Mobile Suit Gundam Drops an Epic Peek at Its Next Anime, Teasing Evangelion's Impact on the Show

Next month, the latest installment of the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam franchise premieres. Judging by the promotional material, the mecha at the story's core is a far cry from the classic Gundams that fans may be used to from past installments of the beloved series. Instead, its design bears a striking resemblance to one of the lanky mechs from Neon Genesis Evangelion, a similarity that might leave longtime Gundam fans doing a double-take.

As announced on the new movie's official @G_GQuuuuuuX X account, Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX – Beginning will premiere in Japan on January 17, 2025. The film is an edited compilation of select episodes from the TV series. Currently, no international release dates have been announced for either the movie or the TV series.

A Mobile Suit Gundam With EVA Characteristics

A Gundam -Evangelion Studio Collaboration Produces Some Interesting Creative Tweaks

Mobile Suit Gundam: GQuuuuuuX – Beginning will be the 62nd installment in the Gundam franchise, which began nearly 50 years ago. To that end, the creators have modernized the mecha designs, and fans will quickly notice a distinctly different vibe to the story — one that feels more akin to another iconic mecha series: Neon Genesis Evangelion. Interestingly, GQuuuuuuX is being co-produced by Studio Khara, the production house responsible for the Rebuild of Evangelion film series.

Scripts for the new Gundam anime are being written by Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno himself.

While Mobile Suit Gundam and Neon Genesis Evangelion have both been instrumental in shaping the mecha anime genre, there isn’t a direct link or influence between the two. In fact, one notable area of divergence lies in the design and style of the mecha featured in their stories. However, this distinction blurs with the introduction of the new GQuuuuuuX Gundam. At a glance, it’s easy to see why some might mistake it for an Evangelion. The GQuuuuuuX Gundam undeniably exudes the more organic, android-like vibe of an Evangelion, rather than the traditional mechanical aesthetic of a Gundam.

Gundam And Evangelions - Big Mecha Built Differently

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has showcased diverse mecha designs, yet traditionally adhered to classic robot-like aesthetics it helped establish with Yoshiyuki Tomino's 1979 groundbreaking classic Mobile Suit Gundam series that started it all. Characterized by geometric shapes, sharp angular lines, and defined edges – occasionally softened by curved elements – Gundam mecha has consistently prioritize functionality in its designs. Indeed, Gundam designs typically eschew non-essential features, focusing on practicality and utility to enhance fighting capabilities. They are, after all, war machines.

In contrast, the mecha in Neon Genesis Evangelion were groundbreaking within the mecha anime genre. They stood out for their unique blend of organic and mechanical elements, making them appear less robotic and more human-like. While they did feature mechanical components —particularly in the joints and armor— most of their bodies were designed to mimic human anatomy, with elongated legs, slim waists, curved chests, and muscular arms. Many of these features seemed more stylistic than functional, emphasizing aesthetics over practicality. In contrast to the Gundam, Evangelion, at its core, is a living organic being.

Source: @G_GQuuuuuuX