Latest news with #Zeon
Gizmodo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Gundam GQuuuuuuX' Is Ready to Drop Its Biggest Bombshell
The latest episode of the series sets the stage for 'GQuuuuuuX' and its remixing of classic 'Gundam' to enter a fascinating new step. Gundam GQuuuuuuX's remixing of the story of the 1979 anime classic has had to dance around some pretty major players as it weaves in a cast of a new generation of post-war spacenoids and obscure faves from the original show. The shadow of Amuro Ray, through his absence, and Char Aznable, through his perpetual ability to stalk Gundam's narrative, looms large over everything the series has done up to this point. But now, arguably the original Gundam's other major figure is preparing to step into the spotlight. 'Falling on the Moon,' the latest episode of GQuuuuuuX, splits itself between the events of the final hours of the One Year War in 0079—polishing off the remainder of the prologue footage from GQuuuuuuX – Beginning – in the the process—and the series' contemporary five-years-later era to set the stage for what is now a brewing conflict to come between its young female heroines Machu and Nyaan. Together, they are pawns in the broader astropolitical game among Zeon's head honchos that has simmered in the background of the series. But that conflict is about to get a huge psychic wrench thrown in it, it seems. The closing moments of the episodes follow two researchers, Tirza Lionni and the mysterious Shirouzu, as they discuss their eager participation in two of Zeon's top secret projects. One is the 'Yomang'tho site,' the secret name given to development of the Solar Ray, a vast superweapon from the original Gundam, and the other is the successor mobile suit to the GQuuuuuuX, the GfreD (much easier to say for those initially confused by the series' title). But Shirouzu is immediately presented as suspicious to the audience, as he briefly regards Tirza with a look that shows one of his bright blue eyes under a mop of platinum blond hair. He happens to look at a lot like Char Aznable, who has been missing since the closing moments of the war depicted earlier in the episode. He happens to sound a lot like Char Aznable, and shares a voice actor with him in both Japanese and English. Char Aznable (excuse me, sorry, Casval rem Deikun, excuse me, sorry, Quattro Bajeena) certainly does not have a history across Gundam of using pseudonyms and assumed identities to infiltrate and undermine the plans of his most hated enemies, Zeon's ruling Zabi family, or anything. But if all that wasn't enough, it's even more deliberately clear that Shirouzu is a Char (whether the man himself or some kind of clone; Gundam has, of course, done both, metaphorically and literally) in what he's reacting to when his proverbial mask falls away for a moment: Tirza regretfully confides to him her frustration that Zeon has been unable to locate the mysterious 'Rose of Sharon.' This 'object' has been brought up briefly in GQuuuuuuX before—whatever the Rose was, it was under the control of the Zabis before it vanished just as mysteriously as Char did in the 'zeknova' explosion that ended GQuuuuuuX's version of the One Year War. But the next time trailer for episode nine, itself titled 'The Rose of Sharon,' makes it all the more explicit just what that object is: a person with an uncanny resemblance to Lalah Sune from the original Gundam. Introduced in the final few episodes of the 1979 anime, Lalah is one of the most important thematic cornerstones of the show, and her legacy drives much of the thematic thrust of the rest of Gundam's primary 'Universal Century' timeline. A young woman groomed by Char as his potential secret weapon in his revenge plot against the Zabis, Lalah is one of the first and most prominent emergences of Newtypes in Gundam. The purported next evolutionary step for humanity as civilization moves from beyond Earth and toward life in the stars, Newtypes are beings with enhanced senses, from psionic precognition to empathic communication abilities. Lalah is presented as both one of the most powerful to have emerged and also Gundam's commentary on the tragic exploitation of this burgeoning evolution of humankind, as she's promptly tasked with using her Newtype abilities to control an experimental weapon of war and enact awesome and terrifying levels of carnage. It's this exploitation that ultimately sees Lalah lose her life just a few episodes after her introduction in the climactic episodes of the original Mobile Suit Gundam—sacrificing herself in the crossfire of a duel between Char and Amuro—but her relationship with the two men as they both begin to grasp with their evolutions as a Newtypes becomes a defining connection between them throughout their remaining appearances in Gundam continuity. It's no surprise, then, that it's clearly going to be the case in GQuuuuuuX that Lalah is similarly treated as a tool for other people's goals and ambitions, given the way the Rose is talked about more like an object rather than a living being. But what is surprising is that, so far at least, Lalah's connection to Char is playing out slightly differently in this re-imagining—and may not climax in tragedy this time around. Although episode nine is going to be the first time we explicitly deal with Lalah as a character in GQuuuuuuX, it's not the first time the series has invoked her. The psychic sing-song sound that became her leitmotif in the original series has shown up multiple times as an important beat throughout GQuuuuuuX so far, most notably during the aforementioned explosion that saw Char vanish. Even Lalah's death sequence from the first Gundam has already been referenced in the series during its fourth episode, with the killing of the vengeful Federation Newtype Shiiko serving as a similar moment of psionic bridging between Shuji and Machu being framed and presented in a similar way to how Lalah and Amuro interacted with each other in her final moments. 'Falling on the Moon' further makes her psychic connection to Char apparent too, with Lalah appearing in a split-second frame during the episode's 0079 sequence, seemingly making him realize that he's about to fight and potentially kill his sister Artesia (better known by her alternate identity, Sayla Mass), who had become the Federation's top Newtype pilot in GQuuuuuuX's seemingly Amuro-less timeline. Even before she's fully on the stage, GQuuuuuuX has constantly woven Lalah into its broader exploration of the Newtype concept, albeit subtly. Now it seems like the time is nigh for her to not just step from the shadows, but also potentially put her on a path toward encountering Char once again. Will it put her on a path to exploitation and fated death, after she's seemingly managed to escape that in GQuuuuuuX's imagining of the Universal Century? What will Lalah mean to the series' new protagonists, beyond her connections to some of Gundam's oldest and most defining moments? What does it mean for the chance for things for this character to play out differently in the first place? We'll have to wait and see, but it's clear GQuuuuuuX is ready to engage with all these questions now. What remains is what it will have to say beyond echoing Gundam's classic stories as it does so. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Gizmodo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
This Week's GQuuuuuuX Was for a Slightly Different Kind of Gundam Sicko
It's been clear since we first heard about the premise for Gundam GQuuuuuuX that it was a series being developed by creatives with an unyielding, loveably fannish reverence for the original 1979 anime that started it all. But this week as the series hit its halfway turning point—and ramped up its stakes significantly—GQuuuuuuX also revealed that it's also being made by people who are fans of another Gundam show. Specifically, Gundam's successor, Zeta Gundam. 'The Plot to Assassinate Kycilia,' GQuuuuuuX's sixth episode, sees young protagonist Machu assailed on multiple fronts, as pressure from her school and home life, lingering jealousy over Nyaan's awakening as a Newtype, and a new threat of being sold out by Clan Battle manager Annqi to Zeon all come to a head on the eve of her what might be her final scrap in the GQuuuuuuX. But beyond all that, the episode lays the groundwork for an intriguing political scheme simmering in the background surrounding the titular Kycilia Zabi, one of Zeon's ruling family members as she comes to visit Side 6. The episode does a lot to play up that the Zeon forces already at Side 6 serving under Challia Bull might not be entirely on board with 'her excellency'—there's doubts from his own subordinates as to where his loyalties lie between Kycilia and her brother Gihren, but we've known since Beginning's flashbacks to the alternate 0079 that Challia himself was onboard with Char's secret plans to overthrow the Zabis entirely, so there's multiple games at play. But it also throws in an extra complication: the titular plot is seemingly not coming from anyone affiliated with Zeon, but their former opponents in the One Year War, the Earth Federation, when it's revealed that the mysterious company behind Machu and Shuji's final clan battle opponents have very familiar faces. They are none other than Bask Om and Gates Capa, members of the Titans from Gundam's 1985 sequel, Zeta Gundam. Set almost a decade after the original series, Zeta flipped expectations by having its protagonists, a rogue independent group called AEUG, battle the Titans, the Federation's elite special forces division dedicated to wiping out Zeon remnants, but also an increasingly authoritarian and powerful branch of the Federation trying to usurp control of the planet and the space colonies alike. It seems so far that in GQuuuuuuX's re-imagining of Gundam's Universal Century timeline, the Titans are now more of a guerrilla group themselves in the wake of the Federation's defeat in the war. But while Om is an interesting addition to the new show (he was a major antagonist in Zeta), it's Capa who becomes more interesting here as GQuuuuuuX prepares to dabble with another fascinating element of Gundam history. In Zeta Gundam, Capa was a test subject from the Federation's Newtype labs, one of several pilots who undergoes a series of surgical and psychological upgrades (and face mentally destabilizing trauma in the process) to be enhanced as a 'Cyber Newtype', an artificially engineered version of the natural evolutionary process that makes humans living in space develop empathetic psychic abilities and heightened awareness. The emergence of the Cyber Newtypes is a major element of Zeta Gundam's worldbuilding, as the Federation and Zeon's remnants alike begin to try and exploit the emergence of Newtypes as weapons of war, using their abilities to pilot even deadlier mobile suits. And although Capa's got a different co-pilot here than he did in Zeta, a mysterious new character and fellow Cyber Newtype known only as Deux so far, they're piloting the same horrific weapon… The Psycho Gundam, briefly glimpsed in the next-time trailer at the climax of the episode. A transforming mobile armor developed by the Murasame Newtype Labs in Zeta, the Psycho Gundam and its successor suit were specifically designed for use by Cyber Newtypes, massive mecha multiple times the size of the average mobile suit, and stacked with a terrifying amount of weaponry. Both iterations of the Psycho Gundam also put tremendous mental pressure on their pilots, ultimately driving them to total mental breakdown before their deaths, so, suffice to say, things are about to get pretty rough on GQuuuuuuX! It's a fascinating development that the series itself its turning its eyes to the original Gundam's successor as a way to amplify the stakes getting bigger and bigger beyond any of its protagonists. In some ways, it's just a natural continuation of the mirror GQuuuuuuX has held up to the 1979 anime after all, although it's not exactly the same time difference its main story is set, like Zeta was, years after the conclusion of the war that shaped the original Gundam, following a generation of people who were raised in its aftermath. But it's also a telling one thematically: if the original Gundam was a more clear cut about its Earth vs. Zeon conflict, Zeta was all about muddying the lines and adding further layers of complexity to that conflict for its protagonists, asking them and the audience alike to critique systems of power beyond the expected idea of who was the hero and who was the villain. If things are about to get real for GQuuuuuuX's young trio of heroes, it's perhaps only fitting that the series begins to reflect on, and draw direct reference to, Gundam's own darker, morally messier successor in turn. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is now streaming on Prime Video
Business Wire
12-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Wire
Zeon and Sino Applied Technology Join Hands to Expand Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Conductive Paste Product Line and Promote the Application of Next-Generation Lithium Batteries in Electric Vehicles
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zeon Corporation (Zeon) and Sino Applied Technology (SiAT) are thrilled to announce the signing of a strategic partnership in Taoyuan, Taiwan. As part of this collaboration, Zeon will lead a $20 million USD Series C fundraising round in SiAT to support the expansion of its production capacity for single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) conductive paste, a critical nanomaterial for next-generation battery technologies. Zeon and Sino Applied Technology join hands to expand single-walled carbon nanotube conductive paste product line and promote the application of next-generation lithium batteries in electric vehicles Share The global demand for lithium-ion batteries is surging across consumer applications—such as electric vehicles, drones, and EVTOL aircraft—as well as industrial sectors, including AI server BBUs, renewable energy ESS, and automated robotics. This growth has intensified the need for SWCNTs, which can significantly enhance battery energy density and cycle life. Unlike traditional conductive agents like carbon black or multi-walled carbon nanotube slurries, SWCNT conductive paste offers superior electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and chemical stability, making it increasingly vital for advanced battery formulations. Mass production of SWCNT powder presents significant challenges due to the high-temperature chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, which requires precise control of catalysts and reaction conditions to achieve both high yield and high purity. Zeon is the first company globally to achieve mass production of SWCNTs in 2015. Utilizing its proprietary Super Growth technology, Zeon produces ZEONANO®, SWCNT product characterized by high aspect ratio, high purity, and large surface area. Another key challenge in SWCNT adoption is dispersion. SWCNTs tend to bundle and exhibit poor dispersibility in both aqueous and non-aqueous media, complicating their uniform integration into electrode slurries during battery manufacturing. SiAT team, with over 20 years of expertise in battery nanomaterials, brings proprietary know-how to this partnership, enabling the even dispersion of SWCNTs into stable conductive paste product tailored for battery electrodes. Since 2024, Zeon and SiAT have successfully collaborated to introduce well-dispersed SWCNT conductive pastes—LSC2102 (NMP-based) and LSC1101 (water-based). These products have undergone rigorous evaluation by battery manufacturers, demonstrating that incorporating a very small amount of SWCNTs into lithium battery cathodes and anodes can enhance energy output and cycle life, which is particularly critical for silicon anodes and other high-capacity, high-rate performance applications. Zeon is the lead investor in SiAT's $20 million Series C funding round, joined by other prominent Taiwanese venture partners. With this funding, SiAT aims to scale its annual conductive paste production capacity to 25,000 tons by 2030. Concurrently, Zeon will fulfill its role as the primary supplier to SiAT. Beyond battery applications, SWCNTs hold transformative potential across multiple industries, including metal, rubber, and plastic composites, semiconductors, and more. Their unique properties enable innovations in high-conductivity functional rubber, high-thermal-conductivity materials, structural reinforcements, and high-performance membranes. SiAT will continue working alongside Zeon to expand SWCNT applications across industries. Through Zeon's world-leading innovations and SiAT's industry expertise, the partnership aims to contribute to environmental sustainability and technological progress for global green transition. About Zeon Zeon (Zeon Corporation, TYO:4205) is a world leader in specialty elastomers, polymers, and specialty chemicals. With over 75 years in business and consolidated sales of over U.S. $2.5 billion, Zeon has both the experience and the expertise in C4 and C5 chemistry to offer a wide range of products. Zeon Corporation employs over 4,000 people worldwide, with global headquarters in Tokyo and regional headquarters in the United States, Singapore, and Germany. About SiAT SiAT (Sino Applied Technology) is a Taiwan manufacturer of advanced nanomaterials for next-generation batteries. Established in 2018, SiAT's core mission is to accelerate green transition by increasing battery performance through its innovative nanomaterials. SiAT owns several US & Europe patents in nanomaterial production. SiAT is scaling its technology at its manufacturing facility in Taiwan, and now offers innovative products including CNT conductive paste, LMFP paste, CNT-coated aluminum foil and nano silicon anode.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Director Kazuya Tsurumaki talks cold war influence in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
Director Kazuya Tsurumaki talks cold war influence in Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX (credit- IMDb) Kazuya Tsurumaki , the director of the upcoming anime Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX , has shared insights into his vision for the latest installment of the iconic mecha franchise. While GQuuuuuuX features a collaboration with Hideaki Anno , the creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion, it is Tsurumaki's direction that is drawing significant attention. In a recent interview, Tsurumaki explained his approach to the series, focusing on themes of a "Cold War" alternate-history story, which he believes will give fans a fresh perspective on the Gundam universe. A cold war story for Gundam fans Unlike many other Gundam stories, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX is not a typical "parallel universe" tale. Instead, Tsurumaki describes it as an "alternate-history war chronicle," blending the well-established Universal Century timeline with a new, unique narrative. Tsurumaki's approach focuses on characters navigating a secret war between the Zeon forces and Earth Federation resistance, set against the backdrop of the Cold War era. This historical context adds layers of tension, as characters face the fear of war breaking out at any moment, but without direct conflict in their immediate surroundings. 'I wanted to create a Gundam series that deals with the concept of Newtypes, but with a more mature approach," said Tsurumaki. "I wanted to explore Newtypes in a way that hasn't been done before, portraying them as more experienced, adult characters rather than the more youthful and unstable ones we've seen in previous Gundam shows." Influence of FLCL and Evangelion Tsurumaki, known for his work on the legendary FLCL and Diebuster, brings his unique storytelling style to GQuuuuuuX. He emphasized that his previous experience working with Hideaki Anno on Evangelion didn't directly influence the Clan Battles seen in Gundam GQuuuuuuX. However, Tsurumaki does draw from his experience creating synchronized combat scenes, much like the famous battle sequences in Evangelion where two characters must cooperate to fight. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo He also reflected on his long career, noting that while he doesn't feel much personal growth in terms of creative style since FLCL, his physical ability to handle long hours of work has diminished. "I may be older, but my mentality remains the same," Tsurumaki explained. Challenges in reimagining Gundam Taking on Gundam was a significant challenge for Tsurumaki, who, despite being a fan, had reservations about directing such a beloved series. Unlike Evangelion and Gunbuster, Tsurumaki admitted he didn't feel the same confidence about Gundam initially. However, he was drawn to the idea of presenting Gundam through a Cold War lens, a period of tension and uncertainty that he personally experienced during his childhood. Tsurumaki also spoke about the lasting impact of FLCL and the surprising fanbase it has garnered over the years. He mentioned that Kenshi Yonezu, the composer for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, was inspired by FLCL, further cementing the legacy of his earlier work. When asked about his favorite Mobile Suit, Tsurumaki revealed that the Gelgoog is his top choice, further emphasizing his personal connection to the Gundam universe. What's next for Gundam fans? With the debut of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX set for later in 2025, Tsurumaki's Cold War-inspired storyline promises to bring a fresh and exciting perspective to the Gundam franchise . Fans of mecha anime can expect a unique blend of political tension, mature characters, and thrilling battles, all set against the backdrop of a carefully constructed alternate history. Tsurumaki's work on Gundam GQuuuuuuX is one to watch, especially for those interested in the evolving nature of this legendary anime series. As the anime industry continues to push boundaries, GQuuuuuuX stands as a testament to Tsurumaki's ability to balance legacy with innovation.
Forbes
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
‘Gundam GQuuuuuuX' Reveals The New Gelgoog, That's Just Like A GM
The new Gelgoog that's more like a GM. We're now finally in the new stretch of content for Gundam GQuuuuuuX, and it's a mixed bag. Following the initial clan battle, Machu and Shuji are doing very well for the Pomeranians, with multiple victories under their collective belts. Even Challia Bull is impressed with their output and doesn't seem at all concerned that having two psycommu mobile suits in close proximity could cause a Zek Nova. One neat detail is that the room where Challia watches the clan battles is actually a reused asset from the Rebuild of Evangelion movies (see below). This is in no way a criticism and is actually a smart and sensible approach to anime production. We are also introduced to a new Federation pilot called Shiiko Sugai. Known as the Witch during the war, due to her high kill count, we also get hit with a new term, 'unicum', which is this in-universe's name for an ace pilot. Why they just didn't call her an ace, I don't know. In any case, she wants to fight the Red Gundam, as Char killed her MAV during the war. Sugai is an interesting character because, on first appearance, she's a very sweet and polite mother with a mushroom bob haircut. I like the fact that her demeanor and appearance subvert what we expect an ace pilot to be like in Gundam. In amongst this, Shuji says that the Red Gundam wants to go to Earth, and the constant dialogue he has with the mobile suit makes me think that something of Char Aznable was left behind after the original Zek Nova. Machu also enthusiastically agrees to go to with him. The resultant clan battle then reveals some bizarre mobile suits which are called Gelgoogs but are in fact GMs. Let me explain, in the original Mobile Suit Gundam, the initial objective was to get the Gundam back to the Federation so they could mass produce it. As they were on the clock, the Federation made a simpler version called the GM. The name is sometimes thought to be 'Gundam type Mass-production model', but that hasn't always been consistent. Now, in this weird new timeline, Char told the Zeon higher-ups to stop production of the Zeon Gelgoog and instead mass-produce the Gundam, which in turn creates a mobile suit that looks like a GM, but because this is Zeon, it is now called a Gelgoog. It does make sense, but all of this is beginning to feel like bad fan fiction again, and it's also just confusing to newcomers, which this series is seemingly aimed at. One interesting feature is that the head design for this 'Gelgoog' does really remind me of the Daughtress from Gundam X, and I suppose that's no bad thing, especially as Gundam X deserves more love as it is. Anyway, the fight between Sugai and the Gundams goes as you'd expect. Sugai uses hooks and wires to move around her target in a difficult-to-predict manner, but is eventually undone by Shuji, who literally zips behind her in 'nothing personal, kid' meme fashion and shivs her mobile suit in the back. To be honest, this felt massively unnecessary. Yes, Sugai was determined to get vengeance on the Red Gundam, but Shuji could have easily immobilised her mobile suit rather than kill her. After all the prior clan battles weren't to the death. Like with most of GQuuuuuuX, it's not really coming together as it should and feels oddly amateurish at times. The designs are still bugging me, but I think that now we are in new narrative territory, the story will hopefully pick up. However, this latest episode didn't really do it for me and just felt overly convoluted to get to a death that was wholly unnecessary. Here's hoping the following episodes get better from here on out. Gundam GQuuuuuuX is now streaming worldwide via Amazon Prime Video. Follow me on X, Facebook and YouTube. I also manage Mecha Damashii and am currently featured in the Giant Robots exhibition currently touring Japan.
