It's looking like 2020 will be a very good year for people who are into statues of giant fighting robots. First, a massive statue of a Evangelion from the acclaimed anime Neon Genesis Evangelion opened in Kyoto. Now, it's been announced that a life-sized, 59 foot tall, Gundam statue will be built in Shanghai, China.
Gundam is a beloved anime franchise based around giant fighting robots, or mech suits. On top of the series, there have been a number of video game spin offs, mangas, and a host of toys and collectables. It holds a special place in the hearts of many anime fans, as it was one of the first shows to cross into the West.
The statue will be the first ever officially licensed Gundam statue outside of Japan. It will be built in the Japanese-owned Mitsui Shopping Park in LaLaport, Shanghai. If everything goes according to plan, which considering how this year has gone would be a small miracle, the statue is scheduled to be open to the public sometime in 2021.
It's worth noting that this isn't the first Gundam statue to go up in China. Back in 2009, someone built a knock-off Gundam statue in Szechwan, however it was unfortunately torn down to copyright issues.
The fact that there will be an official Gundam statue outside of Japan means that there is hope that one day The United States will have its own memorial to one of the coolest anime of all time. Hopefully that one will have a Hello Kitty easter egg like has been seen in the anime.