Gundam! Approaching faith?

Have you gone to Star Wars Revenge of the Sith already? Unfortunately it has not been released in Japan yet, but we've heard in the news that a guy has already lined up many day ago to be first in line for the opening day, and about how much the U.S econony lost on opening day becaues of people's absence from work. I know most Ameriicans like Star Wars, especially the kids. But I suppose the movie would still be special for those guys in their 30's and 40's who first saw Star Wars when they were in elementary school.  Star Wars was fill up with the stuff of young boys' dreams; Spece ships, Aliens, Heros, Evil,  high-tech dogfights and romance with a beautiful princess. It misht be a symbol of their childhood, may be the first strong emotional impact they experienced in their young life.  In Japan  Ultra Seven (1967) is close to Star Wars with that type of quasi-religious significance. It is almost a kind of a faith to a certain generation. But Ultra Seven is not well known in foreign countries as Ultraman is. Actually I gave up trying to find a good pages in English. Google Japan has 150,000 links, but Google doesn't show anyt good pages. Thinking of the Japanese passion for Ultraman,  Ultraman does not seem to have been successful in foreign countries. I will talk more about them in the future. Because Ultraman and Ultra Seven is interesting topic for better understanding many guys in their 30s and 40s in Japan.

Anyway in the animation world, apparently Gundam is quite special. When I find some new topic about Gundam, I am always impressed with hou much the Japanese love Gumdam and even now, and there are still huge aoumnt of money being directed to the Gundam market. The Movie Gundam Z was released last Friday. My friend already went to see it yesterday.  Here is the trailer.  In this timing, I checked some Gundam topic, and I will introduce some which looked interesting.

Speaking of Gundam fans, an adventure movie Aimless Aiges went to Cannes Film Festival this month. The original novel was written by Toshiharu Fuku. Some of his novels will become movies later this year; he is such a hot person now. Popular author Fukui gathered even more acclaim when he novelized "Turn A Gundam" because he just loves Gundam so much.

About Gundam goods; I wrote before about a Gundam Shop in Osaka where all the staff wear Gundam clothes, I found an item that they sell. This is a Zaku head tape cutter.  Ah I will sell my Gundam bottle cap collection on eBay. I wonder how much it will be?

About figurines, at  the Bandai Museums, you can see a real-sized head of Gundam and Zaku. This is the best that I could find at this time,  a human size real Gundam, which is made by armer fan.  Wow kakkoii!

Comments

[maxi]

Hello, nice to meet you.
My name's Maximiliano Takahashi.I write a blog for giving information to Brasilians in portugees.Yes, as you say, Mobilsuit Gundam is a obsession or curse to my generation.
↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hasMTxpONq4&search=gundam

I wrote an entry about the movie above.I would trackback that.

[Mari]

Yes AB, I know Gacchaman. I like that theme song. "Dareda! Dareda! Dareda!!", it is my friends favorite karaoke. In Japan Gundam Seed and wing are thought for "kids", and Gundam fans are so disappointed.
Yes Clair, the shop where all stuff wear gundam costume is Joshin denki. Hello kawa oh really I don't know they are such big in Asia too. Ah nadhry, I don't know shop, but there is museum.

[abraxis]

Azian Brewer: Our "Battle of the Planets" (G-Force) was their first season of "Space Ninja (?) Gatchaman". It was a pretty bloody series as far as I remember (that was no sonic boomerang lah!). There was a second season, Gatchaman Fighter, where everyone died at the end I think.

I remember Z Gundam from 1985. It was my favourite series, much better than Gundam Seed and Wing.

And in the States, we had Ultraman and Ultra Seven. Our version of Seven had Dan go "mmm hmmm!" before he put on the glasses that allowed him to transform into Seven...

Mmmmm hmmmmm!

[kawa]

Ultraman and Gundam are quite big here in Malaysia.

I can't wait for the new Gundam Z movie though I've not seen the original series.

Ultraman Nexus is pretty good.

[クレア (Claire)]

In Nipponbashi Denden Town in Osaka, Joshin Denki has a store dedicated solely to Gundam merchandise. (Sorry, there does not seem to be a link to that shop, only to Joshin Denki's page. I guess they don't want a lot of people who are interested in anime to tie up their site!) I was only looking for a camera, so I didn't stop there...

[AzianBrewer]

Mari-
Do you remember G-Force?? 4 young dudes and a gal dressed in bird costumes fighting for peace and justice.

http://www.semioclast.com/2005/02/23/cartoon-theme-songs-from-yesteryear/

[nadhry]

It's funny that you to mention ultraman and ultraseven. I kind of grew up watching them on TV, that and doraemon. Do you know if there is a shop for ultraman goods too?