History Anime / GundamBuildFighters

* CheatersNeverProsper: Practically AnAesop. Everyone who tries to cheat or play dirty by bending the rules is eventually smacked down, usually in a publicly humiliating fashion.

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', started airing in October 2014. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack,]]'' [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017]]. Futher sequels with the now called ''Anime/GundamBuildSeries'' would follow with 2018's ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'', 2019's ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' and 2023's ''Anime/GundamBuildMetaverse''.

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', started airing in October 2014. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack,]]'' [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017]]. Futher sequels with the now called Anime/GundamBuildSeries would follow with 2018's ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'', 2019's ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' and 2023's ''Anime/GundamBuildMetaverse''.

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', started airing in October 2014. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack,]]'' [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017]]. Futher sequels would follow with 2018's ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'', 2019's ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise'' and 2023's ''Anime/GundamBuildMetaverse''.

** In Episode 15, Build Strike and Wing Fenice headbutt each other in a reference to ''Anime/{{Scryed}}''. [[note]]doubles as an ActorAllusion; the two rivals in ''s-CRY-ed'' were voiced by Creator/SoichiroHoshi and Creator/HikaruMidorikawa, who also played Kira Yamato and Heero Yuy--the pilots of the Strike and Wing Gundams respectively[[/note]]

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', started airing in October 2014. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack,]]'' [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017.]]

Also has a 2018 SpiritualSuccessor series and 2019 sequel, ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'' and ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise''

* DidntSeeThatComing: Meijin did not expect [[spoiler:the GM Sniper K9 to have an [=EXAM=] system]]. At the same time, the Renato brothers [[spoiler:didn't expect Meijin to lead them to the forgotten jettisoned weapon binder, and were definitely ''not'' expecting his gatling gun.]]

* DayInTheLimelight: Episode 8 focuses almost entirely on newcomers Nils and Aila. Sei only makes two brief appearances.

* LighterAndSofter: It's show about kids making and battling Gundam models in order ToBeAMaster, a far cry from the usual tales of [[WarIsHell horrifying world wars]].

* SurprisinglyGoodEnglish: Throughout the series, the random bits of English text shown on computer screens are always in perfect English; examples include Nils' research on Greco in Episode 8 and the Internet comments about Kawaguchi in Episode 18[[note]]The latter even pulls off a {{Pun}}, with one comment asking "Is the Kampfer Amazing because he's 'A Meijin'?"[[/note]]. However, there is one noteworthy instance of {{Engrish}}: In the final episode, the sub-header on the news article announcing that [[spoiler:Nils managed to re-create the Plavsky Particle]]. Justtified, the article is on Japanese website.
** At one point, Allan shouts out a well-accented "Perfect!" in the middle of an otherwise Japanese sentence.

** Even one of the show's own memes (Gundam Valhalla) became ascended, with WordOfPaul (as related by Mao's VA Minami Fuji) confirming that all ''Gundam'' characters exist in ''Build Fighters''' world and live happy, peaceful lives.

* BreakoutCharacter: Ramba Ral, a [[MonsterOfTheWeek Villain Of The Week]] turned EnsembleDarkhorse from all the way back in the 1979 ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', returns to serve as a regular supporting character in ''Build Fighters''.

** He hasn't appeared on-screen, but the fact that [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Patrick Mannequin]], aka "The Immortal" EnsembleDarkhorse from ''Gundam 00'', is a finalist in the tournament made many fans very excited.
** Just look at the [[MythologyGag/GundamBuildFighters Mythology Gag page]]. It also doesn't hurt that [[WordOfPaul one of the voice actors]] has said that "In the world of Build Fighters, all Gundam characters live in peace," making this a sort of Gundam Valhalla for the franchise.

* AceCustom: Wholly encouraged and practically the main selling point of the franchise, in and out of universe. Any well made custom gunpla will beat bog standard ones in terms of performance.

''Gundam Build Fighters'' is a 2013 ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' animated series directed by Kenji Nagasaki ''(LightNovel/No6)'' and written by Yosuke Kuroda (''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''). It takes the idea of Gunpla battles from ''Anime/ModelSuitGunplaBuildersBeginningG'' further.

** The Gundam X Maoh's ability to compress and release Plavsky Particles and the special feature of the Star Build Strike's Absorb Shield has a sound effect and function that is almost similar to [[LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex Accelerator's]] [[AttackReflector Vector Manipulation]].

* WeAllLiveInAmerica: Well, Japan in this case. A very egregious example happens in Episode 20, when everybody from Team Nemesis bows towards its president the Japanese way after he left the scene, except they're supposed to be ''Finnish''.
** On the other hand, this is ''defied like hell'' in the same episode: [[spoiler:One can suppose Kirara, being Japanese, could easily understand the reasons why the Italian Fellini is trying to self-destruct his Gunpla. It turns out she's ''calling him out'' for trying to do this kind of behavior and he changes his mind after that]].[[note]]It's very possible since the series is geared toward younger audiences, Sunrise doesn't want to promote ''[[spoiler:suicide]]'', even if it's handled in a figurative sense. Taking into account how common this problem is in Japan, this is justified.[[/note]]

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', aired in the Fall2014Anime season. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack,]]'' [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017.]]

** There's also Mao and Misaki, which again is also PlayedForLaughs, because even though he does manage to go on a date with her, [[spoiler:it [[ArmorPiercingSlap quickly ends]] when he tries to kiss her]].

* DirtyOldMan: Master Chinan's favorite female Gundam character is ''SEED'''s Murrue Ramius. His reason for liking her? Her boobs {{Gainaxing}} whenever the ''Archangel'' took a hit. Even so, he's unashamed to admit it (complete with hentai eyes and drool), which quite ironically [[spoiler:is a hint toward the Gunpla Shingyo School's true philosophy[[note]]which is actually played straight and completely non-perverted[[/note]].]]

** Episode 17 briefly pokes fun at ''SEED'''s tendency to subject Murrue Ramius to {{Gainaxing}} at every opportunity.
** Episode 20 has a lecture about how stupid self destructing your unit is, poking fun on the tendencies of the suits from ''Wing'' being blown up.

* StealthHiBye: [[TeleportersAndTransporters Reiji]] makes a habit of this. It's often lampshaded.

* TeleportersAndTransporters: Reiji gets teleported most likely to where he comes from whenever his time is up.

%% * GettingCrapPastThe Radar: Due to overwhelming and persistent misuse, GCPTR is on-page examples only until 01 June 2021. If you are reading this in the future, please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.

''Gundam Build Fighters'' aired from October 7, 2013, to March 31, 2014, on Creator/TVTokyo and [=Gundam.Info=]. Has a {{prequel}} manga, ''Gundam Build Fighters Amazing'', that focuses on Tatsuya Yuuki's life before the TV show. A sequel anime, ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', aired in the Fall2014Anime season. In 2017 a couple of new [[OriginalVideoAnimation OVAs]] were also announced, namely ''[[https://youtu.be/yaKxzLFfNW4 Gundam Build Fighters: GM's Counterattack]]'', [[{{Interquel}} set 3 years after the events of the original series,]] and ''Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue'', set at random points within the same continuity (covering ''Try''), [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5ihIVEB3LY available online from August 2017.]]

* AllPartOfTheShow: In Episode 11, PPSE claims that the [[spoiler: 1/48 Mega Sized Zaku]] storming the battlefield was part of a special stage event.
* AlmightyJanitor: Despite largely being a side character and not an active Fighter, Mr. Ral is instantly recognized (and respected) almost everywhere he goes, and has a vast knowledge of the Gunpla world that allows him to influence events. [[spoiler: The finale shows he is indeed an incredibly powerful Gunpla battler worthy of the respect he's given.]]

* AscendedExtra: Gawain in ''GM's Counterattack''. In the main series he only had about one sentence worth of lines, no personality, and existed only to get his ass kicked by Alia to establish how good at Gunpla Battle she was. In the OVA, he's given a [[AgentPeacock flamboyant, beauty obsessed personality]], a habit of painting his Gunpla in absurdly gaudy colors, and an obsession with creating "the world's most beautiful Gunpla." [[spoiler: Also he joined the Gunpla Mafia after he was fired from Team Nemesis.]]

** More of ''Attack Of The 5 Foot Whatever'', Episode 11 ends with an appearance of [[spoiler: a giant [=1/48=] Mega Size Zaku II vs [=1/144=] scale Gundams that are normally 7 inches tall]].

** [[spoiler: And for the final battle in Episode 25, we have ''all four couples''--Sei/China, Reiji/Aila, Fellini/Kirara & Nils/Caroline--going into battle with their gunpla.]]

* BigBad: Chairman Mashita is the closest the series has to one, doing everything in his power to eliminate Sei and Reiji from the world tournament [[spoiler: because he is a criminal from Arian]]. Made more apparent by the second opening, in which [[spoiler:Mashita is shown sitting in classic Bond Villain styling and sporting a SlasherSmile while the silhouette of the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Exia Dark Matter]] flashes its eyes in the background]].

** Reiji tries to do this in Episode 20, [[spoiler: But is {{One Hit Kill}}ed by Aila.]]

** China and Aila are down, Sei and Reiji are desperately trying to protect them, and are close to being overwhelmed...[[spoiler: and then Yuuki arrives in the Amazing Exia Repair and curbstomps the mooks.]]
--> [[spoiler: '''Yuuki''']]: [[spoiler: Rage on, Exia! TRANS-AM!]][[note]]''Moeagare, Exia! TRANS-AM![[/note]]
** Even then, he just buys them a little breathing room, until [[spoiler: Takeshi shows up in the Perfect Gundam]] and blasts a hole through the Colony Laser, and then unloads his beam cannon on the mooks, giving Reiji and Sei the chance to go for the crystal.

*** [[spoiler: The Gunpla Mafia boss drains everyone of Plavsky particles, and is about to land the finishing blow on Sei, who's struggling to move his gunpla... and then like the wind, Reiji appears!]]

* BlingBlingBang: Gawain's Baund Doc in ''GM's Counterattack'' is painted metallic gold and ''coated with Diamonds''. [[spoiler: That Diamond coating makes it practically invincible against Beam Weapons.]]
* BookEnds: [[spoiler: Sei and Yuuki's final match]] in the final episode is an exact mirror of Reiji's first battle against Sazaki in the first episode, with [[spoiler: Sei]] emulating Reiji's fighting style.

* CassandraTruth: Reiji believes this whenever he reveals his backstory [[spoiler: of being the crown prince of a country from another world called Arian]], since everybody who hears it laughs at how ridiculous it is. [[spoiler: Except for Mashita, a petty thief from Arian who stole the artifact that made Gunpla Battle possible at all in the first place]].

** When Kirara [[spoiler: attempts to sabotage the Build Strike's joints before a match, she's defeated by the Build Strike's jet-fighter-like booster pack.]]
** When the Renato brothers [[spoiler: bend the unit deployment rules to try and sabotage the Kampfer Amazing mid-fight, Meijin snatches victory from them and guns down their suit and its support unit.]]
** Caroline's attempt to humiliate China by [[spoiler: buying a souped-up custom Gunpla built by an expert for the girl's-only tournament ends in her Knight Gundam being literally and physically thrown out of the match]].
** The Flana Institute [[spoiler: attempting to push an illegal system modification--Embody--through as a cosplay eventually results in Aila snapping at them, quitting the team, and ruining what was implied to be a very profitable sponsorship for them. When they try to do the same to Yuuki, Sei and Reiji snap him out of it too and it brings down the house on Chairman Mashita and PPSE after the Arista crystals start going haywire.]]
** Even the mysterious "C," [[spoiler: the mafia man who tries and fails to sabotage Sei and Reiji's events at the tournament and outside of it, eventually ends up being beaten up by Ral, then falling into a urinal and flushed before being arrested by Takeshi.]]
** Special credit goes to [[spoiler: Chairman Mashita, who repeatedly tries to rig the entire tournament to cheat Sei and Reiji out of any legitimate chance at victory, and fails miserably every single time in increasingly unexpected, very highly visible ways, garning all the attention that he ''didn't'' want on Sei and Reiji.]]

** Aila's helmet as well. Previously implied to just be used to hide her identity, Episodes 20 and 21 reveal that [[spoiler: it actually has a program in it called the Embody System which improves her combat skills and increases her reaction time. And at full output, it comes [[MindRape at the cost of her consciousness]]]].

** Mao kind of goes through this for a few episodes after [[spoiler: his date goes very wrong]], culminating in [[spoiler: the Gundam X Maoh getting blown to bits in a training battle against Julian's F91 Imagine]].

* CombinationAttack: An absolutely devastating one pulled off in Episode 25 by [[spoiler: Mr. Ral and Master Chinan. Ral uses his Gouf's Heat Rod to create a vortex that sucks in vast numbers of surrounding enemies, leaving them easy prey to the [[DivingKick Chinan Kick!!]].]]

** NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Aila to Fellini's Fenice and [[spoiler: the Dark Matter to the Star Build Strike in the first half of their fight.]]
** The greatest and most hotblooded example of this is in Episode 25, [[spoiler: when Ral and Chinan use their CombinationAttack to destroy a ridiculously awesome number of mooks, before just killing the fuck out of everything they see]].

** [[DeathInTheLimelight Defeat In The Limelight]]: Typically whenever one of the major rivals are about to lose in the tournament, a good chunk of the episode is dedicated to them and their motivations. The ones so far have included [[spoiler: Fellini, Mao, the Renato Twins, Nils, and Aila]].

* DidntSeeThatComing: Meijin did not expect [[spoiler: the GM Sniper K9 to have an [=EXAM=] system]]. At the same time, the Renato brothers [[spoiler: didn't expect Meijin to lead them to the forgotten jettisoned weapon binder, and were definitely ''not'' expecting his gatling gun.]]

* DynamicEntry: Several times in Episode 25. First is Mao unleashing the Crossbone X Maoh's Satellite Cannon on the mooks, and then [[spoiler: Master Chinan and Ral, who barge in, rally the cast, and then unleash their ridiculously awesomely hotblooded CombinationAttack]].

** To be specific, the era of Fellini and Roman was characterized by fighters who were highly skilled with slightly custom Gunpla. The "new" generation, epitomized by Nils, use highly modified Gunpla which manipulate Plavsky particles to their advantage.[[spoiler: Ral and Master Chinan prove that there's still a place for the old guys, as their BigDamnHeroes moment proves.]]

* EvasiveFightThreadEpisode: Episode 23. [[spoiler: [[DramaPreservingHandicap Reiji and a basic Gunpla]] versus [[TookALevelInBadass Sei and a custom Gunpla]].]] Who wins? They don't show us.

** There's also one in the final episode. [[spoiler: When Aila goes to Arian with Reiji, observe the Arista she's wearing--it's glowing.]]

* GoneHorriblyRight: A softer example. [[spoiler: Aila has the ability to sense and see the flow of Plavsky particles. This usually allows her to preempt her opponents, but in her battle with Reiji, the RG System's particle output is so high it blinds her, allowing Reiji an easy hit.]]

** [[spoiler: Nils offers to take a dive for Sei and Reiji, if they'll tell him the secret of Plavsky particles (since he suspects PPSE will welch on their promise). Both boys refuse, and Reiji challenges him to fight for real.]]

** ShowyInvincibleHero: While it finishes fights with the Build Knuckle and wins 99% of the time (hey didn't [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam some other guy always end with the same finisher?]]), what leads up to the Build Knuckle can vary wildly and is typically fun to watch. In one episode the Star Build Strike can be in a strategic battle that echoes the Universal Century, but in a later episode it'll be in a kung-fu battle straight out of G Gundam. And the Absorb/Release System [[spoiler: gets one final hurrah in the next to last episode, where the Aqua Mode is finally revealed.]]
* JokeCharacter: Ral-san's favorite Gunpla. He's a decent pilot, and the Gouf itself a great machine... but his kit is a ''Best Mecha Collection'' Gouf, a really old model with crappy articulations that really can't compare to the newer stuff in terms of mobility. Reiji keeps trashing it (a melee oriented suit at that!) by rushing in and beam saber-ing it to death. [[spoiler: His actual combat gunpla is a different matter, however.]]

** Ral is also a believer in this. [[spoiler: His Gouf R35 is equipped with ''ten'' autocannons and two heat swords.]]

** [[spoiler: Its second form is the Fenice Rinascita. "Rinascita" is Italian for "rebirth".]]

* MiracleRally: [[TheBigRace In Episode 14]], after breaking free from the enemy gunpla that was holding them up, Sei and Reiji active Star Build Strike's Discharge Mode and make a mad dash for the finish line. [[spoiler: Unfortunately for them, it's Discharge Mode runs out of juice in the final straight, causing Star Build to come in second place.]]

** Episode 23 is a dedicated breather episode, with funny and heartwarming moments aplenty and a thrilling battle between Reiji and [[spoiler: Sei]] at the end. Fast forward to TheStinger where we see [[spoiler:a very [[BrainwashedandCrazy brainwashed]] looking Tatsuya standing with the completed Exia Dark Matter, saying that it's time to battle.]]

* NoMoreHoldingBackSpeech: Sei gives a speech during his final battle [[spoiler: with Yuuki]], stating how his friends and family have helped him become a better Gunpla builder and fighter.

** Nils and Caroline, with Caroline initially saying Nils is her boyfriend, and then upgrading him to her fiance a few episodes later. [[spoiler: In the end, they're still together, and were on the International Space Station recreating Plavsky Particles]].

* RecruitedFromTheGutter: Aila was "rescued" [[spoiler: as a poverty stricken orphan]] by Nine Barthes, who treats her less than pleasantly. [[spoiler:Later Reiji rescues her from ''him'' and she goes to Arian with him in the finale]].

** Also seen with Nils and Caroline. At first, he's just her belonging. Then, in Episode 19, Caroline upgrades him to her boyfriend. Then, in Episode 23, she declares him to be her fiancee. Though the show prefers to play it for laughs. [[spoiler: Though the epilogue implies they're pretty much together for reals.]]
*** [[spoiler: ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'' confirms they got married.]]

* ShipTease: Sei x China and Reiji x Aila get heavily implied throughout the series, without either actually becoming a couple. [[spoiler: The ending pretty strongly implies both couples are together.]]
** PlayedForLaughs in case of Fellini x Mihoshi, who appear to be dating during the world tournament, only for Fellini to regularly screw things up, though they eventually hook up. [[spoiler: And as Episode 23 shows, when it comes to Mihoshi, Fellini is completely whipped.]]
** There's also Mao and Misaki, which again is also PlayedForLaughs, because even though he does manage to go on a date with her, [[spoiler: it [[ArmorPiercingSlap quickly ends]] when he tries to kiss her]].

** In Episode 25, right before the [[spoiler: Miss Sazabi]] deploys, it is seen with a BadassArmFold, that with it's head-crest and mono-eye, makes it look like another [[Anime/{{Gunbuster}} badass mech piloted]] by an ActionGirl.

* StopHavingFunGuys: In-universe. Yeah this show does get a bit [[SeriousBusiness serious]] with it's toys but most of the characters play it in good fun. A couple do have this mindset however such as the Renato brothers and Meijin and only seem to care about winning. [[spoiler: However, in the later's case, it's a ruse to subvert the image set upon by the second Meijin, who believed in this, and show that Gunpla is supposed to be used for fun.]]

** And then a more spectacular example occurs in Episode 22, as Meijin activates [[spoiler: Trans-Am]] set to "Meijin - Six Times the Passion of Ordinary Flamenco."

** She also has been losing her cool more and more as Sei and Reiji continues through the tournament finals; by [[spoiler: Nils's defeat]] she is left speechless.
* WaveMotionGun: One was spotted inside the [[spoiler: A Baoa Qu fortress]] in Episode 25, [[spoiler:which took out China and Aila's Gunpla.]]

** On the other hand, this is ''defied like hell'' in the same episode: [[spoiler: One can suppose Kirara, being Japanese, could easily understand the reasons why the Italian Fellini is trying to self-destruct his Gunpla. It turns out she's ''calling him out'' for trying to do this kind of behavior and he changes his mind after that]].[[note]]It's very possible since the series is geared toward younger audiences, Sunrise doesn't want to promote ''[[spoiler:suicide]]'', even if it's handled in a figurative sense. Taking into account how common this problem is in Japan, this is justified.[[/note]]
* WeWillMeetAgain: In Episode 1, after his attempt to locate Reiji falls flat, Sei dramatically vows that they ''will'' meet again. [[spoiler: [[TheStinger They do, once he returns home.]]]]

** Episode 20 is this too, [[spoiler: by having Aila destroying the Wing Gundam Fenice and Reiji's Beginning Gundam without any hint of regret or self-constraint (Due to the berserker-like system imposed on her). All this just so the Chairman can see his grandson see the Qubeley Papillion win... and also pulls out TheReveal towards Reiji]].
--->[[spoiler: '''Reiji:''' "I said what are you doing, Aina?!"]]
** Episode 24, all of it: [[spoiler: The chairman is a wanted criminal of Arian who arrived on Earth the same way Reiji did, and the reason he antagonizes him is that he doesn't want to be identified; when cornered in the end, he accidentally summons an entire Space Fortress in the middle of the stadium.]]

** TheStinger for Episode 24, which shows [[spoiler: ''A Baoa Qu'' materializing in the middle of the stadium]].

* {{Metagame}}/GameplayDerailment: A variation: A lot of the newer powerful Gunpla fighters out there have learned to fight using not only their skills and their Gunpla's simulated weapons, but also by manipulating the very particles moving their models. A point is made that Gunpla fighters who haven't adapted, like Greco Logan and Ricardo Fellini, are at a disadvantage.

** Taken UpToEleven (okay, ''three'') in ''Build Fighters Battlogue'' with [[spoiler:the Renato twins being joined by a Renato ''triplet''.]]

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: The first televised Gundam series that isn't some form of SpaceOpera. The body count is also reduced all the way to [[EverybodyLives zero]].
** In-series, the tournament offers a few unusual rounds when leading up to the final 16. Best shown when a relatively normal match between Sei and Luang turns into a ''baseball match''.

* BigDamnHeroes: In Episode 11, when Reiji and Sei come to the aid of Ricardo, who's severely outnumbered by [[FanNickname Team NTR]]. And then, when it seems like they're in over their head [[spoiler:Mao]] pulls off an epic OneHitKill to finish off the fight.

* EnthusiasmVersusStoicism: Nils (stoic) and Greco (enthusiastic)'s fight in Episode 8 is a clear-cut example. In particular, after the Tallgeese Valkyrie loses its arms, Nils tries to convince Greco to surrender and Greco responds by trying to ram the Sengoku Astray into a nearby rock formation.

** Nils's parents are an ace detective (father) and a martial arts master (mother), referencing Manga/DetectiveConan.

* TheAgeless: In the GM's Counterattack OVA, all of the main characters look exactly like they did at the end of the series proper where most of them were 13 and even wear the exact same clothes, even though the events of the OVA take place during Sei's final year in his academy, which is both a middle school and a high school. This would mean that 5 years passed after Build Fighters and it's 2 years before Build Fighters Try.