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I certainly do invite the input of any Gundam fan here, whether die-hard or casual, but the main focus of this thread is on the time when Gundam graced our shores as a regular thing in the late nineties and early 2000's. Back when you could go into any Y'all-Mart, Target, K-Mart or TRU and find the pegs bristling with Mobile Suit goodness.

I recently have been going through my "closet that time forgot, which contains toys that I haven't been able to display yet. Many I haven't seen in a very long time. I pulled out five computer paper boxes full of my Gundams and going through them, I was reminded of why I collected them and how much fun I had building the collection. Despite the bendy "Bandai Putty" that they were mostly made of they were pretty well made and detailed. The PVC used back then was heavier and harder than that used on say, today's GI Joe figures, so they held up remarkably well over time being packed together like sardines in storage. And unlike the toys of today, they came with a TON of optional parts.

It started with Gundam Wing, but gradually encompassed a great many of the generations and time lines in the Gundam series. I found them every bit as addicting as Transformers at the time, and would hunt from store to store looking for a specific 3.5 mobile suit figure.

I always had a preference for the Zeon suits because of the extremely stylized look they had and the menace of that single piercing eye that glared out. Suits like the Zaku 2, the Gouf, and even odder models like the Gogg, Kampher, and the Z-Gok are some of my favorites. I even have some of the larger mobile armors that had fairly decent lights and sounds as well as bonus figures to boot. We got a lot more for our money then for sure. G-Gundam tends to be one of my all time favorites for the sheer amount and diversity of the mobile suits. The designs went from traditional to downright freaky. The large 12 inch figures were practically works of art IMO; the Wing Gundam, Shining Gundam, Dragon, and GP 01 and 02 are fantastic display pieces.

The crowning items in my collection, though, are the huge interactive figures of Gundam rx-78 and Char's red Zaku 2. The battle between the two when you connect them is just awesome to behold.

I stopped collecting Gundam figs when Gundam Seed toys came out, mainly because the Suits didn't really offer anything new over the standard design and I was getting bored with it by then. The series shriveled up and died in America after that. But I'm glad I took the time and money to get what I did back then.

What were your favorite toys, what specific story or time line did you like the toys from best, and what is the status of your collection today? What got you into the franchise back then? Are you still into collecting Gundam now as a result to our brief yet satisfying exposure back then?
Come on! I know my Neo Shifters thread was a flop, but I think THIS is something we can all discuss!

Back then I was all over Gundam Heavy Arms. 1/100, 1/144 ect, had em all! Never really strayed far from Gundam Wing until much later.

The first ones I got were the Japanese versions of Deathscythe, Heavyarms, and Shenlong. I was about 12 so I didn't have the option of going looking for them as I could now.

My grail from my figures is the Tallgeese. That is one of two I still have displayed, along with a Space Leo.

As it stands, the last figure I added was Zeta, which is still MISB. I really want to open it though.

I have 32 total, spanning Gundam to Gundam Wing. I was not into SEED at all. By the way, I've been trying to keep up with the OO series on SciFi, but I started about 8 episodes in.

Pacifista wrote:The first ones I got were the Japanese versions of Deathscythe, Heavyarms, and Shenlong. I was about 12 so I didn't have the option of going looking for them as I could now.

My grail from my figures is the Tallgeese. That is one of two I still have displayed, along with a Space Leo.

As it stands, the last figure I added was Zeta, which is still MISB. I really want to open it though.

I have 32 total, spanning Gundam to Gundam Wing. I was not into SEED at all. By the way, I've been trying to keep up with the OO series on SciFi, but I started about 8 episodes in.

00 is a pretty good series, It was a nice change from the SEED Destiny BS. Right now, I'm very tempted to buy a Gundam Fix Figuration "Deep Striker". Does anyone have any thoughts on this figure?

Jesterhead wrote:Back then I was all over Gundam Heavy Arms. 1/100, 1/144 ect, had em all! Never really strayed far from Gundam Wing until much later.

Heavy Arms rocked, and was one of the few suits that I purchased the larger model kits for. I especially like the Heavy Arms Custom from the Endless Waltz movie, despite the radical color change over the original.
I even ponied up the cash for the American re-release of the original Heavy Arms simply because it had the opening missile pods on the legs.
Ah, the economy was lovely back then!

Pacifista wrote:My grail from my figures is the Tallgeese. That is one of two I still have displayed, along with a Space Leo.

I have 32 total, spanning Gundam to Gundam Wing. I was not into SEED at all. By the way, I've been trying to keep up with the OO series on SciFi, but I started about 8 episodes in.

Ah, the venerable Talgeese, the Mobile Suit that would pulp your insides if you piloted it, unless you happened to be Zechs Marquis! I enjoyed all three 3.5 versions of it, but unfortunately missed out on the 7 inch version that came out with Wing Zero custom.

00 is a fairly decent series and has kept my interest, despite missing an episode here and there. The diversity of the Mobile Suits appeals to me and I would have collected that series if Gundam was still going in the U.S.
Of course, we'd be paying about ten bucks for them these days, seeing as the piddly movie Joes are going for eight!

I've been into gundam models since HighS chool. Started wiht the HG 1/100 Wing Zero and DeathscytheHell and went through most of Wing and Endless Waltz. It tried nmy hand at Tallgeese but the fact that you must paint the model for proper coloring rather than having additonal colored parts was it's biggest flaw. It's definately one of those models that deserves a remake on par with todays HG's heck even a Master grade. I mainly go for Master Grades now with two Perfect grades. I would have more but they're just so expensive and my one to get has for years been PG Wing Zero. I have some Seed models and four destiny models, 3/4 of them Master grade.

I just got and completed my MG Exia Ignition mode. I never bothered to get batteries since I really don't have the drive to waste money one two overpriced batteries to have the GN drive light up. I have heard 00 Gundam is getting a PG but I can imagine we will see a Master grade somewhere down the line this year or next. And if not 00 Gundam, then it's upcoming movie successor the Gundam 00 Quanta.

Roadbuster wrote:
I just got and completed my MG Exia Ignition mode. I never bothered to get batteries since I really don't have the drive to waste money one two overpriced batteries to have the GN drive light up. I have heard 00 Gundam is getting a PG but I can imagine we will see a Master grade somewhere down the line this year or next. And if not 00 Gundam, then it's upcoming movie successor the Gundam 00 Quanta.

I've seen photos of designs for a PG Gundam 00 w/ 0-Raiser. Looked very very nice, might be my first PG purchase lol!

I still have a ton of Gundam models in boxes waiting to be built. My favorite is a High Grade 1/100 U Gundam kit from the early 90's that I snapped up way before Gundam became known in the U.S. It was the suit Amuro piloted in Char's Counter attack. It has metal parts in its endo-frame and came in a really big box. I have 1/100 versions of Altron, Shenlong, Wing, Heavyarms, Gerbera Tetra, as well as the complete set of Gundam X models in 1/144 scale to name a few. Actually getting around to the building part is the trick!

I used to love how many vehicles and playsets were offered here back in the late 90's-early 2000 era. Everything from drop ships to mobile armors to micro playsets and battleships with tiny 1 inch mobile suits that rounded off the actual figure selection and added a nice touch of variety. The battle damaged series was nice as well with the burnt, scorched, and mutilated look of the figures. They put just as much effort into the damage as they did to the suit detail itself, making it look like the figure really came through a massive fire fight.

I'm with you guys, I was in the Gundam wave too, and I also let it go when the well went dry too.

Yes, it started with Gundam Wing. Such an interesting show. Complex, and at times, I didn't understand parts because I would miss an episode here or there.

I think the first I had were model kits. I saw the Heavy Arms model from Endless waltz in my local comic shop, done up just right and I had to have one. Those freakin' guns are awesome.

I got a few of the models, but rarely found myself with the patience to saw/file down the stupid plastic connectors for the sprews, so mine were lacking.

I really enjoyed the series that came after Gundam Wing...G Gundam with all the slick and twisted mechs that they came up with like Lumberjack Gundam, Cobra Gundam, etc. THe designs were insane, but fun. The storyline was alright, but again, when you miss days, it gets hard to know what it going on.

So I went and watched Mobile Suit Gundam, and then the horrible SD Gundam.


I really enjoyed practically all the mech designs, but I was more on the Zaku-hate club...going for the more traditional Gundam designs, although I can say some of the ideas that came with the other battlesuits were cool too.

I think I really liked Epyon because it was, as I remember, more magical than the others, it had 'special powers' that made it similar to a living thing, I think.

I also liked the Tallgeese, Sandrock, and Deathscythe Gundams. BUt can you really beat the Wing Gundam from Endless Waltz? Oh man that was one sweet robot design.

I do like a lot of mech though. I find THE BIG O to be a fun show, as well as, enjoying ZOIDS, although the series that was not about game play, and was more about survival was the one I preferred.

Pics.

I was never a huge fan of transforming Mobile Suits, but Epyon still looks pretty badass!

One of my favorite Mobile Suit designs is still the Serpent from The Endless Waltz, had a killer bazooka!

Anyone plan to build any kits from the Gundam Unicorn series this spring?

tigertracks 24 wrote:So I went and watched Mobile Suit Gundam, and then the horrible SD Gundam.

Oh geez! I'd forgotten all about those lame, stumpy little SD Gundams! I never thought it made any sense for them to bring that out in the U.S.
It's fine for Japan, because over there squashed down versions of well known characters is considered absolutely hilarious. But the whole idea just wasn't right for America. One can argue that it was made for the younger kids, but I remember that young children in my family at the time hated it and thought it was stupid. They preferred the regular shows like G Gundam and Wing.
Man, those things sure warmed the pegs.

tigertracks 24 wrote:I do like a lot of mech though. I find THE BIG O to be a fun show, as well as, enjoying ZOIDS, although the series that was not about game play, and was more about survival was the one I preferred.

Big O blended together so many cool themes into one great show. It was like a little bit of Batman, a little 007, a little Blade Runner, and mecha! Classic!
I agree with your preference in regards to ZOIDS. The arena series with Bit Cloud and the Liger Zero was a bit of a waste. I always envisioned Zoids as being more like Mechwarrior with a full scale global conflict. I really like the model kits, and have been collecting them for years. My latest acquisition was a King Gojulas. Awesomeness in a huge box!

Cobalt Prime wrote:00 is a fairly decent series and has kept my interest, despite missing an episode here and there. The diversity of the Mobile Suits appeals to me and I would have collected that series if Gundam was still going in the U.S.
Of course, we'd be paying about ten bucks for them these days, seeing as the piddly movie Joes are going for eight!

I would love to see them back on the shelves here. I stopped collecting TF's, but I admit now: I can never have enough Gundams. Though, the "offensive" names for some didn't help because primarily WalMarts wouldn't stock them (Deathsycthe Hell, etc)

Jesterhead wrote:00 is a pretty good series, It was a nice change from the SEED Destiny BS. Right now, I'm very tempted to buy a Gundam Fix Figuration "Deep Striker". Does anyone have any thoughts on this figure?

I don't have any FIX Figuration or Zeonography figures, but man, those look pretty cool. I was looking at a huge Psyco Gundam awhile back. It was huge.

I am really into Gundam Wing and just recently have started getting into the series after it (X, Seed, 00). I do have Wing Zero and it is freakin' sweet!

I've got a bunch of the model kits sitting in a box in my room. My Transformers are taking up all my shelf space! Like many it started with Gundam Wing, that was a great series. I think I have at least one incarnation of all the mobile suits in the 1/100 scale except the Tallgeese. I got a few from the other series, but the good ones started getting hard to find.

Blurrz wrote:Well... I'd say I'm a bigger Gundam fan than Transformers fan. The new Gundam Unicorn series looks pretty impressive and I'll give the kits a shot when I go to Japan/China. I'm still in love with Gundam 00.

My MG Sinanju and MG Unicorn should arrive some time next week. Can't wait to get my hands on em! Still waiting and praying for a MG Kshatriya to come along sometime this year, pictures of the HGUC version looks nice, so one can only guess the the MG version will be pretty impressive.

One of the things I like about Gundam is how it's the advertising opposite of Transformers. With TF, the show exists to promote the toys. With Gundam, the toys exist to promote the show. Hasbro can dictate who lives and who dies in TF, but if anyone at Bandai suggests an MS be destroyed and replaced, they get looked at with awkward stares, and also Tomino will go to their house and beat them up.

That last part isn't true, probably.

tigertracks 24 wrote:So I went and watched Mobile Suit Gundam, and then the horrible SD Gundam.

That was the wrong order. It's supposed to be Mobile Suit Gundam (I prefer to call it Gundam 0079, since that distinguishes the series from the franchise) > Zeta Gundam > ZZ Gundam* > Char's Counter Attack. That's the Gundam starter kit, that is the best way to start the series.

*This is optional. Char's Counter Attack makes sense without it, and the first half is like a swift kick in the nuts the the ending of Zeta. And Yazan...they turned a bloodthirsty unholy killing machine into Larry from the Three Stooges. Still, over all, it's not a bad series, and the second half really does make up for the first. And that first opening theme is really damn catchy.

And as for Wing, I think my record got me as far as, if I remember correctly, episode 5. Gundam 00, however, despite having a lot of characters I wish would just die (And lived out of spite), was an excellent series. SEED and SEED Destiny, despite their flaws, were still pretty good. X was never able to hold me, I never tried Turn A, and G Gundam...

No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series. There are times I can stand changes to the formula; a Gundam series set pre- or post-war, that I can handle. A Gundam series set in peacetime, I'd like to see that. But a fighting tournament, turning Gundam into DBZ, that's where I draw the line.

Blurrz wrote:Well... I'd say I'm a bigger Gundam fan than Transformers fan. The new Gundam Unicorn series looks pretty impressive and I'll give the kits a shot when I go to Japan/China. I'm still in love with Gundam 00.

It sounds pretty good, I can't wait to see the anime adaptation.

Blurrz wrote:Aye, good stuff guys. Can't wait for Gundam UC...

Now onto the 00 Movie...

Gundam 00 Quanta, Setsuna’s unit. Exia’s lineage. It has binders and shield on its left shoulder, as well as numerous Funnels (informal name).
Gundam Harut, Allelujah’s unit. Harut and Marut are two angels mentioned in the Qur’an. The Gundam has a visor like the Astraea and the GN Archer. It can transform.
Gundam Zabaniya, Lyle’s unit. The Zabaaniyah are the gardians of Hell in the Qur’an. Looks like a close-combat unit. It has a slim torso and big legs like the Virtue. It carries a “GN Armor lite” on its back.Main weapon : Double hand gun.
Gundam Raphael, Tieria’s unit. See the Archangel Raphael. It has wired cannons in its fingers (like the Belphegor Gundam) and 4 cannons on its shoulders.

Creamed my pants. I think Tieria is still dead and controls Raphael via Veda.

Sounds pretty deadly lol. Seems weird that Lyle's Gundam is a close-combat mobile suit. Out of any series I've seen The 00 is probably my favorite 'classic' style Gundam (color scheme head design ect...), the amount of physical and beam blades puts the Infinite Justice to shame!

Shadowman wrote:No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series.

What, you can't handle your tequila?

Shadowman wrote:No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series. There are times I can stand changes to the formula; a Gundam series set pre- or post-war, that I can handle. A Gundam series set in peacetime, I'd like to see that. But a fighting tournament, turning Gundam into DBZ, that's where I draw the line.

Yeah, I admit that G Gundam could be pretty corny at times like the narrator guy with the eyepatch sitting on a stool at the beginning and characters talking in unison and what not. But I found it a refreshing break from the philosophy/politics heavy, deadly seriousness of the other series up to that point. Sure, G was rudimentary in comparison, but I found it enjoyable for what it was. It was also the first time that I saw a Gundam with sentience (the Dark Gundam). Things got a lot more interesting when the focus swung to fighting the DG, and the parasitic nature of DG cells was an interesting twist.
Sure, there were a lot of new elements introduced, like zombie-piloted mobile suits and fabric scarf weapons that could cut through steel, but all in all it was decent IMO. And even if you hate the countless themed suits from the series, you gotta love the suits in the core group- Maxter, Bolt, Shining, Rose, Dragon. Those be some fine machines, and wicked toys!

Blurrz wrote:Aye, good stuff guys. Can't wait for Gundam UC...

Now onto the 00 Movie...

Gundam 00 Quanta, Setsuna’s unit. Exia’s lineage. It has binders and shield on its left shoulder, as well as numerous Funnels (informal name).
Gundam Harut, Allelujah’s unit. Harut and Marut are two angels mentioned in the Qur’an. The Gundam has a visor like the Astraea and the GN Archer. It can transform.
Gundam Zabaniya, Lyle’s unit. The Zabaaniyah are the gardians of Hell in the Qur’an. Looks like a close-combat unit. It has a slim torso and big legs like the Virtue. It carries a “GN Armor lite” on its back.Main weapon : Double hand gun.
Gundam Raphael, Tieria’s unit. See the Archangel Raphael. It has wired cannons in its fingers (like the Belphegor Gundam) and 4 cannons on its shoulders.

Creamed my pants. I think Tieria is still dead and controls Raphael via Veda.

So...Tieria has an MS? Huh. It's kind of weird. I mean, Setsuna could barely fight with a bullet in his shoulder, and yet Tieria must apparently overcome worse disabilities. And by disabilities, I mean death.

tigertracks 24 wrote:

Shadowman wrote:No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series.

What, you can't handle your tequila?

WTF!!??!!?? Is that last one the "Mariachi" (SP?) Gundam???

I'm not ROTFL; I'm ROTF dying!!!