A Colossal Arrival in High Grade Form
Bandai Hobby has unveiled one of the most ambitious entries in the High Grade Gunpla line to date. The HG 1/144 Alyzeus, based on the mechanized behemoth featured in Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, represents a significant leap in scale and engineering for the 1/144 scale series. Standing at an imposing 25 centimeters when fully assembled, this kit towers over standard High Grade offerings while also exceeding the height of many Master Grade models, creating an immediate presence on any display shelf.
The TX-ff104 Alyzeus serves as a centerpiece mobile weapon in the latest theatrical installment of the Hathaway’s Flash trilogy, which continues the Universal Century timeline following the events of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack. This massive prototype unit plays a crucial role in the atmospheric combat sequences that define the film’s visual spectacle, making its transition to plastic model form a highly anticipated event for collectors and builders alike. The mobile suit’s appearance marks a significant moment in the ongoing conflict between the Earth Federation and the rebel organization Mafty Navue Erin.
What distinguishes this release is not merely its size but the complete redesign required to capture the mobile suit’s complexity. Bandai has created an entirely new mold specifically for this kit, utilizing advanced molding techniques to achieve exceptional color separation and mechanical detail. The gray-toned armor plates feature intricate surface textures that replicate the sensor missile pods and massive thruster arrays visible in the cinematic version, while the distinctive annular plasma reactor receives clear plastic parts to simulate the glowing energy core seen in the anime.
Bandai’s packaging design complements the kit’s grandeur with original box art depicting the mobile suit soaring against a morning sun backdrop. This presentation creates immediate visual impact for collectors who prize packaging aesthetics alongside build quality, establishing the Alyzeus as a standout release in the crowded Gunpla marketplace.
Four Distinct Configurations in One Box
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of this release is the engineering that allows builders to recreate four separate operational modes through parts swapping and strategic reconfiguration. This versatility transforms a single purchase into multiple display options, addressing various narrative moments from the film while maximizing value for enthusiasts who appreciate display variety.
The primary configuration, MS Form, presents the Alyzeus in its standard mobile suit configuration with all armor plates and flight equipment attached. This mode showcases the unit’s full bulk and aggressive silhouette, emphasizing the heavy armor and weapon loadout that define its combat role. Every armor plate locks into position to create the intimidating profile that dominates the skies in the film’s aerial engagements.
The second option, Flight Form, streamlines the profile by reconfiguring specific armor sections to reduce air resistance. This configuration mimics the high speed aerial maneuvers depicted in the movie’s chase sequences, where the Alyzeus pursues enemy units through cloud banks and urban canyons. The transformation mechanism involves specific joint adjustments that angle the thruster banks for optimal atmospheric propulsion.
The third configuration holds particular emotional resonance for fans of the narrative. The Alyzeus Half-Destroyed State recreates the battle-damaged appearance that triggers protagonist Hathaway Noa’s post-traumatic stress disorder during critical story moments. By combining specific connection parts with components from the Mass Production Type Nu Gundam core, builders can assemble a silhouette that deliberately echoes the legendary RX-93 Nu Gundam and its iconic fin funnels. This visual callback creates a haunting reminder of previous Universal Century conflicts and their lasting psychological impact on the characters.
The fourth and most technically impressive option reveals the Mass Production Type Nu Gundam in its Separated State. This represents a completely new design created specifically for this kit release, featuring unique sub-arms concealed within the front skirt armor that deploy beam sabers for close quarters combat. When combined with the remaining Alyzeus armor components attached to the left shoulder, this configuration creates a striking visual parallel to the original Nu Gundam’s legendary armaments, offering builders a display option that bridges different eras of the Gundam saga.
The Engineering Behind the Giant
Understanding the Alyzeus requires familiarity with its fictional origins within the Gundam universe. Developed by Anaheim Electronics, the same manufacturing conglomerate responsible for many iconic mobile weapons in the Universal Century, the TX-ff104 served as an emergency training unit constructed specifically for Lane Aim. Its purpose was to provide high speed flight practice prior to the formal deployment of the RX-104FF Penelope, another massive mobile suit featured prominently in the Hathaway saga.
The design philosophy centers on the RX-94 Mass Production Type Nu Gundam as its core frame, encased in prototype armor components originally intended for Penelope testing phases. Twenty parallel thrusters distributed throughout the body compensate for the incomplete Minovsky Flight Unit, utilizing an older plasma jet engine propulsion system rather than advanced I-field technology. Despite these limitations, the parallel thruster configuration enables flight capabilities comparable to its more advanced successor, creating a temporary solution that proved effective in combat scenarios.
Bandai’s engineers have meticulously replicated these mechanical features, including the distinctive circular plasma reactor visible through the chest armor. The 20 individual thruster nozzles are individually molded and positioned to match the animation reference materials, while the sensor missile pods arranged across the exterior receive detailed surface treatments. The color palette incorporates white, black, green, and yellow molded plastics to minimize painting requirements, though stickers remain necessary for smaller details such as chest air intakes and dark blue prototype beam rifle sections.
Given the extreme weight of the fully armored configuration, Bandai includes a dedicated display base engineered to support the model in all four of its transformation states. This support system proves essential for maintaining dynamic poses without stressing the joint mechanisms, particularly when displaying the unit in aerial configurations that would otherwise require impractical balancing acts. The base accommodates the various center of gravity shifts that occur between the different armor configurations.
Weapons and Accessories
The Alyzeus arrives with a comprehensive arsenal that enables builders to recreate specific combat sequences from Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. The primary ranged weapon, a prototype beam rifle, features dark blue coloration requiring sticker application to achieve screen accuracy. This experimental weapon complements the unit’s testing-phase aesthetic while providing substantial firepower for display scenarios that depict the mobile suit engaging Federation forces.
Close combat options include two standard beam sabers that store within the mobile suit’s frame when not in use. During the Mass Production Type Nu Gundam configuration, these weapons deploy from the concealed sub-arms located in the front skirt armor, creating a four armed combat stance that surprises opponents in the narrative. The sub-arms articulate independently from the main manipulators, allowing for complex posing that suggests simultaneous ranged and melee engagements.
Additional armor plates allow builders to customize the defensive profile between the different modes, while multiple sets of hand parts facilitate various gripping poses for the included weaponry. The kit also contains a comprehensive sticker sheet for adding mechanical details, warning labels, and color corrections to specific armor sections. While the molding achieves impressive color separation out of the box, these decals help achieve the intricate panel lining and technical markings visible in the anime’s high definition combat sequences.
Release Information and Pricing
Bandai has scheduled the HG 1/144 Alyzeus for general retail release on Saturday, April 25, 2026. This date positions the kit as a major spring release for the Gunpla line, coinciding with the theatrical marketing campaign for Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe. The simultaneous release ensures that fans experiencing the film can immediately acquire the physical representation of its most impressive mechanical creation without enduring lengthy waiting periods.
Pricing reflects the kit’s exceptional size and complexity. In Japan, the retail price stands at 13,200 yen including tax, which converts to approximately $86 USD or £68 GBP. North American retailers list the kit at roughly $90 SGD or equivalent regional pricing, positioning it as a premium High Grade offering that rivals the cost of some Master Grade kits while delivering unique display presence. The price point accounts for the entirely new mold construction and the sheer volume of plastic required to achieve the 25-centimeter stature.
Availability extends through standard hobby goods stores, online retailers such as HobbyLink Japan, and specialized Gundam merchandise outlets. Given the kit’s significance as one of the largest High Grade releases in recent memory, initial stock may face high demand from collectors and builders seeking to secure this distinctive addition to their displays. The general retail status suggests regular restocking, though early adoption ensures immediate access to this engineering achievement before potential supply constraints develop.
The Hathaway Gunpla Lineup
The Alyzeus does not arrive alone in Bandai’s April 2026 release schedule. The manufacturer has coordinated multiple kits from the Hathaway’s Flash universe to provide builders with comprehensive options for recreating the film’s mechanized conflicts. Releasing simultaneously on April 25 is the HG 1/144 Xi Gundam (Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe Version), priced at 7,700 yen.
This updated Xi Gundam kit includes new armaments specifically designed to recreate the movie’s climactic final sequences, including a beam rifle barrel holder, battle-damaged shield, and specialized manipulator hands. Builders can select between standard head components or the distinctive Gundam Face configuration that appears during the story’s resolution. Like its Alyzeus counterpart, this kit transforms between Mobile Suit and Flight forms through parts swapping, maintaining consistency in the engineering approach across the product line.
Following in May 2026, the HG 1/144 Messer M01 Type (Gauman’s Machine) introduces the customized mobile suit piloted by Mafty veteran Gauman Nobil. This variant features almost entirely newly molded parts to distinguish it from the standard F Type Messer, including unpainted gray armor on the left shoulder that reflects the unit’s rushed field deployment. The desert yellow and reddish-brown color scheme creates visual variety alongside the more futuristic Alyzeus and Xi Gundam, representing the diverse technological approaches within the Mafty organization.
Complementing these model kits, Bandai has released specialized water slide decal sets specifically designed for Hathaway’s Flash mobile suits, allowing builders to add authentic caution marks and organizational emblems that enhance the military realism of their completed models. These coordinated releases demonstrate Bandai’s commitment to supporting the Hathaway narrative through comprehensive plastic model coverage, ensuring that every major mobile suit variant from the film receives appropriate representation in the Gunpla lineup.
Key Points
- The HG 1/144 Alyzeus releases on April 25, 2026, priced at 13,200 yen (approximately $86 USD).
- The kit stands 25 centimeters tall when assembled, making it one of the largest High Grade Gunpla ever produced.
- Four distinct configurations can be built: MS Form, Flight Form, Half-Destroyed State, and Mass Production Type Nu Gundam Separated State.
- The design is based on the TX-ff104 from Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe, developed by Anaheim Electronics as a training unit for the Penelope project.
- Accessories include a prototype beam rifle, two beam sabers, additional armor, multiple hand parts, stickers, and a dedicated display base to support the heavy structure.
- The companion HG Xi Gundam releases the same day, with the HG Messer M01 Type following in May 2026.
