Interview just before the reservation start! Gundam Death Size Hell (EW Version)" has been added to the Gundam Fix Figuration Metal Composite lineup!　The birth of the "Supreme Reaper" equipped with a shocking transformation gimmick!

The three-episode OVA "New Mobile Suit Gundam W Endless Waltz" was released in 1997, a sequel to the popular TV anime "New Mobile Suit Gundam W." The main character Gundam, which was refined by Hajime Katoki, appears in the work. The comic "New Mobile Suit Gundam W: Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers" was also published between 2010 and 2018, and is still a popular series today, a quarter of a century later.

Gundam Death Scythe Hell, one of the main characters in "Endless Waltz" (hereinafter referred to as "EW") and also known as the "God of Death," appears in the "GUNDAM FIX FIGURATION METAL COMPOSITE" (hereinafter referred to as "G.F.F.M.C."). The brand has been developing the Wing Zero Gundam and its derivatives, but this will be the first time that other mainstay models will be commercialized. We asked Taro Inayoshi, a planner in the Collectors Division of BANDAI SPIRITS, to explain the appeal and gimmick of the "G.F.F.M.C. Gundam Death Size Hell (EW version).

(Please note that the product in this article is a prototype under development and may differ from the actual product.)

--I had the impression that G.F.F.M.C. had a lot of space century works in its lineup so far, such as "UC," "THE ORIGIN," and "The Island of Crux Doan," so the announcement of the "Death Size Hell (EW version)" was quite unexpected.

Inayoshi: G.F.F.M.C. is a brand produced by Hajime Katoki, so we would like to commercialize any aircraft that has a connection with Mr. Katoki, not limited to the Space Century. One such model, the Wing Gundam Zero, has been well received, so we decided to commercialize the Death Size Hell, which is an aircraft from the same worldview.

--I heard that you also have deep feelings for the Scythe Hell.

Inayoshi: I myself am of the "SEED" and "00" strike generation, and "Gundam W" was a vague memory of both TV and OVA in real time. But I do have feelings for the "EW" aircraft. When I was still unaware of it as a Gundam, my friend's brother showed me a plastic model, and I was impressed by how cool it looked. I was especially fascinated by the Wing Zero, with its organic wings despite being a robot, and the Death Size Hell, with its bat-like wings.

--When you released the Wing Gundam Zero (EW version) in 2018, did you have other models in mind for commercialization?

Inayoshi: At the time, I was not in charge of planning, but I had the ambition of "I want to develop a series! I was not in charge of planning at the time, but I had the ambition to develop a series. I consulted with Mr. Katoki early on after I was put in charge of the brand and said, "I want to do a Scythe Hell! I consulted with Mr. Katoki about it. After the first Wing Zero, we released the "Snow White," and then the "Wing Gundam (EW version)" ......, the so-called Early Type, which allowed us to commercialize a series of Wing Gundam models created by Mr. Katoki. Now that the "vertical axis" has been filled, we can expand into the "horizontal axis," which is what we wanted to do.

--Now, please tell us about your products.

Inayoshi: While incorporating the advantages of the three-dimensional products released in the past, we incorporated new interpretations unique to the G.F.F.M.C. brand. The gimmicks of the Wing Zero, such as the inflating of the wings and the opening of the skirt armor, were incorporated into the G.F.F.M.C. brand. We discussed the equivalent gimmick with Mr. Katoki, and he came up with a new setting in which the active cloak on the back expands. We named it "Grim Reaper Mode" in contrast to Zero's "Zero Mode. The active cloak opening and closing was reproduced in past products, but the G.F.F.M.C. version can be extended and greatly widened block by block. It does not just extend horizontally, but incorporates various deployment methods, and we worked with Mr. Katoki for more than a year on this gimmick alone.

Comparison of active cloak deployment. The right side is in "grim reaper mode.

--One year?　Yes, it does expand in a complicated way.

Inayoshi: The wings can be lengthened vertically like the TV version of the Scythe Hell, and in this state it can wrap around the body when in defensive mode. Since the gimmick is complicated, POM is used throughout to enhance the holding power. An auxiliary prop is also included for posing with the wings spread out. The active cloak is attached snugly to the back of the figure, but in the product, a holding arm can be deployed from the back to widen the gap between the cloak and the main body. This is a mechanism that should be tried by all, as it gives a very different impression when posing the figure.

This is the set-up state, where the arm is attached snugly to the back.

Here is the active cloak separated from the back for a more pleasing appearance. The active cloak is supported by a holding arm inside the back.

--And the beam scissors, the symbol of the Death Size Hell, are available in three different shapes.

Inayoshi: In addition to the standard beam scissors, a double beam scissors from the "Glory of the Losers" comic book version is also included. I think this is the armament that "Gundam W" fans have been waiting for. In addition, two original weapons called "Twin Beam Scissors" are also included in this figure. The design is based on the beam size of the TV version of the Death Size, and by attaching two beam generators to one of them, it becomes a double-bladed weapon like the TV version of the Beam Scissors. You can also connect the two handles to make a weapon like the "Beam Naginata Scythe Ver.

Twin Beam Scissors (leftmost) and Beam Scissors (second from left). Beam blade effects can be set on all armaments.

--The play value is very high. The beam scissors alone is enough to play with.

Inayoshi: There are still more weapons (laughs). The Hornet, an additional piece of equipment that appeared in the "Glory of the Losers" version, is also included; it can be attached to the arms like the TV version's buster shield, but when attached to the waist armor, it takes on a long skirt shape and changes the silhouette completely. Of course, the claw on the end opens and closes, and I made it so that the left and right sides move in tandem.

--There is also an even larger shield.

Inayoshi: The new "Buster Shield Hell. It follows the shape of the shield that came with the Wing Zero, but has a design reminiscent of the TV version of the Buster Shield. Like the Wing Zero's shield, it will be used as the nose of the plane when it transforms into its flight form.

Two new "Hornet" weapons from "The Glory of the Losers" and the new "Buster Shield Hell"

--Will the "Death Size Hell" also transform into bird form?

Inayoshi: It is called "Raven Mode," which also means "crow. We originally transformed the Wing Zero into a flying form because it has wings, so we developed the Scythe Hell, which also has wings, based on that concept. In the flight form, we made sure that the wings point backward as much as possible. In this form, all weapons can be equipped, and when fully equipped, the claw of the Hornet faces forward, and we adjusted the red parts so that they are lined up horizontally. Our goal was to create a "sensible, yet kaleidoscopic machine" that is typical of "Gundam W." In addition to the OVA and comic book, we also created a version of the TV version.

--I think it's too gorgeous that you respected the design of the TV version in addition to the OVA and the comic, and even transformed it.

Inayoshi: I asked Mr. Katoki, "I want this to be the culmination of the Scythe and Scythe Hell! I asked Mr. Katoki, "I want it to be a compilation of the Death Size and Death Size Hell! However, to avoid overloading the figure and making it look vulgar, we chose and selected parts that we respected. We also paid attention to the coloring. In the anime version, the legs are a single color of blue-gray, but in the product, we used multiple colors that are slightly different and close to each other.

--Is that right?　The difference is so subtle that you wouldn't notice it if you weren't told.

Inayoshi: It is that subtlety that we aimed for. If the legs were monochromatic as in the animation, it would be too long, but if we mixed too many different colors, it would spoil the original coolness of the product. Therefore, Mr. Katoki and his finishers have created a color scheme that looks good in 3D, while maintaining the original coloring. Also, we were conscious of the fact that the Wing Zero, which is sold separately, will be placed side by side with the Wing Zero. The first Zero we released had a glossy finish, but the Wing Gundam Zero (EW Version) Noble Color Ver. that was later re-released has a matte color. In order to be able to line up with both of them, we have applied a surface treatment that allows both a glossy and a matte finish.

The density and matte texture do not feel stretched out even in close-up shots. You can see that multiple colors are used in the blue-gray section.

--it's a great item!　Finally, can you give us some hints for future lineups?

Inamori: As I mentioned earlier, now that we have achieved the "vertical axis" of the continuing lineup of the Katoki-version Wing Gundam, we will now move on to the "horizontal axis. At last year's Soul Nation 2022, we exhibited a prototype of the Early Type "Death Size (EW version). We are also looking ahead to a variation of the Death Size, equivalent to the Snow White. Please look forward to the "Endless Waltz" series in the future.

(Reporting and writing by Yutaka Takayanagi [TARKUS])

Product Information

Gundam FIX FIGURATION METAL COMPOSITE Gundam Death Size Hell (EW Version)

Manufacturer: BANDAI SPIRITS

Scheduled to ship in July 2023.

Orders will be accepted from 2/27 at Soul Web Store in Premium Bandai.

Price: 33,000 yen (tax included)