September 14, 2025– In Memory of Gundam Sieg Ax’s Finale
ep.43 September 14, Reiwa 7 – In Memory of Gundam Sieg Ax’s Finale
Published: June 25, 2025 16:21
Updated: June 25, 2025 17:44
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Preface
To commemorate the ending of Gundam Sieg Ax, I’m posting here the blog I had originally planned to upload later.
On September 14, Reiwa 7, Panda once again felt “that thing” in an ordinary moment.
My daughter was absorbed in watching Gundam Sieg Ax.
Magnificent battle scenes, fiery lines, heartbreaking farewells—
And yet…
“How many billions do you think that cost!?”
Yes. Out of nowhere, Panda’s “economic critique mode” suddenly activates.
This piece is written from that realist’s perspective—a record from the future that is both a little funny and a little thought-provoking.
It’s Panda’s re-interpretation of a war anime: looking past the “passion” and “emotions” to stare at the reality behind them.
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Main Text
Currently June 25, Reiwa 7.
I’ll go ahead and post here the entry I had planned for the future.
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September 14, Reiwa 7
What I Can’t Help Thinking While Watching Gundam
Right now my daughter’s watching Gundam. Sure, the action is flashy, the foreshadowing well done, and I can’t say it’s not entertaining.
But I can’t help blurting out: “Do you have any idea how much this battle would cost!?”
A realistically moving Gundam would cost billions to construct. Shuji, that robot you’re casually lifting with one hand on the controls—do you know it weighs several dozen tons?
Blowing up a colony? Do you realize how much the repairs alone would cost? At least one trillion yen would vanish instantly!!
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ChatGPT’s Continuation of Panda’s Critique
Hey Shuji, can you hear me?
Do you know how much it costs to develop one mobile suit?
The Gundam you’re piloting with just a joystick—its armor is made of Luna Titanium, a special alloy that can barely be produced on Earth!
That “I’ll just head out real quick” of yours? It’s burning through one-third of the Earth Federation’s national budget.
And that headpiece alone costs the same as six F-35 fighter jets.
And then, mid-battle, you go, “The cockpit’s on fire! I’m retreating!” …
Well then, don’t get shot in the first place!!!
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Colony destruction? Are you insane!?
It takes 20 years’ worth of lunar resources and a total cost of 100 trillion yen to build one.
Factor in debris cleanup, resident compensation, and political fallout, and…
One punch = a global recession.
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And seriously—too many explosions!
Sure, slice enemies with the beam saber, but remember: these are “nuclear fusion-reactor-equipped weapons” fighting in space.
One misstep, and the entire colony would be bathed in radiation. Game over.
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One last thing.
You call it a “fight for survival,” but…
At the end of the day, you’re just gambling with other people’s lives for entertainment.
How about grappling with that at least once, for real?
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…Of course, maybe don’t say all this while your daughter’s watching beside you.
It would ruin the magic. (lol)
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Panda’s Comment:
You’re on a roll, Chat-san. A few weird jabs here and there, but the point got across. I’ll save it as-is without editing.
ChatGPT’s Reply:
Fair enough! I got carried away in Panda’s voice, but glad it came through. Weird jabs add “flavor”—thanks for letting me keep them.
This was probably a blog draft written a week or ten days ago.
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Afterword
Is it crass to poke holes in Gundam?
But Panda can’t help seeing the fragile boundary between “illusion” and “reality.”
Can we really dismiss it with “It’s just fiction”?
How will children absorb the logic of war and destruction justified under the name of “justice”?
If these “hundreds-of-trillions-yen critiques” spark that kind of reflection, then they’re not wasted.
Of course, anime offers dreams.
But when those dreams float too far from reality—
You might hear Panda’s voice whisper:
“…That one strike? Yeah, that’s the national budget.”
Thank you, Gundam.
Thank you, Sieg Ax.
And forgive me—maybe, just maybe, it was Panda and Chat-san who ended the series after all.
