The latest work in the popular anime series "Gundam", "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX", is being produced and is a hot topic. Sunrise, which is responsible for the "Gundam" series, and Khara, known for the "Evangelion" series, are teaming up for the first time, with Kazuya Tsurumaki as director, Yoji Enokido as series composer, and Ikuto Yamashita in charge of mechanical design, bringing together a star-studded staff. What led to Sunrise and Khara teaming up?
◇ Director Tsurumaki's new Gundam
"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" was announced at the "Gundam Conference WINTER 2024", which was streamed on YouTube on December 4th.
The protagonist is a high school girl named Amate Yuzuriha (Machu), who lives a peaceful life in a space colony floating in space. However, after meeting 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 protagonist's machine, GQuuuuuuX, is a mysterious state-of-the-art mobile suit piloted by Machu, and participates in clan battles as a machine belonging to the Pomeranians. A TV anime series will be broadcast on the Nippon Television network, and ahead of the broadcast, a reconstructed version of some episodes, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuX -Beginning-", will be screened at 373 theaters nationwide from January 17, 2025.
Bandai Namco Filmworks producer Ogata Naohiro and khara producer Sugiya Yuki appeared at Gundam Conference WINTER 2024. Producer Ogata explained how they first teamed up, saying, "The project started around 2018. Before that, I worked with Producer Sugiya on the seventh episode of Mobile Suit Gundam UC. While we were planning a new Gundam series, I first approached Sugiya and said, 'I'd like to create a new Gundam with Director Tsurumaki.'"
Director Tsurumaki is known for "FLCL," "Aim for the Top 2!," "Dragon Dentist," and others, and also served as director for "Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time." A special trailer featuring GQuuuuuuX and others was also released, and Producer Ogata commented, "Since we have Director Tsurumaki, we were also curious to see how much color he would be willing to show. I think that's what the footage is about."
Producer Sugitani commented, "Because it's a series with such a long history, there was pressure and I wondered if it was OK to do things like this, but Ogata-san told me, 'A new approach is better. Feel free to do what you want,' so I was able to work freely and relaxed. I think the footage allowed me to do what I wanted as a director."
◇What if an Eva designer designed a Gundam?
According to the staff announced, Hideaki Anno, Masahiro Maeda, and Touko Yatabe are involved in the storyboarding. Character design is handled by Take, who is known for "Pokémon Sun and Moon" and "Pokémon Sword and Shield" and has also worked on illustrations for Nisio Isin's novels "Zaregoto Series" and "Katanagatari." Producer Sugitani said of the impressive staff, "We have been able to ask people that Director Tsurumaki can trust."
The protagonist's mobile suit, GQuuuuuuX, designed by Yamashita is very different from conventional Gundams, with its narrow waist and uniquely shaped ankles.
Producer Sugitani explains, "This is one answer to the question: What would happen if an Evangelion designer designed a Gundam? Gundam has many surfaces and a robotic design, but Evangelion feels like a human wearing armor. The director was particular about giving the shoulders and hips more human-like movement." It appears that the design is also challenging a "new approach."
Is it set in the Universal Century? Or is it a different world from the previous "Gundam" series? There are still many things we don't know, but we hope to see a "new angle" that shows us a "Gundam" like never before.
