Watch The Life-Size Working Gundam’s Final Performance Honor The Anime’s 45th Anniversary
Gundam is one of the most well-known, enduring, anime ever produced. A testament to its legacy is the life-sized replica of the original RX-78-2 Gundam from the original series, complete with advanced mechanics. The replica took its last steps recently as part of the series 45th-anniversary event, paying homage to the legendary sci-fi anime franchise.
While there are several life-size Gundam statues across Japan, the replica in Yokohma’s ability to move made it special compared to other replicas. With 34 moving parts, the replica could move its head, arms, and legs capable of taking different poses and walking in place.
Check out the Mobile Suit Gundam presentation:
The replica’s popularity and COVID delays led to its staying up for an extra two years, but it was finally taken down after the anniversary celebration.
The original Mobile Suit Gundam aired in 1979 and spawned a massive franchise that has become popular worldwide. Since then, numerous anime series, movies, books, and manga set in the universe have covered a wide array of themes and genres.
With 34 moving parts, the Gundam replica could move its head, arms, and legs capable of taking different poses and walking in place
In addition, the series is incredibly popular as merchandise, particularly the Gunpla model kits, which have become international successes.
The Yokohama Gundam got one last moment in the spotlight as it played a central role in the anniversary event, which paid tribute to the franchise’s history. In addition to the replica’s last exhibition, series creator Yoshiyuki Tommino gave a brief speech, and a fireworks display themed around the series was put on over Tokyo Bay. The event paid tribute to various series from the original anime to the most recent Witch From Mercury.
While Tommino’s speech is hard to appreciate for fans who don’t speak Japanese, seeing the lifesize mobile suit in motion is worth seeing. It may not be as epic as seeing it in the flesh, but the video shows how impressive the Yokohama replica was.
There’s nothing like the moving Yokohama display anymore, but there are still a few life-size Gundam replicas fans can see in Japan. In Odaiba, there is a life-size replica of Unicorn Gundam which has been on display since 2017. Since 2022 Fukuoka has had a life-size version of the Nu Gundam, which appeared in Char’s Counterattack, giving fans of the original timeline an attraction to visit.
The giant statue Gundam replicas have become tourist destinations due to the popularity of the series
The giant statue Gundam replicas have become tourist destinations due to the popularity of the series and the spectacle of seeing the giant robots in all their lifesize glory. The Yokohama display drew around 2 million visitors while it was on display. They demonstrate just how iconic the franchise has become.
The Yokohama Gundam may be gone, but its place in the 45th anniversary has immortalized its place in the franchise’s legacy. While many anime, from Dragon Ball to One Piece have worldwide fandoms, none can boast the physical legacy that the lifesize replicas have given the Gundam franchise. The 18-meter-tall, moving replica of an iconic mobile suit was an incredible tribute, and it received an appropriately epic send-off.
