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The award ceremony for the 48th Japan Academy Film Prizes was held at the Grand Prince Hotel Shin Takanawa in Tokyo on March 14. From the five nominees in the animation category, Look Back won the Best Animation of the Year award. Additionally, the eight main animators of Look Back were also selected for the Creative Contribution Award, which was newly established this year to honor engineers who have made particularly outstanding contributions to the films selected for the awards. The eight animators were: Kiyotaka Oshiyama , Toshiyuki Inoue , Yuka Geshi , Takuya Ninuma , Katsuhiko Kitada , Shuichi Ohara , Tasan , and Ayako Hata . Among them, Oshiyama also served as the director, screenplay writer, and character designer of the film. Meanwhile, actor Yuumi Kawai , who voiced one of the film's two protagonists, Fujino, won the Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role award for her role as An Kagawa in the Yu Irie-directed...

George Lucas and J.R.R. Tolkien created incredible fantasy universes that defined generations of storytelling. But while Western fans debate whether the Silmarils outshine kyber crystals, anime has quietly put forth fantastic franchises so steeped in lore they could dwarf Middle-earth.

The best anime franchises, no matter how many entries they have, stand out for constructing living mythologies that aren't afraid to bend and break the audience's—or its characters'—preconceived notions about the world. From cosmic hierarchies to multiversal rewrites, these ten anime franchises pack enough metaphysical weight to challenge and perhaps surpass the Western world's most beloved IP giants, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

Mobile Suit Gundam Has More Timelines & Political Machinations Than Star Wars & Lotr Franchise Installments: Mobile Suit Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Gundam Wing, Gundam Seed, Gundam 00, Iron-Blooded Orphans, Gundam Unicorn, The Witch from Mercury Image via Bandai Namco

Mobile Suit Gundamis one of the few...

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,...

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.

Mobile Suit Gundamas a franchise has some of the most recognizable mecha designs in anime. The most well-known of these is the Rx-78-2 Gundam, which has been the subject of many Gunpla model kits and toys. Beyond this original Gundam, however, other entries in the franchise have even cooler primary mobile suits for their protagonists.

All main Gundam mobile suits are derived from the Rx-78-2, but many of these take the same design elements and go in completely different directions. Many times, the color schemes and the basic head designs are the only things in common between them. Likewise, even some of the franchise's villains have incredible mobile suits at their disposal. This has given mecha enthusiasts some of the most stylish designs in the genre, many of which thankfully have a plethora of collectibles.

Rx-78-2 Is the First and One of the Best Gundam Designs Pilot:...

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 highly anticipated second of three Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash films has now received new confirmation from distributor Shochiku of its production status.

Film producer and distributor Shochiku celebrated its 130th anniversary at an event this week, spotlighting its upcoming slate of both live-action and anime titles. Per Eiga Natalie, this notably included Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash Part 2, first announced in 2021, with Shochiku confirming the film is currently in production. While no release window was confirmed, given the rest of Shochiku's current film lineup has dates up until Winter 2025, this is likely the earliest that fans can expect the highly anticipated Gundam film sequel.

Related Gundam's Strongest Mecha Pilot of All Time Wins Landslide Victory in Official Survey

A recent poll concerning the main characters of the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise ranked who was the strongest mecha pilot of them all.

One of Gundam's Most Anticipated Anime...

Liz Wise Lyall is returning to Lifetime to serve as its senior vice president of scripted programming and development, the network announced on Thursday.

In her new role, Lyall will be responsible for leading the network’s movie production strategy and scripted co-productions. She will oversee the development and execution of original films while expanding strategic partnerships and acquisitions.

During her initial stint from 2005-2011, she served as a manager before being elevated to a director, working on movies such as “The Pregnancy Pact” with Thora Birch, “To Be Fat Like Me” starring Kaley Cuoco and “Girl, Positive” with Jennie Garth. Lyall also worked on creative partnerships with Gale Anne Hurd, Garth Brooks and Salma Hayek, among others.

“Lifetime movies are iconic and a genre in of itself so I could not be more thrilled to have Liz return with her deep understanding and knowledge of Lifetime movies,” A&e, Lifetime...

Life of Agony performed at a New York City benefit show for Sick of It All singer Lou Koller on Saturday night (November 23rd), marking the band’s first gig since their singer, Keith Caputo (formerly Mina Caputo), announced that he was detransitioning back to male.

The concert, dubbed “I’m in the Fight with Lou,” took place at Irving Plaza, and also featured performances by Municipal Waste and Vision of Disorder. The proceeds went toward Koller’s medical bills, following the hardcore legend’s announcement earlier this year that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his esophagus.

Life of Agony ripped through nine songs during their set, with video footage showing Caputo (wearing a Sick 0f It All T-shirt) delivering a high-energy performance and interacting with the crowd throughout the gig. Seven of the songs were from the band’s seminal 1993 debut album, River Runs Red.

Last week, Caputo...

Ventana Sur’s Animation! WIPs by Annecy, curated by the prestigious French festival, has unveiled the five features set to participate in its 2024 edition, coming later this month.

Titles selected for this year’s Montevideo-set get-together come from across Latin America and feature co-producers from Europe and North America. Countries with producers involved in this year’s lineup include Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Spain, Canada, France and the U.S.

According to the selection’s organizers, “This year’s selection brings together proposals that stand out for their narrative and technical diversity, confirming the moment of growth that the region’s animation industry is experiencing.”

Below, we take a closer look at the diverse and promising slate of feature titles that will be presented at this year’s Animation! WIPs by Annecy.

“Heart of Darkness” Rogério Nunes

‘Heart of Darkness’

Based on the classic 19th-century novel but set in modern-day Brazil,...

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...

Two of the most subversive anime titles to date in the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise have received a new streaming home for U.S. fans, with both now available to watch for free in their original Japanese with multiple subtitle options.

Via the Bandai Namco Collectibles Hobby X (formerly Twitter), all 49 episodes of Mobile Fighter G Gundam and 11 episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam The 08th Ms Team are now streaming for free on YouTube for viewers based in the U.S. Both series are currently available with subtitles in English, Chinese and Korean.

Related "The Opportunity for Anime to Go Overseas Has Just Come": Gundam Producer Talks the Global Expansion of Japanese IP

The reach of Gundam and anime in general has expanded since the Covid-19 pandemic, and the franchise's director intends to reflect this new audience.

Mobile Fighter G Gundam & The 08th Ms Team Find New American Streaming...

Exclusive: The Writers Guild of America East has a new class of Showrunner Academy graduates.

The 2024 class includes Radha Blank, Eleanor Burgess, Dominic Colón, Grainger David, Gerry de Leon, Kate Erickson, Gina Gionfriddo, Eliot Glazer, Eric Anthony Glover, Leah Gotcsik, Joseph Hampton, Christina Kallas, Nambi E. Kelley, Greg Lisi, Ted Malawer, Tim Mason, M Raven Metzner, Nathan Min, Adam Whitney Nichols, Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu, Charlie Oh, Celeste Parr, Jacquelyn Reingold, Dan Perlman, Katie Rich, Zach Smilovitz, Lauren Ashley Smith, Iturri Sosa, Jim Strouse and Mfoniso Udofia.

The Wgae’s Showrunner Academy is a training program that is designed for upper-level writers to hone their skills “to become successful showrunners and leaders in today’s television industry.”

The Academy is also “specific to the unique landscape and needs of the East Coast” in the instruction that it provides.

The full list of graduates and their bios are below.

Radha Blank is a Director,...

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...

The highest-grossing Gundam movie of all time, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom, is set to make an official return with a brand-new installment. Titled Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero, the new anime is a prequel that takes place after Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny.

Following a Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom screening on Nov. 1, director Mitsuo Fukuda, Kira voice actor Soichiro Hoshi and producer Hisakazu Naka appeared on stage to announce Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Zero, a brand-new entry in the franchise. As reported by Oricon, whether Seed Freedom Zero will be a TV series or a movie is currently unknown. However, Fukuda revealed that work on the anime is almost complete, having started production on it 20 years ago. Readers can check out the production decision announcement visual below.

Related "The Opportunity for Anime to Go Overseas Has Just Come": Gundam Producer Talks the Global Expansion of...

Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) first meeting with Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) in Star Trek: The Original Series is changed by Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. As a prequel, Strange New Worlds introduced Lieutenant LA'an Noonien-Singh (Christina Chong), Khan's ancestor, and a love interest of Lt. James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley) when he was younger and a frequent visitor aboard the Starship Enterprise. Further, Strange New Worlds has altered Khan's Star Trek timeline, adding new dimensions to Kirk's original encounter with Khan.

In Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 22, "Space Seed," the USS Enterprise intercepts the S.S. Botany Bay, an Earth ship from the 1990s. Cryogenically frozen aboard are Khan and 70 of his genetically engineered followers. Welcomed as a guest aboard the Enterprise, Khan plots to hijack the starship. Seduced by Khan, Enterprise historian Lt. Marla McGivers (Madelyn Rhue) betrays Captain Kirk as Khan's followers take over the ship.

Days of Our Lives spoilers for Tuesday, September 17, 2024, are here! In tomorrow’s episode, fans can expect Stefan Dimera (Brandon Barash) to hand over ammo to Paulina Price (Jackee Harry).

Coming Up On Days Of Our Lives

Rafe Hernandez (Galen Gering) shares a vague memory with Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu). Ej Dimera (Dan Feuerriegel) gets a suggestion from Gabi Hernandez-Dimera (Cherie Jimenez).

Plus, Connie Villiniski (Julie Dove) shares a bombshell with Melinda Trask (Tina Huang). Keep reading to find out what is coming up in the next episode of the Peacock soap opera.

Days Of Our Lives Spoilers – Melinda Trask’s Discovery

Dool spoilers for Tuesday, September 17 reveal that Connie will share huge news with Melinda. Right now, Melinda is still tied to the bed inside Li Shin’s (Remington Hoffman) old apartment.

Jada Hunter (Elia Cantu) nearly found Melinda, but the lead from Ava Vitali (Tamara Braun) was interrupted.

Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom movie will be returning to theatres in a special edition re-release featuring over 500 updated scenes.

The movie will have a limited release, with the first installment screening from Sep 20, 2024 to Oct 3, 2024, followed by the second installment from Nov 1, 2024 to Nov 14, 2024.

The special edition will include an alternate epilogue, enhancing the original narrative.

Director Mitsuo Fukuda expressed his satisfaction with the special edition, noting that the original January release had time constraints that prevented full realization of certain scenes.

“In the original version, which was released on January 26, there were some sections where, due to time constraints, we weren’t able to fully refine the cuts to our satisfaction. However, this time, we’ve updated those cuts and addressed various areas where there was some discomfort after the initial screening.,” Fukuda stated.

According to the director, this special edition of the movie can be called the complete version of Seed Freedom.

Thanks to the popularity of the Gunpla model kits in the Gundam franchise, fans have been able to create some exciting custom figures. Now, one Instagram account is taking that to a tasty new level with an unofficial branding collaboration.

Showcased on the Gundam Hobby Shop Instagram account, an incredible custom Gunpla figure portrays the Rx-78-2 decked out as a fast food delivery driver. Holding food and sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken, the video of the toy is sure to make fans hungry. While it might not be made from the iconic 11 herbs and spices, it's certainly a feast for the eyes.

Related Mobile Suit Gundam and Seed Freedom's New Apparel Collection Gets International Release

New shirts, hoodies and other merchandise will soon be released in a collaboration celebrating the original Gundam anime and Gundam Seed Freedom.

Gundam Hobby Shop Serves Up a Kentucky Fried Gunpla View this post...

Local animated features led Japanese box office in the first half of 2024 as just two Hollywood titles broke the top 10.

Of the 20 highest-grossing films released so far this year, 15 were produced in Japan. Six out of the top 10 titles are anime features.

Dominating the first half of 2024 was Detective Conan: The Million-Dollar Pentagram, the 27th annual entry in a series of films about a high school detective who has been shrunk to child-like proportions. The film has earned $94.4m (¥15.19bn) – a record for the long-running franchise. By comparison, 2023’s top-grossing film, animation The First Slam Dunk, took $98.6m (¥15.87bn) over...

Nyx UK presents eight chilling channel premieres in July, headed up on Tuesday July 16 at 9pm, with Uwe Boll’s controversial retro-slasher Seed (2007), a divisive portrait of a serial killer which delves into the macabre and grotesque, offering a grim exploration of vengeance and the human capacity for cruelty.

At first you’ll be afraid, you’ll be petrified! On Friday July 5, 9pm, Nyx UK also premieres Renaud Gauthier’s ‘goriously’ humorous Discopath (2013), in which a seemingly ordinary man turns his local Seventh Heaven nightclub into a splatter Disco Inferno.

Other primetime channel premieres include the captivating 1972 Italian giallo Amuck, Reeker 2, Dave Payne’s 2008 prequel to Reeker, Sonja O’Hara’s 2022 horror thriller Mid-century, Black Circle (2018), a stunning Mexican-Swedish horror thriller directed by Adrián García Bogliano. and the Venezuelan supernatural thriller, The House At The End Of Time (2013), directed by Alejandro Hidalgo, broadcast on Fri July 26, 9pm.

The channel also...

While we continue waiting to find out if Don Mancini’s “Chucky” gets renewed for a fourth season – at this time, it hasn’t been cancelled or renewed – Season 3 is headed to Blu-ray.

“Chucky” Season 3 slices onto Blu-ray on August 13, 2024.

The physical media release will include never-before-seen Deleted Scenes.

“Chucky is back with a vengeance in Season Three of the hit series from franchise creator Don Mancini. This time, the infamous killer doll (voiced by Brad Dourif) has managed to find his way inside the White House as the new favorite toy of the president’s young son.

“With Chucky threatening to wreak havoc in America’s highest office, Jake (Zackary Arthur), Devon (Björgvin Arnarson) and Lexy (Alyvia Alyn Lind) travel to the nation’s capital and find a way inside the world’s most secure house to thwart Chucky again before it’s too late.”

“Chucky” Season 3 also brought...

For more than two decades, Iman (Misagh Zare) has functioned as a civil servant, doing work that his kids — who represent Iran’s younger generation — would be ashamed of. Better to keep them in the dark. At last, for his loyalty, Iman has been given a promotion, not to judge (the job he wants) but to inspector (a job no one wants). Inspectors are the goons who interrogate students his daughters’ age when they’re arrested for protesting, the ones who sign off on death sentences for alleged dissidents. Iman doesn’t just work for the Iranian regime; he is the regime.

With livid, thinking-person’s thriller “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” director Mohammad Rasoulof responds to his own imprisonment in 2022 by examining Iranian tensions within the context of a well-placed Tehran family. For most of this slow-boiling nearly-three-hour movie, the main character is not Iman but his submissive,...

After a perilous 28-day journey fleeing Iran and setting foot in Germany, Mohammad Rasoulof has finally made it to Cannes, safe for now and cautiously eager for the premiere of his fourth Cannes feature, “The Seed of the Sacred Fig,” announced by the festival a month ago as a late addition to the Competition.

The last images he takes away from his home — after just having two hours to make the monumental decision whether to be re-incarcerated for a harsh sentence that might still be extended, or to join the constellation of Iranian artists in potentially permanent exile — are the plants and flowers in his apartment, which he worried would have no caretaker. There was also a certain imposing mountain that he can view from his window. It’s there he can see the wall of Evin Prison, where he was last incarcerated in 2022 after speaking out against the government...

In the context of technological advancements, the threat posed by unrestrained artificial intelligence is a recurrent theme in sci-fi narratives. In recent years, the theme has become even more topical than ever, as every mainstream franchise has veered towards the AI antagonist trope, which runs the risk of the theme becoming clichéd through overuse. Fortunately, like the computation prowess of AI, there are numerous possible combination of narrative style to approach the theme, which can keep the idea fresh for quite a long time. Director Mitch Jenkins’ A Million Days is an experimental, taut sci-fi thriller that embraces the perennial conflict between humans and artificial intelligence in a unique, bold way that leaves viewers with much to speculate about.

Despite having budget limitations, A Million Days shows great ingenuity by overcoming that hindrance by presenting its subject matter through a closed-door drama featuring only four characters. Aside from the initial technological jargon,...

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...

Shinn Asuka's writing in Gundam Seed Destiny was a mess, hindering his character development. Shinn shines in Gundam Seed Freedom, working alongside Kira and gaining redemption. The movie serves as a chance for Shinn to evolve, showcasing his potential that was overlooked in Destiny.

One of the issues many people have with Gundam Seed Destiny is the handling of its protagonist, Shinn Asuka. He's angsty, irritable, rarely listens to others, and is quick to call everyone else out on their faults. He also works for the bad guys. Some of his traits can be accepted as quirks in his character meant to distinguish him from his predecessor, Kira Yamato. However, he had distinct flaws he needed to grow out of and never did, at least not before the series was over.

His character development was cut short so Kira could be Seed's central protagonist again. Everything about the writing surrounding Shinn was a mess,...

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,...

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...

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.

Grendizer U , the new version of Go Nagai's classic giant robot series, has just released a new trailer packed with moments that will get any mecha fan's blood pumping. Set to the show's opening theme, "Kaishin no Ichigeki" by Glay, the new trailer features battles both on Earth and in space, as well as familiar sights like Mazinger Z rising from its launch pad: Related: Grendizer U Anime Reboot Unveils Four Updated Mechanical Designs Along with this new trailer come four new cast members, all playing staff members at the Photon Lab: Hayashi voiced by Shinya Takahashi (Kouki Mimura in Assassination Classroom ) Yamada voiced by Riho Sugiyama (Yoko Araki in Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture ) Saeki voiced by Hinonori Kondo (Clamp in Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin ) Oi voiced by Sora Tokui (Nico Yazawa in Love Live! School Idol Project ) Related: Grendizer U Anime Reboot Recruits New Cast and Crew,...

After a controversial path full of gamers who were not so happy with the way that this game presented its protagonist, Eve, Stellar Blade is finally ready for release. Its director discusses how some IPs, like this one, simply lack realism, and this is a good thing.

In a recent interview, Kim Hyung-tae, director of Shift Up, talked about how players need to be able to immerse themselves in the virtual world of the game without thinking it is realistic. They need to enjoy the experience a bit more without so many questions.

This Game Aims to Provide Players With an Enjoyable and Stress-Free Experience Stellar Blade will be released on April 26 exclusively for PS5.

With a rocky beginning making a very controversial impact with the camera angle and the way its main protagonist is designed, Stellar Blade really generated a lot of fuzz. Eve, the main character always has the camera behind her,...

Jennifer Tilly as Tiffany in ‘Chucky’ season 3 (Photo by: Syfy)

Jennifer Tilly’s relationship with Chucky has lasted longer than most celebrity marriages. She was the Bride of Chucky in 1998. Thanks to 2004’s Seed of Chucky, Tilly has been playing herself in the series, too. And I’ve been talking to her since before Seed, and even moderated a Bride screening Q&a she attended.

So when I saw Tilly at the NBC Universal party for the Television Critics Association, Tilly saw my badge and said, “Oh, it’s Fred Topel, I have to talk to him.” Season three of Chucky left off with Tiffany (Tilly) in prison for the murders she committed in Jennifer Tilly’s body. Spoiler warning for past episodes of Chucky, and the twist of Fight Club if you’ve never seen that.

Chucky returns Wednesday at 10 p.m. on Syfy and USA.

Did you think anything...

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.

Netflix released the first full-length official trailer for Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance.

The trailer features a new look at the upcoming anime mecha series, while also confirming it arrives on Netflix worldwide in fall 2024. An exact release date has yet to be announced.

Related Gundam Seed Merges With Dune: Part Two in Epic Sci-Fi Collaboration Two of the hottest current properties in sci-fi have merged in an official collab between Dune: Part Two and the new release of Gundam Seed Freedom.

Announced at Anime Expo 2023, Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance takes place in the latter part of the One Year War, as the Earth Federation Forces attempt to reclaim the European front. The series centers on a Principality of Zeon pilot named Iria Sorari (voiced by Celia Massingham), who's enlisted to defend the territory on behalf of the Red Wolves division.

It was announced in December 2023 that Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance would release on Netflix.

Exclusive: Fresh off the Max debut of The Girls on the Bus, on which he serves as story editor, Tawal Panyacosit has signed with M88 for representation.

Created by Amy Chozick and Julie Plec, the political drama tells the story of four female journalists who follow the every move of a parade of flawed presidential candidates, finding friendship, love, and a scandal that could take down not just the presidency, but our entire democracy, along the way. The first two episodes of the series, starring Melissa Benoist, Carla Gugino, and more, which is produced by Berlanti Productions, premiered on March 14.

Panyacosit’s other writing credits include showrunners Julie Plec and Marguerite MacIntyre’s Vampire Academy for Peacock, and Life After First Failure for CW Seed, which is a series that he co-created, co-developed and co-executive produced. As a diehard genre geek with a penchant for anything magical, mystical, mythological, and/or musical,...

Image via Mutsumi Inomata Exhibition art print The official Twitter for illustrator Mutsumi Inomata, known for her illustration and character design works for Bandai Namco Entertainment's Tales of game series, reported that Inomata passed away on March 10. The private funeral service was held with family. "It was so sudden...," read the statement issued by Inomata's younger sister. "There are rough sketches she was still working on, and I'm sure she is drawing them in heaven. Surrounded by her favorite cats, she must be creating cute, strong-eyed characters one after another...I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who have loved and supported Mutsumi Inomata, and I hope that you will continue to love her." Following her passing, The Tales game's official twitter account also issued the following statement: On the occasion of the passing of Mutsumi Inomata-sensei, we would like to express our deepest condolences...

The official website for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, has released a special collaboration visual with Dune: Part Two, which will open in Japan tomorrow, March 15. The visual newly drawn by the Gundam Seed franchise's character designer Hisashi Hirai depicts Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne in the same composition as the visual for Dune: Part Two featuring the protagonist, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), and his destined woman, Chani (Zendaya) ,with the sun in the background. The Seed title logo is also similar to that of Dune . And according to Mantan Web , Mobil Suit Gundam Seed Freedom 's cumulative total domestic revenue had surpassed 3.9 billion yen (26.37 million Usd) on 2.31 million admissions by March 12, in 46 days since its release in Japan on January 26. The film has already become the top-grossing film in the 45-year-olfd Gundam anime franchise. The previous top-grossing film...

Bandai Namco has announced that the latest Mobile Suit Gundam movie is finally coming to the United States following its major success in Japan.

Screening in the U.S. at the end of March, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom will be released in coastal U.S. theaters. Held in New York and California, these screening events will feature the original Japanese audio with English subtitles. Those who purchase premium tickets can even get hold of some incredible commemorative add-ons.

Related Gundam Fans Granted a Last Chance to Farewell the World's Largest Moving Mecha Fans who want to see the giant Rx-78-2 at Gundam Factory Yokohama will only have until the end of March before the attraction is closed down. Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Is Coming to American Theaters Calling all LA and NY Gundam Fans!! We have some exciting news! On March 31, we will be hosting the U.

Mecha is one of the oldest franchises in anime history. It's been around since near the beginning, and was the premiere genre for most of anime's earlier decades. In that time, creators and franchises codified a ton of tropes that are unique to the genre.

No matter how old some tropes are though, they never truly become outdated. In fact, fans often can't get enough of the right tropes in their favorite series. Seeing how creators find ways to utilize them, whether it's subverting them to do something unexpected or playing them straight but executing them uniquely, is the fun part of being a mecha fan.

Read Our Review The 25 Most Powerful Gundam Mecha, Ranked The Gundam series features a multitude of powerful mech suits but which one can be considered the strongest of all? Masked Villains Provide The Ultimate Challenge Represented In: Mobile Suit Gundam, Gundam Seed, Gundam Wing,...

Hotly anticipated after the juggernaut success of Final Fantasy VII in 1997, Final Fantasy VIII, the eighth iteration of the beloved franchise about crystals and cool summons fell into our eager hands only two years later. It was all here, epic Fmv sequences set to Nobuo Uematsu’s rousing score. A story about a school of young mercenaries, tied together by fading memories and the need for heroes against an evil sorceress. An enhanced but familiar battle system, adding in the wrinkle of resource management (drawing power from others to fill your reserves) to help keep the system fresh.

It even featured dual protagonists, for a while dividing our time between the loner mercenary trainee Squall Leonheart and the eager soldier Laguna Loire in a series of background-setting flashbacks. And yet, years later when the scores are tallied and our favorites lined up, Final Fantasy VIII is almost always an unruly stepchild.

Popular clothing company Levi's is set to launch a futuristic collection with the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise, releasing a wide range of new apparel inspired by the classic mecha anime.

The Levi's x Gundam Seed collection goes live on Feb. 1, 2024, with a range of graphic t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, bags, jeans and hats. The 12-piece collection will be available online in Asia and Oceanic territories first before launching worldwide on Feb. 8. Fans in the U.S. will be able to purchase the range from Levi.com, Levi’s® App, select Levi’s® Stores, PacSun and Urban Outfitters. Images and the official teaser trailer can be viewed below.

Related Original Gundam Creator: Anime Boom Has Peaked and Is Approaching "Dead End" The creator of the iconic Gundam franchise shares why anime is in decline and why Disney is failing, stating that current conditions are too soft. Close Gundam and Other Classic...

Bandai is releasing new figures for familiar faces from the upcoming Gundam movie.

Bandai Spirits' Sh Figuarts line of collectibles will now include two figures for Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne, with their appearances based on the new Gundam Seed Freedom animated film. Pre-orders are currently available internationally, with the announcement launching as the movie heads into Japanese theaters. Coming with exclusive accessories and multiple features, these toys are perfect for any Gundam fan trying to recreate scenes from the Cosmic Era timeline.

Related New Gundam Seed Freedom Promotional Cards Reveal Additional Story Elements Those attending the theatrical release of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom will receive promotional cards and short stories that continue the plot. The Newest Gundam Movie Receives Tie-In Toys From Sh Figuarts Close

The Kira Yamato figure is adorned in the hero's newest pilot armor, which is introduced in Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom. Along with a wearable helmet,...

"Freedom," Japanese pop singer Takanori Ishikawa's new collaboration single with acclaimed J-pop composer/producer Tetsuya Komuro, finally released in Japan on January 24, 2024. This is the first time Nishikawa and Komuro have teamed up for a song produced by Komuro. The song is featured as the theme for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the upcoming feature film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise. All under the name T.M.Revolution, Nishikawa previously sang the theme song "Invoke," "Meteor," "Ignited," and "Vestige" for the original Mobile Suit Gundam Seed TV series from 2002-2003 and its direct sequel Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny from 2004 to 2005. He even voiced two characters in the series — Miguel Aiman in Seed and Heine Westenfluss in Seed Destiny . A new artist visual for Nishikawa was also released with the CD. Hisashi Hirai, the character designer for the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise and the new film,...

Kate Pryde's consumption of a Death Seed grants her extreme new powers, including long-range use of her phasing abilities and the ability to fold space for teleportation. The Death Seed has been used in the past to transform heroes into powerful villains who are obsessed with "pruning" humanity for the betterment of evolution. Kate's transformation into Shadowtiger represents the dark endpoint of her choices and serves as a warning of what she could become if the X-Men's final battle goes wrong. However, there is still hope that Kate can avoid this fate.

Warning: contains spoilers for Rise of the Powers of X #1!As the X-Men struggle to save life on Earth from the god of all AI, Kate 'Kitty' Pryde has sacrificed her humanity to fight back - unlocking wild new powers in the process. To beat back the rise of the machines and the death of all biological life,...

The latest Mobile Suit Gundam movie is getting promotion from an unexpected ally: Hello Kitty.

Per Oricon, Gundam parent company Sunrise and Hello Kitty owner Sanrio have teamed up with a rather strange form of advertisement. Meant to commemorate the release of the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom movie, the companies have released images uniting their characters. The result is a mash-up of familiar Cosmic Era Gundam characters and the friendly mascots of Sanrio.

Related New Gundam Seed Freedom Promotional Cards Reveal Additional Story Elements Those attending the theatrical release of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom will receive promotional cards and short stories that continue the plot. Hello Kitty Promotes the New Gundam Movie Close

The new illustrations involve Sanrio characters interacting with Gundam Seed heroes that fans will surely recognize. Released in two styles, these images either match the art style of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom or stick...

Those who see the latest Mobile Suit Gundam movie in theaters will get additional bits of the story in an unusual form of merchandise.

The upcoming Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom anime movie hits Japanese theaters at the end of January 2024. People who attend the screenings when it releases will also receive a gift in the form of promotional cards. Beyond just advertising the movie, these cards add to its story and further develop the characters. This news comes alongside the release of a new music video for the movie's ending theme, "Sarigiwa no Romantics" (Romantics Upon Parting), performed by the iconic musical duo See-Saw.

Related Gundam Confirms Marriage Status of The Witch from Mercury's Suletta and Miorine Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury finally reveals the marital status of its two leads, with Suletta and Miorine fans emotional at the news. Gundam Seed Freedom's Promotional Cards Add...

Flying Dog's official YouTube channel began streaming a three-minute music video for See-Saw's new song, "Sarigiwa no Romantics" ( Romantics at the time of departure ). The song is featured as the ending theme for Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom , the film sequel from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed franchise. The clips include plenty of footage from the two TV series, which leads to the film's story at the end. Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Anime Film Welcomes See-Saw Back for Ending Theme Related: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Freedom Film Releases Main Trailer See-Saw profile photo See-Saw is a Japanese music unit consisting of vocalist Chiaki Ishikawa and keyboardist Yuki Kajiura. "Sarigiwa no Romantic" is their first song in 19 years and the third song for the Gundam Seed franchise, following "Anna ni Issho Datta no ni" ( Mobile Suit Gundam Seed first ending theme) and "Kimi wa Boku ni Niteiru...

The Berserk (1997) anime was confirmed to receive a game-changing Blu-ray with enhanced quality and exciting bonus scenes. Fans of older anime will appreciate the improved animation quality and new features of the remastered version. Discotek Media, known for licensing retro anime, is the perfect choice for remastering this legendary series.

The popular 1997 version of the Berserk anime has been confirmed to receive a Blu-ray that will significantly enhance the quality of the series, plus new and exciting bonus scenes. For fans who dislike the lower animation quality of older anime, this is a game-changer as it ensures that the late Kentaro Miura's masterpiece will be enjoyed by all.

Airing from October 8, 1997, to April 1, 1998, this 25-episode anime is considered the best adaptation of Kentaro Miura's legendary manga. Although there is a Blu-ray set already, this new one will definitely exceed its predecessor considering all the new features.

Berserk: The Complete...