Bandai Namco Filmworks has announced an upcoming “experimental video” titled “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE R,” based on Yoshiyuki Tomino’s classic 1982 anime, Blue Gale Xabungle. Set for release in Fall 2025, this project aims to reinterpret the original anime, notably featuring a new song contributed by the idol unit Hōkago Climax Girls from The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors game.
The “Experimental Video” Concept
The “experimental video” series is an initiative by Sunrise Robot Laboratory, a division that researches and explores the robots and mecha from Sunrise works. These videos utilize current direction and technology to offer new interpretations and arrangements of classic anime. The “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE R” follows the previously released “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE L,” which began streaming on May 14, 2025. The “SIDE L” video blended original footage with newly produced animation, evoking the anime’s opening sequence and incorporating scenes primarily from episodes 12 and 43. This format aims to preserve the spirit of the original work while offering a conceptual, stylized, and musically refreshed approach.
Collaboration with The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors
A significant aspect of “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE R” is its collaboration with the popular idol unit Hōkago Climax Girls from The IDOLM@STER Shiny Colors game. They will contribute a new song specifically created for the video, designed to “reinterpret” the original anime in a novel way. This unexpected fusion of the 1980s mecha genre and contemporary idol culture aims to provide a fresh experience for both long-time fans and newcomers.
Production and Creative Team
The “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE R” video is a collaboration between Bandai Namco Filmworks and Sunrise Robot Laboratory. Junpei Mizusaki, known for his work on Batman Ninja, served as the director, technical director, and creative producer for the preceding “BLUE GALE XABUNGLE SIDE L” video. Banjō Ginga, the original narrator of the Blue Gale Xabungle anime, returned to provide new narration for the “SIDE L” video, adding a layer of continuity and authenticity.
The Legacy of Blue Gale Xabungle
Blue Gale Xabungle, directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino, originally aired in Japan from 1982 to 1983. The series later spawned an anime film titled Xabungle Graffiti in 1983. The story is set on the planet Zora, where a unique legal system dictates that crimes are time-barred if the perpetrator escapes justice for three days. The narrative follows Jiron Amos, a young man who seeks revenge against the outlaw who murdered his parents, leading him to steal the mecha Xabungle and team up with a group of bandits known as the Sandrats. His actions ultimately sow the seeds of rebellion against the ruling “Innocent” society. The original anime is available for streaming on HIDIVE. Prior “experimental videos” from Sunrise Robot Laboratory include “AURA BATTLER DUNBINE SIDE L” and “AURA BATTLER DUNBINE SIDE R,” released in May 2024 and November 2024, respectively.
