It has been revealed that the popular anime "Mobile Suit Gundam" and the anime "Sgt. Frog," based on the manga by Mine Yoshizaki, will be collaborating in a new theatrical film, "Sgt. Frog Revives and Immediately Faces the Crisis of Earth's Destruction!". While "Sgt. Frog" has featured parody scenes of "Mobile Suit Gundam," this will be the first official collaboration. Approximately 22 years have passed since the TV anime began airing in April 2004, and this marks the first time the two series have officially collaborated. Footage from the film showing Gundam's appearance, as well as collaboration illustrations drawn by Yoshizaki, the creator of "Sgt. Frog," and Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the character designer for "Mobile Suit Gundam," have been released.
The newly released footage shows the Keroro Platoon struggling against the overwhelming power of a mysterious invader, and just when they're in a pinch, Sgt. Frog's beloved Gundam appears. Just when it seems the tide is turning with the Gundam's arrival, a new enemy, a red mobile suit called Char's Zaku, stands in their way.
Yoshizaki created an illustration that pays homage to the three-part theatrical film series of "Mobile Suit Gundam," while Yasuhiko drew an illustration of Amuro Ray, Char Aznable, and Keroro happily linking arms.
To commemorate the collaboration, a plastic model kit of the Keroro Robo Mk-II in Titans colors, "Sgt. Frog Plastic Model Collection Keroro Robo Mk-II (Titans Color)" (Bandai Spirits), will be released on June 26th. It was also announced that a Gunpla model of the Gundam Mk-II from the "RG" series, "RG 1/144 RX-178 Gundam Mk-II (Keroro Specification)" (same company), will be sold on Bandai Namco Group's shopping site, "Premium Bandai."
"Sgt. Frog. Frog" is a gag manga depicting the daily life of Keroro, an alien based on a frog who aims to invade Earth, as he spends time at the home of a young Earth boy named Fuyuki. The one-shot "Sgt. Frog" was published in "Bessatsu Newtype" (KADOKAWA) in 1998, and the serialization began in "Monthly Shonen Ace" (also KADOKAWA) in 1999. The TV anime aired from April 2004 to March 2011 for about seven years, and the series has been adapted into five theatrical anime films, among other media.
The new animated film will be directed and written by Yuichi Fukuda, known for the drama series "Yusha Yoshihiko" and the film series "Gintama." Fumitoshi Oizaki, who was in charge of character design for the TV series, will direct the film, and Satoshi Koike, who also worked on the TV series, will be in charge of character design. BN Pictures will produce the film. This will be the first animated film in the "Sgt. Frog. Sgt. Frog " series in approximately 16 years, since "Sgt. Frog the Movie: The Birth of the Ultimate Keroro - The Miracle Space-Time Island!!" released in 2010. It will be released on June 26th.
