It was revealed on January 16th that American R&B artist SZA's song "Snooze" will be the opening theme for the second chapter of the popular Gundam anime series, "Mobile Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash : Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash 's Flash" (directed by Murase Shukou). "Snooze" is a global hit that garnered attention after being selected for Best R&B Song at the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024. Expressing deep love for a lover and the earnest desire not to part, the music video, released in 2023, was directed by SZA herself and featured Justin Bieber and others. A special promotional video featuring the song was also released on YouTube.
SZA, originally from New Jersey, released her first album, "Ctrl," in 2017 and her second album, "SOS," in 2022. "Snooze" is included on "SOS," which topped the Billboard album chart for a total of 13 weeks. It has sold over 8 million copies in the United States.
"Hathaway's Flash" is based on a novel published in 1989-90 by director Yoshiyuki Tomino, known as the creator of the "Gundam" series. Set in the year 0105 of the Universal Century, Hathaway, the son of Bright Noa, who experienced a bitter separation during the Second Neo Zeon War, pilots a new mobile suit, the XI Gundam, and rises up in rebellion against the Earth Federation government.
It has been announced that the anime will be made up of three chapters, with the first chapter, released in June 2021, being a hit, grossing approximately 2.23 billion yen at the box office. The second chapter, "Circe's Witch," will be directed by Murase Shukou, who has also directed "Genocidal Organ," and will feature voice actors such as Kensho Ono as Hathaway, Reina Ueda as Gigi Andalusia, Junichi Suwabe as Kenneth Sleg, and Soma Saito as Lane Aim. It will be released in 426 theaters, including IMAX, on January 30th.
