Voice actor Soichiro Hoshi (as Kira Yamato), Director Mitsuo Fukuda, and Producer Toshikazu Naka appeared on stage on the 1st to celebrate the second special screening of the anime film Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM (premiering January 26th). During the opening of the event, it was announced that a new installment in the Gundam SEED* series, titled Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO, was in production.

During the event, the production of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO was revealed as a surprise through a special new video. Director Fukuda playfully remarked, "Can we do this, thanks to all of you?" while Hoshi responded with a wry smile, saying, "Huh?" Fukuda added with humor, "My part is pretty much done, after all, it was ready 20 years ago." He also expressed gratitude, saying, "Thanks to everyone's support of 'FREEDOM', this new project is moving forward."

Director Fukuda further revealed about *ZERO* that the story follows the events of 'DESTINY,' although the medium is yet to be decided. He added, "If it hadn't been a hit, it surely would've ended up shelved." Initially, the project was planned to be released as an OVA in a manner similar to MSV, with a completed script and half-done storyboards. He explained, "So the oldest storyboards date back 20 years. Some parts were also adapted into 'FREEDOM,' like the scene with Kira and Lacus on the beach and half of the initial battle scenes." Fukuda also mentioned that the story offers a sort of intermission, filling in questions like "What was happening at this point in the movie?" He added that voice recording had already been completed.

The Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series, which aired from October 2002 with a total of 50 episodes, was the first Gundam TV series produced in the 21st century. The story centers on the struggle between genetically modified humans known as Coordinators and the remaining natural humans (Naturals), with battles fought by the ZAFT military organization and the Earth Alliance. It portrays the hardships and growth of Kira Yamato, the protagonist and a Coordinator, throughout the war.

The series gained a large female following in addition to its existing fan base, achieving a peak viewership rating of 8.0%. It also sparked a second Gunpla boom, particularly among elementary school children, and became widely popular as the "next-generation Gundam series."

In addition, the sequel TV series *Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY* aired from October 2004, surpassing its predecessor with a peak viewership rating of 8.2%. The series' total package sales exceeded an astonishing 4 million units, and it became a major hit that went beyond TV anime, including music and events, captivating audiences across Japan.

The upcoming *Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM* movie is a direct sequel to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DESTINY, depicting the continuing conflicts involving Kira, Athrun, Shinn, and others in a war-torn world. After wrapping up its nationwide theatrical release in May, the film earned 4.9 billion yen at the box office, drawing in 2.9 million viewers. Subsequently, a "special limited edition" was released featuring over 500 updated cuts from the original. The first special screening ran from September 20th to October 31st, and the second began today, running through November 14th, each with different epilogue cuts. The first screening has already surpassed 5 billion yen in box office revenue and drawn 3 million viewers.

Source : ORICON NEWS