Gunpla 101

Gunpla Pre-orders and New Releases for September-October 2021

It’s been a new low for me as I forgot to update the pre-order list until now. Fortunately, the same can’t be said about Sunrise Animation, which gave us some exciting new updates last month. On September 15, during the Dai 2-kai Gundam Conference, Sunrise announced there’s going to be a brand new Gundam show based on original material, the first since Iron-Blooded Orphans SEVEN YEARS AGO! But let’s refrain from contemplating the relentless march of time (has it really been seven years since we got an original Gundam anime?) and get hyped for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury. All we have to go off of is the title, but it’s still very promising. Will we explore different planets than the usual Earth, Mars, and Jupiter?

Also during the Dai 2-kai Gundam Conference, Sunrise announced that Yoshikazu “Yaz” Yasuhiko will be directing a new feature film based on none other than “Cucuruz Doan’s Island,” the black sheep of the 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam show. Currently, this episode isn’t even available on US releases! I wrote a whole essay about why this is considered Gundam’s “lost episode” for Anime News Network and I’ll try to remember to link it here when it’s live. Update: Here it is!

As has been typical for 2021, we’ve got just a few new releases and pre-orders available this September and October. The Hi-Nu in particular has reportedly been hard to access, to the point that suppliers are allegedly refusing to sell to anyone who pronounces it wrong!. Have you had trouble getting your hands on new Gunpla this year? It’s a problem that people are getting a bit heated about, as evidenced by a bit of drama on Twitter this week.

Without further ado, here’s the list:

Gunpla New Releases for September 2021

RG Hi-Nu Gundam (pictured at top)

Amuro Ray’s iconic Gundam from Char’s Counterattack has finally joined the RG line. It’s a hthat has given it a more detailed endoskeleton and increased poseability. A custom version from Beltorchika’s Children, this is a bluer interpretation of the suit than usual. This is sold out everywhere I usually look, so I linked to Hobbylink just so you can see the specs.

SD Gundam EX Standard Wing Gundam Zero

This one was tough to track down because it’s a variation of a kit with the same name that came out in 2016. The weapons are what set this iteration apart—especially the eyecatching twin buster rifle.

SDW Heroes Wukong Impulse Gundam DX Set

Each one of the SDW kits is more over-the-top than the last. This one is no different, capable of a flashy transformation from fiery red to clear blue—and plenty of gold pizazz for both styles. Combine all the parts together for a red, white, blue, and gold final form.