Gundam Build Fighters (TV)

Ral is based on Ramba Ral from Mobile Suit Gundam. Masashi Hirose voices both characters.

The series features numerous voice actors and actress who are Gundam alumni. Kotono Mitsuishi (Rinko and Lucas) voiced Toniya Malme in After War Gundam X and Murrue Ramius Mobile Suit Gundam Seed. Tokuyoshi Kawashima (Takeshi) voiced Klaus Grado in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Yūichi Nakamura (Fellini) voiced Graham Aker in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Minoru Inaba (Chinan) has voiced numerous minor characters from the 0079 movie trilogy to Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Kenta Miyake (Gonda) voiced Don Boyage in Mobile Suit Gundam AGE. Tetsu Inada (Tatsuzo) voiced Barack Zinin in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Yuji Ueda (Renato brothers) voiced Billy Katagiri in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Takuya Eguchi (Luang) voiced Asemu Asuno in Mobile Suit Gundam AGE.

"Plavsky particle" is a portmanteau of "plastic" and "Minovsky particle", an energy particle in the Universal Century timeline used to disrupt or destroy electronic circuitry.

The title of episode 6, "A Reason to Battle" is a reference to Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Season 2 episode 2, "A Reason to Fight."

Tatsuya Yuuki's pseudonym "Meijin Kawaguchi" is a nod to master Gunpla builder Katsumi Kawaguchi. Meijin (名人) is Japanese for "expert" or "master", which is why Kawaguchi is often addressed as "Kawaguchi Meijin".

"Best Mecha Collection" is an umbrella term for the original Gundam and giant robot model kits of the 1980s. Compared to current Gunpla kits, these models have crude construction methods and limited articulation, making them useless in Gunpla Battles.

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 5 preview ends with the catchphrase: "You still don't know the true Gunpla Battle", which is a reference to Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack's tagline: "You still don't know the true meaning of Gundam."

Rinko's narration for the episode 6 preview uses the same format as Kotono Mitsuishi's narration in Mobile Suit Gundam Seed.

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 7 preview ends with the catchphrase: "Gunpla Battle! Ready! Go!", which is a reference to that of Mobile Fighter G-Gundam. This catchphrase is also used by Mao in his narration for the episode 17 preview.

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 8 preview ends with the line: "Nani o kakeru no ka? Nani o nokosu no ka?" ("What will you bet? What will you leave behind?"), which is from the lyrics of the Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow ending theme "Ai Senshi".

China's narration for the episode 9 preview follows the same format as that of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam, having the young protagonist's love interest use the catchphrase: "Mite kudasai!" ("Please watch it!").

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 10 preview ends with the catchphrase: "Marude yume wo miteru mitai!" ("I feel like I'm dreaming!"), which references the title of episode 19 of After War Gundam X.

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 11 preview ends with the catchphrase: "Nimu, yokai." ("Mission accepted."), which is a reference to that of Heero Yuy of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 12 preview ends with the catchphrase: "Gunpla ni oru hakai ga hajimaru. ("A destruction by Gunpla has begun."), which is a reference to Mobile Suit Gundam 00's tagline: "Hakai ni oru saisei ga hajimaru." ("A rebirth by destruction has begun.").

Sei and Reiji's narration for the episode 15 preview ends with the catchphrase: "What is it that the fighters seek?", which is a reference to the tag line of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam: A New Translation 2 - Lovers.

The title of episode 21, "Amid the Glittering Particles", references the Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory episode 7 title "With Shining Blue Fire".

Mobile suits introduced after Mobile Suit Gundam 00 season 1 do not appear in this series due to copyright restrictions on TV series less than five years old.

In episode 1, Mr. Ral looks at Susumu and says, "You have good eyes." This is the same line Ramba Ral said to Amuro Ray in episode 19 of Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 2, during the first battle between the Build Strike Gundam and the Zaku Amazing, Yuuki yells, "Moe agare!" ("Rage on!"), a reference to the lyrics of the Mobile Suit Gundam theme song "Tobe! Gundam" ("Fly! Gundam").

In episode 2, when Yuuki defeats Sei and Reiji, he points his Heat Nata at the Build Strike Gundam's head and tells them the Gundam is incomplete. This is a nod to episode 7 of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Season 2, where Mr. Bushido (Graham Aker) in his Ahead Sakigake pointed his GN Beam Saber at Setsuna F. Seiei's crippled 00 Gundam and told him there is no value in defeating an incomplete mobile suit.

In episode 3, one of the defeated veteran Gunpla fighters wonders if Reiji is from the Flanagan Institute. In the original Gundam series, the Flanagan Institute was a Zeon-sponsored institute that specialized in Newtype research.

In episode 3, after Reiji defeats Mr. Ral in a Gunpla Battle, Ral's comment on Reiji winning because of the Build Strike Gundam's abilities echoes episode 19 of Mobile Suit Gundam, where a defeated Ramba Ral told Amuro Ray he won because of the Gundam's abilities.

In episode 4, the Gunpla Fighters controlling the Marasai resemble Jerid Messa and Kacricon Cacooler of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. They appear again in episode 9 at Cafe Restaurant Kousaka.

In episode 5, when Sei and Mao compare their Gunpla, an imaginary scene has Sei and Reiji dressed as Kira Yamato from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Mao dressed as Garrod Ran from After War Gundam X. The scene where the Gundam X Maoh fires its Hyper Satellite Cannon is a frame-by-frame re-enactment of the scene in episode 25 of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 season 1, where the GNMS-XCVII Alvaaron fired its GN Particle Beam Cannon toward the GN-001 Gundam Exia.

In episode 5, when Mr. Ral shows off his High Grade 1/144 MS-07B Gouf, he says, "This is no Best Mecha Collection, boy! No Best Mecha Collection!" This is a paraphrase of Ramba Ral's quote, "This is no Zaku, boy! No Zaku!" from episode 19 of Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 6, the Gunpla Fighter controlling the GN-X resembles Patrick Colasour of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

In episode 6, the Zaku Amazing kicks the Build Strike Gundam Full Package in the same manner Char's Zaku did to the Gundam in episode 3 of Mobile Suit Gundam. Both Gunpla units explode in the same way as the Gundam GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern and Gundam GP02A Physalis in episode 10 of Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.

In episode 7, the villain Tatsuzo resembles Dozle Zabi from Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 7, Kato and his team are cosplaying as Jamil Neate from After War Gundam X. Kato's voice actor, Ken Narita, replaced the late Hirotaka Suzuoki as the voice of Bright Noa in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.

In episode 7, the clock at the inn is labeled "Anaheim", a reference to Anaheim Electronics of the Gundam Universal Century timeline.

In episode 8, the U.S. Gunpla Battle match is held at La Vie en Rose Garden, which is named after the La Vie en Rose space station from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ.

In episode 8, the G-Saviour makes its first animated appearance, 13 years after the live-action film G-Saviour was released.

In episode 8, Aila Jyrkiainen is introduced as a subject from the Flana Institute, another reference to the Flanagan Institute from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series.

In episode 8, American Gunpla Battle announcer Ralph Jackson resembles Gundam co-creator Yoshiyuki Tomino.

In episode 9, Alice Imai, owner of the Noble Gundam Deco, sports a hairstyle similar to Allenby Beardsley of Mobile Fighter G Gundam.

In episode 10, one of the stores in the shopping mall is called "Clover", a nod to the company that manufactured the first Gundam toy back in 1979.

In episode 10, the Gunpla Fighter controlling the AMX-015 Geymalk before being shot down by Sei and Reiji's Star Build Strike Gundam is voiced by Hazuki Kadoma, who voiced Chara Soon (the Geymalk's pilot) in Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ

In episode 11, Rainer's attempt to direct his Gaw Assault Carrier on a kamikaze run toward Fellini's Wing Gundam Fenice echoes that of Garma Zabi sending his heavily damaged Gaw toward the White Base on episode 10 of Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 12, Nils Nielsen compares the Star Build Strike Gundam vs. Mega Size Model Zaku II battle to Don Quixote fighting a windmill. The Nether Gundam from Mobile Fighter G-Gundam is used as the windmill in the imaginary scene.

In episode 13, the machine used to draw lots for the Original Weapon battle resembles a Bandai gashapon machine.

In episode 13, Ral-san compares Luang Dallara to Char Aznable, Johnny Ridden, and Anavel Gato: three of the Principality of Zeon's ace mobile suit pilots. Although Johnny Ridden has never appeared in anime form (aside from a cameo in the Gihren's Greed video game), he is popular among Gundam fans due to his mobile suits issued in the Mobile Suit Variation (MSV) Gunpla line.

In episode 13, the number 44 is an unlucky number in Japanese culture. It is also a reference to Magnum Ace's signature pitch "44 Sonic" from the Sunrise anime Iron Leaguer.

In episode 13, the baseball used in the Star Build Strike Gundam vs. Abigorbine battle resembles an RB-79 Ball.

In episode 14, The Gunpla Fighter controlling the V2 Gundam resembles Fonse Kagatie of Mobile Suit Victory Gundam. The Gunpla Fighter controlling the Gundam Kyrios resembles Soma Peries of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. The Gunpla Fighter controlling the Gundam Maxter resembles Chibodee Crocket of Mobile Fighter G Gundam. Two female Gunpla Fighters are cosplaying as Sarah Zabirov of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Heero Yuy of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. An audience member resembles Sergei Smirnov of Gundam 00.

In episode 15, some of the names on the match listings are puns on Gundam characters: Raman Khan (Haman Karn from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ), Alejandro Cola (Alejandro Corner from Mobile Suit Gundam 00), and Rosemarie Graham (Rosamia Badam from Zeta Gundam).

In episode 15, in the scene where Fellini meets up with Kirara, a group of guests resemble Garma Zabi, Icelina Eschonbach, Zeon Zum Deikun, and Kycilia Zabi from Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 15, the Gunpla Fighter controlling the Geara Doga resembles Gyunei Guss of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack.

In episode 15, the scene where the Star Build Strike Gundam uses a string to remotely fire the Universe Booster's VSBR at the Wing Gundam Fenice is a nod to Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack, where Amuro Ray used the same technique in the Axis asteroid to remotely fire a bazooka at Char Aznable.

In episode 16, the dream sequence where Sei reunites with Takeshi references episode 33 of Mobile Suit Gundam, where Amuro Ray reunited with his father Tem Ray on Side 6, only to discover his mental state due to oxygen deprivation from the Side 7 incident of episodes 1-2.

In episode 16, during Rinko's dream sequence, two of the news reporters resemble Fran Doll of Turn A Gundam, Kinue Crossroad and Ikeda of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

In episode 16, when Takeshi confronts C, he references Cutie Honey when he removes his disguise.

In episode 16, while packing up to cheer for Sei and Reiji in the final tournament, Rinko hums "Invoke", the first opening theme of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed.

In episode 16, while Aila eats her ice cream, a Fa Yuiry lookalike from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam passes by in the background.

In episode 16, Chairman Mashita's gold limousine resembles the one Dorothy Catalonia used in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing.

In episode 17, the tournament chart shows the name "Patrick Mannequin", a reference to Patrick Colasour and Kati Mannequin of Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

In episode 17, Master Chinan has figures of various female characters from the Gundam universe in his collection, such as Emma Sheen of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Lacus Clyne and Murrue Ramius of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, Chou-sen Qubeley of BB Senshi Sangokuden, Wang Liu Mei, Feldt Grace and Marina Ismail of Mobile Suit Gundam 00, Lunamaria and Meyrin Hawke of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, Audrey Burne and Marida Cruz of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn, Aina Sahalin of Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team, Sayla Mass and an SD Lalah Sune of Mobile Suit Gundam.

In episode 17, the Gunpla models on Master Chinan's display cabinet are the winners of Bandai Hobby's Gundam Build Fighters Original Mobile Suit Championship.

In episode 18, Sei and China stand in front of a restaurant called "Arc Angel", a reference to the Archangel-class ship of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed.

In episode 18, the Renato Brothers use bomb-planting tactics based on two Mobile Suit Gundam episodes. "Operation Time Stop" is named after episode 14, "Time, Be Still". The trip-wire explosives are based on those used by Zeon forces in Jaburo in episode 30, "A Wish for War Orphans."

In episode 18, the GM Sniper K9 is equipped with the EXAM System, a computer system that enhances a normal mobile suit pilot's reflexes to Newtype-level. This system was first introduced in the manga Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny.

In episode 19, different characters from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 can be seen at the bar where Fellini and Kirara are having a drink. These include Kati Mannequin, a blond-haired Sumeragi Lee Noriega, and Daryl Dodge.

In episode 19, Georgios Laertius, the Greek Gunpla Fighter that loses to Nils, resembles the actor that portrayed Tieria Erde in the "Celestial Being" propaganda film in Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: Awakening of the Trailblazer.

In episode 20, the Ptolemaios from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 is used to launch PPSE's top-secret A5 (Gundm Exia Dark Matter).

In episode 20, while Sei is being hypnotized by Nils, he recites Amuro Ray's lines from episode 7 of Mobile Suit Gundam while in a hypnotic state.

In episode 23, several characters from different Gundam universes make cameo appearances throughout the Gunpla Eve festival.

In episode 23, Meijin Kawaguchi the 3rd's final costume resembles Setsuna F. Seiei's civilian outfit in Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

In episode 23, the Original MS Championship winning designs make their appearance in various Gunpla Battles. These consist of the red Deathscythe Hell (Gundam Tri-Age Course), the Benkei (Gundam Breaker Course) and the Zssa Storm (Gundam Course).

In episode 24, during Chairman Mashita's flashback scene, Baker is cosplaying as Sayla Mass of Mobile Suit Gundam.