Interest
Video of Gundam Plane's Maiden Voyage Streamed
posted on by Gia Manry
Video footage of the first departure and first landing of All Nippon Airways' new Gundam-themed jet has appeared on YouTube. The "ANA x Gundam Jet" features life-size Gundam images on the sides of the plane. Its first departure, from Tokyo's Haneda Airport to Osaka's Itami Airport, was filmed in high definition by technology media firm IDG. IDG reported that the flight carried 500 passengers, many of whom appeared to be Gundam fans, and left at 1:19 p.m. on Friday, July 16. ANA CEO Shinichiro Ito announced that the plane will make stops "all around Japan" between now and spring 2011, but the plane is not scheduled for any international flights at this time.
The plane's landing at Osaka and second takeoff was also filmed and streamed on YouTube by a private individual identified as "Hakuto0505."
ANA and Bandai announced the ANA x Gundam Jet project in June as part of the 30th Anniversary of the first Gundam plastic model kit. The Boeing 777-300 jet was painted with a life-size Gundam image "lying" on its back, as if the Gundam was being stowed aboard the White Base mobile suit carrier ship from the first Gundam anime series. Additionally, people who fly a domestic ANA flight from July 1 to August 31 can buy an ANA original color version of the High Grade 1/144 Gundam G30th plastic model kit. People who fly any ANA flight from July 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011 can buy an ANA original color version of the 1/48 Mega-Size Model Gundam.
In 1999, All Nippon Airways launched a similar tie-in with Pokémon, launching at least four planes sporting Pokémon art. The airline also released figurines in 2005, modeling female flight attendant uniforms from throughout the company's history. ANA competitor Japan Airlines (JAL) collaborated with Studio Ghibli in 2007 to screen a rare Hayao Miyazaki short animation on domestic flights and to run a contest to design artwork for a Boeing 787.
[Via Engadget]
