In the ensuing battle with the Military Police's Zakus and amid the chaos, GQuuuuuuX, trapped by searchlights with nowhere left to run, strikes an unexpected “pigeon-toed pose.”

Bringing its legs tightly together, turning one knee slightly inward—the stance is unmistakably a “don’t look at me~” pose. Leaning against the wall behind, with its hands held close as if shrinking in shyness, it exudes the bashfulness of a maiden.

What’s amusing is that this scene isn’t played for comedy. Overall, the episode features serious depictions—clashes between mobile suits, reactions from the Psycommu system—yet, amidst all that, there’s this sudden moment: the “bashful GQuuuuuuX.” This unexpected interjection in a tense situation doubles the impact.

The animation direction is impeccable: the way shadows fall, how the lights beam down, the enclosed feeling within the gate—all come together to heighten the sense that “It mustn’t be seen!” GQuuuuuuX, which is supposed to be a weapon, gives off an inexplicable charm through its posing.

Is it okay to have a Gundam that looks so expressive? At the very least, this “pigeon-toed GQuuuuuuX” is bound to secretly remain in viewers’ memories as the hidden highlight of the first episode.

"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" is the latest installment in the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, ongoing since 1979. The story follows Amate Yuzuriha (voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa), a high school girl living peacefully in a space colony, who, after meeting the mysterious Nyaan (voiced by Yui Ishikawa), becomes entangled in the underground mobile suit dueling competition, "Clan Battle." The project, jointly produced by Studio Khara—known for the "Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition" series—and Sunrise, generated much buzz, and the advance theatrical release in January, ahead of the TV series, was a huge hit, grossing approximately 3.4 billion yen. It has also been decided to have a nationwide re-release in 368 theaters from June 20.

(C)SOTSU·SUNRISE

English