Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower (Collector’s Edition Blu-ray) Unboxing

Once again we have another Gundam title but this time it’s the next installment to the Gundam Thunderbolt series! My copy from Anime Limited arrived later than others did but it’s here and so let’s take a quick look at the set!

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower is a 2017 theatrical compilation anime film from studio Sunrise based on the manga series written by Yasuo Ohtagaki. The film compiles the four Original Net Animation episodes of Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt’s second season into a 90-minute film (each ONA episode was around 20-25 minutes long this time in contrast to the shorter length of the first season).

The story for Thunderbolt’s second film takes place 18 months after the events of the earlier installment which was during the One Year War (Universal Century era 0079, the same year where the original Mobile Suit Gundam takes place). Gundam Thunderbolt can be watched standalone, however, this film is a continuation so you’ll at least need knowledge of December Sky first. The ONA series was released from March to June 2017 while the film was released in November 2017.

Distributor Anime Limited have the Gundam rights for home video for the UK & Ireland market. As part of their 40th Anniversary of Gundam season, Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower was included in the mix alongside Char’s Counterattack (released), Gundam Wing (Part 1 has been released, Part 2 & Endless Waltz later), and Gundam 00 (all of it scheduled later). Unlike Thunderbolt: December Sky which sold out extremely fast, Bandit Flower is luckily still around but I don’t expect the collector’s edition to last very long given how the film titles sell out faster than the shows themselves.

Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower contains the entire film across 1 Blu-ray disc, using the Madman’s version of the Nozomi & Rightstuf master like the first Thunderbolt film. The audio options for the series are both English & Japanese audio with English subtitles. The disc is compatible with both Region A & B players, however for Region A players you only have access to the film and the pop-up/top menu (i.e. you can’t view the main menu). The yellow subtitles (with white subs for secondary or on-screen info) are unlockable during playback.

You can order Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: Bandit Flower on Amazon UK as a collector’s edition Blu-ray set.

Blu-ray Specs:

Languages: English, Japanese
Audio: English Linear PCM 2.0, Japanese Linear PCM 2.0
Video: 1080p High Definition Native format with 16:9 ratio
Region: A B
Subtitles: English
Locked Subtitles: No
Discs: 1

Plot Synopsis (via Anime Limited):

Earth, eight months after the end of the One Year War.

Captain Monica launches a secret mission, Operation Thunderbolt, and selects Io to pilot the Atlas Gundam. She leads the assault landing ship Spartan into a part of the ocean effectively controlled by the South Seas Alliance. Their objective is to secure or destroy the data of the Psycho Zaku, which the Alliance now possesses.

Daryl, who took the upper hand in his battle with Io, has descended to Earth as part of the remnant forces of the Principality of Zeon. He has also been given the mission of obtaining information on the Psycho Zaku.

Fighting alongside his new comrades, Io encounters Commander Peer, the South Seas Alliance’s border garrison commander. In the sea, on the ice field, and among the thick jungle, the mobile suits of Zeon, the Federation, and the South Seas Alliance battle each other.

The war is not over yet.