Gundam – Retrenders

Gundam Thunderbolt Premiere & Concert at Anime NYC

July 18, 2017 by Ramon Angel Leave a Comment

ANIME NYC TO HOST PREMIERE & CONCERT FOR 2ND GUNDAM THUNDERBOLT MOVIE

Concert Will Feature Gundam Thunderbolt Composer Naruyoshi Kikuchi
NEW YORK, NY (July 18, 2017) – LeftField Media and SUNRISE Inc. today announced the inaugural Anime NYC festival will play host to the US premiere of Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower, the second film in the Gundam Thunderbolt series, and that this premiere will be accompanied by a live concert featuring the music of Gundam Thunderbolt led by composer Naruyoshi Kikuchi.

Anime NYC powered by Crunchyroll is a new Japanese pop culture convention launching November 17-19, 2017 in New York’s Javits Center, and it will bring fans together with creators and companies from across America and Japan. SUNRISE’s Gundam Thunderbolt premiere and concert will take place within Anime NYC on Sunday, November 19th.

Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower is a sci-fi story grounded in the warfare of today and uniquely brought to life by the music of Naruyoshi Kikuchi. One of Japan’s greatest jazz composers and musicians, Mr. Kikuchi is acclaimed at home in Japan and around the world, and no stranger to anime, he’s also the composer of the Lupin the Third: The Woman Called Fujiko Mine soundtrack and his saxophone can be heard in the music of Cowboy Bebop.

Mr. Kikuchi will appear at Anime NYC as an Official Guest, leading and performing in the Gundam Thunderbolt series concert, as well as speaking on panels and signing autographs.

Bandai Star Wars Plastic Model Kits

November 16, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Japanese toy company Bandai is known for their awesome Gundam snap-it plastic model kits. Now they introduce Star Wars Plastic Model kits. Bandai is using new technologies and toy manufacturing process to produce highly detailed snap-on Star Wars plastic model kits.

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Filed Under: Collectibles, Geeky, Toys Tagged With: Bandai, Bandai Japan, Gundam, model kits, plastic models, Rogue One, snap-on, Star Wars, stickers, toy models, x-wing

Gundam Virtual Reality Battle

September 2, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

What is it like to watch a battle between a giant Gundam Mobile Suit and Zaku? Well, Bandai Namco in Japan will take you there VR-style with there experimental VR Zone Project iCan in Odaiba. The Gundam VR attraction is located in the Divercity Tokyo Plaza shopping mall right next to the giant Gundam statue.

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Filed Under: Geeky, Otakudom, PopAsia, Tech Tagged With: anime, Bandai, Gundam, Gundam VR, mecha, mobile suit, Namco, robot, virtual reality, VR, Zaku

Custom LEGO Gundam RX-78-2 Mobile Suit

August 30, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I always find it amazing what LEGO builders can do with LEGO bricks. I remember as a kid buying those Bandai Snap-on Gundam models and this custom LEGO Gundam RX-78-2 Mobile Suit looks just like those model kits. This huge mecha unit is highly detailed with articulation built by LEGO builder JAN LEGO.

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Filed Under: Geeky, Otakudom, Toys Tagged With: Bandai, bricks, Custom Lego, Gundam, JAN LEGO, Lego, mecha, mobile suit, RX-78

Yummy Food @ the Gundam Cafe

January 27, 2016 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I’ve been to Tokyo several times, but have never traveled to Osaka. Now I have a bucket list item to do, travel to Osaka for Gundam Square and eat some food at the Gundam Cafe. I’m not the most hardcore Gundam fan in the world, but I do like many of the animations and bought lots of the snap-on model kits as a kid. But what I really want to do is eat the “anime inspired” food!

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Filed Under: Food, Otakudom, PopAsia Tagged With: anime, Bandai, cafe, Gundam, Gundam Square, Japan, manga, models, Osaka, rice, robots, toys

Japan: Gundam Silverware

November 3, 2015 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

In Japan’s Ishikawa Prefecture is famous for Kutani-ware, which is a traditional porcelain style of bowls, plates, cups and chopsticks. To celebrate the 360th anniversary, the Kutani ceramic art style combines with futuristic Mobile Suit Gundam robots on sale for at Premium Bandai online and later at Gundam Cafes.

More from FanimeCon 2014!!!

June 20, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Here’s more videos from FanimeCon 2014! Interview with Hayashi from Akai Sky an indie-American Jrock band.

FanimeCon 2014

May 28, 2014 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

I’m kinda of still recovering from the 4-day anime extravaganza in NorCal – FanimeCon 2014. In the coming weeks ahead, our Ramen & a Half team of Eddie, Ramon and Jonelle will bring us video highlights, recaps, interviews and everything in between from FanimeCon. Look for it on our website here on Retrenders and our Retrenders YouTube Channel.

Kidrobot DamGun ‘Bots

September 29, 2013 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

The Ramen crew visited Kidrobot SF for the release of the DamGun ‘Bots. If you’re a Gundam fan or just an anime mech-head, then you might like these ‘Bots. Kidrobot pays homage to these plastic snap-on model kits with their own DamGun ‘Bots.

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Filed Under: Otakudom, Ramen and a Half, Toys Tagged With: 'Bots, DamGun, Gundam, KidRobot, plastic model kit, snap-on, vinyl

Giant Gundams drop by Hong Kong’s Times Square

August 21, 2013 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

Image via Gundam.Info – Gundam Docks at Hong Kong

This past summer 2013 Bandai H.K. and Times Square presented Gundam Docks at Hong Kong Exhibition. This is one of biggest Gundam showcases outside of Japan. The Gundam Exhibtion runs through September 1st, 2013. So, if you’re on the Hong Kong island side, stop by Times Square to see the large diorama. Take the MTR and stop at Causeway Bay station!

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Filed Under: Geeky, Otakudom, PopAsia, Toys Tagged With: anime, Bandai, Causeway Bay, exhibtion, Gundam, Hong Kong, Japan, MTR, robots, Times Square, Zaku

Custom Munny Valkyrie VF-1J

May 29, 2013 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

The Ong-brothers from the Philippines are well-known as Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica where they customize Munnies, like Gundam robots and superheroes. Here’s their latest creation – the Valkyrie VF-1J MegaMunny.

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Filed Under: Collectibles, Otakudom, Toys Tagged With: Gundam, Macross, Mega Munny, Munny, Ong, Rick Hunter, Robotech, Rotobox Vinyl Anatomica, RVA, VF-1J, Voltron

Suidobashi Heavy Industry – KURATAS

July 31, 2012 by Stephen Jang Leave a Comment

My fellow Retrenders writer SW biko likes his Hyundai Elantra Zombie Survival car, but I will take this from Japan – the KURATAS:

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Filed Under: Geeky, Otakudom, Tech Tagged With: Batmobile, Gundam, Japan, Kuratas, mecha, robot mecha, Suidobashi Heavy Industry, tech

Gundam Inspired Streetwear is Coming!

April 10, 2012 by Stephen Jang 1 Comment

This ain’t for cosplayers but for the street & urban wear cool people.

Bandai recently announced it’s opening Strict G stores around Japan which sells men’s apparel inspired by the Gundam world. Basically Bandai is getting into the wacky and tough streetwear business. At least they will be getting it right by first doing some collabs with top urban wear companies like Alpha and Swans.

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