The Gundam Build series has announced that a new anime series, "Gundam Build Metaverse," will be produced in 2023. But have you seen "Gundam Build Divers," the previous work to "Gundam Build Metaverse"? The Gundam Build series is generally unconnected in story to its predecessor, meaning that you can enjoy it even if you haven't seen the previous work. However, if you're thinking of starting to watch this new series, it might be a good idea to watch the previous work first. Settings and worldviews other than the story are carried over to the next work, so watching the previous work will help you enjoy the next one smoothly. So, in this article, I'd like to introduce "Gundam Build Divers," the previous work to this current "Gundam Build Metaverse." If you're a Gundam fan looking to fully enjoy "Gundam Build Metaverse," be sure to check it out!
Sequel to Gundam Build Fighters
"Gundam Build Divers" is a sequel to "Gundam Build Fighters." "Gundam Build Fighters" depicts Gunpla battles, where Gunpla are used in repeated battles, and its sequel, "Gundam Build Divers," continues the same worldview.
There is no story connection
However, although it is a sequel, "Gundam Build Divers" has no story connection to "Gundam Build Fighters." Therefore, "Gundam Build Divers" can be enjoyed even if you haven't seen the previous work.
Works that are easy for beginners to enjoy
Thus, while the Gundam Build series continues the worldview of its predecessors, it's designed to be enjoyable even for those who haven't seen the previous installments. Because it's aimed at beginners who primarily enjoy Gunpla, it's easy to enjoy.
Online Game-Style Combat
Like its predecessor, Gundam Build Fighters, Gundam Build Divers depicts Gunpla battles. However, unlike its predecessor, this one features simulated battles similar to an online game, rather than actual Gunpla battles.
Similar to "Plamo Kyoshiro"
Speaking of Gunpla simulation battles, this has a similar setting to "Plamo Kyoshiro," a hugely popular manga that also boasts a landmark Gunpla battle theme.
Online VR Game
As such, this work depicts a simulation battle in cyberspace, so it's basically similar to the currently popular "online VR game."
Players are "Divers"
While this is essentially a VR game, the players who participate in Gunpla battles in this setting are called "Divers," which makes the experience feel a little different from playing a regular game. In this way, this anime offers even more insight into how cyberspace will be utilized in the near future than VR games envisioned at the time.
It's the Metaverse
As you can see, the Divers who enjoy Gunpla battles in the cyberworld of this work appear to be enjoying a wider range of cyber content than we might imagine in a VR game. This anime itself aired in the late 2010s, a time when the term "metaverse" didn't even exist. However, if it had aired today, when the term has become more widely used, wouldn't the cyberworld of this work have also been described as the Metaverse?
Introducing the Mobile Suits Featured in Divers
Following this introduction to the world and setting of this series, I'd like to introduce the diverse range of mobile suits featured in this work. The appeal of the Gundam series is, after all, the unique mobile suits that appear throughout the series, so be sure to take a look at the mobile suits featured in this work.
Gundam 00 Diver
The Gundam 00 Diver is the mobile suit used by the protagonist Riku in this work. This mobile suit is based on the 00 Gundam that appears in Gundam 00, with the protagonist making repeated improvements. The basic color and basic shape remain largely unchanged, with the only obvious difference being the slightly different head parts. The design of the 00 Gundam was already quite complete, so this level of adjustment is just right.
GM III Beam Master
The GM III Beam Master is used by Yukio, the partner of the protagonist Riku. While the GM series of mobile suits is mass-produced by the Federation Forces and often lacks appeal, the GM III is unique in that its design has been highly praised and it has become an extremely popular suit. As a result, the GM III Beam Master, a custom version of the highly popular GM III, has also received very high praise, making this suit a relatively successful one, even among the GM series of mobile suits that tend to be overlooked.
Momoka Kapul
The Momoka Kapul is used by the heroine of this work, Momoka. The name Momoka Kapul is a combination of the Kapul from Turn A Gundam and the heroine Momoka. In Turn A Gundam, this mobile suit's Zeon-esque monoeye gave it an eerie appearance, but after being modified by Momoka, whose motto is "cute is justice," it has been transformed into a second mobile suit with a cute design.
Galbady Rebake
This Galbady Rebake is used by Koichi, a regular character who serves as a member of Riku's team. The Galbady is a mobile suit from around the time of the One Year War, but it has never actually appeared in the anime. Rather, it is merely a mobile suit that was active during the One Year War. Compared to the Galbady Beta, which later appears in Z Gundam and other works, it is a much more obscure mobile suit. That's why it's so exciting to see the Galbady appear in the anime, even if it's just a modified version.
RX-Zeromaru
The RX-Zeromaru appears as the mobile suit used by Aya, the other heroine of the series. This mobile suit is an SD Gundam plastic model of the Unicorn Gundam, the protagonist's mobile suit, and features a deformed appearance. Fans seeing SD Gundam for the first time may be surprised, but the appearance of a plastic model like this, completely different from previous designs, shows the breadth of Gunpla's appeal.
A wide variety of Gunpla, including SD Gundam, are featured
As such, the mobile suits featured in this work span a wide range of eras, even within the Universal Century. Furthermore, a wide variety of Gunpla from various Gundam series, including Gundams from outside the Universal Century and SD Gundams, are featured.
Following the "All Gundam" theme
The "All Gundam" theme, featuring a wide variety of Gunpla, is firmly carried over from the previous series and is likely to continue in the next installment, "Gundam Build Metaverse." This is the perfect series for fans who want to see a wide variety of mobile suits in action.
Gunpla construction details
In addition to the diverse mobile suits, this work also features core Gunpla content that only Gunpla fans will understand, making it a work that can be enjoyed by both casual fans who want to enjoy the world of this work casually, and hardcore Gunpla fans who have enjoyed Gunpla to the fullest.
Enjoy the wide variety of mobile suits unique to the Gundam series
And above all, the greatest appeal of the Gundam series is the wide variety of mobile suits designed across various eras, thanks to its long history. Since such a wide variety of mobile suits has been introduced over such a long period of time, it's no wonder you'd want to enjoy these unique mobile suits once again.
A masterpiece that builds on the legacy of its predecessor while further expanding upon it
As such, this anime brings out the full potential of Gundam models' various charms. Even Gundam casual fans who "haven't watched the Gundam series anime but love building Gundam models" will find this a work that's sure to be enjoyable, so be sure to check it out.
Before watching "Gundam Build Metaverse"!
This year, 2023, marks the release of the latest installment in the Gundam Build series, "Gundam Build Metaverse." While the story itself is unconnected, we highly recommend watching the previous series, "Gundam Build Divers," to enjoy the many fascinating mobile suits that have appeared so far.
Summary
What did you think? This article introduced "Gundam Build Divers," the series that precedes "Gundam Build Metaverse," which will air in 2023. The mobile suits that appear in this work are just as popular as those in the original Gundam Build Fighters, so be sure to check out Gundam Build Fighters!
