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Some of the best anime are well-received by generations of fans, with these viewers going back to watching them years and even decades after they first aired. Given their success and popularity, these anime have received multiple seasons and even sequels. Unfortunately, these sometimes pale compared to what came before, resulting in anime that are downright diabolical in their horrendous quality.

The worst anime sequels and follow-ups make their predecessors unwatchable in retrospect, regardless of how good they were. Some of these are second or third seasons to anime that were well-liked, but in the worst cases, their sequels released much later that completely fall flat after years of hype.

The Promised Neverland Season 2 Was Nowhere Near the Neverland it Promised Streaming on CrunchyrollImage via CloverWorks

The Promised Neverland Season 1 was a beloved anime, and its popularity was a breakthrough for the industry. It wasn't the typical action-based shonen anime,...

There’s hardly anything that exhilarates anime fans more than when a beloved, highly acclaimed series gets a sequel. In the competitive, saturated climate of modern anime, not every seasonal show is guaranteed an opportunity to return to screens, with even fewer older classics standing a chance to receive a continuation.

However, one thing worse than an excellent series never getting a follow-up is a poorly executed sequel that leaves fans disheartened and disappointed. Failing to live up to their predecessor’s greatness, the worst anime sequels, at times, are nothing but a letdown, featuring none of the virtues that made fans fall in love with the original. Be it due to uncalled changes to the source material, a drop in production quality, or narrative incompetence, these anime sequels fail from beginning to end.

The Flcl Sequels Were Entirely Unnecessary Stream Flcl on CrunchyrollImage via Gainax, Production I.G

An adored...

Mecha anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Seed is once again collaborating with Toyota to create useful, sustainable goods to keep people going at home or on the road. Titled "Operation Mobility Eternal," the collab upcycles scrap metal and other materials from cars to create unique merch. This second line of goods uses everything from metal to windshield glass, from seat and interior leather to airbag material, to create cushions, pouches and much more. Have a look at the items on offer in the latest line: Haro seat cushion Vehicle inspection certification case Card case Pouch Related: Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX TV Anime Premieres April 8 Emergency kit for automobiles Tote Tumblers Cup and tray Related: Gundam Takes People to the Next Universal Century at Osaka Expo 2025 The new items go on sale starting today on the project's official website . You can watch Mobile Suit Gundam Seed , Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny...

The Dragon Ball website accidentally revealed the official name of Goku’s brand-new transformation. This information was prematurely revealed via a listing for a new Daima-related action figure.

Since the debut of Super Saiyan 4 Goku (Mini) in Daima Episode 18, Dragon Ball fans have wondered if the series will keep the name or give the formerly exclusive Dragon Ball Gt form a different moniker to rationalize the Super Saiyan God transformations that will follow in Dragon Ball Super. Based on concept art for Episode 18, the anime staff at Toei Animation were internally referring to Goku’s new Daima form as Super Saiyan 4, as it’s a clear tribute to the anime-original concept in Gt. However, the name “Super Saiyan 4” has yet to be used in the series and was intentionally avoided when Goku gave his classic introduction of Super Saiyan forms to King Gomah.

RelatedDragon Ball Daima Breaks a Major...

On Jan. 17, 2025, Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX -- Beginning began its domestic theatrical run. One month later, the film has officially broken a major box office record originally set by a famous Gundam classic.

As detailed on Oricon, the feature-length prequel film to the upcoming TV series, Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX,has earned over 2.5 billion yen from an estimated 1.55 million moviegoers, making it the second highest-grossing movie in Msg history after Mobile Suit Gundam: Seed Freedom. The title was previously held by Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space, an installment of the franchise's original compilation film trilogy. GQuuuuuuX -- Beginning also made headlines earlier this month after surpassing the 2.2 billion yen mark, putting it in the same financial league as the Demon Slayer anime franchise.

Related'The Beginning May Surprise You': Evangelion Creator Weighs in on New Hit Gundam Anime

The creator behind the latest Gundam anime, who also created Evangelion,...

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Battle Destiny first debuted on Ps Vita in Japan back in June 2012, but never made its way over in English. That's about to change with Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Battle Destiny Remastered , which is set for a global launch on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam on May 22, 2025. In addition to over 100 Mobile Suits redesigned with high-definition textures, the remastered version features updated controller settings and new lock-on modes for a smoother experience. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed: Battle Destiny Remastered Announcement Trailer Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero Project Announced Here's how Bandai Namco describes it: Become a pilot in the world of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, for the first time available with English localization! Engage in thrilling, action-packed Gundam battles, complete missions, and tune up your newly acquired Mobile Suits! Battle Across Turbulent Times! Relive legendary moments from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and Mobile Suit Gundam Seed...

Debuting in 1979, the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam anime's 45th-anniversary celebrations roll over into 2025 with a brand-new Uniqlo collection, set to release this coming spring.

The official Uniqlo website has announced a new Gundam graphic t-shirt collection to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the original anime series. The collection will be released in mid-April 2025 in Japan and contains four t-shirts -- two white and two black -- with bold printed art featuring characters from the anime. Each t-shirt is priced at 1,990 yen (~US$13). Readers can check out the official imagesbelow.

Related'i Want to Face Death Head-On': Original Gundam Creator Reveals His Ideal Future Inspired by Controversial Anime

The creator of the Gundam franchise recently spoke about the series' themes and his own ideals, defending the premise of a controversial anime entry.

The site introduces the Gundam graphic tees: "Introducing Ut, celebrating the history of the 'Gundam series,' which has fascinated many people for 45 years.

The Z'Gok mobile suit has been part of the Gundam franchise ever since it debuted in the first Mobile Suit Gundam anime. Now, the Cosmic Era equivalent to it is receiving a new model kit based on the property's latest movie.

The "Hg 1/144 Z'Gok (Seed Freedom Ver.)" is a new High-Grade Gunpla model kit that's derived from the 2024 movie Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Boasting incredible detail and articulation, the figure's box art is actually based on the winner of a Bandai poll from the same year. Able to showcase the armor in different states of damage, the upcoming figure is set to be released in less than a month.

RelatedGundam Wing Gets New 30th Anniversary Release With High Grade Gunpla Model Kit for the Anime's Biggest Mecha

One of the most iconic Gundam anime is getting a new model kit, with the clear collectible releasing to celebrate the popular show's 30th anniversary.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedomfaced a twofold challenge. Not only was the film the grand and distant finale to the beloved Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, but it was also expected to redeem that anime's polarizing sequel — Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny —in some way. Add the fact that it's been almost 20 years since Seed ended, and expectations for Seed Freedom were predictably high and arguably impossible.

Broadly speaking, Seed Freedom succeeded. Despite some glaring issues, it gave Seed's story a cinematic swan song befitting of the big screen, and it even breathed new life into the long-dormant anime. However, itsbiggest problem wasn't that it repeated many of the same mistakes that plague Gundam movies. Rather, it was thatSEED Freedom fulfilled its mission in the most unbelievably cheesy yet amazing ways imaginable.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Rehashed Both Gundam & Seed The Film Had Little in the Way of Innovation...

The Tokyo Anime Award Festival (Taaf) unveiled its 2025 Animation of the Year winners on Jan 31, 2025, with Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End taking the top prize in the television category and Look Back winning in the animated film category.

The Taaf jury selected winners from anime that premiered between Oct 1, 2023, and Sep 30, 2024.

The festival also recognized outstanding individuals across various creative roles and announced the recipients of its Lifetime Achievement Awards.

The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe won the Anime Fan Award with 21,316 votes, reflecting its enduring popularity among viewers.

Individual Category Winners: Original Work/Screenplay: Hiroyuki Yoshino Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama Animator: Toko Yatabe Background/Coloring/Visual: Mai Ichioka Sound/Performance: Evan Call Lifetime Achievement Awards: Producers: Masami Iwasaki and Takayuki Yoshii Animators: Kazuhide Tomonaga Color Designers: Sachiko Nonaka Editors: Shuichi Kakesu Music Directors: Seiji Suzuki Voice Actors: Kenyu Horiuchi

The 2025 festival will take place in Tokyo from March 7-10, 2025.

Source: Official Website,...

Ahead of an April 2025 broadcast in omnibus format, the official accounts for Japanese diesel engine and heavy machinery manufacturer Yanmar's five-part commercial anime project, titled Miru: Paths to My Future , today revealed a new video announcing "Ai-Uta" by V.W.P ( Muv-Luv Alternative Op) as the opening song. Noriyasu Agematsu and Yusuke Takeda of Elements Garden ( That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime soundtrack) are the song's composer and arranger, respectively, while Hibiki pens the lyrics and Akihiro Tomita produces. Miru: Paths to My Future Opening Song Reveal Related: Original Anime Project Miru Reveals Key Visual, 2025 Broadcast Studio Nue's Shigeru Morita, who has worked on many sci-fi mecha/robot anime series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam Seed , Code Geass , and Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato , serves as screenplay writer, while each part is being animated by five different up-and-coming anime studios. The project's official website describes its concept as:...

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise is hosted on several different streaming services, including the entries in the "Cosmic Era" timeline. Now, the latest part of this continuity is heading to the biggest anime streamer in the world, allowing even more viewers to watch it.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom is the long-awaited sequel film to Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, with the 2024 movie being a major hit for the brand as a whole. Already available on the biggest name in streaming more generally, it's now available on a similar home for worldwide anime fans. The same goes for its predecessors, so fans can watch the entire animated continuity in order.

Related Gundam's New Card Game Sets Launch Date With Out-of-This-World NASA Collaboration

The 45th-anniversary Gundam Card Game prepares for liftoff, announcing a special collaboration launch event at one of NASA's top space stations.

The Most Financially Successful Gundam Film...

The anime community mourns the loss of a beloved voice actor, Eiji Yanagisawa, who has been a staple in the industry since his debut in 1981 with the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam series.

Sadly, Yanagisawa died on November 12, 2024, following a brain stem hemorrhage at the age of 57.

His talent agency, Production Baobab, shared that his funeral and wake were held privately, in accordance with his family’s wishes.

Yanagisawa’s voice brought to life a vast array of characters across both Eastern and Western animation.

He was known for his roles in major anime series such as Naruto: Shippuden, where he voiced Genzo, a photographer in the Hidden Leaf Village.

His portrayal added depth to a character that captured essential moments for the village, despite not being in the frontline of ninja battles.

In the realm of Gundam, Yanagisawa first voiced Slender in Mobile Suit Gundam I, a loyal member of the Principality of Zeon.

Anime voice actor Eiji Yanagisawa, known for his roles in series including Naruto, Gundam Seed and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, among numerous others, has passed away at the age of 57.

News of Yanagisawa's death was reported by his talent agency, Production baobab, on Nov. 20, 2024. According to the agency, Yanagisawa died on Nov. 12 due to a brainstem hemorrhage. "We would like to express our deepest gratitude for the kindness shown to us during Yanagisawa's lifetime," the statement reads. "The wake and funeral were held only for close relatives. We apologize for the delay in reporting this news due to the wishes of the bereaved family."

Originally from Tokyo, Japan, Yanagisawa had been involved in the voice acting industry for many years, with some of his biggest roles including in anime series Naruto (Genzo), Mobile Suit Gundam Seed (Prof. Ulen Hibiki) and The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (Okabe-sensei). However, he also...

As announced earlier this month , a prequel to Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom is in the works. Titled Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero , the new anime project will bridge the gap between the film and the preceding Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny . Today, we get our first look at the latest addition to the long-running story. Check out the 30-second trailer, giving us our first taste of what happens between these two entries in the franchise: Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero Project Announced The script was written by Gundam Seed series writer Chiaki Morosawa and series director Mitsuo Fukuda during the planning stages of Gundam Seed Freedom . More information, including release dates and potential returning cast, will be announced at a later date. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed premiered in 2002 and has received several follow-up installments—including manga and novel spinoffs and adaptations, 2004's Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny...

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has a litany of different universes and timelines, with one of the most popular being that of the Cosmic Era continuity. Introduced in the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, it's recently come back decades later in the movie Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Another entry in the universe is now on the way, and it speaks to how it might be the war forward for the franchise as a whole.

The Cosmic Era timeline is the most successful "alternate universe" in the Gundam franchise, and it has as much reason to be expanded upon as the usual Universal Century continuity. Likewise, this could lead to an anime adaptation of one of its spinoff manga. Regardless of where the Cosmic Era goes from here, it's clear that it's the best alternate to the bloated mainstream Gundam universe.

Gundam Seed Freedoms Prequel Is On the Way...

2024's Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom was a massive success, with the movie being the biggest box office victory in the Gundam franchise in its history so far. It brought back the Cosmic Era timeline while showcasing new pilot suits and mobile suits, the former of which will now be represented in collectible form.

Joining a Bandai action figure lineup, toys based on Cagalli Yula Athha and Lacus Clyne's appearance in Gundam Seed Freedom are on the way. The first of their kind in some respects, the toys showcase how much the film revived the popularity of the Cosmic Era continuity. With a new prequel project on the way, the collectibles, now available for preorder, are just the tip of the iceberg.

Related Bandai's New Gundam Trading Card Game Goes Live With Worldwide Preorder

Bandai reveals its upcoming Gundam Tcg, with the first set of trading cards based on the...

Following the first version that ran for two weeks from September 20 to October 3, the second version of the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom movie's special edition started its two-week theatrical screening in Japan on November 1, and ranked sixth in the weekend box office charts, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . It has been 41 weeks since the release of the film's original edition. As the feature film sequel in the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom opened in Japan on January 26, 2024, making 4.82 billion yen (31.75 million Usd) on 2.88 million admissions from its original theatrical run by May 24. At that point, it became the top-grossing film in the 45-year-old Gundam anime franchise , surpassing Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space — the third Mobile Suit Gundam TV series compilation film which earned 2.3 billion yen (15.15 million Usd) in 1982. A special edition of the film, updated with more than 500 scenes from the original, was announced...

On October 26th, Studio Gonzo announced in a post on X that Shigemi Ikeda, the visionary art director known for his work on Afro Samurai, One-Punch Man, and My Hero Academia, passed away on October 13 at the age of 69. Ikedas family shared that his funeral would be held privately, reserved for close family. His passing leaves a significant void in the anime industry, where his artistic contributions to background design and world-building became a foundational influence. Over his prolific career, Ikedas distinct style and unparalleled skill in visual storytelling left an indelible mark on the anime landscape.

Shigemi Ikeda began his career in the 1970s, eventually establishing Atelier Musa, his own background art studio, in 1986. From there, he developed a signature approach that combined detailed realism with a deep respect for each storys tone, creating worlds that felt tangible and alive. In 2009, Ikedas work was recognized with an Outstanding Individual...

The Gundam franchise spans multiple subseries and spin-offs, a handful of which are often held up as being the best of the best. These have stood the test of time best, and are often referenced and brought up by fans as examples. Even if personal opinion varies, one cannot dispute the influence and quality these shows added to the reputation of the franchise.

The various anime range from the dramatic, the blatantly toyetic, and the obscure. The most fondly regarded, however, tend to put a spin on themes set by the original series: the cruelty of war, the conflict between social classes, and the question of how humanity will adapt to outer space. These shows have carried on the legacy of Tomino's classic through their respective decades, showing how timeless Gundam is.

Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans Grungy Aesthetic Pushes "War is Hell" to the Limit

One of the most recent...

At today's special screening of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom in Japan, fans got a big surprise: the story isn't over! Director Mitsuo Fukuda announced at the screening after the film there is one more project in the works with the upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero . According to the producer Hisakazu Naka who also spoke at the event, the project will serve as a sequel to 2004's Gundam Seed Destiny and a prequel to Freedom , bridging the gap between the series and the new film. The project was originally intended to be an Ova, but the medium for the new story "has not been decided." It is unclear whether that means Freedom Zero will be a different sort of anime production or whether it will take some other form entirely. A release date for the project was also not announced at the time of reporting. Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom...

The R15+ version of The Birth of Kitaro: The Mystery of GeGeGe (known as Kitaro Tanjou: GeGeGe no Nazo in Japan), subtitled Shinsei-ban ("Genuine edition"), earned 71,939,840 yen on 41,889 admissions in its second weekend of October 11-13, according to Animate Times . The movie ranked in fifth place in the latest weekend box office ranking, down two positions from its opening weekend . To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the original GeGeGe no Kitaro manga author Shigeru Mizuki's birth, the original version of The Birth of Kitaro was released in Japan on November 17, 2023, under the rating of PG12. The R15+ version (noted as those under 15 years of age not allowed to see), which had 327 cuts retaken and the sound re-dubbed to express “the horror story as originally envisioned by the production team," followed on October 4, 2024. As reported on Monday , the film's cumulative total box office gross — which combined the gross of the...

The official website for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, announced today on September 26 that the film has earned 5,048,982,557 yen (34.84 million Usd) on 3,005,829 admissions in Japan since its release on January 26. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom opened in Japan on January 26, 2024, and earned 4.82 billion yen (33.29 million Usd) on 2.88 million admissions from its initial theatrical run by May 22. It has become the top-grossing film in the 45-year-old Gundam anime franchise, surpassing Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space , the third part of the compilation film series based on the first Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, which earned 2.3 billion yen (15.89 million Usd) in 1982. The reason for the increase in box office figures is that a special edition of the film, updated with more than 500 scenes from the original, began screening in Japanese theaters on September 20. The special edition ranked #9 in the weekend box...

Known for plastic model kits and other forms of merchandise, the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has had a slew of collectibles over the years. Now, fans can add a strange new item to their nest, all in honor of the franchise's latest movie.

The company Movic is set to release Matroyshka dolls based on the film Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Also known as Russian nesting dolls, this version of the iconic type of doll features four different characters/designs from the movie. Now available for pre-order, fans can recreate one of the new Gundam movie's most notable scenes with these adorable set of collectibles.

Related Custom KFC-Themed Gundam Figure Is Finger-Lickin' Good

A custom Mobile Suit Gundam model kit figure showcases the iconic Rx-78-2 taking on a new role: a brand delivery driver for Kentucky Fried Chicken.

New Matroyshka Dolls Recreate an Iconic Gundam Movie Scene

Adapting the...

The official website for the feature film Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom today announced that a limited-time special edition of the film, updated with more than 500 scenes from the original version, will be released in theaters in Japan. The first part of the updated edition will be shown from September 20 to October 3, 2024, and the second part from November 1 to 14. A different epilogue scene will be added in each. A trailer for the special edition is now streamed on the Gundam Seed franchise's official X (formerly Twitter) . Poster visual "Thanks to your support and encouragement, we have decided to screen a special edition of 'Gundam Seed Freedom'," said director Mitsuo Fukuda. "In the original version that was screened from January 26, due to time constraints, it was not possible to make all the scenes to the extent that each section was satisfied with. This time, we have updated those scenes and also...

The official website for the TV anime Mission: Yozakura Family has revealed three more voice cast members of the new characters who have appeared from the latest 21st episode aired in Japan on August 25. Asuka Hatoda voiced by Akira Ishida (Athrun Zala in Mobile Suit Gundam Seed ) — Narcissistic, president of “Popoppo Honpo" Akai voiced by Ami Koshimizu (Holo in Spice and Wolf: Merchant Meets The Wise Wolf ) — a flame wielder who wears the fire of hatred Aonuma voiced by Chiaki Kobayashi (Saki Hananoi in A Condition Called Love ) — a young man with cooling abilities, who has a laid back personality Additionally, visuals of Kurosawa, a former death-row inmate who lacks a fear of death, and Chacha, the brain of "Tanpopo" that controls all the base's systems, are also unveiled. Related : fripSide, Asobi Doumei to Perform Mission: Yozakura Family Anime 2nd Cour Theme Songs The anime adaptation of Hitsuji Gondaira...

Mobile Suit Gundam has had numerous clothing and lifestyle collaborations, with most of these being tied to the original series. Now, "First Gundam" and a recent hit movie are set to be part of a new apparel line, releasing both in Japan and overseas.

A collaboration between Graniph and Strict-g, the new line of Gundam clothing, seen below, will soon hit Japanese retailers. Among the collection includes a shirt with a rather infamous scene from the original anime. Coming out in only a matter of weeks, these clothing items sadly do have a caveat in terms of how international fans can lay claim to them.

Related Gundam's Most Successful Movie in Franchise's History Finds U.S. Streaming Home

The highest-grossing movie in the Mobile Suit Gundam anime franchise to date is headed to a major streamer after breaking box office records in 2024.

The Original "First Gundam" and Seed Freedom Adorn...

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has had multiple movies, with the first of these retelling the story of the original anime. Now, a newer cinematic experience from the franchise is headed to streaming, and it happens to be the most successful Gundam project in the franchise's long history.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom rocked the box office in 2024, both in Japan and even in limited releases in the U.S. It's now finally coming to the biggest streaming platform in the world, Netflix, where its predecessors are already available to watch. Certain to further interest in the franchise as a whole, it showcases the continued popularity of the Cosmic Era timeline.

Related "Pilots Became Like Super Sentai:" Gundam Voice Actor Reveals Big 'Turning Point' of the Franchise

Recent comments from a voice actor who has worked across multiple Gundam anime illustrate how the franchise laid the groundwork for new audiences.

The official website and accounts for Japanese diesel engine and heavy machinery manufacturer Yanmar today revealed a brand-new key visual for its upcoming five-part commercial anime project, now titled Miru: Paths to My Future and scheduled to air on Japanese television next year in an omnibus format. It was also announced that veteran anime producer Masuo Ueda is participating in the project. Related: Original Anime Project Miru Unveils Concept Movie at Ax 2023 Studio Nue's Shigeru Morita, who has worked on many sci-fi mecha/robot anime series, such as Mobile Suit Gundam Seed , Code Geass , and Star Blazers: Space Battleship Yamato , serves as screenplay writer, while each part is being animated by five different up-and-coming anime studios. The project's official website describes its concept as: " 'Confrontation and Harmony between Humans and Nature.' The protagonist will navigate challenges and personal growth, striving to preserve the environment required for our existence,...

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has many different iterations, with some of these being iconic fan favorites. Now, two of the definitive Gundam anime series from the 2000s are finding a new streaming home.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed and its sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, are now available to watch on Netflix, rounding out the streaming network's mecha anime content. This also includes several entries in the "Universal Century" Gundam timeline. Given the recent success of the new Gundam Seed movie, adding these two shows is a wise move in terms of bringing these titles -- and the franchise as a whole -- to a wider audience.

Related Gundam's Original Animation Director Creates All-New Amuro and Char Artwork

The latest issue of a magazine features new Amuro Ray and Char Aznable artwork from one of the legendary creators of the original Mobile Suit Gundam.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed & Seed...

Mobile Suit Gundam figures are some of the most popular forms of anime merchandise, but this doesn't just extend to model kits for the mobile suits themselves. The pilots of the mecha are also fan-favorites, as shown by the latest "lottery" offering for the brand.

Bandai Spirits has a new lottery for the "Ichiban Kuji" prize game series, which includes a figure set of the two main characters from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, officially married couple Suletta and Miorine. Just the latest forms of merchandise for the eponymous character, these collectibles will see fans test their luck rather than being able to purchase them outright.

Related The Newest Gundam Char Collectible Rides Like a Red Comet

A new Mobile Suit Gundam collectible, which allows fans to buy a statue of iconic villain Char Aznable riding a horse, is now available for pre-order.

A New Gundam Lottery Includes...

A start date is in place for the Grendizer U anime, which will bring its hot-blooded super robot action to TV in Japan on July 5. There's also a new trailer, key visual and some updated mecha visuals, so check it all out below while we wait for the fun to begin next month. First up, the third full trailer previews Band-maid ending song "Protect You": Grendizer U Trailer 3 The new key visual has Grendizer front and center along with Mazinger Z and their respective pilots, Duke Fleed and Koji Kabuto and, among other characters. Here are some fresh mecha visuals, starting with Double Spazer: Drill Spazer: Marine Spazer: Vega Beast King Banibani: Teron Burn: There are also plans in place for a manga adaptation, which will be serialized on web manga site Comiplex. Further information on that will be announced at a later date. Related: Grendizer U Anime Reboot...

Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, continued to stay at the top the Japanese box office now for the sixth consecutive weekend. The record for the longest stay in first place in the Case Closed/Detective Conan film series is seven weekends — from April to May 2018 — held by Detective Conan Zero the Enforcer , the 22nd film in the series. The Million-dollar Pentagram earned 408 million yen (2.61 million Usd) on 278,000 admissions in its sixth weekend of May 17-19, a 24.6 percent week-by-week drop, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha. Since debuting in Japanese theaters on April 12, the movie has earned a box office total of 13.5 billion yen (86.32 million Usd) from 9.43 million ticket sales. The movie also became the second top-grossing film in the Conan anime franchise, behind only the 2023 film Detective Conan: Black Iron Submarine with 13.88 billion yen (88.75 million Usd). It also now ranks...

So you want to start watching Mobile Suit Gundam ? That’s very cool and if it were another franchise, I’d tell you to simply “Start at the beginning.” But the Gundam franchise is not quite like that. Sure, you can technically start at the beginning, but then you have to clarify just what beginning you want to start at. Is it the first series, something that later branches off into sequels, spinoffs and various other bits of the franchise? Or is it the first series in the timeline that most matches what you want from a Gundam anime? So to help you out a bit, I’m going to run through the available Gundam offerings on Crunchyroll in their respective timelines. That way, you’ll actually have a bit of information before you start and won’t drown in Yoshiyuki Tomino’s robot-fueled empire. Universal Century Mobile Suit Gundam...

The latest Mobile Suit Gundam anime movie is finally heading to the West, and the official cast is marking the occasion with a joke. Remixing a major scene from Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom, this humorous form of advertising urges fans to go and see the movie in theaters before time runs out.

The reworked scene release comes after the film's Japanese run turned it into the most financially successful Gundam movie of all time. The franchise as a whole is experiencing a renaissance in popularity, particularly due to the latest TV series, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury. Likewise, the Gundam Seed subseries has made a comeback in the past few years, with Gundam Seed Freedom being a treat for fans nearly two decades in the making.

Related 30 Years On, G Gundam Anime Director Returns to Write All-New Story Over 30 years since the premiere of Mobile Fighter G Gundam,...

Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, earned 1.627 billion yen (10.51 million Usd) on 1.13 million admission in its fourth weekend of May 3-5, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha. Mainly due to Japan's Golden Week holiday period, the fourth-weekend revenue was 20 percent up from the previous third weekend's 1.355 billion yen (8.76 million Usd). The film has now stayed number one at the Japan box office for four consecutive weekends since its release on April 12. After 25 days on release, the movie has earned a cumulative 12.09 billion yen (78.13 million Usd) on 8.453 million admissions, making it the second top-grossing film in the Detective Conan anime film series, behind only the 2023 film Black Iron Submarine with 13.88 billion yen. The Million-dollar Pentagram has now also become the 31st top-grossing film of all-time ever released in Japan, surpassing Hayao Miyazaki's 2013 film The Wind Rises with 12.02 billion yen. Related: Detective...

Get ready, Gundam fans! Seed Freedom hits US theaters on May 7-8, 2024, with Japanese language and English dubbed versions. Seed Freedom is the long-awaited third installment of the Seed storyline, a culmination of years of work by Fukuda and Morosawa. Set after Seed Destiny, Seed Freedom delves into the conflicts between naturals and coordinators in a futuristic era of advanced mobile suits.

May is the month for Mobile Suit Gundam and mecha fans as the long-awaited release of the latest installment of the Gundam Seed series hits U.S. theaters this week for a limited time. Taking place in a time when humanity has successfully conquered space and our own human biology, the new release will explore the conflicts between humans native to Earth and those born and bred in outer space.

Mitsuo Fukuda, Chiaki Morosawa, and Riu Goto's Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom, which adapts Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate...

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has been prominent for decades, with the series one of the biggest science fiction properties in Japan. To this end, its usage goes beyond anime, manga, model kits and life-size replicas, with the giant robots about to decorate the country in a much different way.

This endeavor involves reconfiguring manholes across Japan with iconic mobile suits from the Gundam franchise. The next location for these will be in Minamiuonuma City, with the franchise's "mascot" Gundam being one of the designs implemented. This is only the latest example of how popular the brand is and how it's become integral to the Japanese pop culture scene.

Related Gundam Seed Freedom Gets Exclusive Jewelry Collection for Worldwide Preorder In honor of the success of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom, a new jewelry collaboration combines elements of the movie with charms and necklaces. Gundam's Gyan and Rx-78 Mechs Find...

What Even is 'Retro Anime'? Epic Anime Debates - Main Image

At Epicstream, our team regularly debate the big questions around anime fandom. This week, with the release of T.P Bon on Netflix, we decided to ask what makes a retro anime so retro.

Most of us conjure a specific image when considering a loaded phrase like retro anime. However, how much is retro to do with a particular show's style and how much is it to do with our own experiences of anime growing up?

Check out what our experts had to say and join the conversation in the comments!

Cathlyn: "Retro is About Art Styles"

When we talk about retro anime, two or three things come to mind: the anime's time of release, visual techniques, and genre tropes. After all, retro anime often reflects character archetypes and distinctive art styles prevalent during the time of their production.

In its third weekend of April 26-28, Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, earned 1.355 billion yen (8.6 million Usd) on 940,000 admissions, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The film has stayed number one at the box office for three consecutive weekends since its release on April 12, beating a new Hollywood film, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire , which earned 467 million yen (2.97 million Usd) in its opening weekend in Japan to make its second place debut. After 18 days on release including, the national holiday in Japan on April 29, Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram has earned a cumulative 9.291 billion yen (58.92 million Usd) on 6.499 million admissions. It has become the third top-grossing film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan franchise, surpassing the 2018 film Detective Conan: Zero the Enforcer with 9.18 billion yen. It now also ranks 61st in the all-time box office ranking for films released in Japan.

Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, earned 1.921 billion yen (12.41 million Usd) on 1.327 million admissions in its second weekend of April 19-21, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The second-weekend box office was down 43 percent from the opening weekend , but still enough to keep the film in first place for two weekends in a row. The film's cumulative total revenue has surpassed 6.5 billion yen (42 million Usd), while ticket sales have almost reached 4.47 million. The revenue was 112 percent of the two-week revenue of the franchise's current top-grossing film, Black Iron Submarine ( 5.8 billion yen / 2023). Related: Crunchyroll to Release Blue Lock The Movie -Episode Nagi- to Theaters Worldwide in 2024 Blue Lock The Movie -Episode Nagi - — an anime feature film based on the Blue Lock side story manga of the same name by Muneyuki Kaneshiro (story), Yusuke Nomura (character designs), and Kouta Sannomiya (art) — opened...

Case Closed: The Million-dollar Pentagram , the 27th feature film in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise, opened across Japan on April 12, 2024. The new Case Closed film earned 3.352 billion yen (21.74 million Usd) on 2,274,333 admissions in its first three-day weekend of April 12-14, making its No.1 debut at the weekend box office ranking, according to Eiga.com . The total overall box office revenues for the films released from the franchise since The Time-Bombed Skyscraper in 1997 has also exceeded 118 billion yen (765 million Usd). Box office revenue and attendance for the first three days: April 12: Revenue: 962,785,780 yen / Attendance: 638,119 April 13: Revenue: 1,239,818,980 yen / Attendance: 839,126 April 14: Revenue: 1,149,889,740 yen / Audience: 797,088 Three-Day Total Box Office Revenue: 3,352,494,500 yen / Total Attendance: 2,274,333 The first weekend revenue was the highest among the films released in Japan this year so far, and also the highest in the Case Closed/Detective Conan anime franchise's 28-year history. The figure was 106.5 percent of...

Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony , the Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film, earned 220 million yen (1.46 million Usd) on 182,000 admissions in its sixth weekend of April 5-7, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . Although the numbers were 31 percent down from last weekend , the movie came in second place in the weekend box office — one place higher than last weekend. The film's cumulative total domestic revenue has reached 3.683 billion yen (24.26 million Usd) on 3,095,000 million admissions. It has become the ninth top-grossing film in the Doraemon feature film series, surpassing the 32nd film Doraemon: Nobita and the Island of Miracles—Animal Adventure (2012 / 3.62 billion yen). Instead, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle , the first part of the Haikyu!! Final duology anime films, went down one place to third. The film earned 213 million yen (1.4 million Usd) on 142,000 admissions, which was 56.4 percent of last weekend. The film's cumulative total revenue since its release has reached 9.267 billion yen (61.03 million Usd) on 6.483 million admissions,...

A real-life Gundam mobile suit has for years been a major source of tourism for anime fans. While the site celebrating the Gundam is now closed, the attraction itself thrilled onlookers when it was sent off with a literal bang.

The iconic Yokohama Rx-78-2 Gundam statue is officially closing down. A major tourist attraction for the city since it first opened there in December 2020, the statue (which could both light up and even move) represented the power of the Mobile Suit Gundam brand. Per SoraNews24, in honor of the closure of Gundam Factory Yokohama, a major celebration was held to give the statue a sendoff worthy of its enormous size.

Related Epic Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance Trailer Reveals Netflix Release Window The first full-length trailer for Netflix's Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance features a flurry of mecha action and reveals the official release window. Gundam Factory Yokohama's Closure Celebration Lit...

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle , the first part of the Haikyu!! Final duology anime films, earned 488 million yen (3.22 million Usd) on 333,500 admissions in its seventh weekend (March 29-31), according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . The result was 8.1 percent down from the previous sixth-weekend revenue, but was enough to keep the film in the same second place it held last weekend . The film's cumulative total revenue since its release has reached 8.75 billion yen (57.71 million Usd) on 6.1 million admissions, making it the 72nd top-grossing film of all time in Japan , surpassing The Matrix (1999 / 8.7 billion yen). Related: Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Anime Film Climbs Past 8 Billion Yen at Japan Box Office Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony , the Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film, also held the same third-place position it held last week. In its fifth weekend, the movie earned 318 million yen (2.1 million Usd) on 263,100 admissions, bringing its total to 3.1 billion yen (20.45 million Usd) on 2.59 million admissions.

Bandai Namco Filmworks (formerly known as Sunrise) held an industry panel on Friday night of Sakura-con 2024 and announced that Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom will screen across 800 North American theaters in cooperation with Fathom Events later this Spring. Cast members from the film were present during the announcement, which also featured the official six-minute preview of the film underlining Bandai Namco's international promotional push for the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed anniversary festivities that began with the late January release of the feature film in Japan. The English-dubbed preview can be found below. Official Six-Minute Preview (English Dub) Official Trailer (English-Subtitled) Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Becomes Top-Grossing Film in Gundam Franchise Tickets for the May 7 and 8 screenings are set to go on sale on April 5. More information, including participating theaters and showtimes, will also be released on that date. The Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom anime film opened...

Gundam Info's official YouTube channel has started steaming the first six and a half minutes of the feature film Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , both in English subtitles and dub . While introducing the intense battle scene at the beginning of the film, the clip also features the theme song "Freedom" performed by Takanori Nishikawa. The song was newly written for the film and produced by acclaimed composer/producer Tetsuya Komuro. The video's caption introduces the film's story: In C.E.75, the fighting still continues. There are independence movements, and aggression by Blue Cosmos... In order to calm the situation, a global peace monitoring agency called Compass is established, with Lacus as its first president. As members of Compass, Kira and his comrades intervene into various regional battles. Then a newly established nation called Foundation proposes a joint operation against a Blue Cosmos stronghold. English subtitle ver. English dub ver.

The first of the two-part Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction anime film, based on Inio Asano's manga of the same name, opened in 222 theaters across Japan on March 22, ranking seventh in its opening weekend, according to Kogyo Tsushinsha . Meanwhile, critical response from the audience to the film has been very positive: The film ranked No.1 in Filmarks' first-day satisfaction ranking with an average rating of 4.05/5.0 based on 2,411 reviews. As previously reported , the second part was originally set to release on April 19, 2024, but was pushed back one month to May 24. The reason for the postponement was explained as "to deliver a work that better meets the expectations of our customers." In its sixth weekend, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle , the first part of the Haikyu!! Final duology anime films, earned 531 million yen (3.51 million Usd) on 354,000 admissions (146 percent of its previous fifth weekend revenue). The film moved up one more spot from last weekend to second place,...

Gundam Seed has one of the best endings of any mainline series. Seed's ending gets several things right, including themes, stakes, and emotional investment. Everything comes together to create a satisfying narrative in Gundam Seed.

It's rare to find a mainline Mobile Suit Gundam series with an ending that will satisfy everyone. Gundam Seed, however, has one of the best climaxes of any core Gundam series. Many anime watchers like to poke fun at this franchise installment for, among other things, being a watered-down version of elements from the Universal Century, and using stock animation.

However, one thing anyone can agree on is how well it stuck the landing with its conclusion. Although it has an abrupt ending (like several other Gundam series), it makes up for it in several ways. It encapsulates the series' themes, raises the stakes to their highest possible point, and invokes strong emotions in the audience.

The official website for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, confirmed the latest film has earned 4,000,124,620 yen (26.82 million Usd) on 2,372,164 admissions in 52 days since its release in Japan on January 26. The film ranked ninth in its eighth weekend in the Japanese weekend box office, continuing to break the Gundam series' film box office records. The movie already surpassed 2.3 billion yen (15.42 million Usd) marked by Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space released in 1982 and 2.23 billion yen (14.96 million Usd) by Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway in 2021. Related: Gundam Seed Freedom Film Shares Stunning Collab Visual with Dune: Part Two In its third weekend of release, Doraemon: Nobita's Earth Symphony held the same second-place spot it did last weekend . The Doraemon anime franchise's latest 43rd feature film earned 353 million yen (2.37 million Usd) on 288,000 admissions, and its cumulative total revenue has surpassed 1.7 billion yen (11.4 million...