Activating "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" x "ver. A.N.I.M.E."!

From the newest Gundam anime TV series, "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury," Suletta Mercury's beloved machine, the GUNDAM AERIAL is quickly joining THE ROBOT SPIRITS <SIDE MS> lineup! This is the culmination of action figure development know-how cultivated by the ver. A.N.I.M.E. series up until this point. The appearance, mobility, and parts that accentuate the appeal of the GUNDAM AERIAL are all realized in this item.

Released on November 18, 2022! Before it releases, we'll be showing off prototype photos, along with  comments from the designer (in blue) to give you the whole picture!

*The images shown in this article are of a prototype. The finished product may differ.
*The TAMASHII STAGE ACT MECHANICS (hereafter referred to as "TAMASHII STAGE") in this article is sold separately.
*This article is not intended to reproduce the contents or imagery of the anime.

· Appearance and Specifications

As the title ver. A.N.I.M.E. has suggested from the beginning, the distinctive form of the GUNDAM AERIAL has been fully realized. The geometrical shape of the chest, the crisp silhouette, and the curvature of the legs all help to accentuate the appeal of the GUNDAM AERIAL from all angles.

With this being the newest Gundam anime TV series, the design work began long before the anime was completed, starting from the conceptual artwork. Together with the planning staff and others, we designed the Gundam by imagining the active role it would play in the anime. This resulted in a fascinating item that can take action and also be displayed with flair using the deployable GUND-BITs.

The figure comes with a beam rifle as a standard armament, along a shield composed of GUND-BITs. When the shield is mounted (i.e., the GUND-BITs are not attached to the back), the rifle can be equipped on the back using the dedicated joint.
The shield can be disassembled in accordance with its specifications, and by replacing or adding special parts, GUND-BITs can be equipped to the shoulder, thigh, and arms, and "BIT-On-Form" can be reproduced.

The rounded head and large twin eyes that give the Gundam Aerial its characteristic look have also been sculpted with exquisite balance. The eyes have been painted metallic green, giving them a strong intensity from all angles. The neck can also be articulated in two places: on the main body and the head, allowing for delicate poses such as drawing the chin inwards and looking upwards to be made.

Designer: For the "looking upward" pose, we made several prototypes, including a split in the back of the head, and examined them. In the end, we managed to adjust the balance between the molding and mobility in a pleasing way.

Shell units on the head, chest, back, and thighs are also key to enhancing the feeling of the figure. The smoky clear sculpts have been slitted on the inside, giving the impression of a deeper mechanical inner structure.

· Movability

Let's begin with this pose to introduce the wide variety of articulation possibilities with THE ROBOT SPIRITS <SIDE MS> Gundam Aerial ver. A.N.I.M.E.!
There are mechanisms developed through the history of the ver. A.N.I.M.E. series incorporated throughout the body of the figure, enabling features such as "shoulders drawn in while holding the rifle," "hip joint extended to widen the range of motion," and more.​ ​ The structure of the figure allows for both basic and complex poses to be made.

The joint position and structure of the articulated joints have been reexamined especially for this Gundam Aerial, and this quest to attain pliable movement and human-like flexibility is a major feature of the new figure.

· Midsection

Bending the figure at upper part of the red block on its waist exposes the internal "back" and allows it to assume a forward bending posture. The silhouette of this figure will not break down when posing it bent, twisted, or warped. The intuitive ease of movability and playful feeling of this item is one of the key points to its fun.

· Thighs

The next unique feature is the lateral rolling axles on the thighs. Turning them to match the pose emphasizes the curved silhouette with its prominent thighs.

Designer: One of the challenges in creating an action figure of the Gundam Aerial, complete with its small skirt, was to both reproduce the concept artwork (i.e., no unnatural gaps in the hip joints) and to have a wide range of motion. The rolling thighs are structured to allow the legs to spread outward without significantly altering their appearance. This is the uniqueness of the Gundam Aerial, and we dedicated ourselves to achieving a level of perfection that rivals any other figure in the ver. A.N.I.M.E. series.

· Shoulders and Elbows

Like previous entries in the ver. A.N.I.M.E. series, the shoulders have a built-in retractable pull-out structure in the fuselage. Movements like raising the arms horizontally or bringing them in front of the chest are possible. In addition, by utilizing the two adjustable rolls (see below), the ball-jointed wrists, and the adjustable saber rack, you can even pose the Gundam drawing the beam saber from its back!

Designer: In order to allow the elbow joints to bend as shown in the concept artwork, and to allow the figure to be posed with its elbows bent, rolling parts have been added to the upper arms and forearms. Not only does this give the figure a greater range of motion, it also allows you to make more subtle and enjoyable poses with the arms.

· Weapon and Actions

By using the dedicated joint parts, the two Bit Staves in the lower center of the shield can be attached to the muzzle of the beam rifle to turn it into a long-barreled rifle.
Three translucent blue effect parts are also included: One for the beam rifle and two for the beam saber.

When combined, the shield uses dedicated parts. The recessed joint and grip on the left forearm allows it to maintain a firm hold a while retaining its shape. The BIT-On-Form ball joints on the back of 7 of the 11 Bit Staves allow for the GUND-BITs to move along with the pose, and they do not interfere with the wide range of motion described above.

· GUND-BIT Deployment

The Gundam Aerial's greatest feature, the deployable GUND-BITs, is recreated using a set of transparent display parts. The base of the support part is mounted on the back of the Gundam Aerial. A total of 11 Bit Staves are attached to the triangular mounts at the end of the support.
In the images, the TAMASHII STAGE base is used, but the Gundam Aerial itself can also stand and be displayed on its own without using the TAMASHII STAGE base.

*When displaying for a long period of time, please remove all display parts or use the TAMASHII STAGE to support the props and prevent them from falling over.

The downward-facing protruding joint at the base of the support corresponds to the recessed base of the TAMASHII STAGE. The TAMASHII STAGE support can be inserted on top of it, further expanding the variety of GUND-BIT deployments!
The six supports, the base of the triangular mount, and the rear side of the GUND-BIT that made up the shield have ball joints that allow the angles to be fine-tuned. The supports are also crafted with curved lines that resemble the trajectory of the GUND-BITs, allowing you to recreate all kinds of attack and defense scenes just as you imagined them.

Designer: We tried to make sure that the legs didn't just bend during the action, but that they also had beautiful outlines. The ankles have ball joints, and can be rolled to the left and right. This makes them very flexible, even when kneeling down on the ground. The set comes with 5 kinds of interchangeable gripping hands, including 2 kinds of open hands with different gestures. You can enjoy both daring and subtle poses.

Here's a tip on how to display the GUND-BITs with a dynamic and unified look.
Of the six supports, attach three of them to the left or right side of the Gundam Aerial, then cross them over to the other side and deploy them. (In the above images, the three pillars are attached to the right side of the Gundam Aerial's back, and the GUND-BIT are deployed on its left side.) This creates a beautiful curve in the supports, and the distance between the Gundam Aerial and the GUND-BITs are perfectly balanced.

If you add one more support, you'll have 12 triangular mounting points, letting you deploy all 11 GUND-BITs at once! We hope you give it a try!

In stores, the packaging features the Gundam Aerial holding a beam rifle with the GUND-BITs on its back!

THE ROBOT SPIRITS THE ROBOT SPIRITS <SIDE MS> GUNDAM AERIAL ver. A.N.I.M.E. is released on November 18, 2022.

>> Click here for the "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" special page!

From November 18–20, 2022, TAMASHII NATION 2022 will be held in-person in Akihabara for the first time in three years. The latest product information for "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" will be revealed!

＞＞TAMASHII NATION 2022 Event Page

©創通・サンライズ・MBS

*The images shown in this article are of a prototype. The finished product may differ.
*TAMASHII STAGE ACT MECHANICS (hereafter referred to as "TAMASHII STAGE") in the article is sold separately.
*This article is not intended to reproduce the contents or imagery of the anime.