*This is a news report written in Japan.
To celebrate the announcement of "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY The Sorcery of Nymph Circe", a special event was held on Saturday, November 29, at LaLaport Fukuoka, featuring Kensho Ono and Reina Ueda. The day's festivities included a lighting ceremony, a talk show & lottery, and a screening of the 2021 prequel, "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY", which featured a special stage greeting.
Read on for our report from the thrilling day of events that had fans buzzing with excitement.
"MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY" Screening with Stage Greeting at GUNDAM Theater @ Fukuoka
In celebration of the upcoming release of "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY The Sorcery of Nymph Circe" on Friday, January 30, 2026, LaLaport Fukuoka hosted a special screening of the previous 2021 film, "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY", with a stage greeting. Hathaway Noa's voice actor, Kensho Ono, and Gigi Andalucia's voice actress, Reina Ueda, ignited the crowd by performing lines from the film before taking the stage.
Ono addressed the fans, saying, "It's been about five years since our last stage greeting for 'HATHAWAY', so we can finally talk about the first chapter without worrying about spoilers". Ueda added, "There might be things we can only talk about now that five years have passed," kicking off the event in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The conversation buzzed with energy as they shared favorite scenes and memories from the previous film. When asked what he wants the audience to experience, Ono said, "If you're watching for the first time, I think it would be fascinating to go with a Gundam expert, ask them 'What did that line mean?', and then watch it again. It feels like you're witnessing a page of history, and I want people to have that experience".
When asked about the highlights of the new film, Ono commented, "In the first chapter, the characters were all acting separately, but this film begins after they've successfully joined Mafty. I think the appeal of this film is that they have more time to confront themselves, and their inner feelings are laid bare". The conversation then turned to the trailer released on Friday, October 10, which has already racked up about 6 million views. With Gigi's line "Hathaway Noa" earning rave reviews, Ueda reflected on her performance, saying, "For that final 'Hathaway Noa', my approach was to carefully enunciate each syllable, yet let them roll off the tongue".
Finally, offering a message to fans eagerly awaiting the release, Ueda said, "It felt like the dots were finally connecting. I think you'll see new sides of the other characters who were influenced by Hathaway. You really can't predict how people will change. I think it would be even more fun to have a place where we can all discuss it with spoilers. The release is just around the corner. Please come and see it. Thank you very much." Ono concluded, "I'm so happy and truly looking forward to everyone finally seeing it. Hathaway's feelings and relationships are depicted with great care and realism, showing not just the beautiful parts but also the uglier side of the human heart. I hope you all look forward to the January release. Thank you very much."
Life-sized ν Gundam Statue Winter-Exclusive 25-26 Ver. Light-Up Ceremony / "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY The Sorcery of Nymph Circe" Talk Show & Lottery
The life-sized ν Gundam statue at LaLaport Fukuoka is the tallest of all life-sized Gundam statues to date, standing at 24.8m at its highest point. As the first of its kind in the Western Japan region, it has become a popular attraction for Gundam fans from Japan and abroad. From Saturday, November 29, 2025, to Friday, March 13, 2026, the statue will feature a special winter light-up themed around "MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM HATHAWAY The Sorcery of Nymph Circe", with illuminations and objects inspired by the protagonist's mobile suit, the Xi Gundam. The name "ν Gundam" comes from the Greek letter "ν (Nu)", not the English word "NEW". The Gundam that inherits its legacy is named after the next Greek letter, "Ξ (Xi)". This is the origin of the Xi Gundam piloted by Hathaway Noa, voiced by Kensho Ono.
Looking up at the ν Gundam statue, steeped in such history, Ono said, "In 'HATHAWAY', there's a scene where civilians are fleeing through a city while mobile suits are fighting. Seeing this mobile suit makes you realize just how powerless you would be in that situation." Ueda added, "The Penelope would be even bigger, right? When you think about it, it's truly terrifying. Seeing it from Gigi's perspective brings back the horror of the urban battle. I feel like I can understand why Gigi was so scared," she said, reflecting on the scene from the first chapter as they took in the statue's immense size.
During the talk show, when asked about the challenges he faced with this film, Ono replied, "In the first chapter, Hathaway was often playing the part of a respectable young man and didn't show much of his true self within Mafty. In front of Gigi, he was 'Hathaway Noa', so I struggled with the disparity between those two personas. In 'The Sorcery of Nymph Circe', Hathaway's darker, inner self is depicted, so figuring out how to express that with my voice was a major challenge." He also commented, "Director (Shukou Murase) told me from the beginning, 'Hathaway is broken.' So, the challenge was how to express that. It would be easy to perform 'broken' in an obvious way, but I tried to create a more subtle sense of unease, something that makes you think, 'Wait, something's off.' I performed the role hoping that after watching the film, people would think, 'Ah... this person is broken.'"
When asked how his character development and performance evolved for 'The Sorcery of Nymph Circe', Ono answered, "Since this is Hathaway after joining Mafty, I think you'll see a more unguarded side of him than when he was wearing the armor of 'Hathaway Noa' in the first chapter." Ueda said, "Gigi had an air of omnipotence in the first chapter, but there was an inner turmoil clouding her that she wasn't even aware of. In 'The Sorcery of Nymph Circe', that becomes visible, making her seem like a very ordinary girl. When I read the script, I thought, 'Was Gigi always like this?'. In my performance, I wanted to cherish her intuition—that sense of grasping something without consciously realizing how."
The lighting ceremony began with Ono and Ueda delivering the lines, "Go on and push it, it's just a button!" and "We can make it work!". At their cue, the life-sized ν Gundam statue lit up, and the large crowd of fans erupted in applause.
For their closing remarks, Ono said, "Thank you all again for coming today. I was able to talk a lot about Gundam throughout the day, and it really hit me that the release is finally upon us. Personally, I was happy to come back to my hometown of Fukuoka for work. The movie opens in theaters on Friday, January 30, so please be sure to come see it. Thank you very much for today." Ueda added, "I'm so happy to be at this event and to finally share this with all of you. I had a tour of LaLaport today and really felt the history of Gundam, not just 'HATHAWAY'. It's a humbling experience, and I feel the weight of the legacy we are carrying on. 'The Sorcery of Nymph Circe' will be released next year, so I hope you will see it in theaters. Thank you very much for today." The event concluded amidst warm applause from the audience.
