Gunpla 101

Deep Dive: References in ‘Gundam Build Divers’ Episode 4

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:

Hobby Hobby, Hobby Japan (magazine)

You can see a copy of Hobby Hobby magazine in Riku’s room, with a wordmark resembling the one used by real Japanese hobby magazine Hobby Japan. The cover also uses artwork from the limited edition MG 2.0 White Unicorn Zeta Gundam, a variation based on the version of Amuro Ray’s Zeta Gundam that appears in Gundam EVOLVE.

TGM-79 GM Trainer, MSV (design series)

Color scheme: MSA-003 Nemo, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (anime)

It’s pretty fitting that Tigerwolf’s disciples are using GM Trainers. This isn’t the first time the GM Trainer has appeared in a Build series, having previously appeared in Build Fighters Try and the GM’s Counterattack special. One of them appears here painted up like a Nemo, the grunt mobile suit of choice for the AEUG.

Riku’s Room

Riku’s room has a number of props from Amuro Ray’s room the first episode of Mobile Suit Gundam. The framed picture of rockets, oscilloscope, metal basket, microscope, model plane, Haro, and even those pink books on his shelf are all pulled from Amuro’s room. Apart from that, if you squint and look at the books on his desk, you can see a copy of Gundam Sentinel and a book with the OZ logo on it that may or may not be titled How to be a Loser.

Gundam Weapons at Toraburyu

Among more traditional weapons, you can spot the RX-78 Gundam’s beam javelin and the Strike Gundam’s Grand Slam sword, which has only appeared in model kits and an episode of Gundam EVOLVE. [Edit: As Gunpla 101 commenter Syraxis noted, the more traditional weapons shown here come from Shin Musha Gundam]

Gundam Kyrios Tail Unit, (Mobile Suit Gundam 00)

Daniel of Desperado’s customized Tequila Gundam is basically a walking reference to Westerns, from his weaponized banjo that’s no doubt an allusion to Sabata (1969) to speech patterns that sound an awful lot like cowboy super robot pilot Jack King from Getter Robo! Daniel drags the Gundam Kyrios’ tail unit behind him, resembling the iconic weaponized coffin of spaghetti Western hero Django (1966).

Previously:

Lauren