is a 2013 Japanese science fiction
anime
is Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside of Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, in Japan and in Japane ...
television series based on
Sunrise's long-running ''
Gundam
is a Japanese military fiction media franchise. Created by Yoshiyuki Tomino and Sunrise (now Bandai Namco Filmworks), the franchise features giant robots, or mecha, with the name "Gundam". The franchise began on April 7, 1979, with ''Mobile ...
'' franchise. The series is directed by
Kenji Nagasaki
is a Japanese anime director employed by Madhouse. He made his full directorial debut in 2011 with ''No. 6''. Starting in 2016, he directed the anime adaptation of ''My Hero Academia'', which has received praise from critics.
Biography
Kenji Na ...
of ''
No. 6
''No. 6'' is a Japanese novel series written by Atsuko Asano and published by Kodansha in nine volumes between October 2003 and June 2011. A manga adaptation drawn by Hinoki Kino was serialized in Kodansha's ''Aria'' magazine from January 201 ...
'' and written by
Yōsuke Kuroda
is a Japanese anime screenwriter from Mie Prefecture, Japan. He has his own studio enterprise, Studio Orphee.
Kuroda is noted for his work on authoring the scenario, screenplay and story composition of the anime series ''Excel Saga'', ''Please ...
of ''
Mobile Suit Gundam 00
is a Japanese anime television series, the eleventh installment in Sunrise studio's long-running ''Gundam'' franchise comprising two seasons. The series is set on a futuristic Earth and is centered on the exploits of the fictional paramilita ...
''. Character designs were done by both Kenichi Ohnuki and Suzuhito Yasuda. The series was first unveiled under the name "1/144 Gundam Mobile" project by Sunrise, before its official announcement. In contrast to other ''Gundam'' series, ''Gundam Build Fighters'' focuses on the
Gundam model
Gundam models, or , are model kits depicting the vehicles and characters of the fictional '' Gundam'' multiverse by Bandai.
These kits became popular among mecha anime fans and model enthusiasts in Japan and nearby Asian countries beginning in ...
(Gunpla) aspect of the franchise.
The series was officially unveiled by
Bandai
is a Japanese multinational toy manufacturer and distributor headquartered in Taitō, Tokyo. Its international branches, Bandai Namco Toys & Collectables America and Bandai UK, are respectively headquartered in Irvine, California and Richmond ...
on July 2, 2013, during the series's live press conference as part of Gundam's 35th anniversary in 2014. It premiered on
TXN stations in Japan and on
YouTube
YouTube is a global online video platform, online video sharing and social media, social media platform headquartered in San Bruno, California. It was launched on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim. It is owned by ...
in limited international markets on October 7, 2013.
One
Manga
Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...
adaptation and two photonovels were also announced by Sunrise, and currently running on ''
Gundam Ace'' (''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing''), ''
Hobby Japan
is a Japanese publishing company known for publishing and releasing books, magazines, light novels, games, and collectibles. Founded in 1969, the company owns and distributes such publications as the eponymous ''Hobby Japan'' magazine, as well ...
'' (''Gundam Build Fighters Honno''), and ''
Dengeki Hobby Magazine
was a Japanese magazine under the Dengeki Hobby brand published by ASCII Media Works (formerly MediaWorks) centering on information relating to plastic models and toys. It first went on sale on 25 November 1998. There was a Chinese version pub ...
'' (''Gundam Build Fighter Document'') magazines.
''Gundam Build Fighters'' is followed by the 2014 sequel ''
Gundam Build Fighters Try
is a 2014 Japanese science fiction anime television series based on Sunrise's long-running ''Gundam'' franchise, and a sequel to the 2013 series ''Gundam Build Fighters''. Like its predecessor, and in contrast to other ''Gundam'' series, ''G ...
''. A sequel
ONA
Ona or ONA may refer to:
Anthropology
* Ona people, an indigenous people of southern Argentina and Chile
** Ona language, a language once spoken in Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego
* Ona, a pre-Aksumite culture in Sembel, Eritrea
Geography
* On ...
titled , which takes place between ''Build Fighters'' and ''Build Fighters Try'', was released on August 25, 2017.
Story
Back in the 1980s, the success of the series ''
Mobile Suit Gundam
, also known as ''First Gundam'', ''Gundam 0079'' or simply ''Gundam '79'', is an anime television series, produced and animated by Nippon Sunrise. Created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, it premiered in Japan on Nagoya Broadcastin ...
'' resulted in an economic boom due to sales of the
Gundam model
Gundam models, or , are model kits depicting the vehicles and characters of the fictional '' Gundam'' multiverse by Bandai.
These kits became popular among mecha anime fans and model enthusiasts in Japan and nearby Asian countries beginning in ...
kits, or , dubbed the Gunpla Boom. Years later, with the success of the second Gunpla Boom, special tournaments called Gunpla Battles are established throughout the world to see which customized Gunpla and its builder are the best. These incredibly popular Gunpla Battles culminate in an annual global tournament.
The story of the first series revolves around Sei Iori, a young Gunpla Builder and student who has a dream of becoming the best Gunpla Fighter in the tournament and someday become as good as his father. As the only child, his family owns a small Gunpla shop and his talent is well-honed, however his weak piloting abilities have led him to a series of first-round losses. But one day, he meets a strange boy named Reiji, who helps him out. Reiji gives him a jewel, promising that he will come to Sei's aid if wished enough. Together, both of them will tackle the world of Gunpla Battle and compete in the tournament using Sei's customized Gunpla, the GAT-X105B Build Strike Gundam.
Gunpla Battle
The central theme of this series is the , a virtual game that involves the use of Gunpla. Each Gunpla Fighter has a , a device that stores their Gunpla information. Once the GP Bases are set, the disperses , which react only to the plastic material of Gunpla and animate them into the game. The Battle System creates a holographic landscape that simulates a battlefield from different ''Gundam'' series, and the battle begins once the Gunpla Fighters set their Gunpla to be scanned by the Plavsky particles. A Gunpla's combat statistics are determined by its build quality; modifications such as adding scratch-built parts and paint weathering will increase its stats. Battle effects such as explosions and beam attacks are faithfully simulated in the Battle System. Consequently, damage sustained during battle is reflected directly on the Gunpla itself, requiring Gunpla Fighters to have spare parts ready for necessary repairs. Scale also plays a major factor in a Gunpla Battle; just like in the real world, a scale Mega Size Model Gunpla will dwarf a scale opponent in the battlefield.
The Gunpla Battle World Championships tournament begins with eight battles, including a four-person knockout battle, a three-on-three team battle, and the closing one-on-one battle. Five of the battles are revealed only on their scheduled dates. Each contestant receives four points for every battle won. The 16 Gunpla Fighters with the most points will advance to the final tournament, a knockout stage that decides the World Champion.
It is later on revealed that Plavsky particles are processed from , a crystal originating from Reiji's home country of .
Production
Development
The first announcement of the series was made in June 2013 under the name "1/144 Gundam Mobile" project by Sunrise, which revealed a story-line more akin to the OVA ''
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G
is an anime produced by Sunrise to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gundam plastic model kits. It was directed by Kou Matsuo and written by Yousuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Kaichiro Terada. The show was originally b ...
''. Along with the announcement, several mobile suits would receive their own High Grade Gundam model kits that would tie in to the long running Gunpla plastic model line, the new version of the ''Gundam Try Age'' arcade game, and the
PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation 2, it is part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. It was first released on Novemb ...
/
PlayStation Vita
The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territo ...
game ''Gundam Breaker''.
On August 31, 2013, Sunrise aired the second trailer of the series, which provided additional details about the story, the characters, and the Gundam model kits. On September 30, Sunrise announced that the series would be streamed on YouTube in limited areas across the globe,
with a United States release occurring on the same day as the Japanese release. Sunrise would later release the series on home video via
Right Stuf
Right Stuf Inc. (formerly known as The Right Stuf International Inc.) is an American video publisher and distributor of video programming that specializes in Asian entertainment (anime and live action films). The company since 2022 is owned by ...
in 2016.
Music
The series' music is composed by Yuuki Hayashi, who composed several music scores for ''
Blood Lad
is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yuuki Kodama and serialized in ''Young Ace''. It follows Staz, a vampire from the surreal Demon World, who meets Fuyumi Yanagi, an ordinary Japanese high school girl who accidentally wan ...
'' and ''
Robotics;Notes
''Robotics;Notes'' is a visual novel video game developed by 5pb. It is the third main game in the ''Science Adventure'' series, following ''Chaos;Head'' and '' Steins;Gate'', and is described by the developers as an "Augmented Science Adventure" ...
''.
The first opening theme by
Back-On
Back-On (stylized as BACK-ON) is a Japanese rock band from Tokyo, Japan. They are recognized for creating anime and game opening themes such as the '' Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2'' opening theme, "fly away"; ''Air Gear'' opening theme ...
, and the ending theme "Imagination > Reality" by
AiRI
Airi is a feminine given name used in several cultures, including Estonian, Finnish and Japanese. The Japanese name can be written as 愛里, 愛李, 愛莉, 愛理, 愛梨, 藍梨 or あいり in hiragana).
In Estonian and Finnish the name is de ...
were used from episodes 2 to 13. From episodes 14 to 24, "wimp" by Back-On featuring Lil' Fang (from FAKY) was the opening theme while by
Hyadain
, also known as , is a Japanese composer, lyricist, and musician. His primary work is composing anime theme songs and for J-pop musicians. He contracts through Supalove, a Japanese record label. He has released a number of anime and video game mu ...
became the ending theme from episodes 14 to 25.
The insert song in ''Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack'' is "Carry on" by Back-On, while the ending theme in ''Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue'' is "Chase Me" by FAKY.
References
External links
*
* (''GM's Counterattack'')
* at TV Tokyo
*
Official Bandai Hobby site''Gundam Build Fighters Honoo'' official site
*
*
{{Sunrise OVAs
2013 anime television series debuts
2013 Japanese television series debuts
2014 Japanese television series endings
Fictional martial sports in anime and manga
Gundam anime and manga
Metafictional television series
Television shows written by Yōsuke Kuroda
Shōnen manga
Sunrise (company)
TV Tokyo original programming