Gunpla also has a strong following among kids in Asia. The chibi models are common door gifts at primary school birthday parties where I live. The kids like the models and toys for being robots and have a passing familiarity with the show though.
Yes - that it's evolved enough that now the kids are also familiar with Gunpla and all. Some of their parents already were fan of Gunplas etc - so like Nintendo gets a pass from parents for whatever reason, it seems like Gunpla has reached to that point in some way... but I still think the main gun and attraction of Gunpla is still heavily geared towards those flag-ship tier models. (Profitability is another matter, and which I'm not too sure in this case.)
In late 80s to early 90s though - it was a bit of different story. Gunpla sales were struggling with lack of innovation and people falling out from "real robot"boom and MSV craze that was pretty popular in 80s. Kids were not as into Gunplas as the trend of anime changed etc... and HG models, MG models and later on, PG really made a big marks for Bandai - as many adults who grew up with the 80's MSV gunplas flocked to them... as those were much higher in quality, and generally you didn't need to even paint it to make it look good - albeit quite a bit more expensive.
I think that tactic that worked. I think it's also partially backfired though - that these days some of those models are only specific for Gundam Base or online only etc... which is kinda annoying with all that limited marketing thing.
I haven't been making Gunpla for quite some time, but I know some of my friends (old) are complaining of not being able to get certain models or whatnot.
Either way, I'm sure it's in Bandai's mind and one of the foremost "ongoing" priority how to carry this old gen over to new gen, as original Gundam generation are literally so old like myself. Anime is one thing, but Gunpla sales tend to go on much longer.
