Super Terrific Japanese Thing: Gundam Tree
Because is there anything that better represents Christmas than a tree made out of sparkling lights and several expensive anime action figures? No, of course not. This tree is currently on display in Tokyo’s nerd mecca Akihabara, stands 16-feet tall, and includes over 60 Gundam models. Somewhere, Charlie Brown is weeping.
Actually, Japan’s real present might be that Bandai is trotting that 60-foot Gundam statue back out. He’ll be re-erected in Shizuoka City next July, and then move somewhere else. I’m genuinely glad Bandai is doing this; it’d be a shame to let something that cool just sit in a Japanese warehouse somewhere. And if it’s not going to be invading China or the USA or something, it might as well stand around Japan looking awesome. Thanks to Albo for the tip. (Via Kotaku and Anime News Network)
About The Author
Robert Bricken is one of the original co-founders of the site formerly known as Topless Robot, and its first editor-in-chief, serving from 2008-12. He brought the site to prominence with “nerd news, humor and self-loathing” as its motto, raising it from total internet obscurity to a readership in the millions, with help from his savage “FAQ” movie reviews and Fan Fiction Fridays. Under his tenure Topless Robot was covered by Gawker, Wired, Defamer, New York magazine, ABC News, and others, and his articles have been praised by Roger Ebert, Avengers actor Clark Gregg, comedian and The Daily Show correspondent John Hodgman, the stars of Mystery Science Theater 3000 and Rifftrax, and others. He is currently the managing editor of io9.com. Despite decades as both an amateur and professional nerd, he continues to be completely unprepared for either the zombie apocalypse or the robot uprising.