Bukubu Okawa, the manga artist best known for Pop Team Epic, recently updated his official X (formerly Twitter) account with a new illustration of Shiiko Sugai—a character who made her first appearance in Episode 4 of the latest Mobile Suit Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. The episode, titled “Witch’s War,” introduced the new pilot, and her unexpected popularity quickly spread online.

Shiiko Sugai is a former pilot of the Earth Federation Forces and an elite "super unicum" ace who claimed over 100 kills during the One Year War. Okawa’s illustration features her without her pilot suit, highlighting her distinct appearance, including her white hair and age-appropriate features—elements that fans praised for blending seamlessly with Okawa’s signature art style.

Online reactions flooded in:
“Shiiko-san! She looks cute but fights like a monster.”
“Bukubu really went all in on this one.”
“Incredible! Even the white hair and ‘signs of aging’ are perfectly integrated into his style.”
“She only appeared in one episode and she’s already a fan favorite!”

About Gundam GQuuuuuuX

Set in a space colony, the series follows Amate Yuzuriha, a high school student living a peaceful life until she meets Nyaan, a girl displaced by war. This encounter thrusts Amate into the underground world of Clumbattles, illegal mobile suit duels.

Taking on the entry name “Machu,” Amate pilots the GQuuuuuuX mobile suit and soon finds herself in relentless combat. As the story unfolds, she crosses paths with a mysterious Gundam—pursued by both the Space Forces and the police—and its enigmatic pilot, Shuji Ito, signaling the dawn of a new era.

Directed by Kazuya Tsurumaki, Created by Studio Khara × Sunrise

This latest Gundam installment is a collaborative project between Studio Khara (known for the Evangelion series) and Sunrise (the studio behind all previous Gundam works). Kazuya Tsurumaki, known for directing Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time, helms the project.

The series is written by Yoji Enokido, with mechanical designs by Ikuto Yamashita. The voice cast includes:
Tomoyo Kurosawa as Amate Yuzuriha / Machu
Yui Ishikawa as Nyaan
Shimba Tsuchiya as Shuji Ito

Global Streaming Details

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is available for exclusive global streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Check the official website for up-to-date release schedules.

United States & Canada Amazon Prime Video Tuesdays, 9 AM (PDT) / 12 PM (EDT)
Mexico Amazon Prime Video Tuesdays, 11 AM (CDT)
China, Taiwan, Korea, India, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, UAE Amazon Prime Video Tuesdays

Cast & Staff

Cast
Amate Yuzuriha (MACHU) – Tomoyo Kurosawa
Nyaan – Yui Ishikawa
Shuji Ito – Shinba Tsuchiya

Staff
Original Work: Hajime Yatate / Yoshiyuki Tomino
Director: Kazuya Tsurumaki
Series Composition: Yoji Enokido
Screenplay: Yoji Enokido, Hideaki Anno
Character Design: Take
Mechanical Design: Ikuto Yamashita
Production: Studio Khara / Sunrise

Source : ORICON NEWS