For decades, mecha fans have built model kits. What fuels this preoccupation, and what can we learn from the history of miniatures about mecha anime?
Latest Zimmerit ‘Zine Now Available
Hobby Shopping: Japanese Model Shop Ads 1980-89 is now available on our revamped web shop.
The ’80s Mechanical Designer Who Left Early: Akira Kagami
A quick look at a little known mechanical designer turned manga artist.
Not So Big in Japan: Heavy Metal Miniatures
After the release of Dungeons & Dragons in Japan in 1985, hobby magazines began pushing imported metal miniatures to hobbyists. Despite regular coverage for a few years, miniatures as a model hobby never seemed to catch on.
Suehiro Maruo’s Rubber Hell: Showa Horror & Tokusatsu
Suehiro Maruo crafted a world of erotic nightmare, but lingering in the corner are Godzilla and Ultraman. Let’s look at how tokusatsu has influenced the work of this legendary ero-guro mangaka.
Akira Toriyama’s Mechanical Designs
Our latest video explores the history and influences of Akira Toriyama’s work in mechanical design throughout his career.
Super Deformed Swan Song: ARTMIC’s Scramble Wars
While not the last ARTMIC OVA, it feels like the end of an era.
Koba-Kondoh Document Now Available
Just a quick post to mention that we’ve re-opened shop.zimmerit.moe with copies of the Koba-Kondoh Document, our latest Patreon-funded ‘zine. There’s some other new stuff on there, too. shop.zimmerit.moe
Syd Mead’s First Mobile Suits
Tom dives further into the publication history of Syd Mead’s Gundam movie concept art and examines rarely seen original sketches.
Goodbye, Daicon Film: When Gainax Made Appleseed
In 1988, Gainax staff produced a three minute live-action promotional video to help market the Appleseed OVA. In 2024, Zimmerit made a video about it.