Anno × Sunrise: The Collab That Broke the Gundam Mould — And the Kits Are Finally Catching Up
Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX did something no one expected: it brought Hideaki Anno's Studio Khara (the Evangelion team) together with Sunrise (the Gundam studio since 1979) for a full-blown alternate universe retelling of the original Gundam story. The result was one of the most visually distinctive and commercially successful Gundam entries in years — winner of Animation of the Year at the 2026 Tokyo Anime Award Festival, runner-up for Best Work at the 2025 Newtype Anime Awards, and recipient of the Japan Anime Trend Award.
For Indian Gunpla builders, GQuuuuuuX represents something exciting: a fresh wave of HG kits with distinctly different design language from typical Gundam aesthetics, thanks to Anno's influence. The kits are hitting shelves now, and this guide covers every release, India pricing, and building tips for the full GQuuuuuuX lineup.
Understanding the GQuuuuuuX Universe (Quick Primer)
If you haven't watched the anime yet, here's the essential context for understanding the kit designs. GQuuuuuuX is set in an alternate timeline where Char pilots the original Gundam instead of Amuro, and Zeon wins the One Year War. The story follows Amate "Machu" Yuzuriha, an ordinary high school student who becomes the pilot of the titular GQuuuuuuX mobile suit after her life is upended by meeting refugee Nyaan and vandal Shuji. Together they enter "Clan Battles" — competitive mobile suit duels in space where winners earn fame and money.
The mecha designs blend classic Gundam lineage with Evangelion-influenced organic aesthetics — more angular, more aggressive, with colour choices and proportions that feel distinctly Anno. This design philosophy makes the kits visually unique on any shelf, even next to a full Gundam collection.
Complete GQuuuuuuX Kit Lineup (2025–2026)
HG 1/144 GQuuuuuuX
The titular mobile suit and flagship kit. This is the Gundam that Machu pilots — and it's a stunner. The design preserves the classic Gundam V-fin and white-blue-red colour scheme but reinterprets every panel line and proportion through the Anno lens.
- Japan MSRP: ~¥2,200
- India estimated price: ₹2,800–₹4,000
- Build difficulty: Beginner-friendly. Snap-fit, no glue required.
- Recommended for: Anyone new to GQuuuuuuX. This is your entry point.
HG 1/144 GQuuuuuuX (Endymion Unit Awakened)
The powered-up form, released January 2026. Includes new effect parts and head components to recreate the Awakened Form from the anime's climactic battles. This is the "I've seen the show and I want THAT version" kit.
- Japan MSRP: ¥2,860
- India estimated price: ₹3,500–₹5,000
- Build difficulty: Beginner to intermediate. The effect parts add complexity but are well-engineered.
- Recommended for: Fans who want the dramatic final-form display piece.
HG 1/144 Red Gundam
Char's Gundam — because in this universe, Char gets the Gundam. The red colour scheme on a Gundam frame is inherently iconic, and this kit delivers on the visual promise. A must-have for any Char fan.
- India estimated price: ₹2,800–₹4,000
- Build difficulty: Beginner-friendly.
HG 1/144 Red Gundam Expansion Set
An add-on kit that includes four Bits, a standard Bazooka, a Zaku Bazooka, newly sculpted joint parts, dynamic effect pieces, and a weapon display base. This transforms the base Red Gundam into a fully loaded display piece.
- India estimated price: ₹1,500–₹3,000 (expansion only)
- Note: Requires the base Red Gundam kit.
HG 1/144 Police Zaku
One of the most distinctive designs in the GQuuuuuuX lineup — a Zaku variant used by law enforcement in the post-war Zeon-controlled world. The civilian/police aesthetic on a military platform is peak worldbuilding-through-design.
- India estimated price: ₹2,500–₹3,500
- Build difficulty: Beginner-friendly.
HG 1/144 Challia's Rick Dom (GQ)
Released February 2026. The Rick Dom reimagined through GQuuuuuuX's design language — heavier, more angular, with proportions that emphasize the Dom's iconic bulkiness.
- Japan MSRP: ¥3,300
- India estimated price: ₹4,000–₹5,500
- Build difficulty: Intermediate.
HG 1/144 Bocata's Gelgoog
The Gelgoog gets the GQuuuuuuX treatment — and the result is one of the most visually striking Gelgoog variants in Gunpla history.
- India estimated price: ₹3,500–₹5,000
- Build difficulty: Intermediate.
HG 1/144 01 Gundam [GQ]
The prototype Gundam — designed to be the aesthetic predecessor to the classic RX-78-2 within the GQuuuuuuX timeline. A fascinating "missing link" design that bridges the original Gundam aesthetic with Anno's reinterpretation.
- Japan MSRP: ~¥2,800
- India estimated price: ₹3,500–₹5,000
- Status: Coming mid-2026.
HG 1/144 Hambrabi (GQ)
The wildest design in the lineup — a complete reimagining of the Hambrabi that fully embraces GQuuuuuuX's visual direction. This is the kit for builders who want something that doesn't look like any other Gundam model on their shelf.
- Japan MSRP: ¥2,826
- India estimated price: ₹3,500–₹5,000
- Release: June 2026.
India Pricing Deep Dive
Gundam HG kits enter India under HSN code 9503, facing the standard customs stack: 60% Basic Customs Duty + 10% Social Welfare Surcharge + 18% IGST, for an effective 1.95× multiplier on the CIF value. Here's the practical math:
For a ¥2,860 kit (Endymion Unit Awakened):
- Japan MSRP: ¥2,860 × ₹0.55 = ₹1,573
- After customs (1.95×): ₹3,067
- Add shipping (₹400–800 per kit): ₹3,467–₹3,867
- Retail with margin: ₹3,500–₹5,000
Buying from Indian retailers like OneFigures gets you the kit at landed price without navigating customs paperwork — and with the assurance of authentic Bandai product.
Building Tips for GQuuuuuuX Kits
GQuuuuuuX kits share the modern HG engineering standard, which means excellent snap-fit construction, colour-separated parts, and good articulation out of the box. But the Anno-influenced designs have some unique characteristics:
For Beginners
- Start with the base GQuuuuuuX or Red Gundam. Both are straightforward builds with clear instructions.
- Invest in a good nipper. The God Hand SPN-120 is the gold standard, but entry-level Tamiya nippers (₹500–₹800 in India) work perfectly for HG kits.
- Panel lining makes a massive difference. A Gundam Marker fine-tip (₹300–₹500) transforms the look of GQuuuuuuX kits because the panel line designs are more detailed than typical HG fare.
For Intermediate Builders
- The Endymion Awakened effect parts reward careful painting. Even a simple clear coat on the effect pieces elevates the display dramatically.
- Consider weathering the Zeon suits. The Police Zaku and Rick Dom look phenomenal with light weathering — these are "used" military machines in a post-war world.
- The Red Gundam + Expansion Set is your best value combo. Together they create a fully kitted-out display piece that rivals kits at twice the price.
For Advanced Builders
- Custom painting the GQuuuuuuX in Evangelion colours is a community favourite. The design language is so close to Eva that Unit-01 and Unit-02 colour schemes look intentional.
- Scribing additional panel lines on the Hambrabi is rewarding. The organic design gives you creative freedom that more traditional Gundam kits don't.
Collecting Strategy: What to Buy First
If you're building a complete GQuuuuuuX shelf, here's the recommended order:
- HG GQuuuuuuX (base kit) — The series centrepiece. Non-negotiable.
- HG Red Gundam + Expansion Set — Char's rival unit, fully loaded. Creates the hero-vs-rival display dynamic.
- HG GQuuuuuuX Endymion Awakened — The upgrade form. Display it next to the base GQuuuuuuX to show the evolution.
- HG Police Zaku — The "civilian world" piece that shows the GQuuuuuuX universe beyond the main conflict.
- Everything else — Rick Dom, Gelgoog, 01 Gundam, Hambrabi. Fill in based on your budget and which designs speak to you.
Total collection cost in India: Approximately ₹25,000–₹40,000 for the complete HG lineup, depending on retailer and import timing.
Where Indian Builders Can Buy
- OneFigures (onefigures.in) — Authenticated Bandai Gunpla with India-wide shipping.
- HobbyLink Japan (hlj.com) — Japan's best Gunpla selection. Add customs and EMS shipping to the cart price.
- Amazon Japan (amazon.co.jp) — Ships internationally. Good for catching restocks.
- The Vault / Gundam Galaxy (Bangalore) — One of few Indian physical stores with Gunpla stock.
Why GQuuuuuuX Matters for the Gunpla Hobby
GQuuuuuuX proved that Gundam can evolve its visual language while respecting its heritage. The kits reflect this — they're recognizably Gundam but feel fresh in a way the hobby hasn't seen since Gundam: The Witch from Mercury brought a new audience in 2022-2023. For Indian builders entering the hobby in 2026, GQuuuuuuX is the perfect on-ramp: the kits are affordable, the anime is accessible (no 40-year lore requirement), and the designs reward both out-of-box display and advanced customization.
The Animation of the Year award ensures this won't be a forgotten side project — Bandai will continue releasing kits through 2026 and likely into 2027. Get building now, and you'll have a collection that stands out at every Gunpla meetup in India.
For kit availability updates, pre-order windows, and India pricing, follow our Spotlight blog — we cover every major Gunpla release as it drops.
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