The fourth generation of World Champions is crowned! See our "GBWC 2014 World Championship Awards Ceremony" event report!

The world championship round of Gunpla Builders World Cup 2014, Bandai's official Gunpla-building contest, was held Sunday, December 21st at Gundam Front Tokyo in Odaiba, Tokyo.

A total of 24 entries representing 13 countries, 11 in the Junior Course and 13 in the Open Course, were in the running for this year's laurels. At a ceremony again hosted by Katsumi Kawaguchi of Bandai Hobby and voice actress Haluna Ikeda, Bandai President, CEO, and Chief Gundam Officer Kazunori Ueno offered the following greeting, speaking of the fourth championship's entries: "Each year, this event becomes more significant to Gunpla fans around the world, and to us at Bandai. The opportunity to share perspectives combines with an extremely high-level competition in technical quality."
He also touched on the currently-airing Gundam Build Fighters Try with a comment to Gunpla builders worldwide: "We at Bandai hope you'll continue to enjoy building Gunpla just as much as the characters in the show."

▲BANDAI Co., Ltd. President, CEO, and Chief Gundam Officer Kazunori Ueno

Fashion model and celebrity Maggy also made an appearance. Commenting on Gundam and Gunpla, she said: "I'm familiar with the enthusiasm that not just Japan, but the whole world, has for Gundam. While I've never built a Gunpla kit, I have fond memories of watching my father and little brother build them together when he was a young boy."
She also mentioned the competition itself: "Seeing entries from 13 countries together in one place drives home even more the appeal of Gundam and Gunpla. The more I look at these entries, the more the fine detail makes it seem like they could move on their own. I'd love to take them home and watch them to see if they will."

▲Maggy, in a glamorous kimono

Then, finally, it was time to announce the Junior Course and Open Course winners of the fourth Gunpla Builders World Cup! Let's take a look at the winners in both categories, as well as the entries chosen for special awards from cosponsors Kai Corporation, Seven-Eleven Japan Co. Ltd., and Sumitomo Mitsui Card Co., Ltd.!

■ Junior Course (ages 14 and under)

"The construction and composition of these entries is on such a high level that one could easily take them for Open Course entries.
I can't wait to see what amazing creations these competitors will come up with in the future when they enter the Open Course."
(Toshiaki Baba, Bandai Hobby)


■ Open Course (ages 15 and up)

"This year was, again, extremely difficult to narrow down. As a celebration of 'the infinite possibility of Gunpla', it seems unfortunate to have to choose a single winner. This piece, especially, impressed with its originality and unique worldview, expressed through the use of Zeon parts. However, competition was extremely close; the other entries were a hair's-breadth away from the prize. Seeing these pieces is inspirational. It's given me an idea I'd like to try building as soon as I get home tonight."
(Hobby Japan Editor Seiji Okamura)

"This isn't my first year judging, but it is my most difficult. Each year, I have an acute sense of just how much the entries have continued to improve.
I could easily accept any of these three pieces as the champion, but the one which ended up on top in particular shows a flexibility of ideas and creativity unchecked by the standard limits of Gunpla. My eye was also drawn at first to the 'SDF' markings, and to imagining that a U.C. Japan would indeed field machines like this in its SDF."
(Dengeki Hobby Magazine editor Manabu Kimura)

"The variety is even richer this year, full of entries which can't be judged on construction and painting alone, so it was difficult to choose. That isn't to say I'm not impressed with the quality of the top entries, though."
(Model Graphix Editor Tomoyasu Furuya)



■ Cosponsor Awards

The entries for GBWC 2014, the fourth Gunpla Builders World Cup, reached new peaks of technical mastery and unique creativity.

As the awards ceremony drew to a close, it was announced that Gunpla Builders World Cup 2015 would be held in 2015, the 35th Anniversary of Gundam. Take a good look at this year's entries, and start brewing up your own ideas for a build that could take you all the way to the championship in 2015!

▲From left: Mr. Kazunori Ueno, Ms. Haluna Ikezawa, Mr. Ji Hoon An, Mr. Andy Wong, Maggy, Meijin Kawaguchi

A recording of the livestream is available at the GBWC2014 official site. Don't miss it!


■ "GBWC2014 World's Best" on display at Gundam Front Tokyo!
The GBWC2014 World Championship entries will be on display at Gundam Front Tokyo in Odaiba, Tokyo through January 7th, 2015.

The "Mobile Suit Gundam 35th Anniversary" exhibit in Gundam Front Tokyo's Museum Space has also been updated as of December 19th, with new Gundam Reconguista in G features including the first Japanese appearance of the 1/10 Gundam G-Self, interviews with creators Akira Yasuda and Ippei Gyoubu, and more.

It's a great time to visit Gundam Front Tokyo!

▲The exhibition for the currently airing "Gundam Reconguista in G" is a must-see!

▲Posters for Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin, in select theaters February 28th, were on display too!