handpainted film camera remakes the anime gundam through vibrant color blocks

Gundam-inspired handpainted film camera

There’s a handpainted film camera going around, and it is inspired by the sci-fi Japanese anime Gundam through its vibrant color blocks. Made by David C W, the device uses IUTD ‘To Be Continued’, a film camera from the Chinese brand IUTD Studios, as the base. He then applies four colors in sequence over multiple sessions: light gray, blue, yellow, then red, each one laid down, dried, and masked before the next coat goes on.

Since it is handpainted, there’s no film camera that looks the same, as David works on the model one at a time. Luckily, the original camera’s body is clean looking enough to be a canvas. The designer’s assembly starts with removing components, including the viewfinder, shutter, film roller, buttons, screws so the body can be worked on as a clean surface. The first coat is light gray, which acts as the base layer. Blue follows, then masking to protect what has already been painted, then yellow and red. Soon, all the colors appear, recreating the Gundam robots.

all images courtesy of David C W

Components that are reassembled by hand

When the painting is finished, the maker begins the reassembly. The viewfinder goes back in, and an orange gel goes over the flash, adding a warm cast to flash-lit photographs. Then each remaining component returns one by one, from the shutter and film roller to the buttons and screws until the handpainted Gundam film camera is complete again. The final addition is a small fabric strap, hand-sewn, so users can bring the device anywhere.

The first run of Gundam Cameras was made in batches of eight, but then a limited pre-order followed, with ten units available worldwide. Each one designed, painted, and detailed by hand, which means no two are identical even if the series may look the same. In this case, the masking and application process has some small variations in edge definition and color density. This isn’t an issue, not for a Gundam-inspired film camera that’s handpainted.

detailed side view of the device

view of the shutter button and mode selection

the device uses IUTD ‘To Be Continued’, a film camera from the Chinese brand IUTD Studios

since it is hand-painted, the film cameras can have their own unique touches

the original camera’s body is clean looking enough to be a canvas

it is inspired by the sci-fi Japanese anime Gundam through its vibrant color blocks

project info:

name: Gundam Camera

design: David C W | @davidlittleroad

studios: I U T D Studios | @iutdstudios

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