Preliminary rounds to determine U.S. Representative already held at Sakura-Con, Anime Central, A-Kon

Bluefin, Bandai Hobby's official distributor in the United States, will be holding three more rounds of competitions at U.S. anime-related events to determine U.S. semi-finalists for the 2nd annual GunPla Builders World Cup. The three remaining rounds will be held at this year's Anime Expo (June 29-July 2), Otakon (July 27-29), and New York Comic Con (October 11-14).

Semi-finalists chosen from these rounds will join winners with entries designated "Best in Show" from the already-held rounds at Sakura-Con, Anime Central, and A-Kon to compete once again in order to determine the U.S. Representative for the competition finals.

Best in Show recipients from U.S. events so far include Jack Elliot Nunn's HGUC Geara Zulu (Sakura-Con), Benny Herrera's Beargguy (Anime Central), and Brian Cash's U-Suit 47 Gogg, photos of which are available below. More photos of award winners are available on the competition's website.

The preliminary rounds have both Open (15 and older) and Junior (14 and younger) age categories, and awards for Best in Show, Best 1/100, Best 1/144, Best SD, and Best Out of Box will be given to entrants. Entries must be made from original Bandai Gundam kits, though modification, remodeling, and so on of the kits is permitted. Other rules, including those on size limitations, are published on Bluefin's official contest website.

The finals of the World Cup will take place at the Gundam Front Tokyo entertainment complex on Tokyo's artificial island of Odaiba this December. Representatives from 13 countries or areas in total will compete in this year's competition: Japan, Italy, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, North America, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Thailand.