This week on MSB: prog rock, MTV VJs (that's Video DJ for any youngsters in the audience), a science fiction double feature, something even more evil than Ticketmaster, the greatest and only city in the world, and just a little bit of G Gundam. Plus, Nina reports back on three whole episodes of Gundam you've almost certainly never seen!
G...
2026-02-01 00:15:51 +0000 UTC View PostA quick reminder that if you'd like to receive the MSB patron-exclusive Year 6 and Year 7 pins, or our FINAL, extra-special merch box, you must be signed up for an eligible patron tier by 11:59 pm New Yark Time, TODAY, January 31st 2026.
For full details on the pin promotion (including eligibility and exclusions) check out...
2026-01-31 13:00:12 +0000 UTC View Post
Photo by Rabax63 - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0. Available at 2026-01-29 22:47:03 +0000 UTC View Post
As Thom mentioned in Season 11 Episode 1, director Imagawa loves to talk about his inspirations and influences - so we've compiled a list of works he's mentioned, along with some of Imagawa's early work as a director, and have started watching those works!
We will post the latest here, every week or so, for any of you who would like to wa...
2026-01-28 21:30:02 +0000 UTC View PostLong-time Patrons may remember that ever since Season 3 we've been steadily assembling a collection of Gundam ZZ-themed tarot cards, each one illustrated for us by a different fan artist within the Gundam community. Over the next few months we'll be sharing new illustrations, as well as re-posting some of the older ones in higher quality version...
2026-01-27 20:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post
As we phase out physical merch in our patron rewards, we will also be discontinuing a fan-favorite - the 'Fraw Bow and the Orphans' band t-shirt.
While we hope to design (and make available for purchase!) some other MSB t-shirts, this patron-...
2026-01-26 22:34:01 +0000 UTC View Post
This week we're lacing our podcasting gloves up and jumping back into the arena for a brutal and bruising battle, with the fate of the Earth and the colonies hanging in the balance. Rather than our usual pre-season prologue we've decided to get into the action right away with Mobile Fighter G Gundam Episode 1: Gファイト開始! 地球に落...
2026-01-24 14:37:31 +0000 UTC View Post
It's the moment you've all been waiting for! The 13th Gundam Fight is finally here! And now our loyal Patrons can watch (or rewatch) alongside Nina & Thom in preparation for this week's early access podcast release.
Note: this episode includes cussin'. Exercise caution when watching!
To sync this track with you...
2026-01-24 05:01:11 +0000 UTC View PostGetting back into the "booth" this week got me thinking about our process. There's a lot that goes into producing a great-sounding podcast - the recording environment, mics and other equipment, how you process and edit the audio - but one piece you might not have thought of is our pre-recording routine!
We make tea, fill out water bottles...
2026-01-23 01:00:15 +0000 UTC View Post
You can stop looking - new episodes of Mobile Suit Breakdown are BACK, January 24 for paid subscribers and January 31 for the free, public feed!
We are kicking off Season 11, covering Mobile Fighter G Gundam, and will be releasing new episodes weekly - available here ...
2026-01-21 16:26:44 +0000 UTC View Post
It's a short episode this week as Nina wraps up her research on the history of motocross, bringing us forward to the Xtreme sports era of the 1990s, offering our theory on why it took Japan so long to produce an internationally competitive motocross rider, and considering the connotations Duker Iq's biker lifestyle would have carried for a 90s a...
2026-01-20 20:18:44 +0000 UTC View PostSince it's Mobile Fighter G Gundam (not Mobile Suit G Gundam) I proposed a temporary name-change to the podcast, but Nina says we can't use the alternate title because "consistency of branding is important" or something, idk. Anyway, this is what that cover would have looked like!
-Thom
And while you're here...
<... 2026-01-17 00:00:08 +0000 UTC View Post
You have all waited so patiently, through a VERY turbulent year, and the time has finally come - the annual* MSB patron-exclusive pin promo!
Anyone pledging at the $10 or $25 levels, or the legacy Fraw Bow tier, as of January 31, 2026.
Please note: regretfully, we are unable to send pins ...
2026-01-15 21:00:07 +0000 UTC View PostOver SEVEN years have passed since we first launched this Patreon, and a lot has changed since then. With that in mind, we've decided to make some changes to our patron rewards, starting February 2026.
The main change is that, due to rising costs of production and shipping, and the effect of tariffs, we are phasing out most physical merch ...
2026-01-15 19:07:05 +0000 UTC View Post
This week on Mobile Suit Breakdown, an important update about what's coming next for the podcast, plus Nina finally gets to sate her curiosity (and yours) about the origins of motocross, and the state of the sport in the 1990s. And don't miss the real explanation behind Victory Gundam's obsession with bikes and bike battleships: it's all Tomino'...
2026-01-15 18:58:43 +0000 UTC View Post
This week on MSB, environmentalism consultant Colin returns to the program to discuss the role of the environment across the whole grand sweep of Tomino Gundam to this point. Is Tomino actually an environmentalist? Has he always been one, or did he become one at some point? And what does that really mean?
Please listen to it!
2025-12-09 15:58:47 +0000 UTC View Post
A bonus episode? In this economy? It's more likely than you might think!
We just finished watching Gundam Chief Director Tomino Yoshiyuki's 1983 sci-fantasy mecha isekai show Aura Battler Dunbine as part of prepping for Season 11 of the main podcast, and we though you might want to hear a few of our thoughts.
Note: contains...
2025-11-18 18:28:30 +0000 UTC View Post
The first of our Season 10 extra research episodes is ready, and as always our patrons get early access! This week, Nina explores the long history of diapers around the world and in Japan to better understand the subtext and significance of Karlmann's cloth diapers. Please listen to it!
Books and articles:
I've been iterating a new t-shirt design based off the Zaku-daruma print I made for our SD season - the new one is inspired by samurai helmets and the Musha Gundam.
The design will eventually incorporate some calligraphy and, also inspired by SD Gundam, we've picked some ateji (kanji chosen for their reading/sound) for "podcast" /...
2025-10-22 16:16:51 +0000 UTC View PostPrepping for the G Gundam season means tidying and archiving files related to Season 10 and Victory Gundam - and I found a few Victory Gundam faces and other screenshots that I hadn't shared! So without further ado ~
Uso really goes through it those last few episodes, doesn't he?
We've been so busy we missed the day itself (classic us!), but September 1st market the 7th anniversary of our very first episode!
When we started, we weren't sure if anyone would be interested in this wildly ambitious project we'd decided to call Mobile Suit Breakdown. Your enthusiasm and support - whether you recommend u...
2025-09-26 11:00:37 +0000 UTC View Post
What have we been doing? On this edition of UNGUNDAM we're falling into old habits, trying new things, and getting back to our roots.
2025-09-22 15:56:03 +0000 UTC View PostHere's a quick mini-episode to keep you all up to date on what we've been up to behind the scenes as we prepare for Season 11!
2025-09-22 15:53:40 +0000 UTC View Post
Even after 7 years of watching and thinking about Gundam, no other song comes close!
While I'm talking music, "Gallant Char" is also great (it figures that Char would get not one but TWO great t...
2025-09-16 16:22:11 +0000 UTC View Post
To my mind, the most difficult aspect of analyzing artwork from another culture is the lack of knowledge about common symbols and allusions. I may not always understand a biblical reference in a piece of art, but I can generally tell when one is being made. I recognize visual references to famous works of art like The Thinker, The Last ...
2025-09-10 01:00:03 +0000 UTC View Post
We decided that enough time had passed since it first opened - it was time for us to visit the new Bandai Namco Cross Store in Brooklyn, NY!
The store is in Industry City - a redeveloped, formerly industrial s...
2025-09-02 22:06:04 +0000 UTC View Post
Thank you all for your patience and your kind words of sympathy. We're ready to talk about Gundam once again, and this week a question from a listener prompts us to look back at the whole Tomino Era of Gundam, and on that perfect note we end Season 10.
NOTE: There is some mildly suggestive language in the outtakes.
2025-07-12 15:30:21 +0000 UTC View PostTigris passed away in her sleep yesterday afternoon, lying on her favorite blanket and surrounded by her favorite people.
She was born 19 years ago in a barn which abutted the home of a friend of mine, and I found her and her sister living under their porch. I lured them home with me using a bag of deli turkey, and she survived for 16 year...
2025-06-17 17:32:03 +0000 UTC View Post
We apologize for the delay on this episode. Tigris the Podcat has been quite sick and all our focus has gone to her care.
But we're back and this week we answer most of the outstanding listener questions, ranging from Haro t...
2025-06-13 16:36:14 +0000 UTC View Post
Part one?? That's right, on this week's episode of MSB we start to answer your many thought-provoking questions about Victory Gundam. From the show's position on the role of women in society to its music to its relationship to Japan's New Religions, this episode has everything! And if everything isn't enough for you, then just wait for...
2025-06-02 23:44:42 +0000 UTC View Post