With plans for the fifth volume of Gundam: The Origin to arrive in fall 2017 and the sixth in 2018, the two-part Clash at Loum arc is getting some love with two new promotional videos that feature an array of subtitle options for fans to view around the world. The promos were part of the premiere of the fourth installment’s theatrical screening in order to get fans jazzed for what’s to come, which is quite awhile away. With this digging into some really good One Year War material, old school Universal Century fans should be excited.
The project is directed by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko as the chief director with Takashi Imanshi as the hands-on director. Tsukasa Kotobuki has worked on the character designs while Hiroyuki Nioshimura serves as the chief animation director.
The main Japanese cast includes Mayumi Tanaka as Young Casval Rem Deikun, Megumi Han as Artesia Som Deikun/Sayla Mass, Shuuichi Ikeda as Casval Rem Deikun/Édouard Mass/Char Aznable and Tetsuya Kakihara as Garma Zabi. The English cast includes Karen Strassman as Young Casval Rem Deikun, Keith Silverstein as Casval Rem Deikun/Édouard Mass/Char Aznable, Maggie O’Connor as Artesia Som Deikun/Sayla Mass and Chris Niosi as Garma Zabi.
The project is based on the manga series by Yoshikazu Yasuhiko that worked to expand the original anime property in a bigger and more detailed way. The work began in 2001 and finished in 2011 with twenty-three volumes produced. They’re being released in North America by Vertical Comics in wonderfully well done hardcover editions.
Plot concept: The new arc will cover the Battle of Loum, the pivotal conflict in the One Year War’s early days before most of the events depicted in the first Mobile Suit Gundam anime. Char Aznable, the nemesis of the first Gundam anime’s protagonist Amuro Ray, became famous as the legendary ace “Red Comet” during this war.
