AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal

Release 2011. 10

Price ¥600

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

Box open

The box is quite flashy-looking.

Runner shots

True to its budget kit nature, the manual is printed on the inside of the box.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - All sorts of things are printed in every corner of the box interior. (1/3)

All sorts of things are printed in every corner of the box interior.

You can tell they made an effort to achieve color separation.

A stiff, solid one-piece frame.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - Probably the biggest feature of the AG series is that it includes a chip for scanning in the arcade

Probably the biggest feature of the AG series is that it includes a chip for scanning in the arcade game. If the arcade machines ever make it to Korea, it might actually come in handy..

The chip goes inside the backpack parts.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - On top of that, there's also a game card included. It's quite a unique multi-product that even throw

On top of that, there's also a game card included. It's quite a unique multi-product that even throws in a concept similar to Yu-Gi-Oh!/Pokémon cards.

As expected from a budget kit, the molding is pretty mediocre. It really doesn't compare to HG level.

That said, the overall sculpt is actually pretty decent.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - Seemingly designed with younger builders in mind, the gates are small so you can easily pop the part

Seemingly designed with younger builders in mind, the gates are small so you can easily pop the parts off without nippers.

Parts diagram

Most of the parts are fixed in place with no articulation, as shown above..

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body and head

Back and backpack section

Legs

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - Unlike the old FG, this kit has almost no articulation. The shoulders and neck can barely rotate, an

Unlike the old FG, this kit has almost no articulation. The shoulders and neck can barely rotate, and that's about it.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - Rifle shooting pose. Stiff as it is, it somehow looks surprisingly convincing. (1/3)

Rifle shooting pose. Stiff as it is, it somehow looks surprisingly convincing.

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - Beam saber pose. There are barely any poses you can pull off. (1/3)

Beam saber pose. There are barely any poses you can pull off.

Alongside the HG AGE-1 Normal. The AG actually feels like it has slightly better proportions...

AG Gundam AGE-1 Normal - There's quite a difference in the backpacks. The one on the right is the HG and the left is the AG —

There's quite a difference in the backpacks. The one on the right is the HG and the left is the AG — the AG's backpack is inevitably bigger since it has to fit the chip module inside.

Aside from the backpack, they have a pretty similar overall feel.

The AG (Advanced Grade) has launched as the budget model kit lineup for the new anime Gundam AGE. It seems to share a similar concept to the FG line from the 00 era, but there are quite a few new things going on.

Like other budget kits, it's a simple straight build that aims for maximum color separation with minimal parts — but on top of that, it comes with a chip for scanning data in the arcade game and a battle card. Neither has much practical use here in Korea, but it does give off the feel of a multi-purpose product you can play with in different ways. (Though of course, it's all part of the marketing strategy..)

The kit itself uses small gates so parts are easy to pop off, clean up, and assemble — the build difficulty is about as low as it gets. Even so, the color separation is surprisingly well done, and you'll find yourself genuinely impressed by how it looks after the straight build. The torso assembly in particular feels like a real triumph of Bandai's color separation engineering.

Being a budget kit, the molding is a bit soft, and aside from the shoulders and neck, the legs, ankles, arms, and hands are all completely fixed — so it's essentially a standing display kit with almost no articulation. But because of that fixed nature, the proportions come out really well. It actually looks even cooler than the HG in terms of proportions — by giving up articulation, it definitely wins on the looks front.

It might be because it was conceived more as a game character merchandise item than an action figure, but either way, when you think about the fact that most kits end up just standing on a shelf anyway, it's actually a pretty clever idea.

With its game chip and card, plus its unique approach of ditching articulation entirely in favor of great proportions, this kit is surprisingly satisfying — the colors and proportions after building look better than you'd expect. It's clearly aimed at younger builders, but as long as you're okay with the design and concept, it's a fun little build that older fans can enjoy for a casual afternoon too. :-)

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.