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Fictional manned robot in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The RX-78-2 Gundam (Japanese: RX-78-2 ガンダム, Hepburn: Āru Ekkusu Nanajū Hachi no Ni Gandamu) is a fictional manned robot (mecha), introduced in 1979 in Yoshiyuki Tomino's and Sunrise's anime series Mobile Suit Gundam. In the series, it is a prototype weapon for the Earth Federation when it falls into the hands of Amuro Ray, the son of its designer in story (Tem Ray), who goes on to pilot it in the Earth Federation's war against the Principality of Zeon.
| Gundam | |
|---|---|
| Mobile Suit Gundam character | |
Original illustration of the RX-78-2 Gundam, designed by Kunio Okawara | |
| First appearance | Mobile Suit Gundam ep. #01, "Gundam Rising" |
| Created by | Yoshiyuki Tomino Kunio Okawara |
| Class | Mobile suit |
| Designation | RX-78-2 Gundam |
| Pilots | |
| In-universe information | |
| Affiliation | Earth Federation |
| Armaments | 60 mm Vulcan Guns ×2 Beam Sabers ×2 Beam Rifle Beam Javelin Hyper Bazooka Gundam Hammer Hyper Hammer[1] |
| Height | 18 meters (appr. 60 feet) |
| Weight | 43.4 tons |
As the success of the series began the Gundam franchise, the robot's design was the first of many variations in subsequent works. The design appearing in Mobile Suit Gundam serves as the symbol of the Gundam franchise and sparked the creation of its multiple sequels and spinoffs; Most future Gundams featured use the RX-78-2's color scheme and shape.
The RX-78's initial concept was that of a powered armor, the primary design for Yoshiyuki Tomino's proposed series Freedom Fighter Gunboy. The series later changed its name to Mobile Suit Gundam and Kunio Okawara was given Tomino's concept to shape into a finalized design for the anime. Okawara created multiple designs before settling on the current, samurai-styled design for the anime in 1979.
Enemies in the series regularly refer to the RX-78-2 as the white suit or the White Devil (due to the suit's formidable battle performance) while it is a mix of blue, red, and white. Tomino's response in the novel version of Gundam is that the original design was to be a grayscale machine, made up of mostly white and light gray colouring. However, Sunrise disapproved of the colouring and insisted the unit to be painted in brighter colours like other super robot anime at that time.[2]
The Japan Self-Defense Forces built an approximately full scale RX-78-3 Gundam (named after the use of helium-3 fuel) with styrofoam in its show and contains a simulation pod.[3]
The RX-78-2 Gundam is one of the basic units that appear in the Super Robot Wars series, representing the Gundam franchise alongside series mainstays Mazinger and Getter Robo. [5]
The RX-78-2 also makes multiple cameo appearances in the anime Sgt. Frog.
The RX-78-2 Gundam appeared in the film Ready Player One (2018),[6] where one of the protagonists controls the RX-78-2 to battle Mechagodzilla.
On October 23, 2000, Japan included the RX-78 Gundam and Amuro Ray in the 20th Century Stamp Series.[7] This mobile suit and other notable machines from various Gundam series were also recognized in the second set of "Anime Heroes and Heroines" stamps, released in 2005. Other franchises and series included were Pokémon, Galaxy Express 999, and Detective Conan.[8]
The RX-78-2 Gundam & 2 Medea transport planes were featured in a fire fighting poster in Japan. The RX-78-2 was equipped with water spraying equipment.[9]
On July 16, 2010 to June 30, 2011, ANA launched a series of flights as part of the 30th anniversary of Gunpla. Called the "ANA x GUNDAM Sky Project," the promotion used specially painted Boeing 777s on domestic and international flights. The initial flight was from Tokyo to Osaka. Promotional model kits include 1/144 scale versions of the RX-78-2, Gundam 00 Raiser, and Unicorn Gundam, as well as a 1/48 scale RX-78-2, all molded in ANA colors.[10][11]
Promotional food based on the Gundam include Pocky, Pepsi,[12][13] McDonalds, and Cup Noodles. Food promotions usually tie into merchandise, including exclusive model kits or miniature statues.
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On March 23, 2008, a bronze statue of the Gundam was erected at the south entrance of Kami-Igusa Station in Suginami, Tokyo to honor the hometown animation studio Sunrise.[14]
As part of the 30th Anniversary of the Gundam series, the company officially announced a project on March 11, 2009, called Real-G planning to build a 1:1 real size scale Gundam in Japan. It was completed on June 9, 2009, and displayed in a Tokyo park.[15][16] The 18-meter tall statue was later moved and reconstructed in Shizuoka City, where it stayed from July 2010 to March 2011.[17][18] This design became the basis for the Real Grade model in 2010 and the Master Grade Ver.3.0 model in 2013 and makes an appearance in Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G. In August it was dismantled and reconstructed in Odaiba, Tokyo on April 19, 2012.[19][20] Until March 5, 2017, it stood in Odaiba along with a gift shop called "Gundam Front Tokyo".[21] On March 5, it was announced that the life size RX 78-2 Gundam will be replaced by a statue of the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.[22]
A second statue based on the original Gundam was announced in late 2018 as part of the "Gundam Global Challenge" made to receive concepts for an animatronic version.[23] The statue, known as the RX-78F00 Yokohama Gundam, finished construction in 2020 and opened to the public on December 19, 2020 as part of the Gundam Factory Yokohama attraciton.[24][25] The statue was dismantled in 2024. A rebuilt version called the F00/E will be featured in the Gundam Next Future Pavilion at Expo 2025 in Osaka.[26] This statue will be in a fixed pose, kneeling and reaching for the sky.
Other statues include the Freedom Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED in Shanghai, China in 2021[27], and a statue of the Nu Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack sporting a long range funnel weapon (dubbed the RX-93ff) in Fukuoka, Japan in 2022.[28]
Gundam the Ride: A Baoa Qu was a theme park attraction from Fuji-Q Highland which ran from 2000 to 2007. Visitors are escorted in a battlship by 2 GM suits during the titular battle. The ride was replaced by Gundam Crisis, where visitors explore a hangar in order to collect data to access the RX-78-2's cockpit. If successful, an exclusive video will be shown inside the cockpit.[29]
The statue stood in Odaiba, Tokyo, outside the shopping mall Diver City Tokyo, where it was a centerpiece of the "Gundam Front Tokyo" attraction until March 5, 2017. Visitors could visit the statue and also see the Gundam Front Tokyo attraction on the sixth floor of the mall, which featured a 360 degree panoramic movie theater, a room dedicated to Gundam models throughout the years, concept artwork, and a life-size 1/1 scale bust of the Strike Freedom Gundam from the show Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.[21] The nearby hotel, Grand Nikko Tokyo Daiba (formerly Grand Pacific le Daiba) had a Gundam themed hotel room during this time.[30]
The original line of toys produced by the show's original sponsor Clover, diecast figures with more super robot aestethics, clashed with the show's themes and audience and was not a success. To capture the teenage and adult demographics, Bandai produced a line of model kits based on the Gundam and other mobile suits, which became immensely popular. the RX-78-2 Gundam has releases in virtually every model line and scale and is often used to commemorate a new model line or an anniversary.
The current Bandai Universal Century models' label copyright classification also uses the head of the Gundam as its icon.[31]
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