Gundam Wing Franchise Announces New Visual Project
The project is the first new animation for the Gundam Wing franchise since Endless Waltz in 1997, and Ogata's emphasis on substantial length suggests it will be more than a short promotional clip.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Niche Gamer (Anime).
Bandai Namco Filmworks board director and producer Naohiro Ogata announced during the Gundam Conference Spring 2026 livestream on May 15 that the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing franchise is getting a new visual project. The announcement came during a segment where host Hisanori Yoshida noted that a visual project could range from a 10-second clip to a two-hour film or a 50-episode series. Ogata responded that he cannot yet say what the format is, but that it is definitely something long. The Japanese term used in the announcement, "eizō," is an umbrella term covering event shorts, home video releases, theatrical films, and television series. The franchise celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, which included a promotional video screened at San Diego Comic-Con International and a 4K theatrical run of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz in the United States. A new manga, Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 0.5 Point Half Preventer-7, launched in August, bridging the gap between Endless Waltz and the Frozen Teardrop sequel novels. The manga is drawn by Sakura Asagi and written by original series writer Katsuyuki Sumisawa.
Ogata made the announcement during a 45-minute livestream that also included a roadmap for the franchise's 50th anniversary in 2029. Bandai Namco Group's Chief Gundam Officer, Hiroshi Sakakibara, appeared alongside Ogata. Radio personality Hisanori Yoshida returned as host, joined by seiyuu and idol Sally Amaki.
The conference opened with a five-minute music video titled "A Boy With Gundam," which follows a boy who discovers the original 1979 series and grows up watching every Gundam show through the decades. The event's slogan was "Your first starts here."
Other announcements during the livestream included a theatrical prequel film, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM ZERO, bridging SEED DESTINY and SEED FREEDOM. The original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam is undergoing a full remaster, scheduled for completion by the 50th anniversary. A Hollywood live-action film directed by Jim Mickle, starring Sydney Sweeney and Noah Centineo, is in production in Queensland, Australia.
April 7 has been certified by the Japan Anniversary Association as "Gundam Day," marking the original broadcast date of the first Mobile Suit Gundam episode in 1979. A new global event called "Gundam Con" will debut in January 2027 at Makuhari Messe in Japan. A permanent "Gundam Landmark" facility is planned in an undisclosed location in Japan. The life-sized Unicorn Gundam statue in Odaiba is scheduled to end its display in late August 2026.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Anime News Network Gundam Wing Franchise Gets 'New Visual Project'
- Niche Gamer (Anime) Gundam Wing new project, OG Gundam remaster, more announced