Warning: Contains spoilers for Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode #8.When Neon Genesis Evangelion fame. For 30 years, Evangelion has been one of the biggest mecha anime of all time, so if the team behind it were in charge of a Gundam anime, then it would certainly have to be a big one to watch.

So far, as great as GQuuuuuuX has been, the Evangelion influence has been largely surface-level, with GQuuuuuuX simply borrowing Evangelion’s aesthetic for its narrative more often than not. All of that changed with episode #8, however, as Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode #8 delivers the anime’s most blatant Neon Genesis Evangelion references yet, all of which are executed perfectly to go beyond mere fanservice. It was great to watch it all play out, and overall, it says a lot about why GQuuuuuuX is such a great show to watch.

GQuuuuuuX's New Episode Goes All-Out With Its Evangelion References

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX's Biggest Evangelion References Explained

GQuuuuuuX has been mostly subtle with its Evangelion references, but that all changed with episode #8. Following up on episode #7’s finale, Nyaan, now forced to work for Zeon, learned that she was expected to be the pilot for the Gundam GFreD, another Gundam developed at the same time as the Gundam GQuuuuuuX. What’s especially notable about the GFreD is its purple color scheme and angular head, and with Nyaan being Zeon’s third pilot, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode #8 is directly referencing Neon Genesis Evangelion by making Nyaan and the Gundam GFreD a direct parallel to Shinji and Unit-01.

The references didn’t end there, of course. Late into the episode, in a moment of crisis where Nyaan’s life was in danger, the GFreD activated on its own and protected Nyaan, much like how Unit-01 moved on its own to protect Shinji in episode #1 and the first Rebuild of Evangelion movie. Granted, the GFreD’s actions can be explained by Nyaan’s Newtype powers, but regardless, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX episode #8 references the biggest moments from Neon Genesis Evangelion’s beginning, and for old and new fans alike, it was plenty of fun to watch.

Why GQuuuuuuX's Evangelion References Make It So Great

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Makes Perfect Use Of Its Evangelion Influence

GQuuuuuuX is going all-out with its Evangelion references, and overall, that’s great to see. The biggest draw to GQuuuuuuX was always how it was made by the same people who made Evangelion, so in that regard, the thing people have probably been looking forward to the most was seeing how many Evangelion references GQuuuuuuX could fit into its limited runtime. Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’s recent references to Neon Genesis Evangelion are great at satisfying fans on a surface level, and for many, that’s the most that they could have asked for.

Going deeper than that is where the true brilliance of it all can be found, of course. Evangelion is as big as it is not just because of its great action, but because of the contemplative story of loneliness and human connections it tries to tell, no matter the continuity. GQuuuuuuX’s recent engagement in angsty teen drama already leaned into that sort of writing, and now, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX doubling down on its Neon Genesis Evangelion references is a good sign that it will try to hit all the same story and narrative beats that made Evangelion so iconic.

The track record of everyone at Studio Khara has always sold them as perfect for any sort of anime that combines intense action with thoughtful melodrama, and if episode #8 is anything to go on, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX’s continued handling of the biggest hallmarks to Neon Genesis Evangelion’s success will help it go down as one of the best anime of spring 2025, if not 2025, in general. There’s no telling how much further Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX will go with its Neon Genesis Evangelion references, but whatever else it does will surely be great to watch play out.

Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX releases new episodes Tuesdays on Amazon Prime.