Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G

Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G
模型戦士 ガンプラ ビルダーズ ビギニングG (Mokei Senshi Ganpura Birudāzu Biginingu Jī)
Genre	Mecha
Original video animation
Directed by	Kou Matsuo
Written by	Yōsuke Kuroda
Music by	Sadayoshi Fujino
Studio	Sunrise
Licensed by	Bandai Visual
Released	August 15, 2010 – December 19, 2010
Runtime	15 Minutes (41 min. total in 3 ep.)
Episodes	3
Novel
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning D
Published by	ASCII Media Works
Magazine	Dengeki Hobby Magazine
Original run	August 2011 – ongoing
Novel
Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning J
Published by	ASCII Media Works
Magazine	Dengeki Hobby Magazine
Original run	August 2011 – ongoing
Anime and Manga Portal

Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G (模型戦士 ガンプラ ビルダーズ ビギニングG, Mokei Senshi Ganpura Birudāzu Biginingu Jī^?) is an original video animation series produced by Sunrise to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Gundam plastic model kits. It's directed by Kou Matsuo and written by Yousuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Kaichiro Terada.^[1] The OVA is first released in August 15, 2010 to December 19, 2010 with 3 15-minute Episodes. Unlike other Gundam titles, Gunpla Builders Beginning G takes place in a present-day timeline.

Aside to the OAV, two novel sequels were released in Dengeki Hobby Magazine.

Story

While attending the 1/1 RX-78-2 Gundam display event in Odaiba's Shiokaze Park, Haru Irei goes to the merchandise section to choose a Gunpla kit. When he fails to pick up the last available High Grade (HG) 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam kit, he discovers the HG 1/144 GPB-X80 Beginning Gundam and makes it his own. With his newly assembled kit, Haru participates in Gunpla Battle, a virtual simulation game where players have their Gunpla models scanned and battle each other with them.

After his first encounter with the mysterious Boris Schauer and his HG 1/144 GPB-X38-30 Forever Gundam, Haru upgrades his Beginning Gundam before he and his friends Kenta Sakazaki and Rina Noyama enter the national Gunpla Battle tournament. The tournament ends with no clear winner, with Haru and Boris continuing to clash their beam sabers at each other. One year later, all of the main Gunpla kits of the series are on display at a hobby shop as Haru encourages younger kids to follow the same path he took.

Gunpla Battle

In a Gunpla Battle, participants enter simulation cockpits that resemble the linear seats of later-Universal Century mobile suits. They place their Gunpla models in a scanning device that resembles a Haro unit. Oversized Haro units are also available to scan larger kits such as the 1/144 RX-78 GP03 Dendrobium. From there, they pilot their mobile suits in a simulated battlefield such as Tokyo or A Baoa Qu.

It is important to note that the mobile suit's statistics are relevant to the build quality of the Gunpla model. For example, a fully detailed Gunpla model with high quality paint and adhesive will perform better in a Gunpla Battle than one that is simply built straight out of the box. In addition, the scale of the Gunpla model is crucial in Gunpla Battle. For instance, a participant can pilot a Big Zam mobile armor, but if the Gunpla kit is 1/550 scale, then it is actually smaller in the battlefield than a 1/144 scale mobile suit.

Characters

Haru Irei (イレイ・ハル, Irei Haru^?)

Voiced by: Tsubasa Yonaga

A boy who becomes a "Gunpla Builder" after an encounter with the GPB-X80 Beginning Gundam plastic model. His curiosity with the Gundam franchise leads him to participating in Gunpla Battle.

Kenta Sakazaki (サカザキ・ケンタ, Sakazaki Kenta^?)

Voiced by: Nobuhiko Okamoto

Haru's friend who loves Gunpla and gives advice to Haru about building them. He also serves as Haru's wingman in Gunpla Battles.

Rina Noyama (ノヤマ・リナ, Noyama Rina^?)

Voiced by: Mariya Ise

A cheerful girl who is a big fan of Gunpla, yet seems to lack knowledge about the mobile suits they are based upon. She becomes Haru's second wingman in the final Gunpla Battle.

Koji Matsumoto (コウジ・マツモト, Kouji Matsumoto^?)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Kamiya

A veteran Gunpla Builder who challenges Haru to his first duel, with Haru's Beginning Gundam at stake.

Boris Schauer (ボリス・シャウアー, Borisu Shaua^?)

A senior "Gunpla Meister" who challenges Haru at the end of Parts A with his GPB-X78-30 Forever Gundam. Sporting long, blond hair and wearing sunglasses, he resembles Quattro Bajeena.

Manager (店長, Tenchō^?)

Tatsu Shimano (タツ・シマノ, Tatsu Shimano^?)

A Gunpla Builder who is assigned to mentor Haru and Kenta in Gunpla Battle strategy. Much like Allelujah Haptism of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, he develops a somewhat sadistic alter ego during battle.

Sam

Boris' wingman in the final Gunpla Battle. He pilots an RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1.

Diane Lee

Boris' female wingman, she pilots an MS-18E Kämpfer.

List of Gunpla models

Original units

GPB-X80 Beginning Gundam

Haru's first Gunpla bought in Shizuoka Park. A close-combat-type mobile suit equipped with nine beam-sabers, head-mounted beam vulcan cannons, a beam rifle and an asymmetrically designed shield. Haru uses three beam sabers at once in combat, which was not intended in the original design, as the kit would surpass the power of most of the normal Gunplas. On its first Gunpla Battle, the Beginning Gundam defeats Koji's custom Hi-ν Gundam, but is quickly challenged and defeated by the veteran master builder Boris Schauer and his Forever Gundam. Following this match, Haru works hard to rebuild and detail the Beginning Gundam to improve its performance.

GPB-X80-30F Beginning 30 Gundam

An upgraded version of the Beginning Gundam using an exclusive "IFS Unit" parts runner provided by Haru's father. The Gundam is now outfitted with extra armor and vernier boosters for increased performance and defense. The unit is also capable of using its beam sabers as bits and is armed with an I-Field generator.

Customized units

GPB-X38-30 Forever Gundam

Boris Schauer's customized Gunpla based on the 1/144 HG Version 30th RX-78-2 Gundam, with additional armor and four detachable Variable Speed Beam Rifle (VSBR) funnels. The Gunpla kit is essentially the Version 30th kit, but with the added blue armor parts and the funnels with backpack attachment. As the chest armor covers the beam saber holders on the backpack, the beam sabers are mounted on the forearms.

RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam GPB Color

Koji's Gunpla that he uses to challenge Haru. Apparently a customized version of the 1/144 HGUC RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν (Nu) Gundam with an original white and black color scheme. In animation production, three kits of Hi-ν Gundam were used in order to obtain three pairs of movable fin funnels (in actual HGUC/GPB Gunpla, only one pair is movable). In episode one, the Hi-ν is defeated by the Beginning Gundam, as it was built by Koji's assistant, who did not discover a weak polycap on its left hip. In episode 3, Koji rebuilds the kit by himself; however, it is defeated by the Beginning 30 in the A Baoa Qu stage of the Gunpla Battle tournament.

The series also marks Hi-ν Gundam's animation debut.

GPB-06F Super Custom Zaku F2000

Tatsu's customized, heavily armed Gunpla, based on the 1/144 HGUC MS-06F2 Zaku F2. It is colored purple and dark gray. Armament consists of a Deadend G Heat Hawk, Super Custom MMP-80 90mm Machine Gun and MMP-78 120mm Zaku Machine Gun, a forearm-mounted machine gun and shoulder-mounted missile launchers. In addition, the Zaku F2000 has two additional arms to hold all of its weaponry. The Zaku F2000 displays its lethal potential in episode 2 by heavily damaging Kenta's Byaku Shiki, but reveals its Achilles' heel when the poor-quality adhesive used on the kit causes the armor parts to go brittle and crumble off the suit. This results in a swift defeat at the hands of Haru and his rebuilt Beginning Gundam. In episode 3, Tatsu rebuilds the kit with improved materials and is seen destroying an RX-78 GP03S Gundam Stamen in the A Baoa Qu stage.

GPB-04B Beargguy^[2]

Rina's customized Gunpla (where she called New Beargguy in animation), a modified 1/144 HGUC MSM-04 Acguy made to look like a teddy bear. Beargguy is a high-firepower mobile suit carrying with a recorder-like beam rifle and a missile launcher backpack designed to resemble a school satchel bag. Its bear eyes are actually mega-beam launchers - a play on the term "Beam Launcher from the eye", which can be pronounced the same in Japanese. (The HG model kit provides eye stickers with emotions as additional parts.) In episode 3, the Beargguy's mega-beam launchers nearly destroy Diane's Kämpfer.

Proto Beargguy

The prototype of Beargguy seen in episode 2. It is seen wearing a bear-hat, holding a fish.

MSN-00100 Byaku Shiki

Kenta's customized build of the Hyaku Shiki (based on the 1/144 HGUC Hyaku Shiki with Mega Beam Launcher). Kenta painted it white and changed the original kit's "Hyaku" mark (百) to the kanji for white (白) and calls it "Byaku Shiki" (白式). During its battle in episode 2, the Byaku Shiki loses its legs to an attack by Tatsu's Zaku F2000, but it manages to inflict damage on the Zaku F2000 firing its hyper bazooka at its chest armor.

MSN-04 Sazabi GPB Color

Kenta's second Gunpla, a customized white HGUC 1/144 MSN-04 Sazabi. The Sazabi engages in battle with Sam's RX-79BD-1 Blue Destiny Unit 1 in episode 3.

Episodes

1. Parts A: Beginning Gundam
2. Parts B: Forever Gundam
3. Parts C: Beginning 30

Music

Ending Song

"my Proud,my Play!"

Performed by: KAmiYU

Video Release

The OVA series is later released in both DVD and Blu-Ray on December 22, 2010. Both Versions includes a 16-page liner note while the Blu-Ray Collector's edition includes an original CD featuring its theme "my Proud, my Play!", a sound drama plus original slipcase and special features such as audio commentary, music videos and Gunpla TV ads.

References

1. ^ Mokei Senshi Gunpla Builders Beginning G Anime Announced
2. ^ HobbyLink Japan - 1/144 HG GPB-04B Beargguy

External links

• Model Suit Gunpla Builders Beginning G at Gundam.Info

Preceded by Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A wakening of the Trailblazer	Gundam metaseries (production order) 1979–2010	Succeeded by Mobile Suit Gundam AGE
Preceded by None	Anno Domini 2010 AD	Succeeded by None