Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Returns with Stunning ‘Freedom’ Theatrical Film

Just after the Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury finale episode, Sunrise(Bandai Namco Filmworks) released the first teaser trailer for the long gestating Mobile Suit Gundam SEED theatrical film, titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom. Along with the teaser, the official website and Twitter account posted its first key visual and staff.

The film’s plot hasn’t yet been revealed but it will take place in C.E.(Cosmic Era) 75, placing it sometime after the events of 2004’s Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. The tagline of the movie is “A decided destiny, or freedom to resist-“, and will release to theaters January 26, 2024.

Staff:

– Planning/Production: SUNRISE

– Original Story: Hajime Yatate, Yoshiyuki Tomino

– Director: Mitsuo Fukuda

– Screenplay: Chiaki Morosawa, Ryu Goto, Mitsuo Fukuda

– Character Design: Hisashi Hirai

– Mechanical Design: Kunio Okawara, Kimitoshi Yamane, Kazutaka Miyatake, Junichi Akutsu, Manabu Shintani, Zenseava, Takuya Io, Hiroyuki Taiga

– Chief Mechanical Animation Director: Satoshi Shigeta

– Color Design: Akemi Nagao

– Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda, Yukiko Maruyama

– CG Director: Mitsuhiro Sato, Kensuke Kushida, Tomohiro Fujie

– Monitor Works: Azusa Tamura, Jiro Kageyama

– Director of Photography: Takeshi Katsurayama, Shigenori Toyooka

– Editing: Yukiko Nojiri

– Sound Director: Sadayoshi Fujino

– Music: Toshihiko Sahashi

– Production: Bandai Namco Filmworks

– Distributor: Bandai Namco Filmworks, Shochiku ODS Office

The Gundam SEED theatrical film was first announced in May 2006 at Sony Music Anime Fes’ 06. The project was touted at the time as the first original Gundam theatrical film since 1991’s Mobile Suit Gundam F91. Before headwriter Chiaki Morosawa’s passing in 2016, she had completed the plot for the movie.

Announced in May 2021, the SEED series began celebrating its 20th anniversary with Mobile Suit Gundam SEED PROJECT ignited. The project included the installation of the life-sized Freedom Gundam statue in Shanghai with a special video by director Fukuda to commemorate it, Gundam Docks at Shanghai event, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Eclipse manga, a new video game in development, and the anime theatrical film sequel to the SEED and SEED Destiny TV anime series, now titled SEED Freedom.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED aired from 2002-2003 directed by Mitsuo Fukuda and scripted by Chiaki Morosawa. The series features character designs by Hisashi Hirai, mechanical designs by Kunio Okawara and Kimitoshi Yamane, chief mecha animation direction by Satoshi Shigeta, and music by Toshihiko Sahashi. The popular series was followed with a sequel series in 2004 titled, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. The success of the series also inspired Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73 Stargazer, a three episode original net animation (ONA) side story set during the events of SEED Destiny. Both the SEED and SEED Destiny series received HD Remastered editions in 2011 and 2013 respectively.

Story

Year 70 of the Cosmic Era. The Coordinators, a group of genetically enhanced humans, have moved into colonies orbiting the Earth. But that hasn’t quieted the tensions between them and regular humans; the conflict soon escalates into a full-scale war. On the neutral colony of Heliopolis, Kira Yamato, and his friends are going to school and just being kids. But when the ZAFT commando forces attack, Kira’s life changes forever.

Left with no choice, he and Federation officer Murrue Ramius are thrown into battle in a prototype mobile weapon, which Kira christens “GUNDAM.” Now, Kira must defend himself and his friends from his own people. For, unknown to anyone else, Kira is a Coordinator. And the enemy he faces on the battlefield is his childhood best friend, Athrun!

Source: Official Website