"Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," the latest entry in the Gundam anime saga, wrapped up its three-month, twelve-episode run this week (June 25) with its finale, "So I Will…", bringing this Universal Century timeline story to a close.
Hideaki Anno, president of Studio Khara and one of the series' scriptwriters, took to the official "Khara No. 2" X account to spill some behind-the-scenes secrets, sharing which of his suggestions made it into the show and his favorite moments. Fans were, naturally, all ears.
The "Khara No. 2" X account posted: "For the 'LAST SHOT' iconic scene with Char in GQuuuuuuX Episode 12, I suggested to Director Tsurumaki that since it's a battle, we should echo the storyboard and rhythm of the original 'Mobile Suit Gundam' scene where the RX-78-2 Gundam faced off against the Zeong. I thought it would give audiences more 'meaning' emotionally and make the impact even stronger. And wow, the action sequence in the broadcast was incredible! Director Tsurumaki is as brilliant as ever."
Anyone who's seen the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" anime surely remembers the iconic "LAST SHOT" from the final episode, where Amuro, piloting the RX-78-2 Gundam, faced off against Char in the Zeong, bringing their epic rivalry to a dramatic close.
While the circumstances are different this time – it's Char's red Gundam that gets its head and right arm blown off by Sharian's Gikurog – the scene perfectly mirrors the original. In "GQuuuuuuX," Char unleashes his own "LAST SHOT" with a beam saber, and naturally, the storyboard directly references that legendary moment.
While Anno didn't solely choreograph the entire sequence, his suggestion to echo the original's storyboard definitely had viewers exclaiming, "Wait, is this a homage to *that* scene?!" Anno's philosophy of "Wouldn't it be better for the audience to feel more 'meaning'?" resonated with fans. Rather than every frame having a singular, explicit message, it's about letting viewers experience and enjoy the atmosphere for themselves.
This twist was totally unexpected! Who would've thought Char would be the one delivering the "LAST SHOT" homage? Many netizens were thrilled, calling it a delightful surprise for long-time fans.
Anno also highlighted another favorite moment from the finale, though it wasn't overtly emphasized: the scene where Macho uses military equipment for encrypted communication. That visual made him think, "If I had this device, maybe I could send a message from Earth to Side 6 on the frontier, letting my mom know I'm still alive." Anno found this particular detail quite impactful and loved the arrangement.
▼ This is the scene with Macho and Nean on the beach on Earth.
So, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," the 12-episode collaboration between "Evangelion" studio Khara and "Mobile Suit Gundam" powerhouse Sunrise, has officially wrapped its three-month run. What did you think of the anime's performance?