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.
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Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO “Would Have Been Shelved” Without the Movie’s Success
“My work is almost done,” Fukuda said. “That’s because I did it 20 years ago. I think it’s all thanks to everyone’s support for FREEDOM [that we can make this project].” He shared that the film is set after DESTINY, is a prequel to SEED FREEDOM and represents a “short break.” It was originally intended to be an OVA. “If it [FREEDOM] hadn’t been a hit, it would have been shelved for sure. The scenario is complete. Almost half of the storyboards are done. So the oldest storyboards are from 20 years ago. Some parts were ported to FREEDOM,” he added, with Kira and Lacus‘ scene on the beach and the film’s first battle as an example.
With the massive box office success of SEED FREEDOM, the staff may be rethinking the plans to make it an OVA and instead release it theatrically. The FREEDOM film streams on Netflix, with other Gundam entries like Requiem for Vengeance being smash hits on the platform. However, despite the franchise proving popular there, Netflix will no longer be involved in the previously announced Gundam live-action movie, which received a major update this week. Gundam will also premiere an anime video project “Mobile Suit Gundam ALC ENCOUNTER” in Japan’s LaLaPort Fukuoka mall, projecting a never-before-seen story onto a wall on Nov. 24. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners episode director Yoshiyuki Kaneko will direct the project. The teaser visual and stills from the anime are available below.
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Readers can stream FREEDOM on Netflix before SEED FREEDOM ZERO‘s premiere. It’s described: “After the Second Alliance-PLANT War, Gundam pilot Kira Yamato joins a new peacekeeping organization determined to eradicate the remains of Blue Cosmos.”
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
In a divided world driven by genetic engineering, mobile suits dominate warfare. Kira Yamato, an ordinary teenager, finds himself piloting a powerful prototype during a surprise attack. Thrust into the conflict between natural humans and Coordinators, genetically enhanced beings, Kira must choose a side while grappling with the true cost of war and the bonds of friendship.
- Release Date
-
October 2, 2002
- Cast
-
Toshiyuki Morikawa
, Shinichirô Miki
, Megumi Toyoguchi
, Akira Ishida - Seasons
-
1
- Studio
-
Sunrise
- Artists
-
Naoki Terashima
- Creator
-
Yoshiyuki Tomino (original concept), Chiaki Morijima (series director)
- Number of Episodes
-
50
Source: Oricon, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM X (formerly Twitter) account
