Gunota Headlines
Thursday, July 31, 2008
MG G-Fighter in 2009
Bandai Hobby Center's Space Diary Of The Captain announces the G-Fighter for the MG RX-78-2 Ver. 2.0 will be sold separately in 2009. It'll come with the Hyper Hammer. Pictured is the HGUC version.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Second Gundam 00 drama CD announced
7 & Y lists a second drama CD entitled "Drama CD Special Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Another Story 'Road To 2307'" coming out on September 24. Details are sparse other than the CD looks to include two tales from the past: "Angels Descend", dealing with the Meisters, and "Union Flag", focusing on the Union.
MS IGLOO 2 ED theme song
Also from Victor Animation Network, the ending theme for the first episode of MS IGLOO 2 will be "Mr. Lonely Heart" by Haruna Yokota. Release date is October 24.
Gundam 00 Voice Actor Single #2
Victor Animation Network posted info on the second in the Gundam 00 Voice Actor Single series. Titled "Shinichiro Miki come across Lockon Stratos", the CD comes out September 24 and features the tracks "The Spiral Of Eternity" & "Answer". The music for the CD was done in collaboration with Eijun Suganami & Shinji Matsuda, members of The Back Horn.
Gundam 00 Blu-ray Box
A photo of the box that comes with the Blu-ray edition of Gundam 00 was put up on the official site's Products section.
International Gundam Society revisited
After first coming to public attention in May, the academic study group known as the International Gundam Society was recently formally announced. And that leads to more English language coverage (Mainichi Daily News, Breitbart.com).
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
More Comic Con 2008 galleries
Toy News International (Toynami)
Collection DX 1 (Bandai)
Collection DX 2 (Toynami)
Gundam 00 Vol. 7 first week sales
Oricon lists the final volume of Gundam 00's first season ranking #4 on the overall DVD chart and #2 on the anime DVD chart. Info from 2ch says it sold 24,013 copies.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Gundam 00 site update
A few more of the English voice actors were revealed at the official English site:
Saji Crossroad - Gabe Khouth
Louise Halevy - Kelly Sheridan
Kinue Crossroad - Anna Cummer
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tamashii Nations at Comic Con 2008
Tamashii Web's English site posted a page with listings of what they're showing off at Comic Con.
MS IGLOO 2 cast
The official site's Staff/Cast page was updated with some seiyuu listings:
Ben Barberry - Masaki Terasoma
Papa Sydney Lewis - Nobuyuki Hiyama
Michele Corematta - Hiroki Touchi
Kycilia Zabi (voice only) - Mami Koyama
The data pages have new content as well:
-E.F.G.F.-
Anti-MS Special Chief Petty Officer Papa Sydney Lewis
1st Squad marksman. Acts as Barberry's right hand man.
Lieutenant Commander Michele Corematta
Commander of the 44th Mechanized Regiment Battalion Lieutenant J.G. Barberry belongs to.
E.F.G.F. general infantry
E.F.G.F. anti-MS squad soldier
-Earth Federation Armament-
High mobility vehicle "M72 1/2t truck Lakota"
Anti-MS squad 1st squad vehicle No. 1
Type-61 tank "M61A5 MBT"
Nicknamed the "Type-61 5+" by the Federal Forces.
Further Gundam Expo Tokyo 2008 details
Gundam.Info has some new details on next month's event.
Among the limited edition merchandise will be:
HG Gundam Exia (clear version) - 1,200 yen
MG Strike Freedom Gundam (clear version) - 4,800 yen
MG Mass Production Zaku Ver. 2.0 (real type specs) - 4,000 yen
Stage events scheduled:
August 12 - Toru Furuya & Shuuichi Ikeda special talk
August 16 - Takashi Imanishi & Yutaka Izubuchi MS IGLOO 2 Blu-ray Disc sale commemoration special talk
On the 12th through the 15th, three of the Gundam Meister seiyuu (and Saji's) will appear one a day as part of an event for people who bought the Blu-ray or DVD versions of Gundam 00 at the dot-anime site.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
PS2 Gundam 00 screenshots
Game Watch and GameSpot Japan both have articles up on Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters. The game features full voice acting. Release date is October 16.
GameSpot's entire gallery is up here.
00 merchandising plans
Aoi Model Shop wrote up a report on the content of a Gundam 00 presentation detailing upcoming marketing plans:
- There were only things to be announced in TV commercials & anime mags and there was no new video.
- 24 items are currently planned in HG, 1/100, 1/60, BB Senshi, and HCM-Pro.
- No FG kits this time. Demand was poor but questionnaires & marketing research showed the targeted elementary school and younger age group were not entirely adverse to 00.
- So this time they're putting effort into the BB Senshi line to make up for that for the younger age group.
- The plan is to keep prices down on the HG line for middle & high school students. There's suspicions the simplicity of the new Gundam designs are due to Bandai's inclination to control development costs. The HG 00 Gundam will be on sale September 26 or 27.
- Conversely, the 1/100 line will continue to be more extravagant for working adults. The first, the 00, is scheduled to come with a light-up gimmick for the shoulder GN Drives.
- There are also plans for the 1/60 scale.
- HCM-Pros for all 4 Gundams were on display. The lack of GN Drives on the backs of the other 3 Gundams was notable. Was it because these were still merchandise prototypes? Or are they hiding something?
- Of course, there were seam lines on the armor of the HCM-Pro Seravee Gundam... (*laughs*)
- Tierens and Flags will show up in Season 2.
- But the main enemy will be from the GN-X lineage.
- There was nothing on the Thrones.
- "This time, the MS themes will be combining, transforming, and linking"... it seems they'll pull off a 4 MS combiner?
- The magazine side stories will mainly focus on the 4 first generation Gundams and follow MS that won't be reappearing in the anime. But there was nothing concrete.
The webmaster cautions that he wrote this from memory so he may have misheard some of it. Further, the content was labeled as "presently planned" and thus subject to change before official announcements are made.
Upcoming merchandise pics
From Hobby Search:
HG 00 Gundam - September, 1,050 yen
HCM-Pro 00 Gundam - September, 2,940 yen
HCM-Pro Cherudim Gundam - November, 3,000 yen
From Gundamer.com:
HCM-Pro 00 Gundam
HCM-Pro Cherudim Gundam
The HG 00 will have a new kind of polycap, a new "swing action" hip joint, and come with two GN Sword IIs. The solicits for both of the HCM-Pros say they have many gimmicks not yet revealed. Gundamer.com is also selling a an HG 00/HCM-Pro 00 set that comes with a DVD of video from the first & second seasons.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Gundam Battle Universe first week sales
Gpara.com's Media Create numbers has Gundam Battle Universe ranking #2 for the week with 138,000 copies sold. The success of the series has grown steadily with each entry released.
First week sales of other Gundam PSP titles for comparison:
Gihren's Greed: Blood of Zeon - 28,460
Gundam Battle Tactics - 37,340
SD Gundam G Generation Portable - 155,634
Quiz Mobile Suit Gundam Toi Senshi DX - 16,552
Gundam Battle Royale - 64,986
Alliance Vs. ZAFT Portable - 58,751
Gundam Battle Chronicle - 86,208
Gihren's Greed: Menace Of Axis - 123,000
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This month's hobby mag news
MG MS-06R2 Johnny Ridden's Zaku Ver. 2.0 - September, 4,725 yen
HG 00 Gundam - October, 1,050 yen
HG GN Arms Type D + Gundam Dynames - w/ GN beam pistol + holster, September, 6,300 yen
HCM-Pro 00 Gundam - October
HCM-Pro Cherudim Gundam
MSiA 00 Gundam - Fall
MSiA Arios Gundam - Fall
GN-0000 00 Gundam
Armament: GN sword II, GN shield
GN-006 Cherudim Gundam
Armament: GN sniper rifle II, GN beam pistol II
GN-007 Arios Gundam
Armament: GN twin beam rifle
GN-008 Seravee Gundam
Armament: GN bazooka II
World Characters Convention Gate Of The Next
destroy tokyo
Mainichi.jp
Omocha Daisuki! (Bandai booth 1)
Omocha Daisuki! (Bandai booth 2)
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Famitsu.com Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters article
With some decent quality pics of the upcoming PS2 game here.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Tamashii Web site update
Project BM is releasing a limited edition Setsuna F. Seiei figure in December to commemorate the opening of the Tamashii Web Shop. It'll be available for order from July 29 through September 3 at a price of 17,640 yen and comes with open hands & fist parts plus a stand.
In completely unrelated news, Tamashii Nations will announce a new robot figure line at an event to be held on August 5.
MG RX-78-2 Ver. 2.0 commercial
Bandai Hobby has an entry for the RX-78-2 Ver. 2.0 on their Master Grade site with a 30-second commercial.
Gundam 00 Voice Actor Single 1 cover
From Famitsu.com, the CD cover to the Mamoru Miyano/Setsuna F. Seiei Voice Actor Single.
Upcoming merchandise pics
From The Gundam Base:
HGUC Kämpfer
HGUC Rick Dom II (Colony Color)
Sangokuden Hero Encyclopedia: Korou Fortress Chapter
Sangokuden Hero Encyclopedia: Red Cliffs Chapter
HG AEU Enact (Demonstration Color)
HCM-Pro RX-78-2 Gundam Jaburo Defensive Battle
HCM-Pro Tallgeese
BB Senshi Sangokuden Ryomou Dijeh / Kannei Kämpfer Gou Assault Marines
Thursday, July 17, 2008
SD Gundam Force Collection Box screening
Gundam.Info put up details of an all night SD Gundam screening commemorating the sale of the SD Gundam Force Collection Box DVD set. Beginning around midnight on August 9 at the Ikeburo Theater Dia, attendees will get an advance look at the DVD's "Zako Zako Hour Special Edition", 4 selected episodes of SD Gundam Force, and new 35mm prints of two SD Gundam Festival works (Super G-Arms: Final Formula Vs. Normgather and SD Sengokuden: World Peace Chapter). Guests scheduled to speak include SD Gundam Force director Yuuichi Abe, assistant director Nobuhiro Kondo, producer Shigeru Horiguchi, CG technical director Kenichi Suzuki, and Bandai Channel SDGF blogger Daltanian Okazaki.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Rie Tanaka for New York Anime Festival
As pointed out by ANN, Medium At Large announces Rie Tanaka will be a Guest of Honor at New York Anime Festival 2008.
Gundam 00 for PS2
The previously mentioned Gundam 00 PS2 game was announced by Famitsu as "Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Gundam Meisters". The 3D action game by developer Yuke's will completely cover the first season of the anime plus many original episode scenarios and contain original animation by the television staff. One of the game's battle systems involves an Action Movie gauge which, after being filled up by defeating enemies, looks to invoke Resident Evil 4-type interactive cutscenes to perform a special attack. Currently 70% complete. Release date is October.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Bonds Of The Battlefield update
The official site announces the RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam and regular MS-05B Zaku I are being added to the lineup of MS in the game.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Upcoming merchandise pics
From Hobbyist Inc.:
HGUC Kämpfer
HGUC Rick Dom II Colony Color
HG AEU Enact (Demostration Color)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
MS IGLOO 2 dot-anime page
The Japanese dot-anime site has an MS IGLOO 2 feature page with a staff blog. Additionally, both the complete 3-episode Blu-ray and DVD sets of the OVA on sale at the site will come with 2 different specially-made bandanas.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Upcoming merchandise pics
Datsu! Mikkabouzu posted snapshots of various upcoming Gunpla.
From Rakuten's Bigbe site:
BB Senshi Sangokuden Ryomou Dijeh / Kannei Kämpfer Gou Assault Marines
Hobbynet also posted some dates for other BB Senshi Sangokuden kits seen at the Shizuoka Hobby Show:
BB Senshi Sangokuden Chouryou Gelgoog - October, 630 yen
BB Senshi Sangokuden Shuusou Doven Wolf - November, 630 yen
BB Senshi Sangokuden Shuuyu Hyaku Shiki - November, 630 yen
SD 00 anime pics
In an interview with the Gundam Meister seiyuu regarding DVD volume 7, Gundam.Info posted two screenshots from the SD Gundam 00 anime included on the the final first season DVD. The title of the short, referred to as Flash-like anime, is "CB Chara 'Second Season Preview'".
Thursday, July 10, 2008
New merchandise news
From Happinet Online:
1/100 Gundam Exia EXF (Trans-Am Mode) - pearl pink extra finish, August, 5,250 yen
Action Base 1 (sparkle clear green) - August, 682 yen
Pics from Hobbynet:
1/100 Gundam Exia EXF (Trans-Am Mode)
Action Base 1 (sparkle clear green)
Gundam Expo Tokyo 2008 details
Gundam.Info gives the rundown. Entry is free except for the game/amusement area's fee.
Amuro Vs. Char Giant Diorama Zone - Giant diorama, video, and chronology of the popular First Gundam characters.
Successive Gundams Zone - An introduction to the history of Gundam productions, including SD Gundam, through posters, displays, and video.
Newest Items Zone - All the latest Gundam plamodels and figures.
Gundam 00 Zone - With the newest second season promo video, a digest video of the first season, and the debut of a giant 00 Gundam diorama.
Game Experience Zone - The latest home games as well as Bonds Of The Battlefield.
Stage & Theater - Screening Gundam-related videos and a seiyuu talk show.
Sales Zone - Limited edition merchandise available here.
Operation Troy downloadable maps
Game Watch writes that two new multiplayer maps will be available for download this month: Starting today, a Seattle map will be available for 200 Microsoft points and on the 24th, a Hong Kong City map will also be available for free.
Gundam 00 2nd season press releases
As covered by Famitsu.com and Game Watch, Bandai Namco and Sotsu Agency put out press releases announcing the second season of Gundam 00. The Sotsu release confirms the second season's staff to be exactly the same as the first's as far as the director, series composition, character & mecha designers are concerned.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Tamashii Comic-Con exclusive merchandise
Action Figure Insider announces Bandai's collector-focused label, Tamashii, will have exclusive merchandise available at Toynami's booth at Comic-Con International. One of the figures will be a GFF RX-78-2 Ver. Ka Comic-Con Clear Version for $30 (limited to 1,000 units). Also mentioned is that Tamashii will be debuting new prototypes, products, and dioramas at the booth.
Gundam 00 site update
The official site updated several pages with Season 2 info.
Story:
"2312 A.D.
4 years since the final battle between Celestial Being and the UN Forces. Humanity, having established the Earth Sphere Federation, forms an independent security preservation force, Arrows, separate from the formal Federation army to further unify nations and the will of mankind. But the reality was the inhumane oppression of anti-government powers, doctrines & ideologies in the name of unity.
Saji Crossroad, who followed the path to becoming a space engineer to keep a promise to Louise Halevy and fulfill a dream, is also compelled to become involved in Federation government reform.
Meanwhile, Setsuna F. Seiei, surviving the final battle 4 years ago, saw the future of the world that had been changed by Celestial Being. With the defeat of guardian Alejandro Corner, he dreamed of a peaceful world without conflict. But before his own eyes was the reality of the continuing strain on peace, the oppression caused by Arrows. He decides once more to fight with Gundam, the power with the potential to change the world.
Where will Setsuna's and Saji's paths take them as the world is set into motion once more?"
Tagline (in contrast to the first season tagline "Rebirth begins through destruction"): "(We will) destroy the rebirth"
Characters:
Setsuna F. Seiei
"21-years-old. A fated child soldier from the Middle East's Republic of Krugis. Saved by the 0 Gundam during that time and became a Gundam Meister with Celestial Being. 4 years after the battle with allied forces, what does he think of as he looks at the world newly unified by the Earth Sphere Federation...?"
Lockon Stratos
"29-years-old. A member of Celestial Being and pilot of the marksman-type Keldim Gundam. Heads into battle with Haro."
Allelujah Haptism
"24-years-old. From the HRL's Superhuman Institute and pilot of the retired Gundam Kyrios. Went missing after the fierce battle with allied forces 4 years ago. He seems to have had a past with super soldier Soma Peries from the same Superhuman Institute..."
Tieria Erde
"Age unknown. Injured in the decisive final battle with allied forces 4 years ago, he was rescued by Celestial Being and did his best in their reconstruction. While he once followed Veda's judgment absolutely, he now looks for the meaning in combat through his own decisions."
Mecha:
GN-0000 00 Gundam
Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei
"Gundam Exia's successor unit. Its greatest feature is its 2 GN Drives equipped on the shoulders. This allows it to boast particle emisson volumes surpassing all other units."
Keldim Gundam
Pilot: Lockon Stratos
"Gundam Dynames' successor unit. It also supports sniper combat to reflect the characteristics of its pilot."
Arios Gundam
Pilot: Allelujah Haptism
"Gundam Kyrios' successor unit. Similar to the Kyrios, it has the ability to transform. It can be said that it's suited for high-speed movement."
Selavii Gundam
Pilot: Tieria Erde
"Gundam Virtue's successor unit. A heavy armament model similar to the Virtue. Equipped with GN cannons on both shoulders that boast greater firepower than the Virtue. "
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Famitsu.com Gundam Battle Universe article
Famitsu.com has an article covering 4 of the new missions featured in Gundam Battle Universe from ZZ and Char's Counterattack: Start! Double Zeta (AEUG), The Boy from Shangri-La (Neo Zeon), Char's 2nd Wave (Earth Federation Forces), and Char's Return (Neo Zeon).
Upcoming merchandise pics
From Amiami:
HCM-Pro RX-78-2 Gundam Jaburo Defensive Battle
HCM-Pro E.F.F. 08 Team Vs. Zeon Set
The official Air Shock Battle Beam Saber site has a Specs page up.
Gundam Expo Tokyo 2008
Gundam.Info announces Gundam Expo Tokyo 2008 will be held August 12-17 at Sunshine City. As with last year's event, the latest Gunpla, figures, video, and games will be shown off and some limited edition merchandise will be available.
Monday, July 07, 2008
English Gundam 00 official site
Bandai put up the official English Gundam 00 site, which includes a trailer.
The casting for the Gundam Meisters is given as:
Setsuna F. Seiei - Brad Swaile
Lockon Stratos - Alex Zahara
Allelujah Haptism - Richard Ian Cox
Tieria Erde - Sam Vincent
This month's anime mag info
Official info for season 2 of Gundam 00 just started to leak out. Note: Source pics weren't the most legible so these are subject to correction. Thanks to 2ch posters, who also puzzled out what they could.
Characters:
Setsuna F. Seiei - 21-years-old. Lived as a boy soldier in his native Kurdish and became a Gundam Meister with Celestial Being. Engaged in one-on-one combat with Graham in a final battle. Went missing. 4 years after, what does he think of as he looks at the world without conflict the Earth Sphere Federation ushered in?
Lockon Stratos - 29-years-old. Expert marksman and Gundam Meister affiliated with Celestial Being. 4 years ago, he and his bitter enemy Saachez shot each other simultaneously and he should've died but......this Lockon!? He heads to the battlefield together with his partner Haro and, as a Gundam Meister, pilots the Keldim Gundam.
Allelujah Haptism - 24-years-old.
Tieria Erde - Age unknown. Seriously injured in the decisive final battle in which he flew the Gundam Nadleeh but he was rescued by an organization and his life saved. Afterwards, he did his best to rebuild Celestial Being. Previously, he had thought of Veda as an absolute being but now he looks for the meaning of his personal struggle.
Mecha (definitely iffy on the names here):
GN-0000 00 Gundam - New generation Gundam developed as a successor unit to the Gundam Exia. A formidable mecha equipped with 2 GN Drives on its shoulders, it boasts astounding GN particle emission and its performance overwhelms that of all other mobile suits. Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei
Keldim Gundam - Gundam Dynames' successor unit, which includes its superior sniping ability. Developed as a unit that can utilize pilot Lockon Stratos' special qualities. In form, it's close to the Dynames with functional enhancements made to the entire body.
Arios Gundam - Gundam Kyrios' successor unit and a high mobility type equipped with a similar transformation mechanism. It's real value is particularly demonstrated in high-speed combat. Both shoulders are equipped with a large shield, bringing in a new concept. Pilot: Allelujah Haptism
Selavii Gundam - A heavy armament model piloted by Tieria Erde that largely carries over features of the Gundam Virtue. Furthermore, it was developed with the intent of strengthening offense and while the 2 shoulder-equipped GN cannons are simple in form, their firepower far exceeds the Virtue's.
Info from Kouryaku No Yakata's Newtype summaries:
- The second season will revolve around an independent security enforcement organization within the Federation called "Arrows" that suppresses anti-Federation elements.
- Setsuna will take on a leadership role.
- Most people aren't aware of the severe oppression of Arrows due to the Federation's complete control of information.
- Lockon died and isn't coming back.
- The show will air in MBS' Sunday 5 pm timeslot starting in October.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Gundam Vs. Gundam hidden element #4
Alpha Station says the latest addition is a Time Attack Course for CPU battles.
Complete MG line for sale
Akiba OS reports on Mandarake Complex in Akihabara putting a complete set of non-limited edition Master Grade kits up for sale in a display case outside their shop. From the 1st (original RX-78-2 Gundam) to the 110th (Shin Musha Gundam) and including some non-standard kits (such as the Hyper Mode God Gundam and Strike Freedom Gundam Full Burst Mode), a total of 117 MG kits. The asking price is 279,090 yen, a discount from the estimated full list price of 440,000 yen.
Friday, July 04, 2008
Gundam 00 to hit Sci Fi Channel
News from Anime Expo via ANN confirms that the first season of Gundam 00 will be broadcast on the Sci Fi Channel starting November 17. Two episodes will air weekly.
Ocean is confirmed to be doing the Gundam 00 dub with an official cast announcement to come on Bandai's website Monday. The show will hit DVD early '09.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Upcoming merchandise pics
From Hobbyist Inc.:
HGUC Kämpfer
HGUC Rick Dom II (Colony Color)
HG Enact (Demo Color)
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Gundam: Operation Troy first week sales
iNSIDE's Media Create numbers have Gundam: Operation Troy ranking #10 for the week with 28,000 copies sold.
New HCM-Pro info
From Hobby Search:
HCM-Pro E.F.F. 08 Team Vs. Zeon Set - Gundam Ground Type (gray tone) + hovertruck + Magella Attack, September, 3,990 yen
HCM-Pro RX-78-2 Gundam Jaburo Defensive Battle - Coloring & markings that evoke the cave battle in MSG episodes 29-30, August, 2,310 yen
Gundam 00 DVD Vol. 6 first week sales
Oricon has Vol. 6 of Gundam 00 coming in at #4 on the overall DVD rankings and #2 on the anime DVD rankings. Info from 2ch is that it sold 23,116 copies.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Bonds Of The Battlefield pics
Game Watch has shots of the Gundam GP02A Type-MLRS and Gundam GPO2A Beam Bazooka Specs, available to both sides in the arcade game.
