Bandai Confirms US Release for Gundam Char’s Counterattack’s Exclusive Collector’s Edition Blu-ray
Image by Charlotte DavisBandai has confirmed that Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack’s new collector’s edition Blu-ray is officially coming to the US after previously being released exclusively in Japan.
The “EMOTION BIG JACKET COLLECTION MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Char’s Counterattack” gives the 1988 theatrical movie a new presentation built around oversized artwork and display-focused packaging.
Char’s Counterattack takes place in Universal Century 0093 and serves as the culmination of the long-running rivalry between Amuro Ray and Char Aznable that began with the original Mobile Suit Gundam.
With Char now leading Neo Zeon, the movie follows his attempt to force humanity away from Earth through an asteroid-drop operation, leaving Amuro and the Londo Bell task force to prevent Axis from crashing into the planet.
The movie also introduced two of the franchise’s best-known Mobile Suits, with Amuro piloting the RX-93 ν Gundam against Char’s MSN-04 Sazabi during their final confrontation.
Bandai Namco Filmworks introduced the EMOTION BIG JACKET COLLECTION in Japan during 2026 as a series of anime Blu-ray releases designed around oversized 32cm x 32cm jackets inspired by the proportions of LP record sleeves.
Char’s Counterattack joined the second wave of the series in February, following earlier releases based on the original Mobile Suit Gundam movie trilogy and several other anime films.
The larger jacket gives the release a much stronger display presence than a standard Blu-ray case, while the included disc contains the approximately 120-minute movie alongside its theatrical trailer and two teaser videos.
The disc itself comes from the 2020 “Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack 4K Remaster BOX,” which originally included separate 4K Ultra HD and standard Blu-ray versions of the movie.
Only the standard Blu-ray disc from that earlier two-disc set is included with the Big Jacket edition, so the movie is presented in 1080p rather than 4K Ultra HD.
Audio options include Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 4.1ch and Linear PCM, with the 4.1ch mix created by separating and rearranging elements from the movie’s original Dolby Surround audio and adding additional low-frequency sound.
The US release retains the Japanese specifications of the original Big Jacket edition, meaning fans should expect Japanese audio and Japanese subtitles rather than a newly added English dub or English subtitle track.
Pre-orders for the “EMOTION BIG JACKET COLLECTION MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM Char’s Counterattack,” priced at $90, are now open through Premium Bandai US and are scheduled to remain available until January 5, 2027, at 5:59 AM EST, ahead of shipping in April 2027.
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