Commentary:"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" A design that is very different from conventional Gundams

The latest work in the popular anime series "Gundam" is "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX". . The TV anime series is broadcast on Nippon TV, and ahead of the broadcast, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX -Beginning-", a reconstruction of some episodes, will be screened at 373 theaters nationwide from January 17th. Sunrise, which produces the "Gundam" series, and Khara, known for the "Evangelion" series, have teamed up for the first time, and the luxurious staff, including Kazuya Tsurumaki as director, Yoji Enokido as series composer, and Ikuto Yamashita as mechanical designer, are also attracting attention. The main character's mobile suit, GQuuuuuX, designed by Yamashita, seems to be a Gundam unlike any other before.

◇If an Evangelion designer designed a Gundam...

The main character is a high school girl named Amate Yuzuriha (Machu), who lives a peaceful life in a space colony floating in space. However, when she meets a war refugee girl named Nyaan, she becomes embroiled in an illegal mobile suit duel competition, a clan battle... This is the story. Machu pilots the GQuuuuuuX and throws herself into daily battles. The main character's machine, GQuuuuuuX, is a mysterious state-of-the-art mobile suit piloted by Machu, and participates in clan battles as part of the Pomeranians' machine.

Yamashita, who is also known for the "Evangelion" series, designed GQuuuuuuX. GQuuuuuuX is very different from conventional Gundams, with its narrow waist and uniquely shaped ankles.

At the "Gundam Conference WINTER 2024" broadcast on YouTube in December last year, producer Yuki Sugiya of khara explained, "What would happen if an Evangelion designer designed a Gundam? This is one answer. Gundam has many surfaces and is designed like a robot, but Evangelion feels like a human wearing armor. The director is particular about making the shoulders and hips more human-like so that they can move in a more human-like way." As this is an unprecedented Gundam, attention is focused on how it will perform in the anime.

◇Gunpla and figures too!

It has also become a hot topic that GQuuuuuuX's Gunpla (plastic model) will be released on January 17th as "HG 1/144 GQuuuuuuX" from Bandai Spirits' "HG" series. Gunpla faithfully reproduces the character's distinctive form. Dynamic action is achieved by moving each joint, such as the torso and hip joints. Looking at the plastic model, it comes with two different head patterns, and it is interesting to know what the meaning of the different heads is.

Bandai Spirits' "METAL ROBOT Spirits" series will also release a figure called "METAL ROBOT Spirits <SIDE MS> GQuuuuuuX" in August. It reproduces the spherical shoulder unit and comes with an axe-shaped weapon and beam weapon.

There are still many mysteries surrounding GQuuuuuuX, but looking at the Gunpla and figures makes me fantasize. I can't wait for the early release of the movie on January 17th.