The Cardboard Box Gundam meme features a person wearing a crude, hand-made Mobile Suit costume constructed entirely from cardboard boxes. This image, which surfaced in the early 2000s within anime communities and conventions, symbolizes the 'Expectation vs. Reality' trope or the 'Low Budget Cosplay' phenomenon. It represents the passion of fans who want to participate in the hobby despite lacking professional materials or technical skills. Over time, it has become a staple for highlighting poor production values, budget cuts, or simply the endearing nature of DIY efforts in nerd culture.