On the Internet within this year in Japanese, English, German, French, more

According to the April 3 edition of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun paper, the entertainment conglomerate Bandai Namco Holdings is aiming to distribute its franchise of Gundam science-fiction anime series in 10 languages worldwide within this year. It plans to release the programs in Japanese, English, German, French, and other languages through the Internet.

The newspaper report states that the online distribution of the Gundam series will precede television airings and tie into related merchandise. The report does not state which specific titles will be released, nor which distribution options will be used. The first Mobile Suit Gundam television anime series marks its 30th anniversary next Tuesday.

Last December, Bandai began streaming anime episodes of its Tamagotchi virtual pet franchise on the YouTube video-sharing site for free in seven languages. In February, the North American anime distributor Bandai Entertainment announced that it is streaming the Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion and Mobile Suit Gundam 00 anime series on YouTube as well. Sunrise, a Bandai Namco Group anime production company, animated both titles. In January, Kurokami The Animation premiered on television in Japan, South Korea, and the United States within 24 hours of each other. The American release was handled by Bandai Entertainment.

Source: animeanime.jp

Image © Sotsu, Sunrise

Update: Additional information added.