Japanese animation studio Sunrise finally released the first look at the next installment in the Gundam franchise after teasing about the new series for weeks.

Titled Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans, the new anime TV series directed by Tatsuyuki Nagai and written by Mari Okada is set 300 years after the big war ended between Earth and Mars.

Now that humans are living on Mars, many of its inhabitants want their independence. Following the story of a group of orphaned child soldiers who join forces, the two main characters, Mikazuki Augus and Orga Itsuka, embark on a mission to make sure they get it — while a terrorist group has other plans. 

Ultimately, Mikazuki decides to pilot the ancient war relic Gundam Barbados to help save both his friend and all of Mars.

In the footage for the new series, fans can see Mikazuki working out in preparation for what's to come, as well as the first look at him piloting the machine. We also get to see some of the other characters of the private security company CGS, to which the protagonists belong. There are lots of combat scenes, a glimpse at the female lead character, and of course the Gundam.

The Gundam series started back in 1979 with Mobile Suit Gundam. The show revolutionized the robot genre in anime with its use of bots in war settings. Known as the Star Trek and Star Wars of Japan, the series features giant robots called mobile suits that all have the name: "Gundam." The franchise has grown to include movies, manga, novels, video games and toys.

Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans will premiere on October 4 in Japan.

Watch the first footage below.

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