The term Gunpla refers to the plastic mecha models, characters or vehicles from the Japanese Gundam franchise marketed by Bandai; it is a contraction of " Gundam plastic model ". It first appeared in 1980.

THE GUNPLA PHILOSOPHY: MODELS FOR EVERYONE! "without glue or paint

All Gundam models are characterised by two essential properties:

- the parts fit together

- and they are moulded in colour.

Gunpla are classified into ranges (called "grades") according to their quality and/or size. The main ones are :

• NG No Grade (1980), although the term does not appear until much later, it refers retrospectively to the first models released in 1980.
• HG High Grade (1990), the first high-grade range in 1/144 scale.
• MG Master Grade (1995), of higher quality than the HG High Grade with, for example, the internal mechanics fully modelled in 1/100 scale.
• PG Perfect Grade (1998), the most technically advanced range in 1/60 scale.
• FG First Grade (1999), an inexpensive clip-on range.
• HGUC High Grade Universal Century (1999), a popular reissue of the Universal Century robots.
• EX-model (2001), a range dedicated not to robots but to related vehicles and flying machines.
• MS Mega Size (2009), 1/48 scale range.
• RG Real Grade (2010), similar to the MG Master Grade with an advanced internal skeleton but in 1/144 scale like the HG High Grade.
• RE/100 Reborn One Hundred (2014), a new range of 1/100 gunpla.
• Super Deformed Gundam or SD Gundam is a Japanese animation franchise whose works are parodies of the Gundam saga, adopting the graphic codes of super deformed.

However, the exhaustive classification is much more complex, since it depends on the scale (ranging from 1/550 to 1/35), improvements (the master grade range exists in versions 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0) and special events (a Ver.G 30th range was released for the franchise's 30th anniversary, for example).