Masahiro Oda

Masahiro Oda (小田 正弘) is a Japanese mechanical designer and model maker known for his contributions to Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and related model kit development.

In Zeta Gundam (1985), Oda played a key role in designing transformation mechanisms, particularly the Wave Rider system for the Zeta Gundam. He worked alongside other notable designers such as Kazumi Fujita, Kunio Okawara, Mamoru Nagano, and Kazuhisa Kondo. He is also credited with designing the G-Defenser, the support unit that combines with the Gundam Mk-II, submitting early concepts that were later refined for the series.

Oda also created the MSZ-007 Z Rapier I, a transformable prototype based on the Zeta frame, featured in Gundam Wars Project Z. Beyond anime design, he was a co-founder of the influential modeling group Stream-Base, along with Masaya Takahashi and Katsumi Kawaguchi. This group was instrumental in shaping the Mobile Suit Variations (MSV) line and the early hobby culture surrounding Gundam model kits.

In summary, Masahiro Oda is an important figure in the history of Gundam design, bridging anime mechanical design with the early evolution of Gunpla and model-based storytelling.