Cute cat vs. giant robot. Who will win?
Late last month it was announced that the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam model from the 1979 series Mobile Suit Gundam (Kidō Senshi Gandamu) and the instantly recognizable Sanrio character Hello Kitty would be facing off in an epic battle as a way of celebrating the 40th anniversary of Mobile Suite Gundam and the 45th anniversary of the mouthless Ms. Kitty White (yes, that’s her full name).
At the center of this quirky promotional collaboration between Bandai and Sanrio is what essentially amounts to a popularity contest being conducted via the messaging app LINE in which users must align themselves with either Gundam or Hello Kitty. Participants will get coupons and opportunities to win special merchandise throughout 2019.
Although the announcement of the Gundam versus Hello Kitty project was pretty widely reported on by English-language websites, one aspect–arguably the most interesting aspect too–seems to have been largely overlooked and that is the creation of a wonderfully perplexing animated Gundan vs. Hello Kitty promotional video.
The video, which says it is episode one of a series of undertermined length, was released at the end of March. It begins with Kitty preparing for a tea party with her friends when all of a sudden a face comes on her TV telling her to “Save Amuro,” of course referring to the pilot of the RX-78-2 Gundam, Amuro Ray. The TV then begins to show footage of Amuro in an epic space battle. Disturbed by the destruction and Amuro’s distress, Kitty sets out to remedy the situation and make sure everyone can just be friends. Somehow Kitty ends up in the world of Mobile Suit Gundam, and not only that, she actually seems to turn into a giant robot version of herself. Not surprisingly Amuro is left totally baffled by the sight of a giant cute cat materializing into outer space. In classic anime fashion “To be continued” comes on screen and then a narrator announces that episode two–titled “Meguriai” (A Chance Encounter)–is coming soon.
Check out the video below and for a full English translation of all the dialog in the video, keep scrolling down.
Kitty: And now all the preparations for the tea party are done. I can’t wait till everyone gets here!
TV: Hello. Hello Kitty. Hello Kitty.
Kitty: What? Me?
TV: Save Amuro! Save Amuro!
Kitty: What? What’s this? Oh no…
Amuro: I will take them all down
Kitty; No. Wait! We’re all friends! There’s no need to take anyone down!
Amuro: I’ve done something I can’t undo. I…
Kitty: This person [Amur] looks like he’s suffering so much. It can all be worked out if we talk because everyone [in this world] is friends!
Amuro: You! It’s just one after another! What’s that over there? What’s that light? Huh?This is…
Announcer: Gundam vs. Hello Kitty! Hello Kitty has appeared in front of Amuro who was desperately fighting for his life. What will happen to these two? Next time, episode two, “Meguriai” (A Chance Encounter). Coming soon! Will you be able to survive until then?
Given that Kitty just wants everyone to be friends, it’s looking like nobody will end up sustaining any significant injuries in whatever battle these two icons of Japanese pop culture engage in. Nevertheless, whatever happens in episode two (and beyond?) it should at least be worth a good laugh, so stay tuned to Japankyo to find out when the next episode comes out.
Source: Famitsu, Gundam.info
Image: ガンダムvsハローキティプロジェクト特別PV第1話 (Gundam vs. Hello Kitty Project YouTube Channel)
