"Going This Far with the Homage?" — Heart-Pumping Z Gundam References Hidden in the "Gundam GQuuuuuuX" Opening

The anime "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (Gundam GQuuuuuuX)" is a work that features direction informed by the series' history throughout. The opening sequence that first aired in Episode 2 also includes cuts that would make longtime fans stop in their tracks.

The opening unfolds to singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu's song "Plazma." In the middle section, a scene is depicted where a red Gundam blocks artillery fire coming from the left with its shield. The composition of this fleeting moment—with the shell shattering and light scattering—evokes a sense of déjà vu.

This is because in the first opening sequence of "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam," there exists a memorable cut where the Gundam Mk-II blocks a bazooka shell with its shield. While the direction of the attack is reversed left to right, the similarities—in composition, presentation, and emphasis on the projectile trajectory—are immediately recognizable. It's far too well-executed to be dismissed as coincidence.

What's impressive is that even without careful comparison, one instinctively feels "oh, it's similar." The composition of that instant when the shell is blocked burns strongly into one's memory and naturally remains memorable within the flow of the opening.

In "Gundam GQuuuuuuX," such direction that evokes past series is subtly inserted throughout. How much viewers notice is up to them, but those who are knowledgeable can enjoy it more—this kind of "margin" has become one of the charms of this work.