The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has been engaged in a continuous conversation with itself for 45 years, with various successor series and alternate universes building upon the original 1979 anime. However, it has taken four and a half decades for the franchise to introduce a simple yet fascinating twist on the original idea, which is presented in Gundam GQuuuuuuX. This new series offers a huge amount of intriguing potential, and its premise is sure to captivate both old and new fans of the franchise.

Warning: This review contains spoilers for the overall premise of Gundam GQuuuuuuX. If you have kept up with the news about the show, the information presented here will not be new. However, if you haven’t, proceed with caution.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning –, a collaboration between Neon Genesis Evangelion studio Khara and Gundam creator Bandai Filmworks, is a unique film that combines two distinct storylines. The first half of the film is a prequel that reimagines the events of the original Gundam series, while the second half follows the stories of three young teens, Amate “Machu” Yuzuriha, Nyaan, and Shuji Ito, as they navigate their lives on a space colony five years after a devastating interstellar war.

The prequel portion of the film is a fascinating twist on the original Gundam series, revealing an alternate version of the “One Year War” where the antagonistic forces of the secessionist space colony Zeon, led by Char Aznable, successfully steal the prototype Gundam from the Earth Federation and ultimately win the conflict. This alternate history changes the course of events as Gundam fans have known it for 45 years.

Gundam fans are no strangers to alternate universes, but this particular scenario is unique in that it reimagines the original series’ history. The film’s bifurcated structure makes it an interesting watch, with the first half being a love letter to the original Gundam series and the second half introducing new characters and storylines.

The film’s art style is also noteworthy, with the first half emulating the modern-retro vision of the 1979 anime and the second half featuring a stylized, poppy sci-fi aesthetic courtesy of Pokémon character designer Take. The contrast between the two styles is jarring at first, but it ultimately works in the film’s favor.

The second half of the film introduces a new cast of characters, including Machu, Nyaan, and Shuji, who are all struggling to navigate their lives in a post-war world. The story tackles typical Gundam themes such as oppression, inequality, and astropolitical divides, and it does so in a way that feels grounded and earnest.

The film’s climax features sumptuous mecha action, and the story has a great deal of promise. The idea of the “Newtype” is also explored in a way that feels both faithful to the original series and fresh. Overall, Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning – is a fascinating film that is sure to captivate both old and new fans of the franchise.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX – Beginning – is set to hit US theaters in a limited capacity on February 28, with early screenings starting today. The TV anime will begin broadcasting in Japan on April 8.

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