Deep Dive: References in ‘Gundam Build Divers RE:RISE’ Episode 8

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 08: Duty and Illusion

Quattro Team, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam (anime)

It goes by quickly, but the three mobile suits that go through the Beargguy gate at the beginning of the episode are Quattro Bajeena’s Rick Dias team as seen in the early episodes of Zeta Gundam. Eventually the AEUG’s high-performance mainstay Rick Dias units all get Quattro’s trademark red color scheme, so this particular configuration is distinct to the three-man team of Quattro and his squadmates Apolly and Roberto.

Patrick Colasour (Gundam 00) dressed as Ramba Ral (Mobile Suit Gundam)

Patrick returns once more in cosplay, this time as ace Gouf pilot Ramba Ral. He appears to be with a fan dressed as Ral’s partner, Crowley Hamon. We have yet to see a version of Patrick’s own significant other Kati Mannequin appear in Re:RISE, but I can’t imagine as she’d be particularly happy about this pairing.

HY2M 1/12 Gundam

The Hyper Hybrid Model line (HY2M for short) consists mostly of 1/60 scale Zeon MS and various MG add-on parts, but it also includes the largest scale commercially available Gunpla period. The 1/12 RX-78-2 Gundam seen here stands at about 1.5 meters tall. Naturally a 1/12 Char’s Zaku II also exists, so maybe it will appear in time as well.

RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam (novel)

G-Armor (Real Type Color)

Shin Musha Gundam, Dynasty Warriors Gundam (video game)

Hiroto’s award-winning Gunpla entry here appears to be for multiple kits. The first is the G-3 Gundam Amuro Ray gets after his original is destroyed in Yoshiyuki Tomino’s novelization. Despite looking like a G-Fighter done up in G-3 colors, the second is actually the Real Type G-Armor. The “Real Type” colors were among the first mobile suit variations to be introduced as model kits back in 1982. Judging by the size difference between these Gunpla and the MG-only Shin Musha Gundam just offscreen, these are probably 1/144 scale. While multiple 1/144 G-3 Gundams exist, the Real Type G-Fighter has only seen an MG release, meaning this is almost definitely a custom paint job of the HGUC G-Fighter set.

The card for these Gunpla also says 1/300, but this is probably Hiroto’s entry number or overall placement in the competition. That said, 1/300 scale Gunpla do exist, but that scale is usually reserved for massive suits like the Psycho Gundams.

Left to right: RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam (Gundam Novels), G-Armor Real Type Color, Shin Musha Gundam (Dynasty Warriors Gundam)

SD Zakrello Ball

Not to be confused with the actual upcoming Zakrello Haro, the decoy Zakrello balls in this challenge all sport the goofy face seen in SD versions of the Zakrello mobile armor.

Heero’s Dead? “To Be Continued”, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (anime)

After Kazami’s ill-prepared Gundam Justice Knight is taken out, it bobs to the surface in a pose strongly reminiscent of what’s become a popular Gundam Wing image meme. The pose comes from the end of Gundam Wing’s second episode, after Heero Yuy attempts to destroy his Wing Gundam by firing off a cluster of missiles at it. Heero is thrown clear of the explosion, but ends the episode floating face down in the water as the words “To Be Continued” (つづく) appear onscreen below him.

Akahana, Mobile Suit Gundam (anime)

One of the members of Force Granada Bleu bears an uncanny resemblance to the man perhaps most associated with the Acguy, the Zeon commando and pilot Akahana. This version, however, seems to lack the red nose which his name likely refers to.

MSM-04 Acguy (Thunderbolt Version), Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt (manga, anime)

Faux-Akahana pilots the version of the Acguy seen in Gundam Thunderbolt, working in tandem with two of the more traditional variety. The jury is still out on whether Thunderbolt’s unique takes on classic mobile suits are meant as stylized versions or distinct variations, but in any case the Thunderbolt Acguy represents a more beefy-looking take on what had become viewed as kind of a cute design.

MSM-10 Zock, Mobile Suit Gundam (anime)

Zeon’s powerful and distinctly kappa-esque aquatic mobile suit Zock appears in one episode of the original series, with only a brief appearance in the movie compilation as well. The Zock’s peculiar design has always made it a bit of an odd duck, but the great stylized posing and flourishes on Mayol’s Zock might make this the coolest it’s ever looked in animation (at least until they finally continue Gundam Thunderbolt).