On the 22nd, directors Hideaki Anno and Yutaka Izubuchi, along with anime and tokusatsu researcher Ryusuke Hikawa, attended the “Anime New Century Declaration” 44th Anniversary Talk Show and ‘Mobile Suit Gundam’ selection screening event in Tokyo. The event was held to celebrate the success of the theatrical release of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-, the latest installment in the Gundam series.

The screening featured three episodes: Episode 1, Gundam Rising; Episode 2, Destroy Gundam; and Episode 14, Time, Be Still. At the event’s conclusion, Anno shared his deep appreciation for the Mobile Suit Gundam series:

“One of the works that greatly influenced me was Space Battleship Yamato. After that, there weren’t many shows that felt similar to Yamato. At the time, I was in a period of uncertainty, thinking that I might be done with anime. Then, during the final episode of Daitarn 3, I saw the preview for Gundam. That shot—where the Gundam’s face lifts slightly, and its eyes glow—completely captivated me. It made me think, ‘I have to watch this every week.’ Looking back, my instinct was right. If I had missed that moment, my life might have taken a different path.”

Anno continued, expressing his gratitude for Gundam:

“This series brought me back to animation, and I feel indebted to it. That’s why I want to support it in any way I can.”

However, given that Anno was directly involved in writing the opening script for GQuuuuuuX, both Izubuchi and Hikawa humorously remarked, “You’re not exactly in the background!”

Anime New Century Declaration

On February 22, 1981, just before the theatrical release of Mobile Suit Gundam, an event was held in front of Alta Plaza at Shinjuku Station’s east exit. Legendary Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino and others addressed the crowd, proclaiming, “We declare the dawn of a new century of anime, shaped by the possibilities of animation.”

Japan Animator Expo

A short film anthology series produced by Studio Khara and Dwango. Between November 2014 and 2015, a wide range of animated works—including original concepts, spin-offs, promotional films, and music videos—were released weekly, showcasing the passion and creativity of various directors.

A New Gundam Series by Sunrise and Studio Khara

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is the latest entry in the Gundam franchise, produced collaboratively by Sunrise and Studio Khara, known for their work on the Evangelion series. The TV series is slated to air on the Nippon TV network.

The director is Kazuya Tsurumaki, known for helming the Rebuild of Evangelion series, including Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021). The series composition is handled by Yoji Enokido, while mechanical designs are crafted by Ikuto Yamashita, making for a star-studded production team.

Synopsis of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Amate Yuzuriha is a high-school student living peacefully in a space colony floating in outer space.

When she meets a war refugee named Nyaan, Amate is drawn into the illegal mobile suit dueling sport known as Clan Battle.

Under the entry name "Machu," she throws herself into fierce battle day after day, piloting the GQuuuuuuX. Then an unidentified Gundam mobile suit pursued by both the space force and the police appears before her, along with its pilot, a boy named Shuji.

Now their world is about to enter a new era.

Source : ORICON NEWS