2024年04月26日

A short history.

Gundam Seed is one of the anime series I watched that turned me into an “anime otaku”.

I grew up watching Cartoon Network and Disney channel until Animax came and it’s funny how perfect the timing was – from watching Disney Channel in 6th grade to watching Animax in first year of high school. While Animax solidified my passion for anime, it was AXN (Ranma 1/2) and Cartoon Network/Toonami (Gundam Seed, Digimon Frontier, Beyblade, Pokemon, Crush Gear) who helped paved the way.

Honestly, Gundam Seed for me is as special as Digimon Frontier. Both are my debut series to Gundam and Digimon respectively. Although I’ve seen a few episodes of Gundam Wing, I was more attached to Gundam Seed probably because I was able to watch the pilot episode at the right time. Streaming online isn’t really possible back then with ✨dial-up connection✨ y’know. I remember so clearly how I stayed up late just to watch an episode and then feeling miserable whenever I skipped one because of classes or some random family gathering. Oh, how I miss those times when not being able to watch an episode of my favorite anime was my biggest problem.

Apparently, my cousin is also a big fan of anime who made a great influence to me back then with all things weeb (games, manga and anime). There was a time when he lent me his Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny DVDs and even gave me a CD burned copy of Gundam Seed OSTs – something that never really left my weeb playlist!

Fast forward to 2024, a movie sequel, Gundam Seed Freedom, is finally released and as an Asucaga (referring to Athrun and Cagalli shipping) fan, I felt like I’ve been deprived of their closure for nearly 2 decades. While I wait for the local movie release, I decided to watch the remastered version of GS and GSD with a deeper understanding and this time, it made me appreciate the series even more. All of a sudden, my love for this series is back and easily one of my top 10s. While GSD is still and did Cagalli and Athrun dirty, some scenes are just giving goosebumps in a good way and you can’t really skip those amazing opening and ending songs by T.M. Revolution and Nami Tamaki despite the unnecessary bouncing boobies in the background.

Honestly, I was too young back then to understand the concept of war (I was only in it for the animation and hoping my fave characters survive and be happy) so seeing it as an adult now with a different perspective makes me feel like I’m watching it again for the first time.

So yep, now that this Gundam Seed passion is once again alive and kicking, I wanted do something that I always want to try as a collector and that is to FINALLY build a Gunpla!

RG Strike Freedom ✨

While I’m an Asucaga simp, my favorite Gundam pilot will always be Kira “Jesus” Yamato and favorite Gundam – the Freedom / Strike Freedom. I always wanted to get a model of Strike Freedom so there’s no better option but to debut with my favorite Gundam. A few research here and there and I ended up choosing Bandai’s RG (Real Grade) 1/144 scale Strike Freedom.

“But the old RG is soooo wobbly and difficult to pose” – yes, yes I know! I honestly had enough of articulated figures (gave up most of my Figma collection) so I’m only after one thing – THE BEAUT. There is no doubt that despite the scale, RG Strike Freedom is one of the best-looking gundams out there and y’all can’t change my mind.

I remember seeing on a forum that when choosing your first gunpla, it had to be something that you really like – so I did. I didn’t want to mess up and wanted to craft this baby with love and care so the first thing I did is to make sure I had the proper tools to start.

BUILDING GUNPLA IS SUPRISINGLY VERY FUN.

I was overwhelmed at first, but the process gets easier as you go through it. I don’t know the best way to describe it but it’s like channeling your inner self who wanted to be an engineer. 😆

The most painful part is definitely adding the decals because of its small scale – but it’s more of a love-hate relationship for me.

Did I enjoy it? Very. Will I build another one? Well, I got my boy RG Justice here next and planning to get RG Destiny after (Shinn and I made amends after his good deeds on Gundam Seed Freedom lmao).

I also heard there is an RG AKATSUKI GUNDAM coming soon and I can’t wait to get my hands on that one (for my kween Cagalli! ✨)

RIP weeb funds.