS Team.
▼ The 100mm Machine Gun features a metallic finish and intricate detailing. Combined with the figure's superb articulation, you can pull off some seriously cool firing poses.
▼ The Gundam Ground Type's most distinctive feature is the large, white Weapon Container mounted on its back. This unit allows the mobile suit to carry the massive 180mm Cannon and various munitions, enabling it to re-arm and re-equip on the battlefield. The Robot Spirits ver. A.N.I.M.E. figure perfectly replicates the deployment mechanism of the backpack rack, the opening gimmick of the container itself, and all the internal details.
▼ The formidable 180mm Cannon is also faithfully recreated in its disassembled state, just like in the anime. It can be broken down into 6 parts and stored perfectly inside the Weapon Container using a dedicated rack.
▼ Once assembled, the cannon is beautifully detailed and impressively sized!
▼ Thanks to the flexible leg articulation and segmented feet, you can perfectly recreate the iconic and awesome kneeling firing pose from the show!
That wraps up our hands-on review of the "Robot Spirits