Gundam: The Witch from Mercury rights and licensing: who owns and distributes it
The latest mainline Gundam TV series shows how Bandai Namco Filmworks uses both Crunchyroll and its own Gundam.Info channel to reach different territories.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks, formerly Sunrise, which owns the Gundam franchise. The series streams on Crunchyroll in many markets and is also available on the official Gundam.Info YouTube channel in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Bandai Namco Filmworks therefore controls both the production and the primary international distribution strategy for the series.
Who owns the anime rights to Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
Gundam: The Witch from Mercury is an original Gundam series produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks. Bandai Namco Holdings owns Bandai Namco Filmworks and the Gundam intellectual property through its long-standing control of Sunrise, which was renamed Bandai Namco Filmworks in 2022.
Unlike many anime that split rights between a publisher and a production committee, Gundam is owned outright by Bandai Namco Filmworks. This gives the company direct control over animation production, merchandise, games, and international licensing.
Streaming strategy: Crunchyroll and Gundam.Info
The series streams on Crunchyroll, which is part of Sony's anime ecosystem. In addition, Bandai Namco announced that Gundam: The Witch from Mercury would stream on the official Gundam.Info YouTube channel in more regions starting December 31, 2022. The expanded regions include North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
This dual-platform approach lets Bandai Namco reach markets where Crunchyroll may not have full penetration, while still using Crunchyroll as the main dedicated anime streaming home.
Gundam: The Witch from Mercury documented streaming windows.| Platform | Regions covered | Rights type |
|---|
| Crunchyroll | Multiple international markets | Simulcast / streaming |
| Gundam.Info YouTube | North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, Oceania | Free streaming |
Merchandise and games stay in-house
Because Bandai Namco owns Gundam outright, merchandise and game rights are handled within the group. Premium Bandai, Bandai Spirits, and Bandai Namco Entertainment can develop products and games without negotiating with an external rights holder.
This vertical integration is why Gundam merchandise appears quickly after episodes air and why the franchise is consistently one of Bandai Namco's highest-revenue intellectual properties.
Why Gundam rights are simpler than most anime
Most anime are committee-based adaptations with rights split among publishers, broadcasters, and studios. Gundam is a corporate-owned franchise. Bandai Namco Filmworks can decide on sequels, spin-offs, and international licensing without needing consensus from multiple external rights holders.
The trade-off is that all commercial decisions flow through Bandai Namco's strategy. Smaller distributors must negotiate directly with the company, and streaming windows are set according to Bandai Namco's global plans.
Ownership uncertainty note: Bandai Namco Filmworks' ownership of Gundam is well documented. However, the exact terms of the Crunchyroll license, the YouTube window lengths, and any sublicenses for dubbing or merchandise in specific countries are not publicly disclosed.
What this means for researchers
If you are researching ownership, Bandai Namco Filmworks and its parent Bandai Namco Holdings are the controlling parties. If you are looking for streaming availability, check Crunchyroll and the Gundam.Info YouTube channel, depending on your region.
For investors, Gundam is a wholly owned franchise, so its financial contribution to Bandai Namco is reported in the company's toy, hobby, and digital entertainment segments rather than as external licensing revenue.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns the anime rights to Gundam: The Witch from Mercury?
Bandai Namco Filmworks owns the rights, as part of Bandai Namco Holdings' ownership of the Gundam franchise.
Where can I stream Gundam: The Witch from Mercury?
The series streams on Crunchyroll in many markets and on the official Gundam.Info YouTube channel in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Who licenses Gundam internationally?
Bandai Namco Filmworks controls international licensing directly, with Crunchyroll handling streaming in many markets and Gundam.Info serving other regions.
Is Gundam: The Witch from Mercury an original anime?
Yes. It is an original Gundam series produced by Bandai Namco Filmworks, not based on a pre-existing manga or novel.