The term Gunpla refers to models of robots, characters, or plastic vehicles from the Japanese franchise Gundam, available from Bandai. It is a contraction of “Gundam plastic model” and first appeared in 1980.

The philosophy of Gunpla: a model for everyone! No glue or paint needed.

All Gundam models are characterized by two main features:

• The parts are interchangeable.
• They are pre-colored during construction.

Gunpla are categorized into series (known as “grades”) based on quality and/or size. The main ones are:

• NG No Grade (1980): Pertains to the first models released from 1980.
• HG High Grade (1990): The first high-quality series in 1/144 scale.
• MG Master Grade (1995): Higher quality than HG High Grade, with fully modeled internal mechanisms at 1/100 scale.
• PG Perfect Grade (1998): The most technically advanced series in 1/60 scale.
• FG First Grade (1999): The budget series with clips.
• HGUC High Grade Universal Century (1999): A popular reissue of Universal Century robots.
• EX-model (2001): Series dedicated to vehicles and related flying machines.
• MS Mega Size (2009): Series in 1/48 scale.
• RG Real Grade (2010): Similar to MG Master Grade, with advanced internal skeleton, but in 1/144 size like HG High Grade.
• RE/100 Reborn One Hundred (2014): New 1/100 scale series for Gunpla.
• Super Deformed Gundam or SD Gundam: Japanese franchise of cartoons that refers to the chibi style of Gundam in super-deformed graphics.

The detailed classification is much more complex, as it depends on the scale (from 1/550 to 1/35), enhancements (the master grade series is available in 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 versions), and special editions (such as the Ver.G 30th series released for the franchise's thirtieth anniversary).