Tomohiko Ito, the renowned director responsible for the first two seasons of Sword Art Online, expressed a frank criticism of the newest series in the Gundam universe. In a recent interview, in January 2026, he stated that Gundam GQuuuuuuX, available in the Brazilian Prime Video catalog, did not bring significant innovations to the historic franchise. His statement, therefore, sparks debate among fans, since the production was well received by the general public and broke records last year.
Ito revealed that, despite finding the series interesting, he felt a certain discomfort with how the audience accepted it. He believes that new characters, like Machu, were used primarily as a “stepping stone” to encourage viewers to watch the classic Gundam works. In this way, the director, a respected voice in the industry, questions whether the narrative explored its full dramatic potential with the refugees of the conflict, a theme he considers more relevant for current times.
Audience Reception and the Future of Anime
However, Ito’s view contrasts with the warm reception from the audience. Many fans praised the blend of the past and present of the Gundam universe, even while agreeing that prior knowledge of the franchise makes the experience richer. Meanwhile, the director also took the opportunity to comment on the state of the Japanese animation industry. He cited the success of Demon Slayer: Mugen Train as a milestone that solidified the trend of faithful, high-quality adaptations, which pleases fans.
On the other hand, Ito issues an important warning: this focus on adaptations may be stifling the creation of original works. “I feel there aren’t many environments in the anime industry that encourage people to write original works,” he added. His analysis, therefore, goes beyond simple criticism and opens a valuable discussion about creativity versus commercial safety in the entertainment we consume.
