Unraveling the Chaos: Where Does GQuuuuuuX Fit in Gundam’s Twisted Timeline?

by

From an external perspective, I’ve found that the official Gundam timeline can be quite a labyrinth to navigate due to its intricate structure. Unlike a single, unbroken thread, this timeline branches out like the many heads of a hydra, with numerous alternate universes and timelines coexisting. The series Gundam Turn A seems to imply that all Gundam shows are set in different epochs of the same timeline, despite their distinct terminologies and technologies. However, this theory of one continuous timeline is more a matter of fan speculation than established canon. New mainline Gundam anime productions often take place in separate alternate universes from their predecessors, with some exceptions for direct sequels or continuations.

In which timeframe does the story of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX unfold? This is a complex question, as Gundam GQuuuuuuX seems to be set in a different universe compared to other series, yet it also shares some elements with the Universal Century. The technology displayed in Gundam GQuuuuuuX is distinct from previous Gundam shows, but it still includes characters and terms that are familiar from the Universal Century. Gundam GQuuuuuuX occupies its own timeline, separate from all other universes in the franchise, but it doesn’t quite fit into the one-timeline theory because it presents a twisted version of the original Mobile Suit Gundam.

Is Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Canon?

The main storyline where the original Mobile Suit Gundam series is set is called Universal Century. Following this initial series, it had two direct sequels titled Zeta and ZZ, along with a concluding film, Char’s Counterattack, to continue the unfolding narrative. Anime like Gundam F1 and Gundam V technically belong to the Universal Century timeline but are so far into the future that they can be considered separate entities. G Gundam was the first anime in the series to take place in an alternate universe called the Future Century, and from thereon, most subsequent Gundam shows were set in their individual universes.

In the world of “Mobile Suit Gundam,” the series frequently revisits the Universal Century timeline through limited series and movies that boast top-notch production quality. However, unlike these, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is set in a distinct alternate universe, yet shares strong similarities with the original “Mobile Suit Gundam.” The narrative of this new series commences remarkably similarly to the classic show, as soldiers from Zeon secretly infiltrate a space colony to seize the Gundam. Yet, an immediate divergence occurs when it’s disclosed that Char Aznable, one of the most significant characters in the franchise, has joined the Zeon troops. Using his Newtype abilities, Char employs his instincts to pinpoint the Gundam’s location and seize control of it. A series of fortunate events facilitated Char’s acquisition of the Gundam, such as the spacious cockpit that made it easy for him to take command. It seems as though the show is subtly commenting on this alternate universe by suggesting that destiny plays a role in guiding Char to make a fateful decision, thereby creating a rift in the timeline.

Where Does Gundam GQuuuuuuX Diverge?

In Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, instead of a single dramatic event like Char stealing the Gundam causing the split in the timeline, there are several small differences that set it apart from the Universal Century’s storyline. For instance, unlike in the original Mobile Suit Gundam series where Garma Zabi, one of the younger members of the Zabi family and a commander for Zeon, fought alongside Char, he leaves the war before Char’s fateful day in this version. This change in their relationship may have influenced Char to act more impulsively. However, it remains unclear how exactly Garma leaving the war led to further deviations in the timeline.

It appears that Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX doesn’t seem to feature Amuro Ray, the original protagonist from the first Gundam series who aided the Earth Federation in their victory with the iconic Gundam mecha. Whether Amuro was never born or didn’t participate in this universe’s conflict remains unclear. This absence allowed Char to dominate without challenge, resulting in Zeon’s victory during the One Year War. This victory may have set off further divergences in the timeline, ultimately leading to the events depicted in the main series.

In the anime “Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX,” the technology showcased significantly deviates from that of the Universal Century, especially the primary Gundam. Character Challia Bull undergoes a dramatic overhaul, aligning him more with other human characters in terms of appearance, whereas characters like Char remain largely unchanged. These technological variations and redesigns might be creative choices made by the producers to develop a fresh and uniform style to better tell their story. The visual transformations could hold symbolic significance that might become clearer as the series unfolds further.

Read More

2025-04-10 05:11