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Takara Tomy Website Holds 'Z' Countdown

Takara Tomy's official website is holding a countdown that features the letter "Z" and the text "true instinct awakens." The company's Twitter account posted an image on Tuesday that shows a countdown clock on the site that will end on February 27. However, the website currently features the "Z" image and text without the clock.

Tomy launched the Zoids science-fiction mecha franchise as a model kit line in 1983. Michiro Ueyama drew a 14-volume manga series for the franchise in 1999-2001 that Viz Media released in English under the title ZOIDS: Chaotic Century in 2002-2003. The manga inspired the ZOIDS: Chaotic Century television anime series that aired in 1999-2000 and Viz Media released on home video. Three more anime series followed: Zoids/ZERO in 2001, Zoids: Fuzors in 2003-2004, and Zoids Genesis in 2005-2006. Cartoon Network aired ZOIDS: Chaotic Century, Zoids/ZERO, and part of Zoids: Fuzors. The franchise has also inspired a line of video game series for consoles, handheld consoles, PC, arcades, and mobile phones.

Shogakukan's Coro Coro Comics magazine announced a "mysterious large-scale new project" titled Code Z last month. A manga series will premiere on March 15, but no other franchise installments, or ties to Takara Tomy, have been announced.

Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion the Animation, the television anime adaptation of Takara Tomy's Shinkalion toy franchise, premiered in January.

[Via Otakomu]

Update: Code Z added. Thanks, Liam.