Mobile Suit in Action!! RX-78-2 Gundam from 1999
Action figures (アクションフィギュア Akushonfigyua) of Gundam Mobile Suits have been made by Bandai dating back to 1984 in addition to the Gunpla model kits. Bandai and other licensees have also made human action figures. Mecha figures have articulation similar to Gunpla kits, and generally come with some number of accessories for enacting different action poses. They range from simple toys to finely detailed painted models with full decals. Some include die-cast metal parts. In recent times, they are primarily released under Bandai's Tamashii Nations brand.
Scale[]
Often Mobile Suit action figures are considered non-scale, but many are made to be similar size to scale Gunpla models. When referring to scales in this article and the linked pages, it may mean that the action figure is merely very close to or approximately that size. Some lines do not advertise an official scale, but are made to be in scale with the other models of that line.[1] The choice of size often reflects considerations of the action figure industry.
Construction[]
Most of the robot action figures are intended as toys, but some are meant for mature and adult collectors. Materials used include soft PVC plastic, harder and more durable ABS plastic, and friction-resistant POM for joints.[1] Some series include die-cast metal parts, for example at the points of articulation, which is considered by many to be a desirable feature in robot action figures and can increase durability. The complexity and detail of Gundam designs generally prevents as extensive use of die-cast as seen in Bandai's Chogokin lines, although they often have a relatively high degree of metal and are heavy pieces.
Some figures include full transformation if appropriate, and even as extensive or more extensive gimmicks than Gunpla in some cases.
Mobile Suit Series[]
In order of first Gundam-related release, lines include:
- High Complete Model (HCM) - Beginning in 1984 and featuring robots similar in size to 1/144 scale Gunpla. After being dormant since 1988, two more figures were released in 2006.
- Deluxe toy series (DX) - Starting in 1985, toys and action figures released under the names Deluxe, Deluxe Edition, and DX, including some sold in Japan as Deluxe Mobile Suit in Action!! after initially being released in the US.
- Mobile Suit in Action!! (MSA) - Introduced in 1999 with the 20th anniversary and running until 2008.
- Kadō Senshi ("Mobile Warrior") and Kahen Senshi ("Variable Warrior") - A line of die-cast metal action figures beginning in 1999.
- Gundam Fix Figuration (GFF) - Introduced in 2001 and based on the designs of Hajime Katoki. There are several sub-lines, including Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite (GFFMC), which features partial die-cast metal construction and extensive detailing.
- Deluxe Mobile Suit in Action!! - Running from 2001 until 2002, a line of mobile suits based on the Universal Century timeline.
- Advanced Mobile Suit in Action!! - Running from 2002 until 2003 and based on Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
- Mobile Suit Gundam Arch Enemy Collectors Series - Approximately 1/100 scale figures initially released in the US in 2002.
- High Complete Model Progressive (HCM-Pro) - Reviving the 1984 High Complete Model, this line in 1/200 scale ran from 2004 until 2009.
- Extended Mobile Suit in Action!! - Line of action figures featuring higher detailing than Mobile Suit In Action!! launched in 2004 and going until 2010.
- Super High Complete Model Progressive (Super HCM-Pro) - 1/144 scale revival of HCM line that ran from 2007 until 2009.
- Robot Damashii (The Robot Spirits) - Launched in 2008 as a successor to Mobile Suit in Action!!.
- Metal Build - Launched in 2011 and focusing on non-Universal Century timelines as well as some non-Gundam releases. Featuring die-cast metal parts and similar in construction to GFFMC, which began in 2007.
- NXEDGE Style - Line of super-deformed robot actions figures including mecha from Gundam since 2014.
- Mobile Suit Gundam G Frame - Inexpensive toy action figures released in 2018.
- Gundam Universe - Launched in 2019 and featuring 6" figures designed to be more durable than Robot Damashii.
- Metal Structure Kaitai-Shou-Ki - Introduced in 2019, a line of robots approximately the size of 1/60 scale models and featuring some diecast parts similar to Metal Build and GFFMC.
- Gundam Infinity - Launched in 2021 for Bandai America, all figures are designed with a universal set of joints, allowing their parts to be mixed and matched.
Human Action Figures[]
- Mobile Suit Gundam - Bandai released a number of small action figures suitable for children of characters from Gundam series in 2001.
- Figure Box - A collaboration between Bandai and Hot Toys to make two 1/6th scale Char Aznable action figures in 2005.
- S.H.Figuarts - A line of human figures that has so far included two characters from Mobile Fighter G Gundam starting in 2008. In 2014 a prototype Char Aznable figure was revealed.
- Armor Girls Project (AGP) - A line of female figures with detachable mecha armor which has included Gundam-related figures since 2012.
- MegaHouse - Alongside static figures, a number of Gundam-related action figures have been released.
References[]
See also[]
- DX Sofubi Suit Gundam - Vinyl figures
- Formania EX - Non-scale mobile suit statues
- Kikan Taizen - Warship models
- M&V Series - Warship and support vehicle models