The year 2025 is an important moment for Gundam fans as it marks 30 years since the first anime Mobile Suit Gundam Wing aired in Japan in 1995. As part of a globally influential alternative franchise, the series was the starting point for many international audiences to become familiar with the world of Gundam.
To commemorate, Bandai Namco Filmworks held a special panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 titled "GUNDAM Showcase - Featuring 30 Years of Gundam Wing" which featured a number of official announcements and exclusive content.
Operation 30th and Story Content Additions
This panel aired a special video titled Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Operation 30th, directed by Toru Iwasawa (Frieren: Beyond Journey's End).
In this video, new content that never appeared in the original anime is shown, including:
- "Cloaked Custom" Gundam unit with new design
- Adin Lowe's character, who raised Heero Yuy
- Meilan, wife of Chang Wufei
Interestingly, the video ends with the words "Mission Accepted" - which hints at the possibility of new projects in the future, although there has been no official confirmation.
New Manga: Half Preventer-7
As part of the new set of narrative content, a manga entitled Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 0.5 Point Half Preventer-7.
The manga serves as a bridge between the movie Endless Waltz and novels Frozen Teardrop. Created by the original creators: Sakura Asagi as illustrator and Katsuyuki Sumisawa as writer.
The first chapter of the manga is already available in English on the official 30th anniversary website, and can be read here.
Official Announcement Highlights from the SDCC 2025 Panel
Here's the full list of highlights that Bandai Namco Filmworks announced in this celebratory panel:
- New visual illustrations for the 30th anniversary inspired by the iconic style of the original anime
- Video premiere Mobile Suit Gundam Wing - Operation 30th
- Manga launch Mobile Suit Gundam Wing 0.5 Point Half Preventer-7
- Reruns Endless Waltz in 4K will begin in the Fall with a premiere at the Japan Society, New York. The aired version uses Japanese audio and English subtitles.
- Official series recap Gundam Wing which will be available on YouTube, with narration by Toshihiko Seki (voice of Duo Maxwell)
- New character design illustrations for Heero, Relena, Zechs, and other pilots
- Gundam unit redesigns from Hajime Katoki, including "Custom Cloaked"
- Launch of global portal new to the Gundam franchise
Announcement of another project in the Gundam franchise:
- Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans 10th Anniversary project
- Compilation movie Urdr-Hunt: Path of the Little Challenger will hit Japanese theaters
- Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe scheduled for release in Japan next winter
Watch Gundam Wing for Free on YouTube
As part of the global celebration, all 49 episodes of the anime Mobile Suit Gundam Wing is now available to watch for free through the official GundamInfo channel on YouTube.
Viewers can choose Japanese or English audio, with subtitles in English, Korean, Vietnamese, Chinese (Hong Kong), and Chinese (Taiwan). You can watch it through the full playlist here.
Gundam Wing in Franchise History
This anime is part of the alternative line Gundam Universe, set in the year After Colony 195. The story follows five Gundam pilots sent from a space colony to Earth in a covert operation to overthrow the government of the Earth Sphere Alliance and the OZ organization.
The series became famous for its intense political-military storytelling style, as well as being the first Gundam title to be widely broadcast on US television in 2000-driving the global expansion of the franchise to various regions including Southeast Asia.
With a new manga, a remastered movie, and possibly new projects, Gundam Wing 30th Anniversary is not only a historical marker, but also a starting point for further narrative content that is still connected to this alternative Gundam legacy.
Sources: Gundam.info
