Tokyo International News Agency

A completely new full-CG special animation commemorating the upcoming 50th anniversary of the iconic robot anime Combattler V (first broadcast in 1976) has been released, sparking immense excitement across social media. What captured fans' attention most in the newly released video was the appearance of "Combattler V6"—a legendary upgraded form created by performing an "Armored Combine" with a sixth machine, the "Battle Armor," alongside the original five Battle Machines. This form is well known to fans from Yuichi Hasegawa's manga spin-off Chodenji Taisen Victory Five , making its animated debut a long-awaited dream come true. To coincide with the video reveal, the release of the high-end figure "Soul of Chogokin GX-121 Combattler V6" was announced for February 2027. Featuring a luxurious gimmick allowing full separation and combination into all six Battle Machines, expectations among toy collectors are soaring. Social media erupted wit...

A brand-new project has been announced for the "Armored Trooper VOTOMS" series, which has maintained massive support as a milestone of real robot anime since its original broadcast in 1983. Titled "Armored Trooper VOTOMS: The Gray Witch," the project will consist of a two-part theatrical film series, with the first installment scheduled to premiere on November 20, 2026. World-renowned filmmaker Mamoru Oshii will serve as director, while Ryosuke Takahashi, the original creator and director of the series, is credited as supervisor. Takahashi expressed his full confidence in Oshii’s vision, stating, "I myself am a fan of the 'Oshii touch.'" The music will be handled by Kenji Kawai, a frequent collaborator on Oshii’s works. A recently released teaser trailer showcases heavy mechanical depictions alongside the series' iconic "roller dash" sound effects and narration by the legendary Banjō Ginga. The announcement has sparked a wave of excit...

The anime series "After War Gundam X," which began broadcasting on April 5, 1996, is now celebrating its 30th anniversary, drawing a flood of celebratory and enthusiastic reactions from fans across social media. The official Gundam X account has unveiled a commemorative launch visual for the 30th anniversary. Featuring the tagline, "A forgotten dream, now begins to stir," the stunning illustration depicts protagonist Garrod Ran, heroine Tiffa Adill, and the Gundam X itself, instantly captivating fans. In conjunction with this, a joint 30th-anniversary CD release with "Mobile Fighter G Gundam" and "Mobile Suit Gundam Wing" has been announced, along with the launch of a special feature page on the video streaming service "Bandai Channel," officially kicking off a series of commemorative projects. Fans have responded with a stream of fervent comments, such as "Wooooah!!! I love Gundam X so much!!!!" and "I'm so entranced...

The protagonist mobile suit, "Nirvash type ZERO RS," from the popular anime Psalms of Planets Eureka Seven , has been announced as a new figure in the high-quality completed toy brand "METAL BUILD" series, drawing enthusiastic attention from fans across social media. This item, commemorating the series' 20th anniversary, saw its detailed specifications unveiled, immediately leading many fans to eagerly anticipate the pre-order launch. The "METAL BUILD Nirvash type ZERO RS," released by BANDAI SPIRITS (Tamashii Nations), features the latest design by director Tomoki Kyoda and mechanical designer Shoji Kawamori from the original series. It comes equipped with a new LFO board and can transform into four vehicle modes, faithfully replicating scenes from the show. Its intricate gimmicks and meticulous details, such as the Gekkostate marks subtly placed throughout, have garnered rave reviews from fans, with comments like "It's insane (in a good way)...

In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the broadcast of "Mobile Fighter G Gundam," a commemorative fighting movie has been released on the Gundam Channel, generating an enthusiastic response from long-time fans. Created by a new staff, this anniversary video features a thrilling duel between the protagonist unit, God Gundam, and its arch-rival, Master Gundam, with its exceptional quality becoming a major topic of discussion on social media. Following the release of the fighting movie, excited comments like "Absolutely the best 🤩," "Too cool 🔥," and "This is irresistible" flooded X (formerly Twitter). Particularly noteworthy are the smooth movements and stunning animation of the Mobile Fighters, depicted with modern technology. Numerous comments expressed awe at the latest visual techniques, such as "To see God and Master battle with such amazing animation in this era ✨" and "The Reiwa-era G Gundam battle depiction is insane....

Animation director and producer Hideaki Anno's appointment as a director at major animation studio Production I.G, effective August 21st, has garnered significant attention both within and outside the anime industry. This appointment was simultaneously announced by Studio Khara, where Anno serves as Representative Director and President, and IG Port, the holding company overseeing Production I.G. Following this announcement, numerous fans have quickly voiced their excitement on social media. Of particular interest is the mention of a "super large-scale sci-fi robot project" in Production I.G's long-term plans. With Anno, who has directed numerous groundbreaking robot works including the Neon Genesis Evangelion series, joining, speculation is rife that new major projects, such as a "Shin Ghost in the Shell," might be launched. Production I.G is renowned for the Ghost in the Shell series, and there is immense anticipation for how Anno will engage with its wo...