Our next segment is on model kits and how important they are in Otaku culture.
Gunpla and the Advent of Otaku
1979 saw the arrival of Gundam in a market already familiar with space but even more so with the arrival of Star Wars, it created this young adult following which was seen as quite small scale but much of the merchandise was limited as toy companies would sponsor anime to get merchandise rights, standard practice for any series. This led to the creation of garage kits which was another name for model kits that allowed fans to make replica robots from plastic easily snap together parts. The rest was history but it formed part of Otaku culture further explained by Gainax's half mockumentary Otaku no Video.
I built many kits as a kid.
Animal Robot Wars
The Zoids franchise started as a toy line, the difference between this and other model kits is that these animal robots moved. They started life as Mechabonica around the same time as Gunpla but didn't gain popularity until it became Zoids, and the anime was amazing. I regret not buying the kits when they were out.
Time to Robattle!
Medabots took the model building to it's next logical stage, customization, being able to switch out different arms, legs, torso and head was revolutionary at the time but most people liked to keep things unchanged as the designs were a little too good to spoil. I still have a Sumilidon in storage.
The Doll Fighters We Wanted
Leave it to Clamp to release a toy anime that had no toy attached in Angelic Layer and the concept alone would make a fortune if it can be made in real life. Of course Angelic Layer only serves as a Clamp universe prequel to Chobits.
Gunpla's Now Have Their Own Anime
The history of Gundam anniversary years are best described as surreal as among them included G Gundam and SD Gundam but then they turned their model kits into a toy anime called Build Fighters which actually borrows a lot from Angelic Layer thinking about it. Build Fighters also pays big homages to Gundams past.
My Waifu Wears Heavy Metal
Ever wondered who pioneered the waifus wearing fighter jets or battleship guns?
Busou Shinki entered as a brand of action figures depicting it's characters in armour resembling military vehicles, while the anime has no fighting the figures helped pioneer future titles in the genre including Kancolle, Infinite Stratos, Strike Witches and Azur Lane. Something about waifus in battle armour just struck a cord with Otaku as it remains popular today.
