ANN has caught word that the closing ceremony for the life-size 18-meter Gundam statue in Odaiba will be closed sans ceremony. They had planned one originally but it's been cancelled due to concerns about an incoming typhoon. It's a shame; Gundam creator (and NYAF guest) Yoshiyuki Tomino and Ray Amuro voice actor Tohru Furuya would have been at the ceremony.
In the meantime, the future of the life-size Gundam is still "undetermined." There have been some unlikely suggestions about the US anime industry joining forces to buy the thing (sorry, kids, but buying the Gundam, shipping it, and then finding a place to stand-- and all the anime fans and companies in North America *agreeing* on everything? I doubt it). Others have suggested a worldwide tour for the thing (possible, though shipping costs are still tough).
I think it's sadly more likely to go in a bunch of boxes in a warehouse in Tokyo somewhere...unless they manage to find a home for it at Sunrise's office or the Bandai museum. Perhaps there would have been a home for it if the "Anime Hall of Fame" were built, but since the DPJ won the election in a landslide, I doubt it...I suppose it's even possible that a typhoon will blow it away, but c'mon, man, it's a Gundam!
What do you think?
