In Japan at least, the anime that has undeniably dominated the spring 2025 season is Gundam GQuuuuuuX. The final episode airs on June 25, and it's been stirring up excitement—especially among veteran Japanese fans known as "ossan Gunota(Gundam Otaku)."

(Note: In Japanese, the term “ossan” doesn’t just mean middle-aged man—it also implies an old-school fan or someone with a long-standing passion, regardless of gender.)

Interpretations Heat Up as the Episodes Progress

Even before the TV run began, GQuuuuuuX attracted attention with its theatrical pre-screenings of early episodes. The premise? An alternate history of Mobile Suit Gundam, where Char Aznable pilots the Gundam instead of Amuro Ray in Side 6.

This "what-if" setup has given rise to countless plot twists: Challia Bull—a minor character in the original—becomes a major figure; Amuro is absent entirely; Lalah Sune remains in a brothel; the Gelgoog looks like a GM; and the Big Zam has been mass-produced.

For older fans who revere the original Gundam, this has been a goldmine for speculation.

The script boldly subverts expectations—sometimes by killing off unforgettable characters in their debut episodes. When Bask Om, Cyber-Newtypes, and the Psycho Gundam appeared, fans braced for tragedy—but were instead met with a surprising turn of events.

The show tackles war’s grim reality while layering in the innocent emotional responses of characters like Amate Yuzuriha (Machu) and Nyaancharacters-list. It leaves no shortage of themes to discuss.

Social Media Bridges the Generational Gap

Truthfully, I had my doubts at first. The show seemed tailored only to those who knew the original Mobile Suit Gundam. I feared that global Gundam fans—those unfamiliar with Universal Century lore—might be left behind.

But in today’s SNS-driven world, veteran fans (“ossan”) eagerly fill in the gaps online. Social media becomes a medium for knowledge transfer.

Characters like Shuji Ito become meme generators thanks to quotes like “Gundam says [　],” while fans delight in the contrast between Machu’s elegance and Nyaan’s wild energycharacters-list. Machu, though striving to be different, still exudes a refined upbringing—a brilliant nuance in the script.

The story teases future appearances of characters from its alternate source material. As social posts about GQuuuuuuX surge, early dropouts are encouraged to binge it and act like they never stopped watching.

Rather than dividing Gundam fans, the show’s shared viewing experience unites them—reviving interest in older series as well. And all of this feels too perfectly orchestrated to be coincidence—the entire structure must have been planned pre-release. If intentional, it's marketing genius.

The Overpacked Narrative Is Surprisingly Effective

When I learned the show was only 12 episodes long, I was disappointed. How could it cover an entire “One Year War” what-if scenario in just three months?
After watching the first two episodes, I assumed they’d conclude the story with a movie.

But as I kept watching, each episode felt overstuffed—in a good way. Major characters vanish in a flash. Plot developments barrel forward with no time wasted on exposition. Thankfully, the “ossan” community explains everything online.

Before I knew it, we’d already reached the climax.

Rising Anticipation for the Final Episode

By Episode 9, when Lalah Sune emerged as a key character, it became clear that the original Gundam timeline exists—and that GQuuuuuuX is just one of many parallel worlds. Apparently, Lalah has been trying to save Char again and again.

This suggests that Machu and Nyaan might not be the true protagonists after all. Perhaps this is still Amuro and Char’s story.

As we see Solar Ray deployment, A Baoa Qu vanishing, and Gihren Zabi’s anticlimactic fall, the narrative starts collapsing toward the original Gundam timeline.

Then in Episode 11, a glittering figure appears—clearly, the iconic white Gundam we all know.

“あぁ メビウスの輪から抜け出せなくて、いくつもの罪を繰り返す (literal translation: Ah Trapped in a Möbius loop, we repeat our sins again and again.”

As BEYOND THE TIME—the main theme of Char's Counterattack—plays, veteran fans hit an emotional high. Yes, we Gundam-obsessed Japanese fans are forever trapped in this Möbius loop.

And now, even new fans in Japan have been drawn into the circular world of Universal Century. The question is: Will Episode 12 finally break this endless cycle?

Episode 12 (Finale) will air Tuesday, June 25, at 24:29 JST.