Deep Dive: References in ‘Gundam Build Divers RE:RISE’ Episode 17

Gundam Build Divers is back with a sequel series, Gundam Build Divers Re:RISE, that is just as referential as its predecessor. It would take a keen eye and bottomless Gundam knowledge in order to catch the more obscure references it makes to every corner of the Gundam multiverse. Fortunately, we have Gundam expert Tom Aznable to help.

Welcome back to Deep Dive, Tom Aznable’s reader-favorite column all about catching the more esoteric 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:

Episode 17: The Sacred Beast Cuadorn

Gundam SEED “Into the Dawn Sky” Poster, Newtype (magazine)

We finally get to see Kazami’s real life home! As we’d expect he’s got plenty of Captain Zeon merch, but we also get confirmation that Kazami’s a Gundam SEED fan at heart. He’s got a pretty specific piece of SEED art on his wall, too: “Into the Dawn Sky” was a fold-out poster from the October 2003 issue of the anime magazine Newtype, released in time for the end of Gundam SEED’s original TV airing. This poster is by Tomofumi Ogasawara, who also illustrated the Gundam SEED novelizations and was the artist of the Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz manga Glory of the Losers.

Gundam Apps

There’s no shortage of Gundam apps these days (mostly in Japan of course), from the Gundam Fanclub streaming service, to the Gundam Breaker-esque Gundam Battle: Gunpla Warfare (which actually got localized) game, to the Iron Blooded Orphans sidestory Urdr-Hunt. While none of Kazami’s apps are real per se, “Haroad Map” may not be such a far cry from Gundam Navi, a (now-defunct) real life Gundam-themed GPS app which featured spoken directions from the likes of Char and Amuro and gamified travel with points earned from random MS encounters.

And what might ZakuCamera be, seeing as how Kazami looks like he already has a camera app? Well, maybe it’s along the lines of the multiple augmented reality apps like Gundam AR or Gundam Area Wars. These allowed users to encounter mobile suits through their phone camera, including a special life-sized Char’s Zaku standing next to the RX-78 Gundam at Odaiba!

No Grade 1/144 Gundam SEED Models

Kazami’s first encounter with Gunpla looks to have been with the No Grade Gundam SEED 1/144 scale kits. This would’ve been a good choice for a beginner; the No Grade 1/144s were a lower-cost alternative to the HG Gundam SEED line that could be assembled easily without tools or much painting. This line continued through Gundam SEED Destiny, when it was renamed the “Collection Series.”

Dark History, Turn A Gundam (anime)

I don’t know if Hiroto’s Dad here is intentionally making a Turn A reference, but it’s a term so specific to that series that the writers most certainly are. The Dark History (黒歴史, kurorekishi) refers to the forgotten period leading up to the cataclysm thousands of years before the events of Turn A Gundam: a nebulous time that is supposed to include all other Gundam series.