Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX - A Bold New Alternate Route for the Universal Century

It’s ironic that just after writing about Char Aznable, I discovered that a new TV series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, is on the horizon, with a preview film that runs about 80 minutes that recently was available in theatres in North America. Given that the TV series is set to debut in April, it’s unclear how it will be structured, some sources suggest that the preview film that essentially summarisizes the One Year War from the original Gundam will not be part of the TV series when it debuts in April.

A Nostalgic Yet Fresh Take

One of the most immediate takeaways is how much GQuuuuuuX embraces callbacks to the original Mobile Suit Gundam in this film. From the familiar narration about humanity migrating into space colonies, to the war between the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon, the film sets the stage with classic beats that longtime fans will appreciate, but done in such a way that first time viewers won’t be lost. The narration even echoes the original’s style, both in terms of the voice and the background music that is used. Char’s Theme (or a variation of it) even plays when Char makes his entrance.

This isn’t just a simple retelling. One of the first key divergences comes with Char himself. Instead of Zeon grunt Gene participating in the first sortie into Side 7, Char takes on this role due to his intuition, combined with Gene’s Zaku being repaired. This immediately changes the course of events, and that’s only the beginning.

A Collaborative Production with Evangelion DNA

GQuuuuuuX is a co-production between Sunrise and Studio Khara, the latter being a studio formed by former Gainax members, including Hideaki Anno — best known as the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Anno’s and the overarching Evangelion influence is evident in the mechanical designs, particularly with the updated look of the RX-78-2 Gundam and the titular Gundam, the GQuuuuuuX. It takes some get used to the different designs with the biomechanical aesthetic of the Evas, blending with the style of Gundam into something fresh.

Key Divergences and Surprises

This alternate timeline doesn’t just tweak minor details — it fundamentally reshapes Mobile Suit Gundam’s story in ways that could have lasting consequences.

• Char’s Plans Are More Open: In this version, Char is less secretive about his intentions against the Zabis. He befriends Challia Bull and openly discusses forming a Mobile Assault Vanguard (MAV), a tandem combat unit. Challia is even made aware by Char of his true identity as Casval Deikun.
• Garma Survives: Instead of dying in the original’s iconic ambush, Garma Zabi leaves the military, creating a significant shift in Zeon’s internal politics.
• Kycillia Zabi seems to be the overall leader of Zeon: Kycilla appears to survive the events of the One Year War and is referred to as being the Supreme Commander - which was previously Gihren Zabi’s position.
• Sayla Takes a New Role: Sayla Mass appears piloting a white GM, seemingly taking on Amuro’s role in some capacity. Notably, she is the one who takes down Dozle Zabi and his Big Zam.
• Zeon Captures the Gundam: Char disrupts Operation V, capturing the prototype Gundam and having it repainted in his signature red. This results in Zeon halting the production of other suits to focus on reverse-engineering the Gundam, and mass-producing the Big Zam. They also introduce Psycommu and bits to Char’s Gundam - or as it is referred to: the Red Gundam.
• Zeon Wins the War: In a major departure, Zeon emerges victorious. The Earth Federation, in a last-ditch effort, attempts a colony drop using Solomon, the captured Zeon asteroid base. Char, now on the opposing side, attempts to stop it but also tries to use the event to eliminate Kycilia Zabi, who refuses to evacuate from Granada.
• The Zenkova Event: As Char attempts to sabotage the mission to disrupt the colony drop he briefly engages Sayla, who is piloting a white GM mobile suit, and then an event that echoes Char’s Counterattack’s Axis Shock, occurs. In the aftermath, Solomon is pushed away, and Char disappears along with his red Gundam.

A New Post-War Era

Post-One Year War, Zeon may have won, but it doesn’t appear rule everywhere. The story shifts to Side 6, where Challia Bull is still searching for Char and the missing Red Gundam along with his crew on the remodeled White Base, which was captured along with the Gundam during the first half of the film.

It is at this point of the film that we learn that the Red Gundam has been spotted recently near Side 6.

Here, we meet new characters:

• Shuji: A mysterious pilot of the Red Gundam. What is his connection to Char? How did he end up with the Red Gundam? What’s the story with him seeing the similar Newtype event like Char?
• Amate/Machu: The main protagonist, drawn into the underground mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle after meeting a war refugee named Nyaan and Shuji.
• Nyaan: A refugee of the One Year War that acts as a delivery person, what is her part in the show?

The introduction of Clan Battle feels like an interesting concept. While mobile suit dueling is an interesting premise, I hope that it is simply a framing device and that it won’t impact the broader political and military drama that Gundam is known for. Hopefully, it serves as an entry point rather than the show’s defining feature.

Final Thoughts

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX presents an exciting new timeline that explores what would happen if the events of the original Gundam series took a different route. It introduces compelling changes, unexpected survivals, and an intriguing post-war setting. The involvement of Studio Khara and Anno’s influence on the mechanical designs add a unique flavor to the classic Gundam aesthetic.

While the alternate history and Axis Shock-style event are fascinating, the Clan Battle raises questions about how much weight it will hold in the overall story. Hopefully, it remains a subplot rather than the main draw.

I’m eager to rewatch the preview film and see how the series unfolds. Will Char return? How does Sayla fit into this new world? What role will the enigmatic Machu and Amate play in the future of the Universal Century? Considering that the post-One Year War events take place 6 years later will there be appearences of other characters from the original Gundam and possibly from Zeta Gundam (the events of GQuuuuuuX takes place 1-2 years before the events of Zeta Gundam).

There is also a brief mention of a Rose of Sharon that vanishes from Granada after Char’s disappearance. Could this be connected to Lalah Sune, given her presence related to Newtype events like the Axis Shock? Char also mentions being able to see time, something that Lalah says after her death in the original Gundam.

Could the events of this series have been caused by what happened in Char’s Counterattack or even Unicorn Gundam? Lest we forget Hideaki Anno is involved in the production of this show and he’s had some high-level concepts in his previous works, most notabily Evangelion.

Only time will tell.