Kidô Senshi Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, the sixteenth mainline entry in the storied Gundam franchise, is an ambitious yet polarizing addition to the Universal Century (UC) mythos. Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki (FLCL) and scripted by Yoji Enokido and Hideaki Anno (Neon Genesis Evangelion), this Studio Khara and Sunrise collaboration promises a fresh take on Gundam's alternate timeline formula. While GQuuuuuuX delivers stunning visuals, innovative mech designs, and a bold exploration of gender dynamics, its narrative struggles with pacing and tonal inconsistency, making it a divisive entry for both longtime fans and newcomers.

Set in an alternate UC timeline where Char Aznable's theft of the RX-78-2 Gundam leads to Zeon's victory in the One Year War, the series fast-forwards five years to follow Amate Yuzuriha, a high school student and illegal mobile suit duelist known as "Machu." Piloting the gMS-NU GQuuuuuuX, Amate's journey intertwines with a mysterious Gundam pilot, Shuji, and a shadowy conspiracy tied to her unique "kira-kira" sensation-a psychic-like ability that sets her apart. The premise is intriguing, reimagining the Gundam universe through a female protagonist's lens and exploring themes of identity, autonomy, and resistance in a Zeon-dominated world.

Visually, GQuuuuuuX is a triumph. Ikuto Yamashita's mechanical designs, particularly the sleek yet bulky gMS-NU GQuuuuuuX, blend classic Gundam aesthetics with a futuristic edge, while the "Red Gundam" nods to Char's iconic legacy. The animation, especially during Clan Battle duels, is fluid and dynamic, with vibrant color palettes and kinetic camera work that capture the chaos of mobile suit combat. Studio Khara's influence is evident in the expressive character designs and surreal, almost psychedelic sequences tied to Amate's "kira-kira" experiences, which evoke Evangelion's introspective style.

Thematically, the series shines in its focus on the "female experience" of piloting Gundams, a perspective underrepresented in the franchise. Amate is a compelling protagonist-resourceful, conflicted, and fiercely independent-whose struggles with societal expectations and personal agency resonate deeply. Her dynamic with Shuji, a stoic foil with hidden motives, adds emotional depth, though their chemistry occasionally feels underdeveloped. The exploration of illegal dueling as a form of rebellion against Zeon's oppressive regime offers a fresh angle on Gundam's anti-war ethos, though it sometimes leans too heavily on familiar franchise tropes.

However, GQuuuuuuX falters in its execution. The narrative, while ambitious, suffers from uneven pacing. The first half of the series spends excessive time on Clan Battle subplots and world-building, delaying the central mystery of Shuji's Gundam and the broader conspiracy. This slow burn approach may alienate viewers expecting Gundam's signature political intrigue or high-stakes drama. Additionally, the integration of Anno's metaphysical flourishes feels forced, with "kira-kira" sequences often disrupting the grounded narrative rather than enhancing it. For fans expecting a cohesive UC story, these experimental elements may feel more indulgent than innovative.

Tonally, the series struggles to balance its coming-of-age roots with the franchise's darker undercurrents. Moments of levity, such as Amate's school life and quirky sidekicks, clash with the grim realities of a dystopian setting, creating a jarring viewing experience. While Tsurumaki's FLCL-inspired energy injects vitality, it occasionally undermines the stakes, making it hard to invest in the characters' struggles. The voice acting, particularly in the Japanese dub, is strong, with Amate's VA delivering a standout performance, but some secondary characters lack depth due to limited screen time.

For Gundam fans, GQuuuuuuX is both a bold experiment and a frustrating departure. Its alternate timeline offers a creative reinterpretation of UC lore, but its divergence from traditional Gundam storytelling-less focus on factional warfare, more on personal and abstract conflicts-may not satisfy purists. Newcomers may appreciate its accessibility as a standalone story, yet the dense Gundam references and reliance on franchise context could alienate those unfamiliar with the series.

Ultimately, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is a visually spectacular and thematically daring entry that pushes the franchise into uncharted territory. However, its narrative missteps and tonal inconsistencies prevent it from reaching the heights of classics like Mobile Suit Gundam Wing or Zeta Gundam. It's a series that demands patience and an appreciation for experimental storytelling, rewarding viewers who value style and character over plot cohesion. For those intrigued by a female-led Gundam story with a surreal twist, GQuuuuuuX is worth exploring, but it may not fully capture the hearts of all who venture into its glittering, chaotic universe.

I have now watched the first 5 episodes of this show. It started out fine, but it's been starting to slow down a bit. They don't spend much of any time explaining the Gundam universe or key events. That didn't bother me, since I am no stranger to Gundam. But people that are new to the franchise might want to know a little more. I watched the first episode in both Japanese and English and the rest in English only. While all of the voice actors did a fine job I realized that I didn't really care about any of the characters. The 5th episode was the most difficult for me to watch. It was very slow and too much time was spent on people sitting around and talking. I wouldn't have minded so much if there had been some good banter or memorable dialogue. On the positive side the animation and the combat scenes are both pretty well done. I'll continue watching it for now, but if it doesn't get more interesting in the next few episodes I will likely stop watching.

TLDR; The animation is top notch, but the story is garbage.

Half the time i don't know what i'm watching or if i missed an episode. Very incoherent/ inconsistent, confusing.

Battles outside/ inside a colony?, Kira Kira??, teen romance love triangle???, Zechs Merquise wannabe that goes missing for no reason, Plus the depressed/ lifeless look in their faces just makes me not want to watch.

Only reason i do is because of the Gundam brand. I wanna believe the story is good but i cant even find Manga for this, to see if it makes sense.

Animation (10/10) Story is all over the place (1/10) Recommend score (1/10)

Gundam's really gone down the toilet.

First, we get to the good part. The robot fights in this series are really good, the visuals overall are stunning and there is never a moment where you think that something looks bad.

Especially in the scene in the space colonys, you have very stunning visuals.

Also, the looks and the vibe of the characters are nice.

The biggest problem of this anime is the story, the first few episodes are okay, but than the story gets mixed up tehre just a ton of characters that get involved many arent explained well. The main charchters get to some werid places. And you really get lost what's happening right now wahts the importance off the curent events. The story is just really messed up.

The story is not that bad, but just too long for 12 episodes, and the storytelling is too fast. And there's just no real time to introduce new characters.

For me personaly it feels like that they got inspired a lot by neon genisis evangelion but more of the messed story line and not the good parts.

The anime is not that bad, but just od the robot fights are still pretty cool and the overall vibe is also nice, but just feels bad if you see this all getting destroyed by bad stoy telling.

You should sill watche this if you like gundama or just mecha in genral.

Trash that is less than a work of art

It is not a "character" at all.

There are some works that have a lot of character blurring even among the bad ones, but GQuuuuuuuX is not about character blurring or unattractiveness. There are many cases in which the characters do not exist as characters in the first place, and it is inevitable that they will become the strongest antagonists.

I am satisfied with the initial setting.

The characters in this work are only flimsy because there is little to delve into. There are many uncomfortable developments because the story proceeds without delving into them, in other words, with the initial setting of the story. In short, there is little personal aspect to the story, and everyone is stuck in a situation where everyone can only act within their assigned roles.