Mobile Suit Gundam-san

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Mobile Suit Gundam-san
Cover art to Volume 1 of the Gundam-san manga, artwork by Hideki Ohwada
機動戦士ガンダムさん
(Kidō Senshi Gandamu-san)
GenreComedy, mecha, science fiction
Manga
Written byHideki Ohwada
Published byKadokawa Shoten
English publisherDenpa (The Men Who Created Gundam)
MagazineGundam Ace, Comic Charge, Kerokero Ace, 4-Koma Nano Ace
DemographicShōnen
Original run2001 – present
Volumes14
Anime television series
Directed byMankyū
Produced byKōichi Ueyama, Shin Sasaki
Written byHideki Ohwada, Mankyū
Music byJun Abe, Seiji Muto
StudioSunrise
Licensed by
Original networkTokyo MX, BS11
Original run July 6, 2014 September 28, 2014
Episodes13 (List of episodes)

Mobile Suit Gundam-san (Japanese: 機動戦士ガンダムさん, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu-san), commonly referred to as Gundam-san, is a Japanese yonkoma (4-panel) parody gag manga series by Hideki Ohwada. A part of the Gundam media franchise, it is a parody of the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime series, featuring Amuro Ray, Lalah Sune, and Char Aznable as main characters. It has been serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's seinen manga magazine Gundam Ace since June 2001 and collected in fourteen tankōbon volumes.

The manga has spawned an anime television series adaptation by Sunrise. The series of animated shorts was broadcast on the BS11 network between July 6 and September 28, 2014.[1][2]

Overview[edit]

The manga is a parody of the original Mobile Suit Gundam and features most of its characters for its yonkoma strips. In addition, there are several "sub-stories" featured in the manga tankōbon, including Captain Zaku-san (隊長のザクさん), which features anthropomorphic versions of the mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam, and Genesis of Gundam (ガンダム創世, Gundam Sousei), which dramatizes the story of the creation of the Gundam franchise and features Yoshiyuki Tomino as well as other staff and cast members. On January 24, 2014, Kadokawa released two tankōbon volumes collecting Gundam Sousei chapters as a separate manga titled The Men Who Created Gundam (「ガンダム」を創った男たち, "Gundam" wo Tsukutta Otoko-tachi). At Anime NYC 2019, Denpa announced that they would publish The Men Who Created Gundam in English, with the omnibus volume released on June 7, 2022.

Publication[edit]

Gundam-san began as a fan created yonkoma series on Ohwada's personal website[3] prior to being officially published in Gundam Ace in 2001. The manga was also serialized in the seinen magazine Comic Charge from the magazine's inception to its cancellation in 2009;[citation needed] in the magazine Kerokero Ace;[citation needed] and in the 4-Koma Nano Ace from 2011.[4] The first collected volume was released on August 24, 2005 and the latest—the 14th—was released on April 26, 2016.[5][6]

Another series, Naruhodo! Kotowaza Gundam-san (なるほど☆ことわざ ガンダムさん, lit. "I see! Proverbs Gundam-san") was serialized in Kerokero Ace starting 2007.[citation needed] Its collected volume was released on January 22, 2009.[7] Yappari! Kotowaza Gundam-san (やっぱり☆ことわざガンダムさん, lit. "As I Thought! Proverbs Gundam-san") was released on August 21, 2010.[8] Another book, which included Kotowaza Gundam-san stories, subtitled Nippon Saihakken (ニッポン☆再発見, lit. "Japan Rediscovery"), was released on December 21, 2011.[9] A Kotowaza Gundam-san definitive edition (決定版), including Naruhodo and Yappari and the proverbs appeared in the anime series, was released on October 25, 2014.[10]

Additionally, a box of mini books and goods about the character Comet Chick was released on July 24, 2007.[11] Also, a fanbook, which included a special story, was released on February 24, 2010.[12]

Anime adaptation[edit]

The 13-episode anime television series adaptation was broadcast between July and September 2014 in the BS11 (during the Gundam Selection program) and Tokyo MX networks. Episodes are about 3 minutes each. The show was first announced in a Gundam Ace issue in June 2014. Mankyū directed and wrote the screenplay for the anime. Sao Tamado was the character designer. Tohru Furuya and Keiko Han returned as cast members but did not reprise their original roles from Mobile Suit Gundam as Amuro Ray and Lalah Sune, respectively. Instead all of the roles were cast to new voice actors.[2]

Episode list[edit]

13 episodes are released on television, while the additional extra episodes (including event premieres) are included in the DVD/Blu-Ray release of the anime.

No. Title Original airdate
1"He Likes the Red One"
"Akai no ga Suki" (赤いのが好き)
July 6, 2014 (2014-07-06)
2"Amuro Going Through Puberty"
"Shishunki no Amuro-san" (思春期のアムロさん)
July 13, 2014 (2014-07-13)
3"The Melancholy of Haro-Man"
"Haro Otoko no Yūtsu" (ハロ男の憂鬱)
July 20, 2014 (2014-07-20)
4"How They Met"
"Deai" (出会い)
July 27, 2014 (2014-07-27)
5"The Red Comet Chick's Menace"
"Suisei Hiyoko no Kyōi" (彗星ヒヨコの脅威)
August 3, 2014 (2014-08-03)
6"Dr. Sayla's Consultation Room"
"Joi Seira no Onayami Soudanshitsu" (女医セイラのお悩み相談室)
August 10, 2014 (2014-08-10)
7"He Likes Those Who Have Fallen"
"Chitta Hito ga Suki" (散った人が好き)
August 17, 2014 (2014-08-17)
8"Daydreaming Amuro"
"Mousou no Amuro-san" (妄想のアムロさん)
August 24, 2014 (2014-08-24)
9"Showdown of Destiny"
"Shukumei no Taiketsu" (宿命の対決)
August 31, 2014 (2014-08-31)
10"Lalah Moves Out"
"Raraa Shutsugeki" (ララァ出撃)
September 7, 2014 (2014-09-07)
11"A Mobile Suit's Feelings"
"Mobiru Sutsu no Kimochi" (モビルスーツの気持ち)
September 14, 2014 (2014-09-14)
12"Kycilia-tan, Age 14"
"Kishiria-tan, Jūyonsai" (キシリアたん14歳)
September 21, 2014 (2014-09-21)
13"He Likes People with Moles"
"Hokuro no Hito ga Suki" (ホクロの人が好き)
September 28, 2014 (2014-09-28)

Reception[edit]

Three volumes of the series have been featured on the top 10 of Oricon's weekly chart of the best-selling manga; volume 4 peaked at the fifth spot,[13] while volume 5 ranked ninth,[14] and volume 6 reached the sixth place.[15] Volumes 7, 8 and 9 also reached the chart but at 15th, 29th and 36th place respectively.[16][17][18]

The anime DVD and Blu-Ray reached the Oricon's list at the 23rd and 16th place respectively.[19][20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mobile Suit Gundam-san 4-Panel Gag Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. June 24, 2014. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Katsuyuki Konishi, Megumi Han, Tsubasa Yonaga Star in Gundam-san Anime". Anime News Network. June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "四コマ劇場". Kugibat.com (archived). Archived from the original on April 11, 2001. Retrieved 2015-07-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "新増刊4コマnanoエースvol.1、付録は「日常」カレンダー". Natalie.mu (in Japanese). Natasha Inc. March 9, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  5. ^ "機動戦士ガンダムさん さいしょの巻" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  6. ^ "機動戦士ガンダムさん (14)の巻" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  7. ^ "なるほど ☆ ことわざ ガンダムさん" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  8. ^ "やっぱり ☆ ことわざ ガンダムさん" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  9. ^ "機動戦士ガンダムさん ニッポン☆再発見" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  10. ^ "スペシャルエディション☆ことわざ ガンダムさん" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  11. ^ "機動戦士ガンダムさん つぎのちょっとつぎの巻~彗星ヒヨコ急便~" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  12. ^ "機動戦士ガンダムさん 公式ファンブック" (in Japanese). Kadokawa Corporation. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  13. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, January 27-February 2". Anime News Network. February 4, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  14. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, October 26-November 1". Anime News Network. November 4, 2009. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  15. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, August 23–29". Anime News Network. September 1, 2010. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  16. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, March 21–27". Anime News Network. March 30, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  17. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 19–25". Anime News Network. December 28, 2011. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  18. ^ "Japanese Comic Ranking, December 24–30". Anime News Network. January 8, 2013. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  19. ^ "Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, April 18–24". Anime News Network. April 26, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  20. ^ "Japan's Animation Blu-ray Disc Ranking, April 18–24". Anime News Network. April 26, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2016.

External links[edit]

Preceded by Gundam metaseries (production order)
2013–2014
Succeeded by