Netflix’s New Gundam Turns Mecha Anime Into A Horror Series
Netflix has released a trailer for the upcoming anime series Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance. The two-minute clip introduces viewers to the Gundam universe in sharp 3D computer-generated imagery. Created by Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc., Sunrise Studio, and SafeHouse Inc., the visuals are crafted using Unreal Engine 5.
Netflix’s Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance marks the franchise’s second venture into CGI filmmaking and its first time using Unreal Engine 5.
The video offers a glimpse of the mass-produced Zaku II F Type mobile suits, focusing on the double-antenna model operated by series protagonist Iria Sorari (Celia Massingham). Midway through the footage, the Gundam EX emerges as a formidable adversary for the Red Wolves, showcasing its dominance over the Zeon army. “We fight because those are our orders,” a voiceover says.
Netflix’s Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance marks the franchise’s second venture into CGI filmmaking and its first time using Unreal Engine 5. Set against the backdrop of the One Year War’s concluding stages, the story follows Iria Sorari, a pilot serving the Principality of Zeon, tasked with defending the European frontlines. Their mission involves resisting the Earth Federation Forces.
The first season of Netflix’s Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance will consist of six episodes with an approximate runtime of 30 minutes each. The series was announced during the 2023 Anime Expo, where Bandai Namco Filmworks said it planned to produce a fresh, original anime series directed by Erasmus Brosdau from a script by Gavin Hignight.
Another project in the expansive mecha franchise is Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, scheduled to debut in U.S. theaters on March 31.
Although no specific distributor was disclosed at the time, Manuel Augusto Dischinger Moura was tasked with character design, while Wilbert Roget II was assigned to compose the music. In early December 2023, Netflix announced its intention to distribute Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance globally. The series is expected to debut in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Series writer Gavin Hignight has previously worked on projects such as Transformers: Cyberverse, Tekken: Bloodline, and the popular PlayStation 4 game Spider-Man. Hiroaki Yura is spearheading the anime’s production, while Hignight and Naohiro Ogata, known for their work on the recent Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, are credited as executive producers.
Netflix’s Requiem for Vengeance is just one of many Gundam projects in the works. Fans are eagerly anticipating further details on the long-awaited Gundam live-action film. In February, Naohiro Ogata, the executive producer at Bandai Namco Filmworks, provided some insights into a project, stating that the pre-production phase had taken quite some time due to its scale and budget considerations.
The video offers a glimpse of the mass-produced Zaku II F Type mobile suits, focusing on the double-antenna model operated by series protagonist Iria Sorari (Celia Massingham).
However, he expressed confidence that once production commenced, it would progress swiftly. Ogata also emphasized the importance of the Netflix version of Requiem for Vengeance as the franchise approached its 50th anniversary. He pointed to the success of the adaptation of One Piece as evidence of the significant potential for the global expansion of Japanese content.
Another project in the expansive mecha franchise is Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, scheduled to debut in U.S. theaters on March 31. Having premiered in Japan in January, the film has emerged as the most successful Gundam movie to date, earning $26.94 million in global box office revenue so far. This figure not only reflects its lucrative run in Japan but also earnings from Australia and New Zealand.
