Bandai Namco has announced that this year's Gundam Online Expo will be a 12-day long celebration of mobile suits new and old, as the company is teasing new announcements for the series, as well as the chance to buy some rare and exclusive Gunpla model kits during the event.
The free, online-only event begins on Aug. 26 and runs until Sept. 6. The expo is being hosted by Bandai Namco, Bluefin Collectibles and Sunrise Inc., the animation studio that has produced most of the Gundam anime. The 12 day virtual convention will be live streamed from both Bandai Namco's US headquarters and the company's studio in Tokyo, and will be hosted by Japanese model and TV presenter RinRin. Bandai says it has also partnered with Netflix and Crunchyroll to showcase video content from "current and future Gundam anime and live-action titles," hinting that there may be some big announcements about future Gundam series or movies at the event.
Gunpla collectors should stay glued to the livestream, as Bandai says it will offer rare and exclusive model kits for sale during the expo's "GUNPLA Livestream Shopping Experience," which will be a Gundam-focused recreation of cable shopping channels such as the Home Shopping Network. The stream will showcase and sell over 100 different models, including exclusive kits that were previously only available at the official Gundam stores in Tokyo and Yokohama. Some of these models will also be available on the Premium Bandai web store for a limited time, and will be posted in four waves at the following times:
- August 26 (Thursday): Wave 1 - Release of 30 items
- August 27 (Friday): Live Shopping Experience - Release of 12 items
- August 28 (Saturday): Wave 2 - Release of 24 items
- August 30 (Monday): Wave 3 - Release of 25 items
- September 1 (Wednesday): Wave 4 - Release of 24 items
The 2021 Gunpla Builder's Cup, a competition in which professional model builders showcase their best customized mobile suits and dioramas, will also announce its winners at the event. The online convention will also give fans the opportunity to go on a virtual tour of The Gundam Base exhibition in Tokyo, which showcases the world's largest collection of Gundam models and memorabilia. The expo will also feature a presentation from Tested, the YouTube channel headed up by MythBusters host Adam Savage, Gunpla building workshops, and anime screenings.
Bandai also recently revealed the first trailer for the next anime series in the franchise, Gundam Breaker Battlogue. Similar to the Build Fighters sub-series, Breaker Battlogue does not feature any actual mobile suits, but reimagines Gundam as a virtual competition fought with customized Gunpla models. The new series will premiere on the official Gundam YouTube channel this fall.
Fans who want to refresh their Gundam knowledge before the expo can also go to the official YouTube channel to watch a rotating selection of series and movies from the franchise's past. The latest movie in the franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway, made its international debut on Netflix in July and is still available for streaming on the service.
Source: Bandai
