New information has been announced for the upcoming movie Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, set to release on January 26. A series of newly illustrated character designs by Hisashi Hirai, which will be used as purchase bonuses for the Blu-ray, 4K UHD-BD, and DVD to be released on December 25, has been revealed. These illustrations will be included as common purchase bonuses, limited editions, and store-specific exclusive purchase bonuses.

The new illustrations by character designer Hisashi Hirai feature different designs for each retailer, with characters such as Kira, Lacus, Athrun, Cagalli, Shinn, and Lunamaria, alongside Yzak and Dearka. The common bonus illustration includes eight characters, with Mwu and Murrue joining the main cast.

Additionally, limited-time preview videos of the three drama CDs, which are included in the Blu-ray Mighty Edition and Blu-ray Deluxe Limited Edition, have been made available. These drama CDs can be listened to on the official Gundam YouTube channel, "Gundam Channel," for a limited time. The drama CDs include: "The Two's Escape," which depicts a brief moment of respite for Athrun and Cagalli during their respective missions; "Valkyries of the Moonlight," which focuses on Agnes from SEED FREEDOM and the days of Shinn and Lunamaria at the officer academy; and "Neumann's Logbook," which tells the story from the perspective of Archangel's elite helmsman, Neumann.

The Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series originally aired in 2002 with a total of 50 episodes, marking the first Gundam TV series of the 21st century. The story follows the struggle between genetically enhanced humans (Coordinators) and unmodified humans (Naturals), who battle as members of the ZAFT military and the Earth Alliance. Through the war, the series portrays the inner conflict and growth of the protagonist, Kira Yamato, a Coordinator.

The series not only appealed to its existing fan base but also attracted a large female audience, achieving a peak viewership rating of 8.0%. It also ignited a second Gunpla boom, especially among elementary school children, making it a revolutionary new generation of the Gundam franchise. In October 2004, the sequel series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY began airing, surpassing its predecessor with a peak viewership of 8.2%. The combined package sales for the series have exceeded an astonishing 4 million units, and it has become a highly popular franchise, expanding beyond television with music, events, and more.

The story of the completely new movie Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM continues from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY. It follows the ongoing battles in a war-torn world, developing the stories of Kira, Athrun, Shinn, and others. The film has already surpassed 5 billion yen in box office revenue.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM Official Web SIte

Source : ORICON NEWS