Japanese Gundam Seed DVD Release Breaks One Million

With the Japanese release of Mobile Suit Gundam Seed DVD volume 11, Japanese DVD sales of the series have broken the one million units total. The cast of attractive, young characters in Gundam Seed have managed to become popular among not only traditional Japanese Gundam fans, but also younger viewers and female viewers. The show’s unflinching presentation of the cruelties of war, and the detailed progressive maturation of the characters as well have attracted a larger than normal following for the show among Japanese viewers. As a result of this popularity, the first Gundam Seed DVD sold 100,000 copies. By the time the DVD release reached volume 11, released on January 23rd, total sales had surpassed one million total DVDs sold in Japan.

Bandai Japan also attributes part of the success of the Gundam Seed DVDs to the inclusion of exclusive Gundam playing cards. Each DVD includes 4 cards. Purchasing all 13 Gundam Seed DVDs results in a complete deck of 52 Gundam Seed playing cards plus a joker.

Gundam Seed DVD volume 12 will go on sale in Japan on February 25th and retail at 6,300 yen ($59). DVD 13 will go on sale on March 26th and retail at 6,300 yen. The final DVD will include a card binder to hold all 52 playing cards plus the joker (first edition pressings only), and contain TV episodes 49 & 50 plus an original 5 minute long OAV episode.

Source: Watch Impress