2025 somehow marks the 30th anniversary of Gundam Wing. When the heck did that happen?!*
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Bandai Namco Filmworks dropped a load of news to mark the anniversary, with the most impressive being “-Operation 30th-“, a stunningly gorgeous OVA that takes us right back into the Gundam Wing After Colony continuity.
Check it out here:
The video was produced by Sunrise and features new animations for re-imagined scenes from Gundam Wing and Endless Waltz, along with first-time animations of the manga sequel Frozen Teardrop.
It’s a thing of beauty. An animated After Colony movie in that style would be incredible.
As well as the OVA, Bandai revealed a new anniversary artwork based on the show’s ad screen, which you can see above as the Heero – ahem – hero image of this post.
There’s a new manga on the way, penned by Gundam Wing illustrator Sakura Asagi and screenwriter Katsuyuki Sumisawa. “Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 0.5 Point Half Preventer 7” (that’s a heck of a title) is an interquel that takes place between Endless Waltz and Frozen Teardrop.
Finally, the theatrical version of Endless Waltz is getting a limited cinema re-release in Japan and the USA. I would say that news was last but not least, but honestly for those of us here in the UK that announcement barely elicits a shrug, so… yep.
I’ve got a TV and a Crunchyroll subscription, if anyone wants to do a screening round my gaffe.
Overall though? This was a lovely surprise. To see the first series that introduced me to Gundam get a celebration like this in the same year that I’m getting much more into gunpla is encouraging, to say the least.
* 30 years since the Japanese release, “only” 25 since the English language debut. That’s five years we just made back, good job everyone!
