Attention allGundamfans! If you are still craving moreMobile Suit Gundamcontent after the recent NetflixGundam: Requiem for Vengeanceseries, get ready for an exciting winter surprise with a twist. A brand-newGundamfilm,Mobile Suit Gundam: ALC Encounter, has landed on the big screen, but there’s a catch –it’s exclusively showing at LaLaport Mall Fukuoka- which is in Japan.
According to a press release fromLaLaport Mall,the film screening coincides with a promotion for the life-sized Nu Gundam statuethat dutifully stands guard at the mall entrance. The movie premiered on August 11, 2025, and, per the press release, will have two evening showings, at 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM. No end date was mentioned, so the film will presumably have nightly showings for the foreseeable future. The screenings will be projected onto the wall next to the statue, making it seemingly free for anyone in the area to watch.
A Treat For Customers of this Fukuoka Mall
The official website for theNu Gundam statueteases the film, stating,
“In a quiet mall just before closing time, two people - attracted by the voice of a woman singing - meet, a confrontation ensues that leads to the activation of the nearby mobile suit, and eventually into a fierce battle inside the mall facility - but who is the mysterious woman?”
Judging by the pulse-pounding teasers trailer posted on@gundam_45th- the official X account for theGundamSeries 45th Anniversary Project, promises the same high-octane action synonymous with theGundamfilm and television franchises. Based on the times of the showings, the movie seems to run for about 30 minutes.
Japan Has a Whole Bunch of Life-Sized Gundams
This is not the first time a life-sized working Gundam mobile suit has taken position in Japan. Indeed,since 2009, Gundam mobile suits have been selectively stationed around Japan,to protect humanity and also promote the anime franchise that has probably done more for the mecha genre than any other story. The Nu Gundam statue stationed LaLaport Mall Fukuoka is the RX-93ff v Gundam. Debuting in the 1988 filmMobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterstrike, it was the newest - and most technologically advanced - mobile suit of the RX-93 v category. Piloted by Amuro Ray, the hope was that it would be able to overcome Char Aznable’s MSN-04 Sazabi mobile suit.
While the Nu Gundam proved itself inChar’s Counterstrikeby destroying the MSN-04 Sazabi, that was then and this is now. There’s no telling how it will hold up against whatever threat it will face inALC Encounter. This unprecedented move has sparked both excitement and frustration amongGundamfans. While the exhibition promises a cinematic experience like no other, audiences must travel to Fukuoka to witness the iconic mecha series' latest adventure. Perhaps the film will eventually be made available toMobile Suit Gundamfans worldwide.
Gundam
The Gundam franchise is a cornerstone of mecha anime, featuring giant robots known as “mobile suits” in various wartime settings. Originating with Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, it explores complex themes of war, politics, and humanity through the struggles of pilots who navigate these massive machines. The franchise spans multiple timelines and universes, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected stories and standalone narratives.
