Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin (機動戦士ガンダム THE ORIGIN, Kidou Senshi Gundam: The Origin) is a 2015-2018 original video anime series based on Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s manga of the same name, which in itself is also based on the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise by Yoshiyuki Tomino. The OVAs were produced by studio Sunrise and the staff credits include director Takashi Imanishi, chief director & character designer Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, writer Katsuyuki Sumisawa, character designer Tsukasa Kotobuki, and music composer Takayuki Hattori.
The OVAs featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin V-VI: Chronicle of the Loum Battlefield are V: Clash at Loum (V 激突 ルウム会戦, V Gekitotsu Rūmu Kaisen) and VI: Rise of the Red Comet (VI 誕生 赤い彗星, VI Tanjō Akai Suisei). Both were first released theatrically in Japan on September 2017 & May 2018 respectively.
Brief Unboxing Note:
This unboxing has been updated on December 2023 to amend its page design but also add additional context to some parts of the write-up. Everything else has been left unchanged from the original post.
Background:
“Universal Century 0079
Humanity has turned even space itself into a battlefield, and the Principality of Zeon forces advance after wiping out half the world’s population by carrying out Operation British (the colony drop). In response, the Earth Federation Forces mobilize their overwhelming fighting strength to regain the advantage.
The complex intrigues of the Zabi family… Sayla Mass, as she contends with the whims of fate… the veteran Zeon soldier Ramba Ral and his lover Hamon… Amuro and Fraw, leading peaceful lives at Side 7… a dark shadow falls across them all. And the Zeon ace Char Aznable, driven by revenge, goes into action as the “Battle of Loum” finally begins.”
Plot Synopsis via Anime Limited, January 2020.
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin took place before the events of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series and adds more background development for the characters Char and Sayla. These next two OVA episodes cover a new story arc focusing on the Loum Battlefield. The episodes are known as “V: Clash at Loum” and “VI: Rise of the Red Comet“. Knowledge of the original series is recommended for added context but it can also be viewed standalone for newcomers.
UK distributor Anime Limited picked up the UK, Ireland & French rights to distribute the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise on Blu-ray. They also offered fans the option to pre-order the Japanese Bandai Visual Exclusive Blu-ray sets of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin early on, but this release is the UK localised version. Much like the previous UK Blu-ray Gundam titles such as Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I-IV and Char’s Counterattack, this release also receives the special traditional Anime Limited collector’s packaging with the Gundam Collection notice on the spine.
Collector’s Edition Contents:
Much like the individual film releases such as Char’s Counterattack and Thunderbolt, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin V-VI was given a collector’s edition box set that houses a single Amaray case so the size of the box was smaller than the shows and even Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin I-IV.
The package is presented as a rigid box with an Amaray case to house the Blu-ray disc. In addition it also comes included with a 60+ page booklet which featured some additional artwork.
The SRP was £39.99 and received the usual 1000 units in total. As there are two OVA episodes included, each front cover represents the specific OVA episode however this does mean you won’t get a full clean artwork that other titles have gotten.
The regular edition did arrive a few months later at a smaller SRP and uses only one of the two artworks as its main cover.
Physical Contents:
- Rigid Box with amaray case packaging and clean artwork
- Info sheet for specs and sticker on wrapping for BBFC logo
- 68-page Booklet
On-Disc Contents:
Distributor: Anime Limited
Released: 27th January 2020
The collector’s edition release for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin V-VI: Chronicles of the Loum Battlefield presents the remaining two OVA episodes on a single Blu-ray disc, using the French Anime Limited (@Anime) master.
The audio options available include the Sunrise NYAV Post English dub and the original Japanese audio with English and French subtitles. The white subtitles are locked during playback, and the discs are locked to Region B Blu-ray players.
Blu-ray Specs:
| Languages | English, Japanese |
| Audio | English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 |
| Video | 1080p High Definition Native format 16:9 aspect ratio |
| Region | B |
| Subtitles | English, French |
| Locked Subtitles | Yes |
| Discs | 1 BD-50 |
Blu-ray On-Disc Extra Features:
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin V: Clash at Loum Teasers
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin V: Clash at Loum Trailer
- Mobile Suit Gundam the Origin VI: Rise of the Red Comet Trailer
Unboxing Photos:
Final Notes:
Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin V-VI: Chronicles of the Loum Battlefield is available to order through multiple retailers across the United Kingdom. The collector’s edition set eventually sold out very early on, but you can still acquire the standard edition on Amazon UK.
The Normanic Vault 
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