News
Gundam Seed Ultimate Edition Scheduled for May 31
posted on by Andrew Osmond
Anime Limited has announced that the delayed Ultimate Edition Blu-ray of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed is now due for release on May 31, with pre-orders opening on April 9.
The release was previously scheduled for December 2020, but delayed due to the wrong masters of the series being supplied by Sunrise.
The Ultimate Edition will be a one-time print run. There will be a separate release of the HD Remaster version of the series, but not until late 2021 at the earliest.
The set will include 13 Blu-ray discs in total, containing the following:
- The 48-part Gundam Seed HD Remaster series in English (with the new dub) and Japanese; 1080p, HD Native
- The 50-part original Gundam Seed on standard definition Blu-ray in English (with the original dub) and Japanese with English subtitles; 4:3, 480i. This version will be exclusive to the Ultimate Edition. It includes two recap episodes, 14 and 26, which were both omitted in the remastered version above.
- The set will also include the three Gundam Seed Special Edition compilation films (Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Special Edition) on standard definition Blu-ray, in English (original dub) and Japanese; 4:3, 480i. These three films are exclusive to the Ultimate Edition.
- There will also be over 2 hours of on-disc special features including Mecha Animation Director HD Comparisons; six “In This Era” Video Featurettes; Director's Concept Music Videos; Character Theatre Shorts; and Gundam Seed Epilogue – After Phase: In the Valley of Stars.
- The set will also include a 120-page art book with Characters, Mecha and Gallery sections; a 34x40cm poster; and thirteen art cards.
The company summarises the series:
"Year 70 of the Cosmic Era. The Coordinators, a group of genetically enhanced humans, have moved into colonies orbiting the Earth. But that hasn't quieted the tensions between them and regular humans; the conflict soon escalates into a full-scale war. On the neutral colony of Heliopolis, Kira Yamato, and his friends are going to school and just being kids. But when the ZAFT commando forces attack, Kira's life changes forever.
"Left with no choice, he and Federation officer Murrue Ramius are thrown into battle in a prototype mobile weapon, which Kira christens “GUNDAM.” Now, Kira must defend himself and his friends from his own people. For, unknown to anyone else, Kira is a Coordinator. And the enemy he faces on the battlefield is his childhood best friend, Athrun!"
In the U.S., Gundam Seed was the last Gundam series to be aired on Cartoon Network, due to faltering ratings. It was also the last Gundam toy line available in the U.S. market, as most retailers stopped carrying the line after an oversaturation of Mobile Fighter G Gundam toys.
In December 2011, Sunrise remastered Gundam Seed in high definition and added new footage to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the series.
Regarding the sequel series Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, Anime Limited said that it hoped it could release it in the future, but did not confirm a release. "It's a project with many similar circumstances to Seed. But suffice to say if/when it is something we can confirm will receive a release, we'll be sure to make it known."
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