Commentary: "Tamashii Nation 2024" - New Gundam products in the spotlight

Many figures from the popular anime series "Gundam" are on display at the Bandai Spirits figure exhibition "TAMASHII NATION 2024" being held in Akihabara, Tokyo. We will explain the notable figures such as the high-end "Kaitai Takumi" series and the giant Big Zam from the "ROBOT Spirits" series.

◇Kaitai Takumi Gundam Mk-II was a reference exhibit...

The "Kaitai Takumi" series includes the Nu Gundam, Sazabi, and Gundam Mk-II. "Kaitai Takumi" is a series in which mobile suits are disassembled into "real" parts and reconstructed as figures. The first release, the Nu Gundam figure from "Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack," "METAL STRUCTURE Kaitai Takumi RX-93 Nu Gundam," was released in 2019. Despite the high price of 110,000 yen at the time of release, it was popular and "sold out," and optional parts have also been released.

The second release was the METAL STRUCTURE Kaitai Takumi MSN-04 Sazabi figure from Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, which was released in 2022. This figure was also expensive at 189,200 yen, but it sold out.

Last year, at Tamashii Nation 2023 held in Akihabara, Tokyo, a figure from the Kaitai Takumi series of Gundam Mk-II from Mobile Suit Z Gundam was exhibited as a reference, which became a hot topic. We were hoping for a detailed announcement at this year's Tamashii Nation 2024, but since this time it was also only an exhibition, there are still many things we don't know. We look forward to future announcements.

◇Big Zam is just too big

It's just too big! Many people must have been surprised by the Big Zam figure, ROBOT Spirits MA-08 Big Zam ver. A.N.I.M.E. Standing at 46cm tall, it is the largest figure in the "ROBOT Spirits" series, and features a light-up gimmick that evokes Dozle Zabi's grudge, as well as a glowing mega particle cannon. It is priced at 55,000 yen, and preorders are being accepted on Bandai Namco Group's official shopping site, Premium Bandai. It is scheduled to be shipped in May 2025.

The "SPACE COLONY side7 1st ver.", a three-dimensional representation of the space colony Side 7, is also attracting attention. This toy was developed for the 50th anniversary of the "Gundam" series, and since this was only a reference exhibit, details will be announced in the future. The Side 7 exhibited features rotation and light-up gimmicks, and the details of the city inside were reproduced. Since this is only a "reference", the specifications when commercialized are still unknown, but we look forward to further information.