On social media, many have expressed surprise and amusement at the Zakus' "military demeanor," posting comments like, "It's funny to see a Zaku salute. Do they have a salute button?" "The MS movements in this work sure are human-like," and "It looks tough to make a Zaku salute."

While there have been scenes throughout the Gundam series where Mobile Suits move in human-like ways, it's highly unusual for a Zaku to make such a disciplined gesture as a salute. The visuals are somewhat amusing precisely because it's hard to imagine such a rugged Zaku having that range of motion.

In "GQuuuuuuX," the meticulous animation of the Mobile Suits' movements has increasingly made these inorganic machines feel like characters in their own right. This salute is a memorable moment that vividly depicts the "loyalty" existing within the weaponized Zaku itself.

Amidst intense depictions of war, these fleeting yet vivid gestures tend to linger in the viewer's memory. Such subtle touches are part of the unique charm that sets "GQuuuuuuX" apart.

"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" is the latest entry in the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, which has been ongoing since 1979. The story follows high school girl Amate Yuzuriha (voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa), who lives a peaceful life on a space colony, but finds herself drawn into the illicit Mobile Suit dueling sport "Clan Battle" after meeting a mysterious girl named Nyaan (voiced by Yui Ishikawa). The series, a joint production between Studio Khara—known for "Rebuild of Evangelion"—and Sunrise, has generated considerable buzz. The theatrical preview released this January, ahead of the TV broadcast, became a smash hit with box office revenues of approximately 3.4 billion yen. A nationwide re-release in 368 theaters is also scheduled for June 20.

(C)SOTSU·SUNRISE

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