Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom

Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom
Created by	Hajime Yatate Yoshiyuki Tomino
Anime film
Directed by	Kenichi Suzuki
Written by	Ryoji Sekinishi
Music by	Yoshiya Ikeda
Studio	Sunrise Atlas V
Released	October 4, 2024 (2024-10-04) (global on Meta Quest)[1][2]
Runtime	90 minutes[3][4]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom (機動戦士ガンダム：銀灰の幻影, Kidō Senshi Gandamu: Ginhai no Gen’ei) is an interactive virtual reality film in the Gundam media franchise, co-produced by Sunrise, a division of Bandai Namco Filmworks and French immersive studio Atlas V for the Meta Quest platform.^[5][6] Set in the Universal Century timeline during U.C. 0096, it is the first full-length Gundam title produced specifically for immersive VR, combining traditional Japanese anime production methods with interactive, branching-path storytelling.^[7][8]

The project was developed as part of Bandai Namco Filmworks’ strategy to expand the franchise into new formats and engage audiences through emerging media technologies, including extended reality (XR) storytelling.^[9][10] It was nominated for the Venice Immersive section of the 81st Venice International Film Festival, marking one of the franchise’s most high-profile appearances at an international film event and illustrating its role in bridging Japanese anime with global VR cinema.^[11][12]

In Universal Century 0096, three years after the events of the Second Neo Zeon War, the independent mercenary unit Argent Keil is contracted by the Earth Federation to assassinate Azami Meggineh, a senior Federation official suspected of colluding with remnants of the Zeon forces.^[13][14] As the mission begins, the Argent Keil fleet is suddenly attacked by a squadron of Federation Jegan mobile suits, throwing the operation into chaos. Pilot Shavetail is ordered by unit leader Mabel Lena to launch in the experimental Delta Zayin mobile suit, accompanied by fellow pilot Babia, to repel the assault.

Following the skirmish, Mabel instructs Shavetail to continue the mission while she leads the fleet to safety. During the journey, Shavetail and Babia reflect on the loss of their comrade Fixzi Fix, a Newtype-enhanced pilot whose death in a prior battle left a lasting impact on them both. Shavetail experiences visions connected to the Axis Shock and learns that the Delta Zayin’s shield incorporates psycho-frame technology originally intended for Fixzi.

Upon reaching the ruins of A Baoa Qu, Shavetail encounters Azami and her forces, including her subordinate Joff Idiy. Azami reveals that she engineered the assassination contract herself to lure Argent Keil into an ambush. In the ensuing battle, the Delta Zayin’s psycho-frame activates, resonating with Shavetail’s emerging Newtype abilities and allowing them to defeat both Joff and Azami.

In the final act, Babia turns her weapon on Shavetail, driven by jealousy and mistrust. As the Gryps II colony laser begins to charge, the narrative branches depending on the viewer’s choices. In one outcome, Shavetail shields Babia from the blast and is killed in the process. In another, Shavetail fatally wounds Babia and escapes, securing their position as Argent Keil’s ace pilot. In a third scenario, Shavetail abandons the battle entirely, leaving Babia alive but disillusioned as she watches the ongoing conflict from a distant shore.^[14][13]

• Shavetail – The protagonist, a former Earth Federation soldier now working as a mercenary pilot with the independent unit Argent Keil.^[14]
• Babia – A young pilot in Argent Keil and the adoptive daughter of Mabel Lena.^[14]
• Mabel Lena – A veteran mobile suit pilot who commands Argent Keil during the events of the film.^[14]
• Azami Meggineh – A high-ranking Earth Federation official and the target of Argent Keil’s assassination mission, later revealed to have engineered the plot.^[14]
• Joff Idiy – Azami’s subordinate who engages Argent Keil during the mission.^[14]

• DZ-001 Delta Zayin – Argent Keil’s silver-painted, Gundam-type mobile suit developed from the Delta Plus by Anaheim Electronics. Features a Gundam-style head, a psycho-frame–equipped shield with an I-Field, and can transform into Wave Rider mode.^[14]
• GM-005 GM (Argent Keil Type) – A custom-painted variant of the GM series used by Argent Keil.^[14]
• JW-001 Jagd Weiss – A modified unit in Argent Keil’s colors.^[14]
• RZ-002 Re-GZ (Argent Keil Type) – Custom-painted version of the Re-GZ used by Argent Keil.^[14]
• ZK-005 Zaku II (Argent Keil Type) – Custom-painted version of the Zaku II used by Argent Keil.^[14]
• Jegan – A mass-production mobile suit used by the Earth Federation.^[14]
• Geara Zulu – A mass-production mobile suit used by Neo Zeon remnants.^[14]

The project combines cinematic VR storytelling with intermittent interactive sequences presented from a cockpit-first perspective. Between story-driven cutscenes, viewers are prompted to perform timed actions such as activating defensive systems to block incoming fire, initiating grapples against enemy mobile suits, or executing short-ranged and melee combat beats. These interactive moments are designed to last only a few seconds, after which the guided camera and animation resume to maintain narrative continuity and visual clarity.^[15][16]

In addition to the main story mode, Mixed Reality features allow the film’s mobile suits and set pieces to be rendered in the player’s physical environment. Battle Mode presents short, arcade-style encounters using enemy and allied units from the film, while Gallery Mode enables scaled or life-size 3D model viewing with the option to examine mechanical details and character designs.^[17][18] Pre-release coverage highlighted these MR modes as part of the title’s aim to extend replay value beyond the core cinematic experience and to provide fans with additional opportunities to view and interact with Gundam designs in an immersive format.^[15]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom is a feature-length virtual reality (VR) film co-produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks and the French immersive studio Atlas V, with development support from VR-specialist Albyon.^[19] The project was first revealed in September 2023 as part of Bandai Namco Filmworks’ ongoing efforts to expand the Gundam brand into new formats.^[20] The core creative team includes director Kenichi Suzuki, screenwriter Ryoji Sekinishi, character designer Tsukasa Kotobuki, mechanical designer Mika Akitaka, music composer Yoshiya Ikeda, interactive designer Ferdinand Dervieux, technical art director Gaël Chaize, and CG animation director Naoki Yamamoto.^[21]

According to Bandai Namco Filmworks, the production aimed to merge traditional Japanese anime storytelling with interactive VR techniques, requiring the adaptation of 2D animation workflows into real-time 3D environments.^[22] Director Kenichi Suzuki described tackling a long-form VR project with many staff new to VR as “very stimulating and challenging,” and credited Atlas V and Albyon with helping solve technical and creative hurdles.^[23]

Executive producer Kiichiro Inoue explained in a Venice International Film Festival interview that the narrative was refined with Atlas V and Meta to “keep it simple yet interactive,” ensuring that cinematic pacing remained a priority.^[24] Atlas V’s Arnaud Colinart described the collaboration as a “marriage of Japanese anime narrative traditions with Western immersive design” aimed at advancing VR storytelling.^[25]

The film’s VR presentation was developed for Meta Quest headsets and optimized for six degrees of freedom (6DoF) interaction, allowing viewers to move and look around freely within scenes. Japanese coverage noted that the project represents Bandai Namco Filmworks’ most ambitious VR undertaking to date, intended to appeal both to long-time Gundam fans and audiences new to the franchise.^[26]

Mobile Suit Gundam: Silver Phantom was released worldwide via the Meta Quest Store on October 4, 2024, and was available in both Japanese and English languages.^[27][18] Prior to launch, pre-orders were accepted globally, and the title featured compatibility across Quest 2, Quest 3, and Quest 3S headsets, priced at ¥2,800 with an earlier preorder discount.^[27][18]

In addition to its virtual release, Japanese promotional activities included Mixed Reality (MR) gallery and exhibition events. These featured trick art installations of the Delta Zayin and life-size mobile suits rendered in MR, offering fans immersive encounters beyond the core VR experience.^[28][29]

A High Grade (HG) 1/144-scaled Gunpla model kit of the Delta Zayin was announced alongside the VR film’s launch and later exhibited at hobby events.^[30][31] In February 2025, Premium Bandai officially released the HGUC 1/144 DZ-001 Delta Zayin at a price of ¥7,700, with a second production run following in April.^[32]

Silver Phantom received mixed reviews from both VR-focused media and general entertainment outlets. VR news site Road to VR praised the visual spectacle and mixed reality gallery mode, but felt the limited interactivity lessened immersion.^[33] The VR Realm described it as “an excellent two-hour cinematic interactive story” with strong production values.^[34] Thumb Culture commended the cel-shaded visuals and mobile suit designs but noted that loading screens and pacing issues disrupted flow.^[35] UploadVR characterized the work as an interactive VR anime film, observing that its structure prioritizes cinematic presentation over complex gameplay systems.^[17]

Japanese gaming outlet 4Gamer.net praised the novelty of bringing the Gundam franchise into VR and highlighted the detailed cockpit sequences, but expressed concern about limited replayability once the main story was complete.^[36] Famitsu framed Silver Phantom as a bold experiment in merging traditional anime sensibilities with immersive media, praising the design of the Delta Zayin and the VR cockpit perspective while noting that branching paths were minimal.^[37] IGN Japan described the title as “an ambitious hybrid between animation and VR experience” and evaluated it within the franchise’s wider media mix, concluding that while the interactive elements were modest, the project succeeded as an experiment in expanding Gundam into new formats.^[38]

• Official Gundam.info launch post
• Pre-release details (date/price/platform)
• Meta Quest Store page
• Voices of VR interview