The first episode of the four part OVA series adaptation of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin hit in Japan earlier this year and now all the focus is on the second installment, which is titled Sorrowful Artesia. While no firm date is available yet, we know that the piece will do the same route of a theatrical release and that it’s planned for a fall 2015 premiere. With a lot of time to go until then, a new trailer has arrive with an English language version available.
This is the adaptation of the lengthy manga series that went back and re-adapted the original TV series with a lot of expansion and detail. The manga, done by well respected mangaka and character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko (who was the character designer on the original series), retells the One Year War storyline from the original anime series. It’s not the first time an anime gets a manga which then gets adapted back into anime. While the original anime series ran back in 1979, the manga adaptation of it in this form didn’t happen until 2001 and it ended in 2011 after the full twenty-three volumes. Viz Media had released some volumes of this before but Vertical started releasing it in 2013.
The English language adaptation stars Karen Strassman as Casval Rem Deikun, Maggie O’Connor as Artesia Som Deikun, Marc Thompson as Degwin Sodo Zabi, Liam O’Brien as Gihren Zabi, Braeden Fox as Sasro Zabi, Bob Johnson as Dozle Zabi, Wendee Lee as Kycilia Zabi, Kirk Thornton as Ramba Ral, Amanda Shuckman as Crowley Hamon, Marc Diraison as Zeon Zum Deikun Veronica Taylor as Astraia Tor Deikun, Doug Stone as Jimba Ral and Keith Silverstein as Char Aznable.
The Japanese DVD release will be priced at 5,800 yen while the Blu-ray is priced at 6,800 yen. Bandai Visual will also be releasing a limited time exclusive collectors edition for 10,000 yen that will feature a storage box for the series and a 250 page book of storyboards and other production material. Neither release is listing English subtitles or dub like we got with Gundam Unicorn. The regular release is planned to come with a 32 page manga piece and a twelve page booklet. On disc extras so far include just a staff and cast commentary track.
Plot concept: The story will follow the tearful separation of the siblings Casval and Artesia (before they became known as Char and Sayla). It will also feature more of the development of the mobile suits, particularly on the Zeon side.
