Banpresto Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Gundam & Pilot SD Figure Set

Alright, this review will be a closer look on something which I guess we can call a bit of a novelty. While I don't know the exact circumstances for the release of the this figure set I do know that it is manufactured by Banpresto and released in 2003, no doubt riding on the then success of the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED television series. All the items share the same packaging and has the Banpresto item number 31605.

Based on the design of the packaging with its characteristic cut-out sections on the sides these items were most likely designed to be loaded into some style of arcade crane machine. However prize items can sometimes be picked up in certain stores as well so this immaculate set probably hails from such a haul. I picked up the full set for a measly ¥600 from Mandarake.
   

GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam

I don't think there is any particular order in between the figures so I'll just go down the line in the most logical fashion, starting out with the Aile Strike Gundam; that is the Strike with its high maneuverability flight pack.

The figure comes prepainted and fully assembled out of the box and is not intended to feature any special articulation. As you can see Banpresto have done a really good job here. Superb dace detail and not skimping on the back either, something which is very much the norm when it comes to super deformed figurines. They even spent time and effort to paint the camera on the back of the head. Very high marks in this regard although the pose is a bit weird since the Aile Striker pack reaches down beyond the Gundam's heels. Actually the poses kind of resembles that of a dangling keychain figure and it wouldn't surprise me at all to discover an actual keyring figure using the very same sculpt.

Here is a size and detail comparison with two other Aile Strike figures that are also pretty sharp. To the left we have another Banpresto item, a keyholder figure from the same year 2003 and on the right the recent Aile Strike from Gashapon Senshi Forte 07 released in October 2018.
   

Kira Yamato

The gimmick of this figure set is that each mobile suit comes with a super deformed pilot figurine to accompany it. For the Aile Strike this is of course Kira Yamato in his early OMNI uniform.

As you can see the paint detail on this figure is also pretty good. I guess I would have liked a simplified Earth Alliance emblem on the shoulders but cannot really fault the figure for omitting it. The likeness to the character is not too bad either.

The crew member figures of course have oversized heads and very small feet but do a decent job of standing upright as long as the surface is perfectly flat. The pilot figure does not come with any action base or even any peg hole under the foot but you can always make a custom base for it. In my case this would probably translate to putting it on a simple circle of clear plastic.

I guess the closest comparison you can make to the SEED Gundam & SD Pilot SD figurines is the Gundam Series World Collectable Figures also manufactured by Banpresto for use in Craneking arcade machines. Here you can see a size comparison between the Aile Strike and Kira, both of which were also released in WCF Volume 1 in 2012.
   

GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam

The next machine is the beautiful Aegis which always seems to be overlooked as far as Gundam figurines go. Apart from a couple of rare appearances it is always the same thing; first they do the Strike and then the Freedom and it all fizzles out from there. So; gold star to Banpresto for putting in the effort here.

Just look at this thing. Finely sculpted wings and fins, painted with beautiful black white detail, something we can only dream about for the current era figurines. If I have to choose between articulation or appearance, appearance will win every time in my book.
   

Athrun Zala

The Aegis is of course piloted by Z.A.F.T. ace Athrun Zala here appearing in his red coat. The likeness isn't as good as with the Kira figure but decent enough for an SD figure.

Look at all that nicely painted detail on the uniform. Sure, just like on Kira's figure the Z.A.F.T. emblem is missing from the shoulder patch but I can't really complain about it.

The Aegis poses much better than the Strike Gundam and looks like it was designed to stand on a flat surface from the beginning. It doesn't give me the same keyring feel as the Strike did.

Banpresto featured both Aegis and Athrun in their WCF series as well, in the same 2012 volume as the Kira-related figures. The WCF Aegis has a very red appearance compared to the purplish colour of the SD figure. There are a couple of mobile suits where the designers can never seem to decide what colour they really are and the Aegis is one of them.
   

GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam

The third and last mobile suit figure in this set is another rare bird that always seems to be left out from the action, the black stealth orientated Blitz piloted by Nicol Amalfi. I get that figure designers normally favour the Duel Gundam and the Buster Gundam over the Aegis and the Blitz just because the latter two get written off halfway through the series but that doesn't make their designs any less impressive.

Personally I tend to gravitate towards expressive colour schemes and the Blitz sure delivers in spades. Look at this majestic combo of black, gray, violet and red, this is really something to behold. I'd love to know if there is actually any financial reason behind what I generally feel is a favouring of white mobile suits designs as far as being selected for figure production.
   

Nicol Amalfi

And here we have the pilot of the stolen Blitz Gundam, young and ambitious Nicol Amalfi. Bandai was really churning out a lot of SEED Gashapon figures between 2003-2006 but the selection was very limited. While we have dozens of sculpts of Kira and Athrun to pick from there were only a few sculpts for Yzak and Dearka and poor Nicol has never made it into any of those ranges. He only exists as a couple of SD figurines as far as I know.

I have to say, the likeness on this figure is almost perfect and easily the best of these three. Poor Nicol, he was only fifteen and loved to play the piano...

Again, the Blitz figure seems to have been designed as a stand-up figurine rather than being a recycled keyring design. I could easily see the pilot figures being featured in some keyring range that I am unaware of.

Both the Blitz and Nicol made it into Banpresto's WCF Volume 1 as well, and I have to say those two look pretty weird. The body and legs seem really thin on the mobile suit and Nicol's likeness is completely off on the WCF figure.

Size comparisons with the Banpresto Turn-A Gundam and Wing: Endless Waltz keyring figures.

Finally, a line-up of sorts of all the five Gundam mobile suits from the Earth Alliance's G-project. I guess only the Sword Strike Gundam is missing. This line-up also uses figures from various Banpresto keyring figurines as well as a couple of the recent Gashapon Senshi Forte figures. There are plenty more keyring figures from SEED out there but they are pretty hard to find and I only have a couple others. I am hoping to be able to catalogue these in more detail eventually.
   

Conclusion

If you enjoy SD-style figures and think that the line-up in the various Gashapon NEXT / DASH / Senshi Forte series is a bit weak when it comes to SEED these figurines could definitely be of interest to you. I know that at least two more sets were made. Volume two features the Buster, the Freedom and surprisingly Lowe Guele with his Astray Red Frame. Volume three features Gai Murakumo with the Astray Blue Frame and presumably two more figures, perhaps the Duel or the Justice?