Ernest Prakasa Utilizes His Hobby of Assembling Gunpla for Quality Time with His Children

Kapanlagi.com - Comic artist and film producer, Ernest Prakasa, now has a new hobby that he uses to spend time with his children, which is assembling gunpla or Gundam plastic model kits. Although he has only pursued this hobby for the past few years, Ernest feels happy because he can share the excitement of assembling gunpla with his two children.

For Ernest, this activity is not just a hobby, but also a valuable moment for quality time with family. "I'm actually a newbie at this hobby. But this is one of those fun hobbies, because I can spend quality time with my kids," said Ernest while attending the Bandai Spirits Hobby Exhibition in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Friday (18/10/2024).

According to Ernest, these bonding moments do not only occur during holidays. On several occasions, he often invites his children to assemble gunpla together at home. In fact, their dining table often becomes a place for assembling Gundam while having casual conversations.

"Yeah, it’s not just during holidays. So at home, at the dining table, we sit side by side, he builds, I build. If he needs help, I help him, so it’s a fun bonding moment," he explained.

1. The Beginning of Knowing Gunpla

At the Bandai Spirits Hobby Exhibition taking place from October 18 to November 3, 2024, Ernest also shared the story of how he first got to know gunpla.

“Yes, finally assembling Gunpla became a way to refresh myself from work,” said Ernest.

2. The 45th Birthday of Gundam Characters

Meanwhile, Cindy Madison, PR Manager of Multi Toys, which holds the official Gunpla license in Indonesia, also expressed her pride at this event. She explained that 2024 feels special for Gundam fans as it marks the 45th anniversary of Gundam characters.

"This year there will be special highlights from Bandai Spirit and Bandai Namco Asia related to the 45th anniversary of Gundam. There will also be a booth showcasing the timeline of Gundam history since 1979," said Cindy.

3. Participants of GBWC Increase

Cindy also added that the number of participants in the Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC) is increasing every year. This year, there are a total of 102 works from various regions in Indonesia that are exhibited and judged in the event.

In addition to showcasing the participants' Gundam works, the exhibition held from October 18 - November 3, 2024, at Mall Lotte Shopping Avenue will also feature a three-meter tall Gundam RX-78-2 robot. For other items that will be displayed, Erick said that they are focusing on Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury as well as other Non-Gunpla products.

“Yes, the enthusiasm of Gundam lovers and hobbyists to submit their works is increasing. This time, we have up to 102 works submitted for evaluation,” said Cindy.

(kpl/far/dyn)