2nd episode begins streaming on February 12; on January 29 for Gundam Fan Club members

Bandai Visual began streaming a preview video on Thursday for the second episode of the anime adaptation of Yasuo Ohtagaki's Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga.

The second 18-minute episode (out of four episodes) will begin streaming on February 12 at 12:00 p.m. JST. However, the Gundam Fan Club will host an early release on January 29. The second episode to own will be 800 yen (about US$6.70) and will come with bonus footage. The episode by itself for rental will be available for 400 yen (about US$3.40). The show's official website is listing the services that offer the anime for sale and for rental.

The first episode became available digitally on December 25. Episodes are available via an EST (Electronic Sell Through) service that allows purchasers to download the episode, and it is the first time a Gundam series is available via this method. The first 18-minute episode to own comes with a special bonus video titled "Ichinen Sensō ni Idonda Mono-tachi ~Documentary of Thunderbolt #1" (Those Who Challenged the One-Year War ~Documentary of Thunderbolt~ #1) for 500 yen (about US$4). The documentary is listed as being approximately 10 minutes long. The first episode on its own is also available via a rental video-on-demand service for 250 yen (US$2).

The story is set in the same One Year War in UC 0079 as the first Mobile Suit Gundam anime series, and it follows the battles between two ace pilots at the "Thunderbolt Sector," a shoal zone with numerous wrecks of space colonies and warships.