"Why Is It Wrong to Hit Someone?!" The Struggles of 19-Year-Old Bright: Witnessing the Anguish of a Captain Responsible for His Crew's Lives in a Famous Scene from "Mobile Suit Gundam"

Even if you don't know Gundam, you've probably heard the line, "Not even my father hit me!" This exchange from episode 9 of the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam" marks a turning point in the relationship between Amuro Ray (voiced by Toru Furuya) and Bright Noah (voiced by Hirotaka Suzuoki).

Bright was only 19 at the time. Despite this, he was entrusted with the command of the massive battleship White Base, bearing the responsibility for the lives of both civilian refugees and military personnel. On the other hand, Amuro, while achieving combat success as the pilot of the Gundam, still had the heart of a boy.

This led to the events that culminated in the famous exchange. Amuro refused orders and acted petulantly, throwing a tantrum. In response, Bright finally raised his voice and struck him forcefully.

"Why is it wrong to hit someone?!" — this blow was not merely an expression of emotion, but a cry from a superior officer living on the same battlefield. Although Bright was still close to being a "boy" in terms of age, the weight of his position and responsibilities forced him to become an "adult."

The line from Amuro, "Not even my father hit me!" is well-known as a symbol of his immature environment and psyche. Simultaneously, it marked the beginning of his transformation into someone who fights in the truest sense.