Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack. It's a bit on the small side.

Upper body front and back

Back view with wings removed

The upper body is quite colorful thanks to the pre-painted parts..

Body and face with the sunglasses boomerang removed from the chest. Yep, it's a pre-painted part.

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Two pre-painted face parts are included, so you can swap them out to change expressions. (1/3)

Two pre-painted face parts are included, so you can swap them out to change expressions.

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Arms and legs. Solid color separation.. (1/3)

Arms and legs. Solid color separation..

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - The color separation on the shoulder shields is really impressive — they've properly pulled off the c

The color separation on the shoulder shields is really impressive —
They've properly pulled off the color separation on that complex Gurren-dan emblem. Very Kotobukiya of them.

The wings can be folded and spread.

Looks nice and compact when folded.

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Weapons.. One common complaint about Kotobukiya mecha kits is that they don't come with much in the w

Weapons..
One common complaint about Kotobukiya mecha kits is that they don't come with much in the way of weapons,
but this one at least feels like it has a little something going for it..

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - A giant drill you build out of paper. Can't believe they included something like this — Kotobukiya, y

A giant drill you build out of paper. Can't believe they included something like this — Kotobukiya, you clever bunch..
This thing is way harder to make than it looks. Took about an hour or so.

There are fewer leftover parts than you'd expect from a Kotobukiya kit.

Articulation.
Whoa.. the knees are double-jointed so you get a full bend. What's gotten into them?

Arm articulation is just so-so.. and critically, the arms are pretty short;

The polycap connection at the waist rotation joint is a bit loose and pops out easily..

Some action poses

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Sunglasses boomerang action (1/4)

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Sunglasses boomerang action (2/4)

Sunglasses boomerang action

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Gurrenlagann means drills! (1/4)

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Gurrenlagann means drills! (2/4)

Gurrenlagann means drills!

Drill action

That king-sized paper drill slides right over the smaller drill.

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Giga Drill Break! (1/3)

Giga Drill Break!

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - Together with the previously released Plain Model series Gurrenlagann. The Plain Model is basically t

Together with the previously released Plain Model series Gurrenlagann.
The Plain Model is basically the FG equivalent for Gundam — a budget model with minimal articulation and color separation.

Non Scale Gurrenlagann - The color separation difference isn't as huge as you might expect, but the overall color combination

The color separation difference isn't as huge as you might expect,
but the overall color combination and sculpt quality definitely show why the pricier one costs more.. ^^;
The gap between ¥800 and ¥3800 is real.

The difference really jumps out at you with the shoulder shield color separation.

The ¥3800 version is taller too.

A quick shot alongside the normally-sized Super Robot Wars Hückebein for scale.
It's small~

It's roughly the same size as an HGUC Gundam.
For the price, that's a pretty shocking size -_-

In 2007, Gainax — the studio behind Evangelion — teamed up with a star-studded production crew to create an anime that took the world by storm. Gurren LagannAnd now Gurrenlagann from that series has finally gotten a proper plastic model release. There were previously five Plain Model series kits released, but they had an FG-style concept with minimal articulation and color separation, which left a lot to be desired. And calling them FG-level didn't stop them from charging ¥800 a pop, which felt a bit... yeah.

This new ¥3800 "proper" Gurrenlagann kit shows off Kotobukiya's signature obsessive color separation. The elaborate Gurren-dan emblem on the shoulder shields is fully realized through color separation, and the teeth-like details on the face and body come already painted using Kotobukiya's signature partial pre-painting technique. In terms of molded colors and overall color combination, this is a straight-up A+ kit — 99 out of 100.

Unlike the stiff Plain Model, this kit is a mecha kit where all the joints that should move actually do move. And in a rare move for Kotobukiya, the knees achieve a full bend. Sure, the limited range of motion in other areas means that knee joint doesn't get much practical use..; but considering that most Kotobukiya mecha kits can barely manage a 90-degree bend, it's still a step forward no matter how you look at it.

Joint strength is something you'll want to keep an eye on. The waist joint in particular pops out easily, and the arms need to be handled with some care too. Kotobukiya's biggest weakness — polycap tension control — still needs more work.. Unlike the Plain Model, this one includes a flight unit, and the folding wings give it a much cooler look. Two pre-painted face parts are also included so you can swap them out to change expressions.

That said... when you consider the ¥3800 price tag — mid-range MG territory — the kit feels way too small. It's basically HGUC Gundam-sized, and honestly you'll be left wondering where all those parts went once everything is assembled (though that is kind of a Koto-kit thing..;). On the plus side, all those parts do give it a satisfying heft. The colors are bright and pretty, but if they were going to release it as non-scale anyway, I wish they'd made it a bit bigger.

All that said, if you're a Gurrenlagann fan, this is a pretty high-quality kit — at least by Kotobukiya standards — that should leave you quite satisfied (size aside). And the thoughtful touch of including that giant paper-craft drill is a big thumbs up!

Oh right, have you still not watched the Gurrenlagann anime?
For mecha fans, it's a once-in-a-decade masterpiece that'll have your heart pounding like crazy.
Absolutely worth watching!

Non Scale Gurrenlagann | 2008. 3 | ¥3,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.