The term Gunpla refers to models of mechanical vehicles, characters, or plastic vehicles originating from the Japanese series Gundam and available from Bandai. It is derived from the contraction of the words "Gundam plastic model" and first appeared in 1980.

The philosophy of Gunpla: the model for everyone! No glue or paint needed.

All Gundam models are characterized by two main features:

• The parts are pre-colored.
• They are molded in color.

Gunpla are categorized into different grades based on quality and/or size. The main grades are as follows:

• NG No Grade (1980): referring historically to the first models released in 1980.
• HG High Grade (1990): superior quality grade in 1/144 scale.
• MG Master Grade (1995): higher quality than HG, with fully modeled internal mechanical parts in 1/100 scale.
• PG Perfect Grade (1998): the most technologically advanced grade in 1/60 scale.
• FG First Grade (1999): the budget clip-on grade.
• HGUC High Grade Universal Century (1999): popular reissue of Universal Century robots.
• EX-model (2001): a series dedicated to vehicles and related flying machines.
• MS Mega Size (2009): scale of 1/48.
• RG Real Grade (2010): similar to MG Master Grade, with enhanced internal skeleton in 1/144 size like HG High Grade.
• RE/100 Reborn One Hundred (2014): a new Gunpla series in 1/100 scale.
• Super Deformed Gundam or SD Gundam: a Japanese anime series that parodies the Gundam franchise, adopting the super deformed graphic style.

The exact classification is much more complex, as it depends on scale (from 1/550 to 1/35), improvements (the Master Grade series exists in 1.5, 2.0, and 3.0 versions), and special editions.