T5W#247-Top 5 Gundams That Could be Statues in Odaiba

They say some dreams never come true.  Well for me, one of my greatest lifes wishes got brought…half to life.  In 2009, to celebrate the Gundam Franchise’s 30^th Anniversary, a full scale model of the original RX-78-2 Gundam was unveiled in Odaiba, Japan.  It was eventually moved to Shizuoka in 2010 before returning to Odaiba in 2012 following the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.  It stood in place for the DiverCity Gundam Tokyo Front when it opened in 2012 and proudly guarded the Gundam themed attraction hall until it was eventually taken down for good in 2017.  But this was not a one time deal.  Later that same year, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam took its place and has remained there ever since.  Both Gundams featured special lighting features, particularly the Unicorn which was custom made to chance from it’s regular form into it’s NTD mode (in both red and green variants).  It’s pretty epic and the closest we’ve come to true giant robots…save for the not moving bit.  It’s been a while since the RX-0 was christened.  So the question is: when and if the Unicorn comes down, what Gundam could be the next in line to take over it’s guardianship duties?  Well I’ll be listing my Top 5 Gundams That Could be Statues in Odaiba today on Top 5 Wednesday to kick off a month of new Gundam themed Top 5’s for GUNDAM MONTH MARK IV-THE GAUNTLET.

#5-Any SD Gundam

Not sure if this would be a step backwards or not.  But considering it’s just as synonymous a form of the Mobile Suit as the OG.  SD, or Super Deformed, Gundams have been beloved by the fandom for ages and are a definite hit with the younger crowd.  Whichever model they chose would be considerably shorter compared to the RX-78-2 and the Unicorn.  But that could be a fun change of pace.  At the very least, they could consider stashing it on display somewhere close, maybe even inside the Gundam Tokyo Front if there’s room (I wouldn’t know for sure cause sadly I’ve never been there).

#4-XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero Custom

This might be the least likely option of any Gundam you could pick.  The wings alone would be a considerable challenge enough.  However, the appeal of the Wing Gundam Zero Custom cannot be denied even more than two decades after it’s epic debut in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz.  Many fans of the Gundam Wing anime still associate this Gundam with that entire era.  Hell it practically put the final definitive touch on Gundam’s Toonami legacy.  Again, it’s unlikely…but how cool would it be if the Wings could somehow expand at night…nah that’s a disaster waiting to happen if something goes wrong.

#3-SYSTEM ∀-99 (WD-M01) ∀ Gundam

The Turn A Gundam is both one of the most beloved and yet controversial Gundam designs in the entire fandom.  Made to celebrate the franchises 20^th Anniversary, the most notable feature of this Mobile Suit is bringing the Gundam’s signature antenna being moved down to it’s face, thus creating the appropriately nicknamed “Mustache Gundam”.  Personally, I love this Mobile Suit and think it’s more than worthy of standing with the rest of its brethren. Not to mention it is an anniversary Gundam as well, giving it plenty of relevance to see on display as the Gundam that closed out the 20^th Century and paved the way for the 21^st before Gundam Seed came along.

#2-MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam

After the original RX-78-2, the Zeta Gundam is the Gundam that helped propel the Mobile Suit’s legacy into relevance back in the 80’s with an appearance in two back to back Gundam sequels (Zeta and Gundam ZZ).  Much like the Wing Gundam Zero Custom defines Gundam for the Toonami Era, the Zeta defines Gundam for the 80s.  It’s the oldest Gundam to choose after the RX-78-2 but that isn’t stopping me from including it on this list.  The overall design is pretty sweet and still holds up, especially the extra awesome backpack that doubles as a main part of the flight system in its transformable mode (no they don’t need to recreate that…not kidding, that would be insane to even try).

#1-GNT-0000 00 Qan[T] Gundam

There are few Gundams in history with a greater purpose than that QanT.  It is a Gundam that was specifically designed for a mission of peace: in 00’s case to make first contact with whatever alien species was headed our way.  Sure it packs a big punch but it’s a Gundam that is the epitome of what Celestial Being and Setsuna sought to achieve in their time on Gundam 00.  A Gundam for peace…that concept alone makes it more than worthy to stand in the spot where the RX-78-2 and Unicorn have stood.  Definitely the most sleek and futuristic choice but it’s the reason it exists in the first place that’s why it takes the top spot on my list this week.