Bandai's new commemorative anime, produced to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the birth of 'Gundam Build Fighters,' a spin-off series of 'Mobile Suit Gundam,' titled 'Gundam Build Metaverse' (3 episodes total) is set to air in October 2023. Today, its main visual and second promotional video were unveiled for the first time, along with a succession of Gunpla products appearing in the series.
The Gundam Build Fighters series is a new Gundam visual project announced by Bandai Namco Group, Sotsu, and Sunrise in July 2013. From its first work, 'Gundam Build Fighters,' to the latest 'Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE,' over 10 anime and manga media works have been released, along with numerous best-selling Gunpla products. Unlike the heavy themes of previous 'Gundam' series, the 'Gundam Build Fighters' series aims to "convey the joy of building Gunpla to people of all generations."
The new work, 'Gundam Build Metaverse,' is set in a new online service in the Gunpla world called the "Metaverse." In this virtual space, users can explore with their avatars, interact with others, engage in Gunpla battles, and even purchase actual Gunpla products. The protagonist who arrives in this new world is a boy named Rio Hojo. In the real world, he learned Gunpla building techniques from Celia Tsukishiro, a teacher at a Gunpla class. His battle skills, however, were taught by a mysterious masked lady in the Metaverse. Rio not only completed his original Gunpla, the "Lah Gundam," but also steadily improved his battle prowess, encountering various masters who had participated in Gunpla battles in the Metaverse.
・Rio Hojo
The protagonist of this work is a boy living in Hawaii who loves Gunpla. Influenced by his Japanese grandfather, he is interested in Japanese culture, samurai, and ninja, which is also reflected in his creation, the "Lah Gundam." His optimistic and cheerful personality means he doesn't easily get discouraged even if he loses a battle; fun is what he considers most important.
・Celia Tsukishiro
A staff member at the model shop near Rio's home and also a teacher at the Gunpla class. She is said to have once been a famous Gunpla builder. At Rio's request, she teaches him how to build Gunpla. However, she has a somewhat naive and absent-minded personality, sometimes even falling asleep directly in the classroom.
・Masked Lady
A top-tier Gunpla battler in the Metaverse. She is responsible for teaching Rio Gunpla battle techniques. Her teaching methods are quite strict, and she shows no mercy in practice battles.
・Lah Gundam
Rio's original Gunpla, built using the "ENTRY GRADE RX-78-2 Gundam" kit as a base. It is named "LAH" after the Hawaiian word for sun, and designed with a "Japanese Heart" theme, reflecting his deep interest in Japanese culture. As a beginner, Rio meticulously completed this mobile suit after numerous trials and errors, and it embodies his dazzling aspirations for Gunpla battles.
Furthermore, in the first wave of Gunpla product lineup, in addition to the protagonist's mobile suit, the Lah Gundam, several new mobile suits have appeared, developed from the past protagonists' mobile suits of the Gundam Build Fighters series, such as the Super Fumina, God Burning Gundam, Arc Build Divers 00 Gundam, Pluto Nine Gundam... etc. It remains to be seen whether familiar characters like Sei Iori, Sekai Kamiki, Riku Mikami, and Hiroto Kuga will make a reappearance?
©Sotsu・Sunrise
via： GUNDAM.INFO