Gunpla 101

Deep Dive: References in ‘Gundam Build Divers’ Episode 3

Gunpla fans are rejoicing over Gundam Build Divers, a new Sunrise anime all about our favorite model kits. But it could be tricky to catch the more obscure Gundam references in the show… until now.

Welcome to Deep Dive, a new column from Gundam expert Tom Aznable that points out the more unexpected aspects of the Gundam multiverse that make it into the show. Nothing passes Tom’s eagle eye for spotting this stuff (we suspect Newtype abilities), but this column focuses specifically on rare sightings and deep cuts. Read on to see what you may have missed.

Previously:

Neo-Zeon Dress Uniform, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (anime)

Several background Neo-Zeon characters wear this white, red-sashed dress uniform during a few scenes in the film Char’s Counterattack. Unlike most of the uniforms in Char’s Neo-Zeon, these have a throwback Principality of Zeon-style collar. (thanks to @lowpolyrobot and @_girltype for help pinning this one down!)

Herbert von Kuspen, MS igLoo (CG anime)

He may be in the background and out of focus, but this player is wearing the unique custom uniform of the ruthless Zeon zealot Herbert von Kuspen. In MS igLoo, he’s most notorious for sending out barely-trained teen pilots in Oggo mobile pods as cannon fodder in defense of A Baoa Qu.

Gundam Cafe Akihabara

It’s a bit of an extreme close-up, but there’s enough detail in this quick shot to establish this as the entrance to the Gundam Cafe’s Akihabara location.

RGM-89De Jegan (ECOAS Type), Mobile Suit Gundam UC (anime)

Color scheme: RGM-89D Piko Altidore’s Jegan Type D, Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. 0094: Across The Sky (manga)

The hacking Mass Divers team faced by Riku and company this episode have a theme, and it’s not just that they all pilot Jegans: they’ve all approximated recent P-Bandai exclusive Jegan kits using standard releases. Here, the lead ECOAS Jegan appears in Raven Corps leader Piko Altidore’s custom black (or dark purple if you believe Bandai) and white color scheme. Given that the ECOAS Jegan is actually an enhanced variant of the Jegan D she normally pilots, this would actually be an improvement for her.

RGM-89 Jegan, Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack (anime)

Color scheme: RGM-89 Jegan (Birnam Type), Mobile Suit Gundam: Twilight Axis (novel, anime)

The two other members of the Mass Divers team in this episode have gotten pretty close to recreating the Birnam Corps’ customized Jegans from Twilight Axis just by giving a stock Jegan a Den’an Zon shot lancer. Twilight Axis is supposed to hint at some connective tissue between the immediate aftermath of Gundam Unicorn and the events of Gundam F91. The Birnam Corps’ Jegan equipment anticipates tech later used by the Crossbone Vanguard military, with a beam rifle ancestor of their signature shot lancer weapon and an eyepatch-like special visor.

Previously:

Lauren