What is Gunpla, and why is this modeling hobby attracting more fans around the world each year? The latest Gundam series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, has re-energized the Gundam community with its throwback to the original series and new storyline. At Anime Expo 2025, Anime Trending sat down with GQuuuuuuX planning manager Kenichiro Ikeuchi to discuss how Studio Khara’s creative influence helped redefine the show’s look for the TV anime, the appeal of Gundam and GquuuuuuX, and what the latest advances in Gunpla technology mean for the fans. Ikeuchi also shared his vision for expanding Gundam’s appeal, connecting both old and new to a broader audience.
This interview was conducted via interpreter and has been edited for clarity. Questions submitted by James Mizutani and Melvyn Tan.
Anime Trending: Thank you very much for being here at Anime Expo and helping with the Gundam panels! The visual style of GquuuuuuX is very unique compared to other series. Could you talk a bit about the color palette of the show and how to achieve the feeling and the tone that we kind of saw in the episode that aired at the panel today?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: We worked with Studio Khara this time, and [compared to] Sunrise, which was the previous name of the company Bandai Namco Filmworks, it’s different. We got creators and staff from Studio Khara, and that’s why the design, tone, and color this time look slightly different.
Studio Khara is perhaps best known for producing the four Shingekijouban Evangelion films. How did their expertise help with the production of GQuuuuuuX?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: If you like Evangelion, you can see the elements in it, of course. Also, the movement of the mobile suits is a little different from the action side. As you mentioned, it’s the same studio, so there are elements all over throughout the TV series this time.
You can see a little bit of the DNA in it.
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: (laughs) Yes, exactly.
Going back to the visuals, the “kira-kira” phenomenon. What inspired its visual design, as well as its intoxicating effect on some of the Newtype characters?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: That question is actually for director Kazuya Tsurumaki-san, because he’s the one who came up with the idea. But I think that because the NewTypes have special features and stuff, it is very special, and I’m very interested in Tsurumaki-san’s expression of the “kira kira” as well. It’s very unique.
As a business person, I’m happy you are interested in the creative side of things!
During the panel, there was the announcement for the new kits that are coming out! I know that typically the show can get people into [building] as a hobby. What are your goals in regards to that and GQuuuuuuX?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: I want fans to enjoy both the TV series and Gunpla at the same time, because with every new season, fans also expect new Gunpla to be released. The technology of Gunpla is improving year by year, and so they are growing together, like the fans’ requests and feedback, plus the technology. With the new release of Gunplas, I want fans to get excited and expect those.
By technology, do you mean both designs and fabrication? Is it just easier, or more able to make higher quality or more faithful models now, just based on the changes in manufacturing tech?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: So, there are Entry Grade [Gunpla], which don’t require any tools to build, and you can make the Gunpla within 30 minutes even if you’ve never built one before. There are also Perfect Grade ones, which have more than 10,000 pieces and [lots] of details. There are so many options now to select from.
What I meant by “the technology of Gunpla is improving” is, for example, from GQuuuuuuX, there is a really detailed, delicately designed one that can stand on its own—
Without needing a mount to hold it up?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: Nothing, it can just stand on its own. Also, it’s flexible enough to do the poses that the Gundam does in the [TV series], so it’s like a very big technological advancement.
That’s super cool! For folks who like to assemble with really nice photography equipment and do really nice setups, having that poseability is probably a huge plus for them.
At Anime Expo a couple of years ago, they announced The Witch from Mercury. There was discussion about it being a goal to appeal to a wider base of fans and get more people involved in Gunpla as a hobby. We know it worked, because a couple of our friends, especially our female friends, have now gotten into Gunpla. Based on the characters and the kind of story that’s being told, with female leads and things like that, is that another part of trying to expand the fanbase for Gundam?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: There wasn’t a specific target for this one. Of course, I wanted everyone, including women, men, and young people, to watch it. Through GQuuuuuuX, I wanted first-time viewers to watch the original Mobile Suit Gundam series and focus on that as well.
Is that why, at the very beginning, there’s that tie-in with Char and everyone from the OG series? Is that a throughline, leaving viewers going, “If you’re interested in this character, you have to go back and watch the old stuff?”
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: That editorial was done by the staff at Khara and the director, so I don’t know the thoughts behind it, but I think director Tsurumaki wanted to surprise everyone who came to the theater to watch that movie by showing the original characters.
Some of my friends actually told me that they thought they made a mistake, that they went to a different theater instead of going to watch this new GQuuuuuuX because they weren’t expecting to see the old characters at the beginning. They were like, “Oh, am I in the right theater or the wrong theater?” So, I heard that feedback from my friends as well. They were very surprised.
Sounds like it’s working as intended then.
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: (laughs)
Out of all the characters that are in the show, do you have a personal favorite?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: Do you mean from the entire series, or…?
We can do the whole Gundam universe, or just GQuuuuuuX!
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: In GQuuuuuuX, I like Char Aznable.
What kind of impression would you like to leave on viewers with this Gundam title?
Kenichiro Ikeuchi: Of course, it’s based on an old story, which is from 46 years ago. So viewers will probably feel something new, like they will get a new impression through GQuuuuuuX. But I want each viewer to feel whatever they want to feel. It depends on the person how they feel about this new Gundam. I want everyone to discover their own feelings for it.
Thank you very much for your time!
