Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Key visual for the series, featuring lead character Amate "Machu" Yuzuriha, the eponymous Gundam GQuuuuuuX mech, and Haro
機動戦士 Gundam GQuuuuuuX（ジークアクス） (Kidō Senshi Gandamu Jīkuakusu)
Genre	Mecha Military science fiction
Created by	Hajime Yatate Yoshiyuki Tomino
Anime film
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX: Beginning
Directed by	Kazuya Tsurumaki
Produced by	Yuki Sugitani Naohiro Ogata Keisuke Kasai
Written by	Yoji Enokido Hideaki Anno
Music by	Yoshimasa Terui Masayuki Hasuo
Studio	Sunrise Studio Khara
Licensed by	NA: GKIDS (theatrical release)
Released	January 17, 2025 (2025-01-17)
Runtime	81 minutes
Anime television series
Directed by	Kazuya Tsurumaki
Produced by	Yuki Sugitani Naohiro Ogata Keisuke Kasai
Written by	Yoji Enokido Hideaki Anno
Music by	Yoshimasa Terui Masayuki Hasuo
Studio	Sunrise Studio Khara
Licensed by	Amazon Prime Video
Original network	NNS (Nippon TV), BS11
Original run	April 9, 2025 – present

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (Japanese: 機動戦士 Gundam GQuuuuuuX（ジークアクス）, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu Jīkuakusu) is a Japanese anime television series jointly produced by Sunrise and Studio Khara. It is billed as the sixteenth installment of the Gundam franchise, the second television series to be aired during Japan's Reiwa era, and the second in a row (after The Witch from Mercury) to feature a female lead.

The series is directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki and written by Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno, and features character designs by Take and mechanical designs by Ikuto Yamashita. While a theatrical cut leveraging footage from the initial episodes was released by Toho on January 17, 2025, the TV series premiered in April of the same year.

Story

Overview

The series is set in an alternate version of the Universal Century timeline, which diverges from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series' continuity, as Char Aznable seizes the RX-78-02 White Gundam alongside the White Base. Char becomes the pilot of the Gundam instead of Amuro Ray, renaming it the "GMS-α Red Gundam". This drastically changes the outcome of the One Year War between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, culminating with Zeon's victory. However, Char and the Red Gundam disappear after this in a phenomenon called Zeknova, prompting a search by Zeon.

Some characters in the series who died in the original Universal Century timeline, such as Challia Bull and Kycilia Zabi, survive in this divergent timeline.

Plot

Five years after the Principality of Zeon won the One Year War, Amate Yuzuriha, a high school student living on the space colony "Side 6", crosses paths with Nyaan, a war refugee. Her encounter with Nyaan leads her to get involved in an incident when both the Principality of Zeon and the Space Police are pursuing the missing Red Gundam after it re-emerges 5-years after disappearing. To catch the Red Gundam, Zeon sends out Xavier Olivette in the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX, a prototype Gundam meant for Newtype pilots. However, while trying to capture the Red Gundam, Xavier crashes into the space colony and is ejected from the GQuuuuuuX. Amate jumps into the cockpit of the GQuuuuuuX, steals it, and subsequently defeats the Police Force, allowing the Red Gundam to escape. The GQuuuuuuX is taken by the Pomeranians, an underground team of mechanics participating in Clan Battles, a series of illegal and high-stakes Mobile Suit dueling matches. After meeting the Red Gundam's pilot, Shuji, Amate chooses to join him in Clan Battles with the Pomeranians, fighting alongside him in the GQuuuuuuX.

Characters

Main

Amate Yuzuriha (アマテ・ユズリハ) / Machu (マチュ)

Voiced by: Tomoyo Kurosawa (Japanese); Thea Saccoliti (English)

An ordinary high school student whose usual way of life collapses after she meets refugee Nyaan and becomes acquainted with Shuji in underground "Clan Battles", or mobile suit duels. The protagonist and central character of the story as well as the pilot of the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX.

Nyaan (ニャアン)

Voiced by: Yui Ishikawa (Japanese); Anairis Quiñones (English)

A courier who becomes a refugee after war breaks out in her homeland and she has to flee without even having time to take care of her parents. She is rescued and ends up in one of the populated orbital stations, where she meets Machu.

Shuji Ito (シュウジ・イトウ, Shūji Itō)

Voiced by: Shimba Tsuchiya (Japanese); Paul Castro Jr. (English)

The pilot of the gMS-α Red Gundam originally used by Char Aznable, he is a mysterious boy who is encountered by Machu and Nyaan while on the run from his enemies. He becomes Machu's Mav, or partner, in the Clan Battles. He's accompanied by a four-legged robot named CONCH (コンチ, Konchi).

Casval Rem Deikun (キャスバル・レム・ダイクン, Kyasubaru Remu Daikun) / Char Aznable (シャア・アズナブル, Shaa Azunaburu)

Voiced by: Yuuki Shin (Japanese); Kyle McCarley (English)

The original pilot of the gMS-α Red Gundam and a veteran of the One Year War who disappeared mysteriously after the final battle of the conflict.

Kaneban Co., Ltd.

Annqi (アンキー, Ankī)

Voiced by: Mariya Ise (Japanese); Meredith Zeitlin (English)

President of junk dealer Kaneban Co., Ltd. She's involved in several illegal businesses, including Mobile Suit Clan Battles.

Jezzi (ジェジー, Jejī)

Voiced by: Yukitoshi Tokumoto (Japanese); Jack DeSena (English)

A member of Kaneban Co., Ltd., and a pilot in the Clan Battles, boarding a Zaku-type Mobile Suit.

Pomeranian (ポメラニアン)

Voiced by: Kosuke Echigoya

A pomeranian at Kaneban Co., Ltd. Owned by Jezzi.

Nabu (ナブ)

Voiced by: Shōya Chiba (Japanese); Harley Yeager (English)

A member of Kaneban Co., Ltd., in charge of practical matters .

Kaine (ケーン, Kēn)

Voiced by: Yusuke Nagano (Japanese); Casey Mongillo (English)

A member of Kaneban Co., Ltd, and mechanic.

HARO (ハロ)

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Ellie Dritch (English)

An autonomous AI robot who can speak and give information about its surroundings. It accompanies Machu in the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX.

Principality of Zeon

Challia Bull (シャリア・ブル, Sharia Buru)

Voiced by: Shinji Kawada (Japanese); Fajer Al-Kaisi (English)

A lieutenant-colonel in the Zeon army. He once conspired with Char Aznable to betray Zeon during the One Year War. Since Char's disappearance, he has been looking for Char and the Red Gundam.

Challia Bull was originally introduced in "The Newtype: Challia Bull", the 39th episode of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, which was his only appearance prior to GQuuuuuuX. In this episode, he is recruited to the war with the Earth Federation by Zeon commander Gihren Zabi, who sees promise in Bull's abilities as a Newtype. Although Bull is killed in battle with Amuro Ray in the original series, the divergences in GQuuuuuuX's timeline impact events such that he survives.

Xavier Olivette (エグザベ・オリベ, Eguzabe Oribe)

Voiced by: Seiichiro Yamashita (Japanese); Ry McKeand (English)

A second lieutenant in the Zeon army, who graduated at the top of his class at the Flanagan School.

He piloted the gMS-Ω GQuuuuuuX for a covert mission to find the Red Gundam, but lost it to Machu after an altercation with Side-6's police.

Comoli Harcourt (コモリ・ハーコート, Komori Hākōto)

Voiced by: Akane Fujita (Japanese); Cat Protano (English)

A Second lieutenant in the Zeon army, and an elite officer from a military school. She is a part of the mission to find Char Aznable and the Red Gundam.

Denim (デニム, Denimu)

Voiced by: Kōsuke Gotō (Japanese); Chris Okawa (English)

A sergeant major in the Zeon army. In U.C. 0079, he piloted a Zaku alongside Char during the assault of White Base.

Dren (ドレン, Doren)

Voiced by: Taichi Takeda (Japanese); Major Attaway (English)

A lieutenant of the Zeon army, who later got promoted to Captain. He was Char's adjudent.

Rassit (ラシット, Rashitto)

Voiced by: Saya Hirose (Japanese); Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld (English)

Lieutenant Colonel of the Principality of Zeon Army. Captain of the Sodon.

Kowal (コワル, Kowaru)

Voiced by: Yuji Murai (Japanese); Eddy Lee (English)

A lieutenant in the Principality of Zeon military, he serves as a technical officer aboard the Sodon.

Tangi (タンギ)

Sergeant Major of the Principality of Zeon. Sodon helmsman.

Osillo (オシロ, Oshiro)

Voiced by: Genta Nakamura (Japanese); A.J. Beckles (English)

Sergeant in the Principality of Zeon Army. Sodon's operator.

Sepha (セファ, Sefa)

Voiced by: Risa Watanabe (Japanese); Jessica DiCicco (English)

Corporal in the Principality of Zeon Army. Sodon's operator.

Benowa (ベノワ)

Voiced by: Akinori Egoshi (Japanese); Jon Allen (English)

Corporal in the Principality of Zeon Army. Sodon communications officer.

Kycillia Zabi (キシリア・ザビ, Kishiria Zabi)

Voiced by: Kaori Nazuka (Japanese); Allegra Clark (English)

Major General of the Principality of Zeon Army. Commander of the Mobile Assault Force.

Mallygan (マリガン, Marigan)

Voiced by: Soma Saito (Japanese); Eddy Lee (English)

A lieutenant in the Principality of Zeon military. A subordinate of Kycillia.

Flanagan (フラナガン, Furanagan)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Shirokuma (Japanese); Major Attaway (English)

A scientist who founded the Flanagan Institute, the Principality of Zeon's Newtype research facility.

Earth Federation Forces

Paolo Cassius (パオロ・カシアス, Paoro Kashiasu)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Naka (Japanese); Chris Okawa (English)

Lieutenant Colonel of the Earth Federation Forces. Captain of the amphibious assault ship Pegasus.

Shiiko Sugai (シイコ・スガイ)

Voiced by: Manami Hanawa (Japanese); Brianna Knickerbocker (English)

A former Earth Federation pilot and super unicum (flying ace) who shot down over 100 planes during the One Year War. Her reputation and skill earned her the nickname of The Witch. Ever since her partner was killed by Char in the Red Gundam, her main priority over everything else has been an obsession with taking down the Red Gundam in battle, regardless of who the current pilot is.

Bocata (ボカタ, Bokata)

Voiced by: Ai Kaneta (Japanese); Shara Kirby (English)

An employee of the Dmitry Security Company, former Earth Federation pilot, and Shiiko's MAV.

Mosk Han (モスク・ハン, Mosuku Han)

Voiced by: Yasuhiro Kikuchi (Japanese); Scott Williams (English)

He is currently employed at the Dmitry Security Company, and is a former technical officer in the Earth Federation Forces.

Side 6/Izuma Colony

Arraga (アラガ, Araga)

Voiced by: Masato Niwa (Japanese); Alex Bankier (English)

A military police officer of Side 6. A pilot of the Military Police Zaku.

Ragguchi (ラゴウチ, Ragouchi)

Voiced by: Yoshimitsu Shimoyama (Japanese); Erik Braa (English)

A military police officer of Side 6. Like Arraga, he pilots a military police Zaku.

Tamaki Yuzuriha (タマキ・ユズリハ)

Voiced by: Rie Kugimiya (Japanese); Jennifer Sun Bell (English)

An employee of Side 6's Inspection Bureau and Amate's mother. Her husband is currently working away from home in another colony, and she worries about Amate's future.

Ward (ワード, Wādo)

Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka (Japanese); Major Attaway (English)

A military and police detective from Side 6.

Chaichi (チャイチ)

Voiced by: Katsumi Fukuhara (Japanese); Jon Allen (English)

A Side 6 military and police detective, and Ward's partner.

Mahko Nagawara (マーコ・ナガワラ, Māko Nagawara)

Voiced by: Tetsu Inada (Japanese); Erik Braa (English)

The boss who makes Nyaan act as an illegal courier.

Cameron Bloom (カムラン・ブルーム, Kamuran Burūmu)

Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese); Ryan Colt Levy (English)

Side 6's presidential advisor.

Production

The series was first unveiled during the "Gundam Conference Winter 2024" livestream on December 4, 2024, revealing the series' official trailer. It marked the first Gundam production to be co-produced by Studio Khara, and is largely creatively led by staff who once worked for Gainax on several anime such as Evangelion, FLCL, and Diebuster. Although the degree of the involvement of Khara founder and president Hideaki Anno, credited as GQuuuuuuX's co-writer, has been debated, mechanical designer Ikuto Yamashita has clarified that Kazuya Tsurumaki is serving as the primary director of the project, and Anno's role has been limited to providing production support.

Planning of the show began in 2018. Khara had previously collaborated with Sunrise on in-between animation and other support, such as on the last episode of Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. As part of production, Tsurumaki was given freedom by Sunrise to offer up new approaches.

The show is considered by Sunrise as "a representative work heading into the 45th and 50th anniversaries of Gundam," which prompted the release of a theatrical cut, titled Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Beginning (Japanese: 機動戦士 Gundam GQuuuuuuX（ジークアクス） Beginning, Hepburn: Kidō Senshi Gandamu Jīkuakusu Biginingu), to create a "festive element" around the Khara and Sunrise collaboration.

Media

Anime

A theatrical cut by Bandai Namco Filmworks and Toho premiered on January 17, 2025, and MX4D and 4DX versions were screened in Japanese theaters from February 22 of the same year. The theatrical prologue is licensed by GKIDS, with the North American premiere held on February 20 at the Japan Society in New York City, before being more widely released in North American theaters starting February 28 of the same year.

The TV series premiered on April 9, 2025, on all NNS affiliate stations, including Nippon TV. The opening theme song is "Plazma", performed by Kenshi Yonezu, while the ending theme song is "Mо̄ Dо̄ Natte mo Ii ya" (もうどうなってもいいや, "I Don't Care", lit. "I Don't Really Care What Happens Anymore"), performed by Hoshimachi Suisei, which was premiered in an abridged version as an insert theme for Beginning. Hoshimachi and superduo Nomelon Nolemon would also perform the songs "Yoru Ni Saku" (夜に咲く, "Bloom in the Night") and "Midnight Reflection" (ミッドナイト・リフレクション) respectively as additional insert songs. Amazon Prime Video is streaming the series worldwide. A simultaneously released English dub of the series is being produced by NYAV Post.

Episodes

No.	Title	Directed by	Written by	Storyboarded by	Character animation director	Original release date
0	"Beginning" Transliteration: "Biginingu" (Japanese: ビギニング)	Kazuya Tsurumaki, Daizen Komatsuda & Tōko Yatabe	Yoji Enokido & Hideaki Anno	Kazuya Tsurumaki, Hideaki Anno, Mahiro Maeda & Tōko Yatabe	Hidenori Matsubara, Mayumi Nakamura & Shūichi Iseki	January 17, 2025 (2025-01-17)
A compilation film of the first three episodes of the series, with some additional footage in the One Year War segment.
1	"The Red Gundam" Transliteration: "Akai Gandamu" (Japanese: 赤いガンダム)	Kazuya Tsurumaki	Yoji Enokido	Kazuya Tsurumaki	Yumi Ikeda & Fumie Kobori	April 9, 2025 (2025-04-09)
Five years after the One Year War, Commander Challia Bull, Char's former subordinate, leads a Zeon task force pursuing the Red Gundam, which has mysteriously reappeared, to the colony Side 6. On Side 6, student Amate "Machu" Yuzuriha has a run in with the smuggler Nyaan and ends up encountering the underground Clan Battle team Pomeranians. During that time, Challia sends Ensign Xavier Olivette to capture the Red Gundam in the Gundam GQuuuuuuX, an experimental mobile suit equipped with the Omega Psycommu, a brain-computer interface control system designed for use by Newtypes. Both Gundams end up fighting inside the colony itself, causing the local military police to respond, resulting in much destruction. Xavier, however, has difficulty activating the Omega Psycommu and is forced to abandon it. Angry at the military police's abuse of power, Amate commandeers the GQuuuuuuX, with the Omega Psycommu activating in her presence, and disables the military police mobile suits while the Red Gundam escapes.
2	"The White Gundam" Transliteration: "Shiroi Gandamu" (Japanese: 白いガンダム)	Daizen Komatsuda	Hideaki Anno	Hideaki Anno, Mahiro Maeda & Kazuya Tsurumaki	Hidenori Matsubara	April 16, 2025 (2025-04-16)
In the midst of the One Year War, Char Aznable is able to steal two of the Earth Federation's secret weapons: the Gundam mobile suit and the warship White Base, renaming them the Red Gundam and Sodon, respectively. Char eventually takes on the Red Gundam as his personal mobile suit, and has an experimental Alpha Psycommu control device installed in it. He also recruits a then Lieutenant Challia Bull to be his wingman. Eventually, the Federation is able to push Zeon back into space, but Zeon retains the upper hand by capturing the Federation's strategically important Luna II asteroid base. As a last resort, the Federation sends the Solomon asteroid base on a collision course with the Zeon controlled Granada lunar city. Char takes part in a mission to divert Solomon, but the Psycommu malfunctions and swallows Char and part of Solomon in a ball of light, diverting it. Afterwards, the Federation signs a truce with Zeon and withdraws from space, while Challia starts his search for Char which eventually brings him to Side 6.
3	"Machu in Clan Battle" Transliteration: "Kuranbatoru no Machu" (Japanese: クランバトルのマチュ)	Tōko Yatabe	Yoji Enokido	Tōko Yatabe & Kazuya Tsurumaki	Mayumi Nakamura	April 23, 2025 (2025-04-23)
Fascinated by the vision she saw when the Omega Psycommu activated, Amate agrees to join the Pomeranians as a Clan Battle pilot under the alias "Machu". She later encounters Shuji Ito, the pilot of the Red Gundam, and they agree to work together as a pair for the upcoming Clan Battle. Meanwhile, Xavier is apprehended by the Side 6 authorities and harshly interrogated. Challia flies the Sodon directly into Side 6 as a show of force and intimidates the colony into releasing Xavier. During the Clan Battle, the inexperienced Amate initially has difficulty fighting the opposing team, but her newly manifested Newtype abilities grant her superhuman situational awareness and allow her to telepathically coordinate with Shuji and they secure victory. Challia and Xavier watch the battle as it is being streamed and are shocked to see both Gundams working together.
4	"The Witch's War" Transliteration: "Majo no Sensō" (Japanese: 魔女の戦争)	Tetsurō Araki	Yoji Enokido	Tetsurō Araki & Kazuya Tsurumaki	Shūichi Iseki	April 30, 2025 (2025-04-30)
Shuji reveals that he and the Red Gundam desire to head to Earth using the money he earns from Clan Battle, a sentiment Machu agrees with. Shiiko Sugai, a former Federation ace pilot known as The Witch, meets the Pomeranians after learning of the Red Gundam's appearance in the colony, and challenges them to a Clan Battle due to her desire for revenge. Piloting the Gundam-esque Gelgoog suit, she becomes obsessed with defeating the Red Gundam, and begins ruthlessly attacking Shuji with technology and techniques that rival even Newytpe reaction speed. In an event Challia compares to the Zeknova, Shuji brings Shiiko and Amate into a Newtype Flash where Shiiko reveals somebody is communicating to Shuuji through the Red Gundam before she is killed by Shuuji when he destroys her cockpit. Witnessing this, Amate realizes the lengths Shuuji would be willing to go to achieve his dream.
5	"Nyaan Doesn't Know About Kira-Kira" Transliteration: "Nyaan wa Kirakira o Shiranai" (Japanese: ニャアンはキラキラを知らない)	TBA	TBA	TBA	TBA	May 7, 2025 (2025-05-07)

Merchandise

Alongside other merchandise releases, the series is also part of the long-running Gunpla line of plastic model kits by Bandai Spirits. Kits based on the Mobile Suits in the series were released in 1/144 scale with the first model be released in January 2025.

Reception

Beginning

The theatrical prologue cut, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Beginning, was generally praised by critics for its visual style, characters, writing, and its narrative remixing of the original Mobile Suit Gundam.

The introduction featuring Char Aznable and showing the divergence in the Universal Century timeline central to GQuuuuuuX's narrative was appreciated for its audiovisual and tonal fidelity to the original series. James Whitbrook of Gizmodo praised the reuse of the original's soundtrack and audio cues alongside the faithful recreation of its scenes and set pieces, saying it recontextualized these elements "in fascinating ways to fit its alternative rendition of events where Char is suddenly the protagonist of this familiar narrative." Richard Eisenbeis of Anime News Network felt similarly, positively comparing the conceit to alternate universe fan fiction and saying it was a fresh direction for Gundam, calling it "a blast on its own". Eisenbeis additionally praised the original story and new characters, saying that the combination of the "pure fanservice" of the introduction and the new story made Beginning a cathartic experience for fans of the original series while remaining accessible to first-time Gundam viewers. In contrast, Kambole Campbell of Polygon felt that the dependence on the original series made GQuuuuuuX "probably not the best Gundam to start with", but nonetheless appreciated the film's prologue, calling it a "delightful throwback". Aftermath's Isaiah Colbert also enjoyed the divergent premise, describing it as "watching Studio Khara and Sunrise play with their toys". Juan Barquin of IGN said the prologue functioned as "a loose history lesson that preps the uninitiated viewer" for GQuuuuuuX's new story.

The visual style of GQuuuuuuX was noted for its combination of the audiovisual elements of the original series and its new characters and setting, described by Eisenbeis as "shifting naturally from one generation to the next". Campbell also liked the mix of the two, praising the "brightly colored and more cartoonish" approach to familiar elements of the UC continuity. Barquin felt similarly, comparing the visuals to character designer Take's past work on the Pokémon franchise, as well as previous works produced by Gainax, and said that the marriage of the two styles "not once" was jarring, "instead emphasizing the way life and culture has progressed in the years since the war ended". Colbert also liked the style, saying the aesthetics switching from the "grainy, retro look" of 0079 to "the sleek, vibrant, and bouncy mix of 3D and 2D animation of today's anime" was engaging. While Campbell praised Yamashita's mechanical designs, he felt that the CG animated mech battles were "more of an intrusion", preferring the 2D-animated fights of The Witch from Mercury. In contrast, Barquin considered the mech action to possess "a real fluidity", though also acknowledged that the CG use made them "a stark contrast" to Witch from Mercury. Whitbrook praised the visual style as "a boldly colorful, poppy sci-fi aesthetic".

The characters and apparent themes of GQuuuuuuX were also generally liked, with critics generally eager to see more of the narrative and character development in the series proper. Campbell, Barquin, and Whitbrook all expressed an interest in the narrative premise of following the cast living under the rule of the Principality of Zeon, which was described as "fascistic" and a "police state". Whitbrook compared the premise of GQuuuuuuX to Zeta Gundam, describing it as "imagining what life looks like in a post-war world for the generation that came of age after its conclusion" and described Machu, Nyaan and Shuji as believable young people attempting to navigate the setting.

GamesRadar+ writer Ashley Bardhan expressed discomfort at the "merciless sexualization" of Machu in Beginning, despite otherwise appreciating the character. Bardhan alleged that the creators were more preoccupied with appealing to a male audience who would "gawk at" Machu, rather than presenting her as a relatable character for female audiences. She negatively compared Machu's portrayal to GQuuuuuuX co-writer Hideaki Anno's 1998 film Love & Pop, opining that that film's similar sexual presentation of its female characters was justified as thematically highlighting their vulnerability, and that in GQuuuuuuX it was "blissfully unrelated".

External links

• Anime official website (in Japanese and English)
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime series) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (anime series) at IMDb
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX-Beginning (anime film) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX-Beginning (anime film) at IMDb