Gundam is back, and this time, it’s taking center stage at one of the world’s biggest events.
The life-sized RX-78F00 Gundam, from the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime series, has been erected in Osaka in preparation for Expo 2025. Standing 16.7 meters (55 feet), the massive figure is part of the highly anticipated Gundam Next Future Pavilion.
The event is expected to draw millions of visitors from around the world, with the expo running from April to October 2025.
This statue is made from the same materials as the moving Gundam that stood at Gundam Factory Yokohama from 2020 to 2024. However, this new version will be stationary, posed in a kneeling position with one arm reaching toward the sky. This pose is meant to symbolize humanity’s aspirations for the future, tying in with the expo’s forward-looking themes.
The moving Gundam RX-78F00 was unveiled in 2020 as a life-sized, fully articulated robot based on the iconic machine from the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam anime series.
Built as part of Gundam Factory Yokohama, the humanoid robot symbolized Japan’s technological prowess and cultural influence.
The robot stood 18 meters tall, faithfully replicating the design of the fictional Gundam. It weighed about 25 tons, roughly as much as 10 average-sized cars. The mechanical design included realistic joints that mimicked human anatomy. With 24 degrees of freedom, the robot moved its arms, legs, head, and torso.
A combination of hydraulic systems, electric motors, and computer algorithms controlled its movements. It was intended to operate for about a year but went on until March 2024.
For more on the moving Gundam and other historic Japanese humanoid robots, check out the video below.