Hideaki Anno is a legend in the anime industry, and he’s most well-known for creating the Neon Genesis Evangelion franchise. At a recent event, however, he spoke about the importance of his latest project, which just so happens to involve another mecha anime property.
Via Japanese news site Oricon, an anime-based talk show had Anno as one of the guests, and he recalled his history with the iconic Mobile Suit Gundam anime. Inspiring the creator at a young age, the first Gundam anime was what kept him a fan of the medium as a whole. Now, this fandom is coming full circle given that the creator of Evangelion is also behind the latest Gundam anime.
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The First Gundam Anime Cemented Evangelion’s Creator as an Anime Fan
The Anime New Century Declaration 44th Anniversary Talk Show, held on Feb. 22, 2025, hosted several prominent names within the anime industry, including anime/tokusatsu researcher Ryusuke Hikawa, director Yutaka Izubuchi and of course, Hideaki Anno. The latter is mostly known for his legendary Evangelion franchise, but he and his frequent collaborations have also created the newest Gundam anime. This was the impetus for the event, as it heralded the successful launch of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning-. The connection between Anno and Gundam goes beyond the former having worked on another mecha anime franchise, with the director noting how he first encountered the original Gundam anime and the impact it made on him.
Recalling his growing impartiality toward the medium at the time due to the conclusion of the Space Battleship Yamato anime series, Anno spoke about what it was that made him an instant fan of the first “Real Robot” anime. “At the time, I was in a period of uncertainty, thinking that I might be done with anime,” he said. “Then, during the final episode of Daitarn 3, I saw the preview for Gundam. That shot — where the Gundam’s face lifts slightly, and its eyes glow — completely captivated me. It made me think, ‘I have to watch this every week.’ Looking back, my instinct was right. If I had missed that moment, my life might have taken a different path. This series brought me back to animation, and I feel indebted to it. That’s why I want to support it in any way I can.”
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As pointed out by his collaborators, he does far more than just “support” Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, having been integral to its writing and story director. Thus, his fandom has now come full circle in a way that might never have happened without a preview for Sunrise and Yoshiyuki Tomino’s Gundam franchise. Both Evangelion and Gundam remain the resident kings of the mecha anime genre, with only the Macross franchise being a real contender to the throne. Gundam as a franchise is now 46 years old, with 2025 marking the 30th anniversary of the original Neon Genesis Evangelion anime. A North American screening of Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- is scheduled for February 28, with the full anime launching on April 5.
Source: Oricon
