Note that the official English names (and spelling) of these new designs are yet to be revealed. So they might change as more details are revealed.
Shizouka Hobby Show 2025 has finally opened, or at least for retailers, and we have the first wave of upcoming kit reveals from various manufacturers. For Bandai Spirits’ Hobby Division, I’m looking mainly into their 1/144 scale offerings and there are several kits I’m really interested, so let’s check these out.
Mobile Suit Gundam Eight
One of the more interesting projects announced to some out soon is the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Eight. Set in an entirely different continuity, it tells the story of a post-apocalyptic Earth where following the devastation, only 258 humans and a lone Gundam remain. The manga is slated to start on June 26 and the new hero machine has been revealed: the Gundam Zilius.
Along the reveal is the announcement that we are getting an HG Gundam Zilius kit and is currently on display at Shizouka Hobby Show.
Compared to Gundam GQuuuuuuX which takes mobile suit designs in an unorthodox direction, Gundam Eight is much more aligned to what we’re used to seeing, but still looks unique when compared to its contemporaries. Some notables from this display are the use of translucent plastic for some parts, including the protruding ones at the back.
Taking a closer look provides a better view of the parts separation for this kit. The color layout is mostly white with the usual tri-colors seen in the torso, and it seems like they will look like this out of the box. I’m especially looking at those shoulder and forearm vents which usually require painting so having them in accurately-colored plastic is much appreciated.
I am quite curious with the attention given to Gundam Eight which includes the release of this kit. This isn’t totally out of left field, though, since Bandai Spirits did dig deeper into more obscure fiction with the recent HG D Gundam First from Double Fake: Under the Gundam manga. Unfortunately, this also meant that the HG Gundam Zilius is a Premium Bandai exclusive.
HG 1/144 Gundam Zilius
TBD / ¥2,700
Premium Bandai Exclusive
Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury: Vanadis Heart
Still on manga titles, Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury: Vanadis Heart also got a new Gundam reveal recently with Gundam Nion.
Based on the name alone, Gundam Nion doesn’t appear to be a Gundam Lfrith offshoot though it definitely has the distinct characteristics of a GUND-ARM mobile suit. Despite being a gray prototype, we can easily surmise the shell units on the torso, shoulders, and the top of the legs. It also has a more muscular aesthetic when compared to the relatively feminine aesthetic of the Gundams developed by the Vanadis Institute.
Not much is really known of this mobile suit, or model kit, though I’ve read some speculation online regarding some similarities with the Gundvölva, particularly with the design of the torso shell unit. In any case, my decision to purchase or pass on this kit will likely depend on its color scheme. Until then, we can only speculate; but we are sure that this is going to be another Premium Bandai exclusive.
HG 1/144 Gundam Nion
TBD / ¥3,000
Premium Bandai Exclusive
Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS: Urdr Hunt
It’s been a while since the announcement of Urdr Hunt being turned into an animated production. Though it might be closer than we think following two new Gunpla reveals. One is the oddly-named Monkey Rodi and the other is Gundam Zagan,
While I didn’t play Urdr Hunt, and I’m just looking at all the animated cut scenes online, it looks like Gundam Sagan is the final boss that Wistario fights in the story. It’s significant feature are the pair of Shild Plier Units mounted on its back. They are both offensive and defensive weapons with each able to open and reveal large crab-like claws that can crush enemy mobile suits.
We only have a gray prototype on the show floor, but they did release a colored CG render of what hopefully would be the final colors. Gundam Zagan is mostly black and lighter gray which doesn’t look too evil but is fitting for a final boss mobile suit. Outside of this render, no release dates have been provided.
HG 1/144 Gundam Zagan
TBD
Premium Bandai Exclusive
Entry Grade Wing Gundam
This reveal would’ve been a surprise if not for a leaked listing in some Canadian online store a month or so ago. In any case, acting as an engineering opposite for the RG Wing Gundam Zero this September is the Entry Grade Wing Gundam.
At this point, we’re starting to stretch the boundaries of clever parts engineering near-complete color accuracy with the fewest of actual parts. Most will likely compare this to the HGAC and this kit does some things better. Like the gray shoulder machine cannons for the Entry Grade while it’s in the same blue for the HGAC. The gray sections in the crotch area are also in gray while the HGAC would require paint on the top section.
That said, being an Entry Grade would mean construction techniques not to everyone’s cup of tea. Case in point using C-clips for joints which some have reported to loosen over time. I believe that’s easily fixable, but in case absolutely hate C-clips, then you might as well stay away. We’ve yet to confirm if this kit will have a Bird Mode transformation as well.
2025 is the 30th anniversary of Gundam Wing so it would make perfect sense for the RG Wing Gundam Zero and Entry Grade Wing Gundam be released consecutively.
Entry Grade 1/144 Wing Gundam
October 2025 / ¥1,000
HG White Gundam
Last in this list is the HG White Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX and we finally have release information for this kit. I was initially speculating if it will be included with the five pre-order placeholders opened some months ago. And given how these placeholders were for to-be-revealed mobile suits, it wouldn’t make sense for the White Gundam to remain hidden. It also means most of my preorders for those placeholders were eventually cancelled.
Besides colors the White Gundam won’t have the Alpha Psycommu parts attached to the sides of the head unit of the Red Gundam. It will also come with a Beam Rifle and Hyper Bazooka which, appears to be excluded from the Red Gundam.
In any case, several GQuuuuuuX kits will have a December 2025 release. I know the timing is odd, but it does stretch the model kit line to the end of the year, especially for a series whose currently runtime is only at 12 episodes, with “currently” being the operative word. It’s also a regular retail release, thank god. I do hope they’d also do the 01 Gundam and I would completely understand if that would be Premium Bandai.
HG 1/144 White Gundam
December 2025 / &2,200
And of course, there’s the highlight from Bandai Spirits’ booth, the PG Unleashed Nu Gundam, as well as the next retail Master Grade release, MG Gundam Barbatos Lupus. I only collect 1/144 scale Gunpla though so I don’t have any particular thoughts on these kits. But I am much aware that many are excited with these announcements.
