The legendary Mobile Suit Gundam media franchise, which began as an anime series in the 1970s, continues to thrive today. Its latest movie release, Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed Freedom, has been very commercially successful in Japan.
However, an iconic Gundam attraction is soon closing its doors.
The life-size Walking Gundam statue in Yokohama, Japan has allowed fans to see a full-scale Gundam mech up close since 2020.
But now the Gundam Factory Yokohama, home of the Walking Gundam, is preparing to cease operations.
The 60-foot-tall Walking Gundam is modeled after the original RX-78-2 Gundam from the first anime series. This design holds nostalgic significance for Gundam fans, as it kicked off the enduring science fiction franchise over 40 years ago.
While many new Gundam mechs have been introduced over the decades, the classic RX-78-2 remains an iconic favorite.
For any Gundam enthusiasts hoping to witness the impressive Walking Gundam mechanism, the next few months may be the last opportunity.
The closure of the Gundam Factory marks the end of an era, but the legendary franchise carries on.
Farewell to the Walking Gundam, Iconic Yokohama Statue Set to Close on March 31s
The iconic Walking Gundam statue at Gundam Factory Yokohama in Japan is slated to cease operations on March 31st.
Fans have just over a month left to witness this impressive life-size Gundam mech taking steps and moving its limbs.
Tickets for the Walking Gundam’s final showings will go on sale on March 1st through the venue’s official website.
It is still unconfirmed if this particular Walking Gundam installation will ever be reopened or put on display again in the future.
Although the 60-foot Walking Gundam statue is ending its nearly 3-year run, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise continues moving forward.
The latest movie, Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed Freedom has been very popular and commercially successful in Japan. However, a North American release for the film sequel has not yet been announced.
The movie is described as continuing the stories of central characters from the Cosmic Era timeline Gundam series as they battle threats from ZAFT forces in new mobile suits built from salvaged parts.
Though one iconic Gundam display is closing down, the legendary mecha anime franchise carries on entertaining fans worldwide.
Why Mobile Suit Gundam Is Popular
Mobile Suit Gundam was initially released in 1981 as a television anime series directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. It featured mecha designs by Kunio Okawara, including the legendary Gundam robot, and character designs by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko.
Although the series struggled in ratings and was canceled early, its popularity surged through reruns and a 1981 theatrical movie trilogy edit of the series.
This popularity boost launched Gundam as a major media franchise encompassing toys, model kits, manga, novels, and more.
What set Gundam apart in the giant robot anime genre was its realistic portrayal of the Gundams as weapons of war piloted by ordinary soldiers, rather than superhero-like characters with super-powered robots.
This gave the war drama a more mature, nuanced tone that resonated with older anime fans.
Even today, Gundam remains a lucrative franchise across media and merchandising lines.
The enduring popularity of the original RX-78-2 Gundam design is evident in attractions like the life-size Walking Gundam statue, which will be closing down operations in March after a nearly 3-year run.
As one iconic Gundam display ends, the legendary franchise itself continues making cultural impacts.
The Gundam Seed movie timeline takes place in an era called the Cosmic Era (C.E.), where genetically enhanced humans known as Coordinators exist alongside naturally-born humans called Naturals.
Tensions escalate between the Coordinators, who have superior physical and mental capacities, and the Naturals.
These ideological differences eventually erupt into outright warfare using militarized mobile suits and weapons.
A major plot element is the proposed “Destiny Plan” – a scheme to strictly assign societal roles to every individual in order to eliminate competition between people.
However, this Destiny Plan is ultimately rejected amidst the fighting due to concerns that it would impede human freedom and aspirations for the future.
The core conflict centers on the clash between the genetically-altered Coordinators and the Naturals who oppose their existence.
Both groups take up arms to fight for their respective survival, with advanced mobile suits as their key weapons.
However, the movie conveys an anti-authoritarian, pro-freedom message through the characters’ stand against the oppressive Destiny Plan.
