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--Please tell us about the "METAL BUILD KÄMPFER," for which orders are now being accepted.
Suzaki: First of all, METAL BUILD is a brand that follows the trend of CHOGOKIN, and is characterized by the design arrangements of designers and creators. Furthermore, by using die-casting for the joints of CHOGOKIN, the brand values the weight and texture. In addition, most of the armor is painted, making it a popular series with a texture not found in ordinary three-dimensional objects and a sense of awesomeness as a finished product.
--Compared to the Gundam units from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Mobile Suit Gundam 00, KÄMPFER is a fairly rare lineup, isn't it?
Suzaki: This is the first METAL BUILD series to have a "One Year War" mobile suit (MS) in 3D. We hope that even those who have never touched METAL BUILD before will get their hands on it. Up until now METAL BUILD has often dealt with content for relatively young users, but this time it is an MS from the "One Year War", which has a particularly core fan base among Universal Century items. We made this product with the idea of proposing that "You can make a One Year War machine into METAL BUILD in this kind of "shape", including as a trial for the Collectors Division's product creation.
--Of all the mobile suits from the One Year War, why did you choose KÄMPFER?
Suzaki: As it is a prototype, it is close to a personal MS, but it also has the atmosphere of a mass-produced machine. But it is a little different from the mass-produced Zaku. It is not a dedicated machine like Char's, but the pilot is limited. I think it is a machine with a very strong personality. It is a machine that is packed with unique charm, especially in the lineage of Zeon military MS, including its very unique form. It is not too general-purpose, but not too special, and I thought it was a very attractive machine. It was developed with an arrangement that is deeper, more serious, and one step closer to the military than Universal Century MS. Of course, KÄMPFER is a machine with "flower", so I asked KÄMPFER to take on the role of the first One Year War MS unique to METAL BUILD.
▲The MS KÄMPFER that appeared in the OVA "Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket." It annihilated the Earth Federation's Scarlet Corps in just a few minutes, and then went on to fight a fierce battle with the Gundam NT-1.
--When did the planning begin?
Suzaki: It all dates back to the 2019 event "METAL BUILD ∞ -Metal METAL BUILD Infinity-". At the time, with the 10th anniversary of METAL BUILD just around the corner, the team was discussing how to deliver the brand to users, and the name of KÄMPFER came up.
--Last year, KÄMPFER was exhibited as a concept model at the event "TAMASHII NATION 2022," right?
Suzaki: It seems that everyone was surprised because it was a lineup that was different from previous METAL BUILD and it was a sudden exhibition. In a sense, being surprised was the main purpose of our proposal of KÄMPFER, and I think the key is whether that surprise can be turned into emotion. First of all, I hope that you can feel its charm by looking at the product photos.
▲The METAL BUILD KÄMPFER was announced at the event "TAMASHII NATION 2022." From there, it was further refined in preparation for commercialization.
--This time, KÄMPFER 's mecha designer, Izubuchi Yutaka, is in charge of supervision.
Suzaki: Mr. Izubuchi gave me the task of "reality." He said that he especially wanted the colors to be realistic. Rather than an approach based on the toy, such as "a metallic feel like CHOGOKIN," he asked me what color the machine would be if it actually existed. The machine depicted in the film in the movie is Mr. Izubuchi's KÄMPFER, and he said, "I don't want to add or subtract anything from it." When thinking about a realistic metallic feel, Mr. Izubuchi suggested painting the inside of the vernier with copper. On the other hand, there was also an image of a golden yellow color in the movie, so we made a two-tone golden yellow and copper. Since it was a finished toy, we proposed it by combining the symbols of the character.
--What do you think about recreating the design created by Izubuchi?
Suzaki: The more you follow Izubuchi's lines, the more interesting they become. People all over the world are following Izubuchi's lines in all sorts of directions, so to be honest, I don't know if this is the right answer for users. Still, as METAL BUILD team, it's an answer we can be proud of. I hope users will feel that way too.
--May I ask you about the points you are particular about?
SuzakiThere are three major points. The first is "diecast. Especially for those who do not usually touch finished toys, I would like them to feel the weight of die-cast and the texture that only METAL BUILD can provide. Actually, the soles of the feet are also made of die-cast. KÄMPFER The legs of item are larger than those of the Gundam type, and are made of the heaviest die-cast METAL BUILD ever. You will feel the weight of this product exactly METAL BUILD. This weight will give you an experience that will lead to a sense of texture, presence, and ultimately, satisfaction. I really believe that this product is a good entry point for fans of the first METAL BUILD.
-What's point number two?
Suzaki: It's the "reality" that Izubuchi-san mentioned. The usual METAL BUILD coloring can be "splendid", but this time it is especially expressing the sense of mass and presence, like "this armor is hard". I think it is quite rare to see METAL BUILD that is so particular about coloring to reproduce the texture. The so-called "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed" and "Mobile Suit Gundam 00 "METAL BUILD are relatively flashy in coloring, such as panel lines and silver lines, while also assuming realism, but the number of colors in KÄMPFER is by no means small. The legs are also painted in a different tone, and a lot of effort has been put into the number of painting processes. This is a bit of a trivial point, but I have the impression that most of the 3D models of Sturm Faust to date are molded in a single gray color, and many members on the floor assumed that it was completely gray, so I hope you will enjoy this Sturm Faust, which is painted green just like in the movie. No corners have been cut, with die-casting used for the weapons and shotgun shaft, so I don't think there are KÄMPFER that are as convincing as this one. It will also be on display at TAMASHII NATIONS STORE in Akihabara, so if you have the chance, please come and see it for yourself.
▲The armor is realistically divided and color-coded. The coloring of Sturm Faust is also a highlight.
-What's point number three?
Suzaki: "Design arrangement" and "ver. A.N.I.M.E.". This time, I wanted to give it two aspects: the definitive version of KÄMPFER, and a new KÄMPFER. The new one is METAL BUILD original chainmine rack.
▲The Chain Mine Rack is an original METAL BUILD equipment. It can be placed on your side or carried on your back with a fixed arm.
--This is a storage rack for the chain mines, a distinctive weapon of KÄMPFER.
SuzakiThe idea started with ......: In the play, the chainmine is dragged out of the truck, but if it is to be carried, the idea started with ....... Then, there was a discussion among the staff on how to carry it, and we arrived at the current design. We thought it would be interesting to be able to stand it on the floor as a display. Mr. Izubuchi said, "It looks cool, like a golf bag" (laughs). We also took product photos with the rack open, but what we envisioned was a scene where the chainmine is pulled out from the rack on the back and used as is. It is a whip-shaped weapon, so it was difficult to make it look good on display as a three-dimensional object. However, I thought it would make an active image if the rack was suspended on the back. I would like to suggest to users that they can enjoy it not only for storage, but also as a display item.
Of course, users who feel uncomfortable with the original armament do not have to use it. We believe that the original armament is only our interpretation. Of course, our main focus is to "firmly respect the original design created by Mr. Izubuchi.
▲The chain mine rack can be opened and closed. The fixing frame also has details.
--What about other ver. A.N.I.M.E.?
Suzaki: The rest is the suspension and deployment of the bazooka arm. The vernier also has an extension ver. A.N.I.M.E., and we place importance on the playability that can only be achieved with a finished product. However, we were careful not to make ver. A.N.I.M.E. too large, so that users would not think, "That's not it." It has a basic form, but we were conscious of "making it KÄMPFER that has never been seen before" while enjoying ver. A.N.I.M.E..
-What do you think about it being the definitive version?
Suzaki: This is the first time that KÄMPFER has been commercialized as a finished product of this size. As a "one-of-a-kind item," we have paid more attention than ever to how to add density to the realism appropriate to this size. Of course, there are plastic models, but to actually paint it or build a sample model is quite a high hurdle. We would love for everyone to experience a fully finished KÄMPFER for the first time as a mass-produced product.
--There are some parts that are being recreated for the first time in a three-dimensional form, such as the movable horns when the figure first appears in the movie.
Suzaki: In that sense, this time, it comes with a pedestal that allows you to display it in the low-altitude flying state that was so impressive in the movie! One of the staff on our team who is a fan of Izubuchi said, "I definitely want to recreate that." I'd love for people who like KÄMPFER to see it.
▲A special pedestal that allows you to display the aircraft in the low-altitude flying position seen in the movie. You can display it with all the equipment attached to it.
--Please tell us again about your favorite as the person in charge of planning.
Suzaki: The beauty of the verniers on the back. KÄMPFER 's back is lined with verniers, which I think is very unique. METAL BUILD in particular has a high quality vernier texture due to the coloring and materials, so it's unique and interesting. I'd like everyone to experience the uniqueness of the verniers gathered on the back as an assault MS.
--It seems like you can feel the specialness of it, both as an MS and as METAL BUILD.
Suzaki: I think that even for users who usually use METAL BUILD, this machine will feel strange. It is made with a completely different grammar from the stylish Gundams of the past, so I think you will enjoy a new side of it. In addition, I would like Gundam fans who don't usually touch finished products, such as users who mainly use plastic models, to try METAL BUILD this time.
--In a sense, it could be said to be a touchstone that will expand the possibilities of METAL BUILD in the future.
Suzaki: Yes, that's true. We're thinking about the lineup five to ten years into the future, and we're selecting item while imagining what kind of aircraft will be on the market in the future. We're all thinking about the lineup you're looking at now, and selecting items even further in the future, so we hope you'll all look forward to future developments.
--Finally, please give a message to all the users who will be purchasing KÄMPFER.
Suzaki: Of course, we are aware that it is a high-priced item, so all of our staff are working hard to make it as solid as possible. We all worked hard to earn your trust, so we hope that anyone who is interested will take this opportunity to try it out. It may sound a bit cliché, but it is a product that we can release with confidence, as it will be enjoyed by both existing and new users. It was a sudden unveiling as an "assault MS," but we hope everyone will enjoy it.
Atsuhiko Suzaki
■PROFILE
He belongs to the Collectors Division BANDAI SPIRITS. He is in charge of not only Gundam Series but also Evangelion series at METAL BUILD. In his career, he has worked on numerous robot figures other than METAL BUILD.
The image is for illustrative purposes only.
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