SD Gundam (Japanese: SDガンダムHepburn: Esu Dī Gandamu, short for Superior defender or super deformed, depending on the media, Gundam) is a media franchise that spawned from the Gundam franchise. SD Gundam takes the mecha (and characters) from Gundam and expresses them in super deformed and anthropomorphic style.

• 3Manga works
• 5Model kits
• 7External links

Overview[edit]

SD Gundam originated from a contributed illustration of a junior student from Nagoya by the name of Koji Yokoi to the 'Model News' magazine that Bandai was issuing in the 1980s. The illustration is of a Gundam but with an unusual proportion where the overall height of the Gundam is equal to twice that of its head. This illustration interested the chief editor and led to Koji Yokoi serializing SD Gundam in 4 frame comics in 'Model News'.

The super deformed designs were suitable for capsule toys, and so they were first merchandised as small SD Gundam-shaped erasers as part of the Gashapon series SD Gundam World in 1985. Built with a hole so they could be skewered into a pencil, the series was a hit with Japanese schoolchildren, and the concept soon expanded to other forms of merchandising and media, including models, manga, trading cards, anime and video games.

The popularity of SD Gundam was such that between the late '80s and early '90s, sales from the SD Gundam franchise far exceeded those of the rest of Gundam.^[1] And whereas Gundam pioneered the real robot branch of mecha anime, SD Gundam's more comical and exaggerated approach to the genre served to move it away from the ultra-realism that it was shifting towards in the '80s, and inspired a new flood of super-deformed robot shows the late '80s and early '90s such as Sunrise's Mashin Hero Wataru and Haō Taikei Ryū Knight, as well as video games such as the Super Robot Wars franchise.

Although the SD Gundam franchise initially started out featuring characters and mecha from the mainstream Gundam series, by the 1990s SD Gundam spawned numerous spin-off series, SD Gundam Sengokuden (Musha Gundam) which has a Sengoku setting, SD Gundam Gaiden (Knight Gundam) which has a fantasy medieval setting and SD Command Chronicles which has a modern military style to name a few.

Animated works[edit]

Animated works based on SD Gundam are generally adapted from existing toy lines or manga and are animated by Sunrise.

• Mobile Suit SD Gundam (機動戦士SDガンダムKidō Senshi SD Gundam) (movies, OVAs & TV series, 1988 to 1993)

A series of animated short and feature-length films released during the height of SD Gundam's popularity in Asia. Initially feature characters and mecha from the Gundam franchise, before spinning off to a regularly appearing set of SD Gundam characters, notably from the Command Gundam, Knight Gundam, and Musha Gundam sub-franchises.

• Doozy Bots (promo short, 1989)

A proposed animated series intended for the North American market, based on SD Gundam designs. The series was scrapped after only the trailer was released.

• SD Gundam Mushaparaku (SD頑駄無 武者パ楽) (promo short, 2001)

A short music video produced by Sunrise D.I.D. (Digital Imaging Department?) that first appeared in Tokyo Hobby Show in 2001/10/13. The video uses cel-shaded versions of SD Gundam Mushamaruden characters. The video is bundled with the limited special color clear version of BB Senshi #178.

• SD Gundam Mushaparaku ~Shin Musha Tanjō~ (SDガンダム 武者パ楽～新武者誕生～) (promo short, 2003)

Debuted in 42nd Shizuoka Hobby show 2003 on 2003/5/17, this video uses SD Gundam Mushamaruden 2 and 3 characters.

• SD Gundam Force (SDガンダムフォース) (TV series, 2004)

A TV series entirely animated in 3DCG and initially targeted at the North American audience. Based on the settings from SD Command Chronicles, Knight Gundam, and Musha Gundam.

• Gundam Evolve../14 (頑駄無 異歩流武../十四」) (promo short, 2004)

Part of the Gundam Evolve series of 3DCG promotional shorts. Featurings Rekka Musha Gundam fighting against evil Zaku bandits.

• SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors (SDガンダム三国伝 Brave Battle Warriors) (movie & TV series, 2010)

An animated addition to the BB Senshi Sangokuden manga and model series. The series is a Musha Gundam adaptation of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms novel with slightly altered plot and names.

Manga works[edit]

Musha Gundam series[edit]

Musha Gundam (武者 頑駄無Musha Gandamu) are Gundam units modelled after samurai, ninja, or other forms of feudal Japanese warriors. Musha Gundam first appeared in 'Plamo-Kyoshiro'<プラモ狂四郎> (Story by Craft dan and art by Koichi Yamato). In the story, the SD Gundam is an original Gundam created by Kyoshiro (protagonist) for a showdown with Shigeru (antagonist). The original design of the SD form Musha Gundam is credited to Koichi Yamato, and Yasui Hisashi. The story of Musha Gundam, SD Sengokuden, originated from the manga 'Seven Gundams' of the 'Comic World' series by MARSHI (a.k.a. Susumu Imaishi). The Musha Gundam series is the longest running SD Gundam series, since the series is set in the Warring States period the use of katakana is avoided, and kanji is used heavily.

Knight Gundam series[edit]

Knight Gundam (騎士ガンダムNaito Gandamu) is part of the SD Gundam franchise, a sub-franchise of the popular Gundamanime. In Knight Gundam, Gundam mecha and characters are reimagined as knights, sorcerers and other fantasy and medieval European character types. Knight Gundam is a series that took elements from Japanese role playing games, such as the Dragon Quest series, into SD Gundam. The knight style SD Gundam designs are devised by Koji Yokoi and soon Knight Gundam became an independent series like Musha Gundam.

The series first started on Carddas trading cards with the story set in the 'Saddarc World' (Carddas spelt backwards). Soon after it expanded to Gashapons, plastic models, manga and games. The Gundams in the Knight Gundam series are portrayed as living beings just like in the Musha Gundam series. But later on in the series giant robots known as 'Kihei'(機兵) were introduced thus creating a weird picture of a Gundam piloting a Gundam. Also different from Musha Gundam, Knight Gundam has important human characters like Knight Amuro and Princess Frau throughout the whole series.

Others[edit]

• SD Gundam Daibokan G Vehicle (serialized in Comic World and Comic Bom Bom Special Edition)
• SD Gundam Fullcolor Gekijou by Azuma Yuki <あずま 勇輝> (9 volumes, ongoing)

this series is based on the SD Gundam Fullcolor Gashapon toy line, which are capsule toys for SD Gundam figures.

Game works[edit]

In the past most of the SD Gundam games are turn-based strategyvideo games and brawling-type games with shooting. However, the recent SD Gundam games started appearing in other genres.

Below is a rough list of game works, a more accurate and complete list is available at the Japanese wiki entry.

• SD Gundam Gachapon Senshi series
• SD Sengokuden series
• SD Gundam Side Story series
• SD Gundam Eiyūden series
• SD Gundam Arcade series
• SD Gundam G Generation series
• SD Gundam Dimension War - a turn-based strategy game for the Virtual Boy. It is one of the console's rarest games. Along with Virtual Bowling this game was the last video game officially released for the Virtual Boy in Japan.

Through not treated as a title from the SD Gundam series, the RPG Gundam True Odyssey (MS Saga: A New Dawn in the US) also used super-deformed graphics for the mobile weapons that were found in the game.

The SD Gundam designs were also used throughout the earlier Super Robot Wars games (up through SRW F and F Final, stopping at SRW Alpha for the PS1), as can be seen by the pupils present in the eyes of the various Mobile Suits that appeared. From SRW Alpha and beyond, however, the eyes of Mobile Suits remain blank, though the robots themselves are still super-deformed (just as all mechs represented in typical SRW games are). The only exceptions are in Shin Super Robot Wars and the Scramble Commander series, where all series featured in these games used real-sized designs instead of the traditional SD-sized ones.

A real-sized Musha Gundam has been placed as a hidden, unlockable unit in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series. Particular SD Gundams that has been converted to normal sizes are confirmed to participate in the Gundam War trading card game.

Model kits[edit]

While regular Gundam model lines strive for realism by introducing High Grade, Master Grade, and Perfect Grade models, SD Gundam models are designed for (and sometimes by) the customization crowd. Many SD Gundam models are designed such that variations of the stock models, as seen by SD Gundam comics, can be made by using parts from other SD Gundam kits. Modifying SD models is very popular in Japan, more so than the full-sized counterparts. In addition to made-up robots contributed to SD Gundam comics, Bandai also held monthly contests for custom Gundam (usually Musha-based) models.

The model kit series is called SD Gundam BB Senshi (SDガンダムBB戦士Esu Dhī Gandamu BB Senshi). The 'BB' in the title comes from the fact that, initially, BB Senshi models came with airguns that shot BB gun pallets. Due to product liability and safety regulations, the feature was soon removed.^[1] 2007 saw the release of the 300th kit in the series. Forming the bulk of the series are Musha Gundam kits; the Musha kits have standard gimmicks like detachable armour and others, such as combination and compatibility of parts between kits. In recent years the G Generation kits have introduced a new proportion and enhanced poseability.

Scale is often inconsistent, especially in older kits where many characters from the same storyline are out of scale with one another. However, as the line continued these issues have mostly been addressed and sometimes been intentional. Dai-Shogun characters have often seen their final form released as a much larger figure (in some cases, this is included in the storyline by the character growing to giant size to combat an equally large foe).

Another model kit series called Ganzo SD Gundam (元祖SDガンダム), though discontinued in the 1990s, covered all the SD Gundam series but mainly focus on Knight Gundam kits. These kits are made from more durable plastic and are bigger than the BB Senshi kits. They can currently be found at auction sites, usually with high prices.

Century number releases (100, 200, 300, etc.) are often marked as special occasions. 2007 saw the release of the 300th BB Senshi kit in official numbering. However, the previous kit had been BB 295. Bandai retroactively filled in the missing five kits alongside releases of kits with the 300+ numbering. These retroactive kits were of units from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, many being recolors of existing kits. Additionally, popular SD Gundam kits have been re-released in waves at around the same time as new kits. These re-releases are broken down by series (Musha, Knight, Command, G-Generation). The popularity of these older kits is such that many have been included in later re-release waves.

A limited subline titled Chi-Bi Senshi (a pun on the mainline's 'BB' and 'chibi', meaning small) consisted of thirteen kits based on Super G-ARMS, Knight Gundam, Gundlaner and Musha. The kits were smaller and less complex than full BB Senshi, built on a five-point skeleton block which allowed for parts swapping between the kits. This gimmick was also utilized with some of the Knight kits to allow them to combine with larger BB Senshi versions of the 'Kihei' mobile weapons they piloted. Additionally, nine of the Chi-Bi Senshi were released in three triple boxsets, depicting them in widely different transparent colours. The Comic World chapters included with these sets referred to these 'Crystal' versions as doppelgangers made from sentient alien crystals who had chosen to copy the real Gundams.

A related line of merchandise has included the designs from SD Gundam works presented as 'real type' versions, lacking the deformed proportions. This concept has seen a resurgence in recent years, with Bandai issuing a Master Grade model kit of Hajime Katoki's Shin Musha Gundam (appearing inDynasty Warriors: Gundam) and Banpresto releasing toys and mini-statues based on 'real type' versions of Musha and Knight characters.

SDX[edit]

Starting in 2008, the SDX line is a collector aimed series of action figures based on SD Gundam characters. The first figure released, Knight Gundam, was based on a scratch-built model of the character made by Hobby Japan for his appearance in Musha Retsuden Zero. Following this was a release of 'Full Armor Knight Gundam' (depicting the character's upgraded form), with figures of Satan Gundam and Command Gundam announced for later in 2009.Being a collector aimed line, the series focuses on high detail, option parts and updating popular SD Gundam characters who are only otherwise represented by decades old model kits and toys. For example, Knight Gundam was released with a display base, alternate facial expressions and armor pieces produced from metal.

SD Ex-Standard[edit]

This is the most recent model kit series which aims for styled proportions, weapon customization, budget friendliness, and connecting every single SD Gundam Kit, and possibly even make kits from other grades that doesn't have SD versions of it; one example is the Try Burning Gundam, which currently has a HG (High Grade) version of it, and unlike its past counterpart, the Build Burning Gundam has its own BB Senshi counterpart. So far, this kit series has ten sets, which contains (orderly) RX-78-2, Aile Strike Gundam, Gundam Exia, Wing Gundam Zero EW, Gundam Unicorn (Destroy Mode), Strike Freedom Gundam, Astray Red Frame, OO Gundam, Destiny Gundam, Gundam Barbatos (form 4), Try Burning Gundam, Gundam Deathscythe Hell EW, Sinanju, and Gundam Barbatos Lupus. This kit series is really similar to the BB Senshi sets, but this kit series is a lot smaller than the BB sets or any other SD kit series.

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'What is 'Gundam', anyway?' This simple (?) question is answered in our seventeenth casual weekly column just for new fans!

External links[edit]

Official sites[edit]

• SD Gundam Portal Site 'We Love SD Gundam' (Japanese)
• Bandai Hobby Site (Japanese)

Information sites[edit]

SD Gundam (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia

• Gundam Comic Chronicle - detailed information on all SD Gundam comics ever published (Japanese)
• Inugoya's homepage - information on all SD Gundam timelines (Japanese)
• SD Gundam history page (Japanese)
• STRIPE's home page (Japanese)
• ToYaMeI's homepage (Chinese)
• Raptorial's SD Gundam World (Chinese) - Detailed collection of all SD Gundam BB Senshi Model Kits

Publisher links[edit]

• Comic Bom Bom official site (Japanese)
• Hobby JAPAN magazine official site (Japanese)
• Rightman Publishing Ltd. official site (Chinese)

SD Gundam G Generation is a series of strategy-RPGvideo games that focus on the Gundamanime franchise.

History[edit]

The G Generation series technically began in 1996, when Bandai released a series of six games for Nintendo's Super Famicom console's Sufami Turbo add-on, each focusing on a particular era from the Gundam multiverse. A Generation focused on the One Year War, B Generation focused on the Gryps Conflict, and so forth up to F Generation, which covered the plot of G Gundam. Instead of continuing the obvious progression and making a G Generation game themed about Gundam Wing, Bandai held on to the title. Since 'G' was often used as an abbreviation for 'Gundam', it was decided that G Generation would encompass a wider scope. When it was finally released in 1998 for the PlayStation, G Generation covered the plot for Mobile Suit Gundam through Char's Counterattack and featured characters from the remaining Universal Century series as well as G Gundam, Gundam Wing and Gundam X.

Series Features[edit]

The G Generation's most distinctive feature is the fact that the machines are always depicted in a super deformed fashion. This may be to prevent problems with the different proportions used in various Gundam series, but a larger reason may be the fact that Sunrise has been known to charge a heavy licensing fee for full-sized versions of their mecha to appear in video games, a problem which also plagues the Super Robot Wars series of video games.

The G Generation series tends to operate in one of two ways in regards to plot. Most of the games released for home consoles faithfully recreate the plot of the series included, while most of the games for handheld systems feature a new storyline that combines elements of all the series' plots together while giving the characters new relationships. In addition to the familiar cast of Gundam characters, G Generation games often feature brand-new characters that represent the player's contributions to the game. Most of the time, the original characters have no plot impact on the game. However, the game Monoeye Gundams features a new group of characters with their own storyline that forms the overall plot of the game, supported by the events of the One Year War and the Gryps Conflict. G Generation DS follows this tradition by introducing a new character who ties into the stories of both Zeta Gundam and Monoeye Gundams.

Most of the G Generation games feature brand-new mobile suits and armors designed exclusively for the game. All of the machines are given a backstory that ties them into the canon Gundam storyline, with most being incomplete or rejected prototypes. A vast majority of the original machines represent the Universal Century, but so far every universe except Cosmic Era has received at least one original machine.

Unlike the popular Super Robot Wars series, G Generation does not limit characters to only piloting machines from their own universe. For example, Amuro Ray could be made to pilot XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero. However, some restrictions still exist. Some machines can only be piloted by characters who belong to certain categories. Other restrictions are plot-based.

Like Super Robot Wars, G Generation allows the player to convince certain enemy characters to join his team. Most of the time, this is represented by being able to save sympathetic characters who were on the losing side of the conflict, such as Gundam 0080's Bernard Wiseman and Zeta Gundam's Four Murasame. Other times, the games allow the player to convince characters who would likely never join the heroes.

Most G Generation games allow the player to capture enemy machines and add them to his own roster. The console and some PSP G Generation games typically allow the player to capture enemy machines after their mothership is destroyed, while the other handheld games allow capture of damaged machines if they are surrounded by three or more player units.

Featured only in the handheld G Generation games, ID Commands act in a similar fashion to spells in traditional role-playing games, but are based around a character's memorable lines from the Gundam series.

Usually linked to ID Commands, the handheld G Generation games often feature Hyper Modes for characters from all series. Earned through unique circumstances and activated by special ID Commands, Hyper Modes typically represent the peak of a character's power while piloting the mobile suit his/her most famous mobile suit. Universal Century characters' Hyper Modes are typically a representation of their Newtype power reaching its peak, while the Alternate Universe series characters' Hyper Modes are usually linked to their Gundams' special systems. In console and some PSP G Generation games, such as G Generation Overworld, few unit like Gundam F91 will activate the Hyper Mode when pilot has max morale. While in pocket games, such as G Generation DS, will let a pilot activate the Mobile Suit's Hyper Mode when a certain SP is reached.

• Database - every game contains a large database that contain every character and unit that appeared in the game.

G Generation titles[edit]

PlayStation

• SD Gundam G Generation (covers events of Mobile Suit Gundam through Char's Counterattack with characters and mecha from later series as bonuses)
• SD Gundam G Generation Zero (covers events of all Universal Century anime, plus one bonus scenario for G Gundam, Gundam Wing, and Gundam X.)
• SD Gundam G Generation-F (covers events of all Gundam anime through Gundam X as well as many manga and video game spinoffs such as Gundam Sentinel, Crossbone Gundam, and G-Unit/Last Outpost. Includes bonus scenarios for Turn A Gundam.)
• SD Gundam G Generation-F IF (expansion disc for G Generation-F which includes difficult bonus missions, a complete unit encyclopedia, and the ability to freely alter the player's cast of original characters.)

PlayStation 2

• SD Gundam G Generation NEO (first 3D G Generation game, and first console G Generation to use a combined-universe storyline rather than presenting mostly faithful retellings of the original anime. Includes the Strike Gundam and Aegis Gundam from Gundam SEED as bonus units.)
• SD Gundam G Generation SEED (focuses primarily on Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Astray, with units and from the Universal Century and the other four alternate universes as bonuses.)
• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Generation of C.E. (focuses on Gundam SEED, Astray, and Gundam SEED Destiny, but diverges from the latter's plot approximately halfway through. Though not officially a G Generation game, it uses the same engine as NEO and SEED, albeit with full-size, cel-shaded mecha instead of super-deformed ones.)
• SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (Focuses only on the UC timeline up to Victory Gundam, but features a stage referring to the Black History of Turn A Gundam (according to Turn A Gundam, the meta-timeline will be merged into Correct Century, which the history of each timeline are destroyed by Turn A Gundam. This Gundam itself is also available in full completion of the game, becoming the only non-UC mecha.). In this game, certain mobile suits and battleships will take up a different number of 'tiles' compared to conventional units. Unlike the previous two PlayStation 2 G-Gen games, Spirits will no longer make use of the 3D combat and battle engine, instead reverting to the original PlayStation and PSP titles' system of battle. This game will also incorporate the 'Haro points' system, which was first introduced in G Generation Portable.)
• SD Gundam G Generation Wars ((debuts Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer and Mobile Suit Gundam 00.) Using same system from SD Gundam G Generation Spirits with add on 'Wars Break' system. This is the largest scale game which includes more than 700 characters, 700 more mobile units, 30 more Gundam series and 50 more battle stages.)

PlayStation 4

• SD Gundam G Generation Genesis (first to come in English language as part of its Asian release. Also on PS Vita.^[1])
• SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

PlayStation Portable

• SD Gundam G Generation Portable, (effectively an enhanced remake of G Generation-F, removing most of the manga and video game storylines in favor of adding complete storylines for Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny. Sidestory units and characters are still present as bonuses.)
• SD Gundam G Generation World (features some elements from G Generation Spirits and G Generation Wars, as well as some new elements. This includes the introduction of the Secret Levels that can be unlocked after 2 Wars Breaks, which means that a character in a large mobile suit/mobile armor appears. It covers many new Gundam franchises, like Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer, as well as Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season, allowing players to use the other 00 characters (such as Seravee Gundam, Cherudim Gundam, Arios Gundam) instead of just 00 Raiser.^[2] Some characters from SD Gundam Sangokuden Brave Battle Warriors are also included.^[2] It was released on February 24, 2011 in Japan.^[2])
• SD Gundam G Generation Overworld (was released on September 27, 2012 in Japan.^[3][4])

Playstation Vita

• SD Gundam G Generation Genesis (first to come in English language as part of its Asian release. Also on PS4.^[1])

PC

• SD Gundam G Generation DA - a typing game
• SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

Bandai Wonderswan

• SD Gundam G Generation GATHER BEAT (first G Generation to utilize a crossover plotline. Also the first G Generation to use the three-man squad setup that would become standard for the handheld games.)

Bandai Wonderswan Color

• SD Gundam G Generation GATHER BEAT 2
• SD Gundam G Generation MONOEYE GUNDAMS (first G Generation to include original characters with their own unique storyline. Also the first G Generation to include Gundam SEED in the form of an early conceptual design of the Strike Gundam, placed in the game as a hidden unit.)

Game Boy Advance

• SD Gundam G Generation Advance (effectively an enhanced remake of GATHER BEAT, including units and characters from Gundam SEED.)

Nintendo DS

• SD Gundam G Generation DS (considered by fans to be an enhanced remake of MONOEYE GUNDAMS, though it focuses on a new original character and storyline. Also the first G Generation to include combination attacks, as well as Gundam SEED Destiny characters and units.)
• SD Gundam G Generation Cross Drive (first true G Generation (excepting Generation of C.E.) to include Gundam SEED Astray.)

Nintendo 3DS

• SD Gundam G Generation 3D

Nintendo Switch

• SD Gundam G Generation Genesis
• SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays

iOS

• SD Gundam G Generation Touch

Android

• SD Gundam G Generation Mobile Next Universe (has 400 units and only installs correctly under android 2.2; you must have root permissions for it to work on newer versions of android.)
• SD Gundam G Generation Frontier (Closed)
• SD Gundam G Generation RE (latest game along with iPhone.)

Wii

• SD Gundam G Generation Wars
• SD Gundam G Generation World

iPhone

• SD Gundam G Generation Frontier (Closed)
• SD Gundam G Generation RE (latest game along with Android.)

References[edit]

1. ^ ^ab'SD Gundam G Generation Genesis for PS4, PS Vita English version coming to Asia in late 2016'. Gematsu. 2016-03-24. Retrieved 2017-05-21.
2. ^ ^abc'ジージェネ最新作ついに始動！『SDガンダム ジージェネレーション ワールド』' (in Japanese). Famitsu. 2010-10-02. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
3. ^'SD Gundam Generation Over World for PSP Announced'. Anime News Network. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
4. ^Jonathan Toyad (2012-06-19). 'SD Gundam G Generation Overworld slated for PSP in Japan'. Gamespot. Retrieved 2012-06-21.

External links[edit]

• Official site (in Japanese)
• GGOverWorld (in Japanese)