Written by Hideki Ohwada Demographic Seinen Volumes 14 Studio Sunrise | Original run 2001 – present Directed by Mankyū | |
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Genres Comic novel, Mecha, Science Fiction Similar Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Mudazumo Naki Kaikaku, Sabagebu!, Tokyo ESP | ||
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.
Contents
The manga has spawned an anime adaptation by Sunrise. The TV series of animated shorts was broadcast on the BS11 network from July 6, 2014 to September 28, 2014.
Overview
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 Gundam Sousei (ガンダム創世), which dramatizes the story of the creation of the Gundam franchise and features Yoshiyuki Tomino as well as other staff and cast members.
Publication
Gundam-san began as a fan created yonkoma series on Ohwada's personal website 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; in the magazine Kerokero Ace; and in the 4-Koma Nano Ace from 2011. The fist collected volume was released on August 24, 2005 and the latest—the 14th—was released on April 26, 2016.
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. Its collected volume was released on January 22, 2009. 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. 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. 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.
Additionally, a box of mini books and goods about the character Comet Chick was released on July 24, 2007. Also, a fanbook, which included a special story, was released on February 24, 2010.
Anime adaptation
The 13-episode TV anime adaptation was broadcast from July to 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.
Reception
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, while volume 5 ranked ninth, and volume 6 reached the sixth place. Volumes 7, 8 and 9 also reached the chart but at 15th, 29th and 36th place respectively.
The anime DVD and Blu-Ray reached the Oricon's list at the 23th and 16th place respectively.