This is cool.

[Brandon Miller]

I'm not a fan of the Japan Gundam stuff but this is cool. It's an 81 meters tall statue built for the 30th anniversary of Gundam. It stands in a park in Tokyo. I don't care if you are a fan or not, this would be cool to see.

[derekf]

Wow. Also not a fan - but damn.


Bet we'll find out in 10 years when Godzilla attacks that this isn't just a static display model.

[Chevrolaine]

Yup, Cool! Problem is, they're probably building a million more and will send them to destroy us.

[Twentyover]

Is it just me, or is this the equivalent of a 90 foot statute of Popeye the Sailor in the Mall in DC or Central Park in New York?

[Camaroholic]

Well this is cooler because it's a giant freaking robot, not Popeye. lol. 81 meters? 250 feet tall. Sweet. That's 3x larger than Big Sam in Huntsville TX. Though honestly, it doesn't look like it's 250 ft based on the people or the stuff around it.

I for one, welcome our Japanese Gundam Robotic overlords....

[twosaturns]

how are you supposed to keep track of all the friggin' giant robot Japanese cartoons? voltron, transformers, go bots, gundam, battle of the planets, power rangers, etc. it's all the same thing, howabout an original idea?

[Brandon Miller]

how are you supposed to keep track of all the friggin' giant robot Japanese cartoons? voltron, transformers, go bots, gundam, battle of the planets, power rangers, etc. it's all the same thing, howabout an original idea?

I'm pretty sure Gundam was first.

[twosaturns]

I'm pretty sure Gundam was first.

well, yeah, but then there were/are SO many derivatives. can't the Japanese come up w/ something besides 5 kids (always the SAME 5: the fat kid, the retard, the girl, the leader and the jealous loner) who fly/drive their own vehicles which also fit together to make one big super robot?
sorry, I digress.

[b-man]

I'm pretty sure Gundam was first.

Before 1963?

GIGANTOR was probably the first.

http://www.gigantor.org/

[novaderrik]

well, yeah, but then there were/are SO many derivatives. can't the Japanese come up w/ something besides 5 kids (always the SAME 5: the fat kid, the retard, the girl, the leader and the jealous loner) who fly/drive their own vehicles which also fit together to make one big super robot?
sorry, I digress.

there was that one Voltron that was made out of 15 separate parts.




and then there was Robotech..



and, last but not least: Ventronic
only 4 people in this one..

[Ron L]

It ain't cool unless the transformation sequences take up half the episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rG5mmUzE6Tc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYk-I...eature=related

I build sci-fi models but Gundam robots, aside from a select few, are way too "feminine-male" looking for my liking.

[novaderrik]

what's up with the Japanese love for all these giant robots, anyways?
is there some sort of a sociological explanation for it- maybe something stemming from WWII and the infusion of western technology and culture while their country was rebuilt?

[mc84_zz4]

Dayum!, or should I say Gun-Dayum!
I never got into the robot thing but my kid loves the stuff, I have to appreciate the detail, this ain't no cheap-azz burger-house statue...

My son saw it and got excited, telling me which part of his anatomy would transform and pop out what weapon, etc.
I was worried where that was going for a little....lol

[twosaturns]

My son saw it and got excited, telling me which part of his anatomy would transform and pop out what weapon, etc.
I was worried where that was going for a little....lol

that's what I was thinking. that robot statue has quite a large codpiece.

[novaderrik]

they all have rather large codpioeces.. unless they are female robots, then they have large bumps up a bit higher..

[Kenova]

can't the Japanese come up w/ something besides 5 kids (always the SAME 5: the fat kid, the retard, the girl, the leader and the jealous loner) who fly/drive their own vehicles which also fit together to make one big super robot?
sorry, I digress.

This is just some fuzzy thinking here, but I think it is rooted in their feudal history. Japan was ruled by a number of war lords that constantly fought among themselves. On the few occasions when Japan as a whole was threatened, they "came together like the fingers of a mighty fist" and defended Japan.
Or maybe it was just something I saw in a cheesy movie .

Ken