Commentary:Looking back at the smash hit "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom" Z'Gok fever, including the new "SEED FREEDOM ZERO"

2024 was a year of great excitement for the popular anime series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. After about 18 years since its announcement, the animated film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, which was released in January 2024, grossed over 5 billion yen, setting a new record for the highest grossing film in the Gundam series. Following its huge success, it was also announced that a new film, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom ZERO, would be produced. Let's take a look back at Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, which became a hot topic, including related products such as Gunpla (plastic models) and figures.

◇Released 18 years after announcement, breaking the previous record of 42 years

The "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" series has produced "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" and "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY". "SEED FREEDOM" is a sequel to "SEED DESTINY", and the staff of the TV anime, including Director Mitsuo Fukuda, have reunited. The production of the movie version was announced in 2006, but there had been no news about it for a long time. It has been about 18 years since the announcement, so this is a long-awaited new work for fans.

It was released on January 26, 2024, and had a long run of about four months, surpassing the box office revenue of approximately 2.3 billion yen recorded by Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space, released in 1982, and breaking the record for the highest box office revenue in the history of the Gundam series' theatrical releases in approximately 42 years.

In response to the success of the film, a "limited-time special edition" was released in September of the same year. This "complete edition" updated over 500 scenes from the main story and included an epilogue cut. It seems that many fans went to the cinema multiple times to see the "special edition."

◇The Z'Gok fever continues!

"SEED FREEDOM" featured a variety of new MS (Mobile Suits), such as the Mighty Strike Freedom Gundam, Infinite Justice Gundam Nishiki, and Destiny Gundam Spec II, and many Gunpla models were released.

There is also a Gundam model of a popular MS that is scheduled for release in the future. That is the Z'Gok Gundam model "HG 1/144 Z'Gok (SEED FREEDOM Ver.)" that will be released in February. Before the release of the movie, the appearance of Z'Gok was kept secret, so it became a big topic after the release.

In the movie, the Z'Gok appeared as a temporary form to hide the Infinite Justice Gundam Type-2 piloted by Athrun Zala. The shape of the Z'Gok's Gunpla's internal frame is said to be modeled after the Infinite Justice Gundam Type-2. It is possible to selectively incorporate parts of the separately sold "HG 1/144 Infinite Justice Gundam Type-2."

At the figure exhibition "TAMASHII NATION 2024" held in November last year, a Z'Gok figure from the "METAL ROBOT Spirits" series was also on display, which became a hot topic. Details of the figure have not yet been announced, but it seems that the "Z'Gok fever" will continue in the future.

◇What will happen with the new work "SEED FREEDOM ZERO"?

The production of "SEED FREEDOM ZERO" was also announced in November of last year. It is a "follow-up" story to "SEED DESTINY" and will be a prequel to "SEED FREEDOM". It was originally planned as an original video animation (OVA), but was shelved. However, following the success of "SEED FREEDOM", it was decided to produce it.

Last November, director Mitsuo Fukuda, "My work is almost done. That's because I made it 20 years ago. When we were planning to make the movie (SEED FREEDOM), we were asked to have a development similar to that of 'MSV'. The script was done. About half the storyboards are done. The oldest storyboard is from 20 years ago."

According to Director Fukuda, the beach scene of Kira and Lacus in "SEED FREEDOM" and the first battle scene were "transplanted" from the storyboard of "SEED FREEDOM ZERO". The original plan was for an OVA, but the medium is currently "undecided," so we look forward to the announcement of further new information.

With new releases, Gunpla, figures... the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series is likely to continue to gain momentum. We look forward to seeing even more developments.