CHOGOKIN: Gundam Calibarn - Release Info

CHOGOKIN: Gundam Calibarn 

Release Date: August 2024

Price: 36,300 Yen

Tamashii Nations, well-known for its high-quality collectible figures, has officially announced the addition of Gundam Calibarn from the hit anime "Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury" to their prestigious CHOGOKIN "Super Alloy" line. The figure will be available for pre-order beginning March 8th, 2024, with additional information to follow as the Tamashii Webshop begins pre-orders.

The Gundam Calibarn is a unit developed by the Vanadis Institute, which is notable for pioneering work in mobile suit technology prior to the introduction of GUND FORMAT technology. Among the prototypes created, the Calibarn stands out as a divergence from its predecessors, especially the Lfrith. The Calibarn's design prioritizes mobile suit performance to the extreme, pushing the limits of GUND-ARM capabilities without regard for the pilot's safety. This method resulted in its designation as arguably the most "cursed" of all Gundams, reflecting public opinion about its development history.

In the vast tapestry of the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, the Gundam Calibarn story stands out as a heartbreaking tale of rivalry, peril, and ultimate sacrifice. Developed as a competitor to the XGF-02 Gundam Lfrith, the Calibarn was a strong machine but lacked essential safety features for its pilots due to the lack of GUND Format considerations. This oversight led to the selection of the Lfrith as Ochs Earth's primary Gundam, culminating in the erasure of all development records of the Calibarn.

The Calibarn's odyssey did not conclude with its rejection from mainstream awareness. During the chaotic Vanadis Incident, the Space Assembly League commandeered the Calibarn and dubbed it a "monster" due to its destructive skills. This name anticipated the Calibarn's key position in the next events, as it served as the conduit for Suletta Mercury's daring confrontation with Ericht Samaya and Prospera Mercury. The adversaries had nefarious plans to seize control of the Earth Sphere using Quiet Zero, a scheme that threatened the balance of power within the Gundam universe.

In a desperate attempt to resist the Space Assembly League's Interplanetary Laser Transmission System, which had caused significant damage to the Gundam Aerial Rebuild, Suletta and Ericht staged a daring action. They repurposed the Aerial's GUND Bits for the Calibarn and added to their weaponry by gaining possession of the Gundam Pharact and Gundam Schwarzette. They worked together to create an unparalleled data storm with the goal of remotely deactivating the deadly interplanetary laser.

While this method was successful in stopping the immediate threat, it had serious ramifications. The resulting data storm unleashed a devastating force, destroying all machines in its path that used the GUND Format, including the Calibarn itself. This unselfish act of sacrifice established the Calibarn's final legacy, changing it from a "monster" to a symbol of redemption.

The Calibarn's story exemplifies the sacrifice and redemption themes that go throughout the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series. It emphasizes the complicated nature of the machines and their pilots, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of their actions in the larger plot. The Calibarn's destruction served as both a beacon of hope and a reminder of the sacrifices of maintaining peace and justice in a turbulent galaxy.