Wide digital release of 2nd episode on Friday in Japan

Bandai Visual began streaming a commercial for the second anime episode based on Yasuo Ohtagaki's Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt manga on Monday.

Bandai Visual previously streamed a longer promotional video last month.

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

The first episode became available digitally last 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.