Gundam Build Divers
A VRMMO where Gunpla divers battle for glory.
Gundam Build Divers is a Japanese science fiction anime television series produced by Sunrise, serving as a spiritual successor to Gundam Build Fighters and the third series in the Gundam Build Series sub-series. It shifts focus from physical Gunpla model battles to a virtual reality massively multiplayer online game setting. The series premiered on TXN network stations in Japan on April 3, 2018.
Quick Facts
- Genre
- Mecha
- action
- science fiction
- Creator
- Hajime Yatate; Yoshiyuki Tomino
- Director
- Shinya Watada
- Producer
- Yosuke Takabayashi (TV Tokyo)
- Masakazu Ogawa
- ja
- 小川正和
- Writer
- Noboru Kimura
- Music
- Hideakira Kimura
- Company
- TV Tokyo
- Sotsu
- Sunrise
- Country
- Japan
Facts from the source article.
Plot
In the near future, the popularity of Gunpla leads to the creation of Gunpla Battle Nexus Online (GBN), a VRMMO where players upload themselves and their Gunpla to battle worldwide. The story follows 14-year-old Riku Mikami, an admirer of champion Kyoya Kujo, who plays GBN with friends Yukio and Momoka. After meeting a mysterious female Diver named Sarah, strange events unfold with the appearance of Mass-Divers, prompting Riku to form a Gunpla Diver group and face unforeseen forces.
Characters
Riku Mikami, voiced by Erik Scott Kimerer in English, is the 14-year-old leader of the Build Divers who idolizes champion Kyoya Kujo. His Gunpla evolves from the Gundam 00 Diver to the Gundam 00 Diver Ace, and after its destruction, he rebuilds it into the Gundam 00 Sky. Yukio Hidaka, Riku's classmate and best friend, pilots the GM III Beam Master and later the Jegan Blast Master. Momoka Yashiro, another classmate and soccer club member, becomes interested in GBN and builds the Momokapool. Sarah is a mysterious girl who joins the Build Divers without a Gunpla, later revealed to be an EL-Diver, an electronic lifeform created from Gunpla emotions within GBN's cyberspace. Her data is transferred to the Mobile Doll Sarah, allowing her to interact in the real world. Koichi Nanase, a veteran Gunpla builder formerly ranked third in the Japanese Gunpla Championship, joins the Build Divers piloting the Galbaldy Rebake after seeing Riku and friends rebuild his old Gunpla. Aya Fujisawa, also known as Ayame, is another member.
Production
The series was first teased in December 2017 under the working title Gundam Build Next Battle Project, with an official reveal at The Gundam Base Tokyo on February 2, 2018. Mecha designs were contributed by Kunio Okawara, Kanetake Ebikawa, Junya Ishigaki, Ippei Gyobu, Kenji Teraoka, Shinya Terashima, Takayuki Yanase, and Naohiro Washio. Mecha battles were directed by Masami Obari alongside animators Shinya Kusumegi and Sakiko Uda.
Media
The anime aired on TXN network stations from April 3, 2018, replacing Idol Time PriPara. Opening and ending themes for episodes 1-13 were Diver's High by Sky-Hi and Iris, while episodes 14-25 used Infinity by SWANKY DANK and Start Dash by Spira Spica. Music was composed by Hideakira Kimura. A prologue ONA, Gundam Build Divers Prologue, streamed at The Gundam Base Tokyo and on YouTube on February 2, 2018. The series was streamed on Sunrise's GundamInfo YouTube channel with English subtitles, and Bang Zoom Entertainment produced an English dub in 2018. Funimation streamed it on FunimationNow in North America from March 28, 2019. A sequel, Gundam Build Divers Re:Rise, premiered in October 2019 on the Gundam Channel. A sidestory manga, Gundam Build Divers Break, serialized in Gundam Ace from June 2018 to October 2019. The Gundam AGE II Magnum appeared in the 2018 PlayStation 4 game New Gundam Breaker. Merchandise was released under Bandai's Gunpla line and Robot Spirits figures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created Gundam Build Divers?
Gundam Build Divers was created by Hajime Yatate and Yoshiyuki Tomino.
When did Gundam Build Divers end?
Gundam Build Divers last aired on 25 September 2018.
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