Tokyo's Life-Size Unicorn Gundam Gets a Final Form Before Its August Farewell at Odaiba
Mechanical designer Hajime Katoki’s special decal treatment transforms the nine-year landmark into “RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC Final.”
Summary
- The life-size Unicorn Gundam statue at Diver City Tokyo Plaza’s Festival Plaza in Odaiba will end its display run on August 31, after nine years in place since its September 24, 2017 completion
- From June 20, the statue will be dressed in a new set of special decals designed by original mechanical designer Hajime Katoki, debuting as the “RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC Final”
- A full daily performance schedule runs through August 31, with four daytime transformation shows and six evening light and video programs, alongside a Gundam headband giveaway campaign at the on-site Gundam Cafe Kitchen Car
The life-size Unicorn Gundam statue at Diver City Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba is preparing for its final chapter. After nine years standing at the Festival Plaza since its completion on September 24, 2017, the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam will end its display run on August 31. Before that happens, original mechanical designer Hajime Katoki has created a suite of special decals that will transform the statue into its farewell form, the “RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC Final,” visible from June 20.
The decal decoration period runs from June 20 through August 31, subject to weather conditions affecting installation and public reveal scheduling. Katoki’s involvement gives the makeover a degree of authorial weight that a standard cosmetic update would not carry. As the RX-0’s original mechanical designer, his final treatment of the statue is a closing statement from the person who defined the unit’s visual identity from the beginning.
The farewell programming built around the Ver. TWC Final form runs on a structured daily schedule. Four daytime transformation shows are scheduled at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., during which the statue’s configurations change. The evening program runs across six slots from 7:00 p.m. through 9:30 p.m., each featuring a distinct piece of Gundam content. The lineup moves from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash Special Movie at 7:00 p.m. through MidNight CHA CHA at 7:30 p.m., Mobile Suit Gundam UC Special Movie Ver. 2.0 “Cage” SawanoHiroyuki[nZk]:Tielle at 8:00 p.m., archival footage Fly! Gundam 2017 at 8:30 p.m., Mobile Suit Gundam UC Perfectibility at 9:00 p.m. and Gundam Beyond closing at 9:30 p.m. The programming is noted as subject to cancellation or change without notice based on weather conditions.
Running concurrently through June, July and August, the Gundam Cafe Kitchen Car operating at Diver City Tokyo Plaza is giving away one Unicorn Gundam headband per item purchased, offering visitors a physical keepsake to take into the final weeks of the statue’s run. Further programming tied to THE GUNDAM BASE TOKYO ANNEX is also in development, with additional details to follow.
The “RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Ver. TWC Final” special decoration runs at Diver City Tokyo Plaza 2F Festival Plaza in Odaiba from June 20 through August 31.
