The latest Gundam anime, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," kicked off this season, grabbing serious attention thanks to its fresh premise and the powerhouse collaboration between Khara (of "Neon Genesis Evangelion" fame) and Sunrise (the OG "Mobile Suit Gundam" studio).
Last night (May 21), Episode 7, "Machu's Rebellion," dropped a bombshell: the debut of the iconic Psycho Gundam (MRX-010, also known as the Psyco Gundam). But what really blew fans away was its entrance music – a track straight out of "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam"! The official word is now out on how that epic throwback came to be.
(Heads up: This article contains spoilers for "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" Episode 7. Proceed with caution if you haven't watched it yet!)
This episode picks up from the last, with Bask Om and Kati Capa – characters who originally appeared in "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam" – secretly transporting the Psycho Gundam into Side 6 under the guise of "air conditioning equipment." Their mission? To assassinate Kishiria Zabi, with the enhanced human Doo Murasame at the controls.
Piloted by the enhanced human Doo Murasame, the Psycho Gundam, alongside Kati Capa's Hambrabi, faced off against Nean and Shuji's GQuuuuuuX and the Red Gundam in a "squad showdown."
When the Psycho Gundam, disguised as a massive "air conditioning unit," finally revealed itself, it unleashed an overwhelming display of power, instantly igniting the battlefield.
But the real talk of the town among viewers was the Psycho Gundam's entrance theme: "Mobile Suit Battle ~Engagement~" from the 40-year-old anime "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam." Fans went absolutely wild, thrilled to hear such a nostalgic track in a brand-new series. Talk about a blast from the past!
▼ "Mobile Suit Battle ~Engagement~" from "Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam"
The secret behind this epic music choice was spilled on Khara's official X (formerly Twitter) account: none other than Hideaki Anno himself strongly recommended it to director Kazuya Tsurumaki. While it was originally "Zeta Gundam's" main battle theme, Anno felt it had a distinct "Super Robot Wars" vibe, perfectly complementing the Psycho Gundam's transformative reveal.
Netizens are showering Anno with praise for his incredible "sense." That music drop truly surprised veteran fans and seamlessly integrated the "Zeta Gundam" storyline into "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX."
As the scriptwriter for "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," Hideaki Anno's presence is undeniable. He's packed the series with homages and visual callbacks to past Gundam works, delivering a full-on nostalgia trip. It feels like only he could pull off something like this.
With "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" now past its halfway point, the plot tension is soaring, and mysteries are deepening as we dive into the main storyline. Fans are undoubtedly glued to their screens, eager to see where this epic saga goes next!