Toy company Bandai America has unveiled its 2003 lineup, and along with a previously announced revival of its Godzilla line and new Power Rangers, Gundam and Digimon toys, there was also a hidden announcement of importance for pop culture retailers. Three photos show figures from the Superior Defender series, which Bandai's press release touts as 'the next BIG thing when it comes to robots.' The release goes on to note that the 'Superior Defender television series will debut in Fall 2003 on the Cartoon Network.' The Superior Defender figures are easily recognizable as Super Deformed Gundam figures, clearly indicating that the SD Gundam series is heading for American airwaves in the fall, though its name will apparently be changed to 'Superior Defender,' hardly an improvement over the more descriptive 'Super Deformed.'
The original SD Gundam series appeared in 1988 and is the most comedic of all the Gundam shows. Tetsuro Amino directed these 'squashed' versions of the mighty mobile suits, and the original 10-part SD Gundam video series was so popular in Japan that it spawned two movies, several video sequels, a spin-off SD Warrior Gundam (1989) and its sequel SD Gundam Side Story (1990). Bandai Entertainment, which handles the anime side the Gundam Universe, won't confirm or deny that the SD Gundam series will be on the Cartoon Network this fall, and Cartoon Network scheduling does appear to be in a constant state of flux -- but the fact that Bandai America is bringing out the SD Gundam toys indicates a likelihood that we will get to see the SD Gundam anime at some point in the next 12 months.
