Model kits for the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise, also known as Gunpla, have continued to sell incredibly well despite supply chain issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Gamebiz, Bandai Namco Holding's Q3 sales results reveal that in Japan, toys sales from April to December 2021 have increased a total of 9.7% as compared to last year. The company reportedly plans to expand the production floor space at its new factory in Shinkan in order to strengthen its product pipeline and keep up with the growing demand for Gunpla.
The original Mobile Suit Gundam anime series by studio Sunrise, now known as Bandai Namco Filmworks, made its debut in April 1979. Set during the futuristic Universal Century, the story explores the war between the Earth Federation and the space-based Principality of Zeon and follows the adventures of protagonist Amuro Ray, the teenage pilot of the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam. The first Gunpla kits launched in 1980 with over a million units shipping within half a year.
Mobile Suit Gundam is one of the most prominent and influential multimedia franchises of all time; beyond the original anime, there has been a wealth of other anime series, manga and film tie-ins, video games and, of course, toys. There are also several tourist attractions throughout Japan that celebrate the franchise, including life-sized statues of the RX-78-2 Gundam and a redesigned version of the Nu Gundam (RX-93 ν Gundam), respectively located in Yokohama and Fukuoka.
Moreover, the new Gundam Park attraction is set to open in Japan's LaLaport Fukuoka shopping center in April. It will consist of three Gundam-themed stores, which will include spaces dedicated to Gunpla construction and a range of games where players can win limited-edition prizes.
The Witch from Mercury, the latest anime series set in the world of Mobile Suit Gundam, is expected to debut later this year, while the newest film, Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island, has been an official premiere date in Japan of June 3. However, Bandai Namco Filmworks has more projects in development than just those related to its iconic franchise. Most notably, the studio is teaming up with car brands like Honda and Nissan to create a new racing anime, Hi-Drivers. A trailer for the upcoming series was released earlier this month, giving fans a sneak peek of what's to come; more details about Hi-Drivers will be revealed at the AnimeJapan expo in late March.
Many Mobile Suit Gundam series are available to stream on Hulu, Netflix, Crunchyroll and Funimation.
Source: Gamebiz, via Anime News Network
