Gundam fans outraged as Bandai partners with Studio Khara for new series

In Japan, a new installment in the Gundam franchise is being created by Bandai and Sunrise, collaborating with Studio Khara, known for their work on Neon Genesis Evangelion. This new series, titled Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux, marks a significant shift as it's one of the first instances where Sunrise has turned over control to an external studio for a primary Gundam show. The series will focus on three young protagonists in a space colony who engage in underground mecha battles, known as Clan Battles, utilizing the discovery of a new mobile suit. While it's not yet confirmed if this series will fit into the Gundam's established timelines, its design elements echo the classic Universal Century aesthetic. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuux is shaping up to be a promising addition, especially with the involvement of influential talent from the anime industry, including Hideaki Anno, who will co-write the series alongside Yoji Enokido and Ikuto Yamashita. Anno, the creative mind behind Evangelion, and Enokido, known for his contributions to various celebrated series, bring significant experience to the project. Yamashita, renowned for his mechanical design work, adds further credibility to the production. Fans can expect a unique blend of storytelling and design as they eagerly await additional details about the series, which is set to premiere with a theatrical cut in January, followed by the series airing soon after. The involvement of Take, known for his character designs for the Pokémon franchise, also adds an intriguing angle to the character aesthetics of the new Gundam series. This blend of established names from different successful franchises raises excitement, suggesting that GQuuuuuux may attract not only die-hard Gundam fans but also viewers drawn in by the participating creators' previous works. Despite some disappointment from fans about transitioning away from the recent successful series, Witch From Mercury, the announcement of a new Gundam series so quickly is stirring excitement in the anime community, indicating a robust confidence in the fresh approach that GQuuuuuux promises to deliver. Fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates as the theatrical release of the initial episodes of GQuuuuuux is scheduled for January 17. This early presentation in theaters aims to build anticipation for the series, which has not been dated for TV airing yet, leaving audiences eager for further information about its storyline and character development. With so many prominent figures from different successful anime projects coming together for this series, it stands as a compelling new development in the longstanding Gundam franchise.