The potential return of Yoshiyuki Tomino to the anime scene has sparked considerable excitement among fans, especially considering his legendary status as the creator of the original Gundam franchise. Tomino's recent meeting with animator and character designer Akira Yasuda, known for his work on titles like Code Geass, has fueled speculation about his involvement in a new project.

The meeting between Tomino and Yasuda took place at Bandai Namco Filmworks Studio 1, one of the studios under Sunrise, the studio responsible for many beloved anime series, including Gundam. This meeting has added to the anticipation surrounding Tomino's return, especially since he previously hinted at being summoned for an unnamed project.

Despite the 45th anniversary of the Gundam franchise approaching, Tomino has had limited direct involvement in recent Gundam installments. While he has been credited with directing compilation films for Gundam Reconguista in G, his involvement in newer projects like Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury and Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash remains uncertain. Fans are particularly curious about his potential involvement in the rumored project Himiko Yamato, which Tomino has previously expressed interest in.

Overall, Tomino's potential return to anime has generated significant buzz, and fans are eagerly awaiting any official announcements regarding his future projects.

The recent developments at BN Filmworks are certainly making waves in the anime industry. The announcement of 8-bit becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of BN Filmworks marks a significant expansion of their partnership, which began in 2020. Under this arrangement, BN Filmworks has been providing support to 8-bit's animation production with its production capabilities and industry contacts. With 8-bit now fully integrated into BN Filmworks, the focus is on delivering higher-quality animation to audiences worldwide while maintaining 8-bit's existing management structure.

As for the Gundam franchise, its impact on the anime industry cannot be overstated. Since its inception in 1979 with the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series, Gundam has become synonymous with the real robot genre and has amassed a dedicated fanbase spanning generations. With its rich storytelling and iconic mecha designs, Gundam continues to captivate audiences around the world. Fans can enjoy the franchise's diverse offerings, from the classic series to the latest installment, Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury, which is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Source: X (formerly Twitter), 8-bit, Bandai Namco Filmworks