Seeing this “blind-as-a-bat customs official,” many fans recalled the 1990 OVA "Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket." That work also depicted dealings around the smuggling of mobile suits, featuring a bespectacled official as well. While the details differ, the scenario of “smuggling giant weapons disguised as everyday household items” made long-time fans smirk knowingly.

A formidable mobile weapon being boldly brought in right under everyone's nose amid a serious assassination plot. If something like that can pass as an air conditioner, then just about any mobile suit would probably work as an appliance.

"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" is the latest entry in the "Mobile Suit Gundam" series, which began in 1979. The story follows high school girl Amate Yuzuriha (voiced by Tomoyo Kurosawa), who lives peacefully in a space colony until she meets the mysterious girl Nyaan (voiced by Yui Ishikawa) and gets caught up in the underground mobile suit dueling competition known as "Clan Battles." The show, co-produced by Studio Khara (also known for the “Rebuild of Evangelion” series) and Sunrise, has attracted considerable attention, with the advance theatrical version released this January earning about 3.4 billion yen at the box office—a huge hit. The film has been re-released in 368 theaters nationwide from June 20.

(C)SOTSU·SUNRISE

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