After fishing with the third brother Yu for an afternoon, Zhou Fangyuan returned to the manor.

He had just taken off his coat, and before he could drink a glass of water, the assistant who had been following him answered the phone and walked towards him with a gloomy face.

"Dong Zhou, Wanda refused. ”

"Refuse to le?"

Zhou Fangyuan was stunned for a moment, "Didn't you tell each other about our offer and conditions?"

He asked.

"I said it all, but the other party still refused. ”

The assistant said in a deep voice.

Zhou Fangyuan frowned, pondering in his heart.

He asked the people below to contact Wanda, and the reason was simple, to get the model rights of the Gundam series.

However, the other party has now refused.

This made him a little unhappy.

Gundam is a series of models that he has loved for many years since he was a child.

To introduce GUNPLA, we have to start with the early class, which was first released in June 80, 26 years ago, as the origin and ancestor of GUNPLA. At the time, the RX-78-2 Gundam, priced at 300 yen and with a ratio of 1:144, caused a sensation as soon as it was released. caused a lot of panic buying. Even the product is out of stock at the end. This shows how popular GUNPLA was in the market at the time.

The second model, the Red Comet, was released 2 months later due to the super popularity of the protagonist Char. Its models are also very popular.

In 1985, the anime Mobile Suit Z Gundam was broadcast, and in April of the same year, Bandai released a new model called the MSV series, so that the original mechs that did not appear on TV were modeled one by one. At the time, it was very popular with Gundam fans.

But throughout the eighties, the development of GUNPLA was spent in a steady way, and models were constantly introduced. But there is very little innovation. At the same time, in the classification and hierarchical division of the model. Bandai also did not make a clear systematic categorization. It's just a distinction based on different animation works...... Early GUNPLA models had different shortcomings in terms of appearance and articulation due to the lack of production technology and conservative design. In the case of the first 1144 Ancestor Gundam, it was basically monochrome. The joints are also simple duplex mechanisms. That is, the thigh is over the calf. So basically there is no classic POSE. And the whole model must be glued when combined. Compared with the adhesive-free card rod structure, it can be described as a world of difference.

But it was the first work of GUNPLA. The early models undoubtedly laid the foundation for the continued development of later GUNPLAs. It's this groundbreaking inheritance of the earlier models. So that today's players can enjoy PG, MG and other more perfect models.

Let's put it this way, throughout the eighties. GUNPLA is constantly groping for progress in the bud.

In March 1990, on the occasion of Gundam's 10th anniversary, Bandai debuted the HG series 1:144RX-78 Gundam, a model with a core fighter variant mechanism, a built-in skeleton with multi-color molding, and a combination that could be combined without the need for model glue. The styling was redesigned by the original designer, Kunio Okawara. Since then, HG has been an important part of the development of GUNPLA. It opened up a new situation for the GUNPLA market. Since then, HG has become a popular GUNPLA product. The scale has also expanded from 1:144 to 1:100 and even 1:60. At the same time, many works outside of UC have become the main trend of HG development.

In 1994, Bandai collaborated with HOBBYJAPAN to produce a new series of GUNPLAs. After nearly a year of planning, a new version of the GUNPLA with a scale of 1:100 was born.

This new version of the model, which is 1:100 scale, is named MG. The design concept is based on the goal of "the ultimate Gundam". It inherits the advantages of HG. The latest technologies and materials at the time were also applied. It was the most high-end GUNPLA of its time. As a result, the price of the MG was more than three times that of the first 1:100 GUNPLA released in 1980, reaching more than 2,500 yen.

The MG was an instant hit in the market, and when designing the MGZ Gundam, Bandai hired designer Katoki to work on it, achieving a perfect combination of perfect shape and a fully transformable mechanism. And it has been widely acclaimed. The subsequent MG series was mainly designed by KATOKI.

In 1998, Bandai developed a new model line, PG, with the goal of creating the perfect GUNPLA. This was the beginning of a new era in which GUNPLA was divided into three levels: Premium, Ultimate, and Perfect. The representative products of these three levels are HG-MG-PG.

PG is an improvement on MG's technology and is based on a ratio of 1:60. In addition, the whole skeleton has been made, and the precision has been greatly improved, and many difficult movements can be made. 33

Since MG and PG, models made from old shapes and new technologies, were very popular in the market, and Bandai introduced some popular models that were not cost-effective in MG and PG at a scale of 1:144, and was named HGUC because it was only produced for the UC series MS. Models that were difficult to make models in the past have also been rediscovered with the launch of HGUC.

The Premium Series series has always been a popular product for Bandai GUNPLA.

It has many members and categories, including EG, HG, HGUC and TV series, which is the most basic of the three levels and the longest span of products. By launching an early model, and after years of groping and development. By the end of the eighties, Bandai already had a series of relatively complete and mature model generation technologies. In the 90s, there was a growing call for the development of new class GUNPLAs. In 1990, the first 1:144 RX-78-100 was released, and its appearance pushed the development of GUNPLA to a new stage.

This 1144HG model was the first to introduce the linked ball joints, glue-free card sticks, and multi-color molding, and these innovations were the direction of MG and PG's future development, and it can be said that this RX-78-2 played a milestone role in the history of GUNPLA, and it became a specimen and model for future high-grade models.

For the next ten years. The HG model has been produced in a wide range of ways, including not only the 1:144 HGUC model based on the UC era, but also the mech that appeared in the Gundam Gaiden anime at various times throughout the 90s. For example, V Gundam series, 08MS Squad, Mobile Suit Gundam X, New Mobile Suit Gundam W Endless Waltz, Mobile Fighter G Gundam, etc. Since then, HG has become the most popular GUNPLA product. It has also become the most popular representative series of the advanced class of GUNPLA.

From the perspective of the model alone, the biggest difference between HG and MG and PG is that it is not constrained by proportion. The ratio of MG is set at 1:100 and that of PG is 1:60, but since the launch of HG, Bandai has continued to introduce models at various scales, ranging from 1:144 to 1:100 to 1:60 to 1:200 and 1:550.

HG though there is no limit to the proportion. There is a common feature, which is simplicity, the HG series is relatively simple to open the mold, and the color separation is relatively simplified. Usually a model has only five to ten panels.

Compared to MG, PG has many dozens of boards. The degree of production is also relatively simple. Very popular with fast food players. HG does not pursue the goal of research in details. Therefore, compared with MG and PG, the HG model has disadvantages such as low mobility and inaccurate appearance, and at the same time, HG does not have the gorgeous stickers and complex internal structure of MG and PG, and even the manual is very simple, just a few thin pages. But because of its low price, there is no shortage of adherents.

PS: The main work of HG is the GUNDAMSEED1144 series model. And the 1100, 160 scale model of SEED was not launched in HG form. Personally, it is estimated that Bandai was conceived after the MGPG. The ratio of HG is also limited to a certain range – i.e., 1144.

So, why did Zhou Fangyuan buy the copyright of Gundam? The reason is very simple, because the audience of Gundam is very large, and most of the legendary rubber guys are loyal fans of Gundam.

The Gundam series has a large audience in Fuso and Huaxia.

Actually, Gundam is not the ancestor of mechas.

Since the 1961 release of Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy established Fuso Animation's animation production system based on low cost and high interactivity, the number of Fuso animation works has increased exponentially. This trend reached its peak at the end of the 70s of the last century. However, although the production cost was greatly reduced, the content of the story at that time was obviously not satisfied with just being a sub-supply cultural carrier. Before the release of Mobile Suit Gundam, the second shock in the animation industry in 1979, many animations tried in different fields, and a work called "Super Electromagnetic Man Polugis V" became the key to a coup d'état in the Philippines in Southeast Asia.

The V-type Super Electromagnetic Man mainly tells the story of the alien planet "Bozam", people with horns are considered nobles, while people born without horns are untouchables, and they are destined to be slaves for the rest of their lives. With the ascension of the new ruler of Bozan, Zambagir, Pozan decided to invade the Earth to increase the number of slaves, and the story of five young people on Earth driving the superrobot Bolugis to fight against alien forces in order to protect the Earth. For the first time, the work combines the elements of super-powered robots with the Taiga drama, and through the life of a charismatic villain, Prince Heineel, it shows the rise and fall of the Bozan Star invasion of the earth, making people realize that the essence of war is brutal dictatorship.

And it is this anti-war and anti-dictatorship theme that made the animation widely praised as soon as it was released, and it is also known as the "Nagahama Trilogy" together with "Super Electromagnetic Man Kombharat V" and "Fighting General Demos" supervised by Tadao Nagahama.

Let's talk about Mobile Suit Gundam.

On February 22, 1981, Yuki Tomino issued the "Animation New Century Declaration" in front of the East Exit Plaza of Shinjuku Station: "We are here to declare the beginning of the era that we have opened up by animation, the beginning of a new century of animation. At the time, Tomino probably had no idea that the Mobile Suit Gundam, which he oversaw and symbolized a new era of animation, would later develop into an anime series with a history of 40 years and a profound impact on Fuso society.

In the 1970s, at that time, Fuso society generally believed that animation was still a product of a child's orientation. Although this stereotype began to be gradually reversed by works such as "Space Battleship Yamato" and "Lupin the Third", at that time, the robot anime that caused the trend was still a half-hour long episode like other anime.

Mobile Suit Gundam tells the story of how many years later, with the development of science and technology, long-term space migration has led to the evolution of humans with keen perception and strong mental strength, called "new humans". In 0079, the space colony residents declared independence into the Duchy of Zeon and declared war on the Earth Federation, and the story of the young hero Amuro Ray piloting a new type of mobile suit, the Gundam RX-78, to fight Zeon. The work reverses the traditional model of "good guys VS bad guys" in the past mechanical hero animation, and through the portrayal of different characters of two opposing political organizations, the characters are more realistic and closer to real life, which is also the first time to interpret space opera with an animation medium.

The screening of Mobile Suit Gundam elevated Fuso animation from a subculture to a subculture for young people, and announced to the world the arrival of Fuso as an anime powerhouse.

And the birth of such a masterpiece is naturally indispensable to the influence of the background of the times at that time.

After the Second World War, the capitalist camp led by the United States and Britain and the socialist camp led by the Soviet Union began a long arms race, which is known in history as the "Cold War". Fuso is one of the many small countries caught up in a silent battle that has lasted for half a century, caught between the two blocs.

The Second Middle East War, the Vietnam War, and especially the nuclear tests carried out by the two blocs from time to time in order to "flex their muscles" undoubtedly did not touch the sensitive nerves of the people of Fuso after the war. At that time, it was the era of space exploration, and the Apollo moon landing program, the International Space Station program, and the Star Wars declaration made the whole world participate in the boom of space exploration. Based on the highly contradictory international situation between the two groups and the environment of great space exploration, Gundam came into being.

Naturally, the influence of Mobile Suit Gundam does not need to be mentioned, and many famous scenes and famous memes that are still in use today come from this work. The Gundam series is a space epic that sets the stage in the vast space and unfolds the story through multiple forces, multiple characters, and multiple clues. He explores the fate and future of man and society, man and the world, and even all mankind. In fact, the theme not only echoed the international situation at that time, but also gave this series of endless vitality.

So Zhou Fangyuan wanted to get the model copyright of this anime, and the fundamental purpose was to take the opportunity to enhance the influence of the figure company under the Yuanfang Group, but he didn't expect that Bandai actually rejected him, which made him very unhappy.