‘A Female Protagonist Was the Right Decision’: New Gundam Anime Director Opens Up on Creative Choice of Woman Mecha Pilot

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In this fresh installment of the series, several iconic figures from mecha anime lore are incorporated, resulting in a distinctly unique addition to the franchise. Notably, the character piloting the primary mech is reimagined, mirroring developments from previous anime productions.

The newest installment of the Mobile Suit Gundam series, titled “Mobile Suit GQuuuuuuX,” features a female lead character as its protagonist – a decision made intentionally. During an interview discussing the creation process behind “GQuuuuuuuX,” director Kazuya Tsurumaki shared the journey that led to this character choice and mentioned it was one of several ideas he anticipated might be turned down. Interestingly, before the debut of “GQuuuuuuuX,” this central concept had already been incorporated into other Mobile Suit Gundam anime productions.

Gundam’s Newest Main Anime Character ‘Had to Be a Female Protagonist‘

Discussing the creation process of the latest Gundam anime, Tsurumaki shared some early concepts; among them was a potential twist where a woman takes the lead role. He initially thought this concept might be met with resistance due to the novelty of a female character operating a Gundam. However, his team was receptive and encouraging about the idea, though by the time the anime was unveiled, it wasn’t as groundbreaking as initially anticipated.

The animated series “Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury” marked the first time a Gundam anime featured a female main character, comparable to iconic pilots like Amuro Ray, Heero Yui, and Kira Yamato. Subsequently, another Gundam anime on Netflix, titled “Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance,” also introduced a female protagonist and was set within the traditional Universal Century timeline.

In creating this anime, Tsurumaki aimed to preserve the consistent visual style that’s synonymous with the entire Gundam franchise. He explained that the quirky and absurd animation styles typical of FLCL were intentionally avoided here, focusing instead on upholding the essence of Gundam as a series. Yet, in terms of character growth, especially in Machu and Comoli Harcourt’s personalities, he believes they’ve introduced elements similar to those found in FLCL that set this series apart from typical Gundam productions.

Tsushima has a deep connection with the mecha anime genre, as do his colleagues working on the latest ‘Gundam’ anime. This includes screenwriter Yoji Enokido, who previously collaborated with Anno and Tsushima on ‘Evangelion’. The series ‘Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’ is currently available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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2025-05-03 00:55