“Tokoroga gicchon!” is strongly associated with Ali Al-Saachez in Mobile Suit Gundam 00. It functions roughly as a taunting “But here is the twist!” rather than a literal piece of technical vocabulary. A memorable place to find it is the end of second-season episode 8, “Twisted Innocence,” when Ali intervenes in the Arche Gundam.
- Series / speaker
- Mobile Suit Gundam 00 / Ali Al-Saachez, voiced in Japanese by Keiji Fujiwara
- Episodes to look for
- Season 2 episode 8; the expression is also used in season 1 episode 12, “To the Limits of Holy Teachings.”
- Scene
- In the season 2 example, Ali and the Arche interrupt Setsuna and his allies.
- Scope
- The Gundam usage and context, not a claim that Gundam invented the older expression.
The joke-like sound clashes with the danger of the interruption. That contrast is part of what makes the line memorable: Ali sounds as though he is enjoying the situation that threatens everyone else. The English wording above is an explanatory rendering, not a claim to reproduce a particular official subtitle.
Which episode? Include the season when you search
Gundam 00 has two television seasons, so “episode 8” alone is easy to misread. For the Arche entrance, look for season 2 episode 8. For the earlier usage, look for season 1 episode 12. These references identify useful scenes; they should not be confused with a claim about the historical first use of the phrase anywhere.
The machines also help distinguish the periods. Ali pilots an Enact during the earlier part of the story, later takes the Throne Zwei, and returns in the Arche in season 2. A model of one is not a model of all three scenes.
| Period | Scene reference | Merchandise distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | Episode 12 | Enact period; not the Arche |
| Season 2 | Episode 8 ending | Arche Gundam |
| Later season 1 | Throne Zwei-related material | A separate machine and story period |
What does the expression mean here?
In ordinary use, the phrase signals that the expected conclusion is about to be overturned. Ali gives that reversal an aggressive, playful edge. He does not merely report a surprise; he enjoys being the person who springs it.
That is why a word-for-word translation loses some of the effect. The character, timing and interruption matter as much as the dictionary meaning. It is a taunt delivered by a highly dangerous pilot, not simply comic relief.
Who is Ali Al-Saachez?
The official series introduction identifies him as a PMC Trust mercenary and a man who taught combat basics to the young Setsuna. His exceptional piloting and attachment to warfare make his casual manner unsettling.
Reading him beside the Lockon and Setsuna articles makes the contrast clearer. The protagonists give words to what they hope to protect or change; Ali can sound delighted simply to be back in a battle.
Was it invented for Gundam, or improvised?
Those are separate questions from identifying the scene. Online origin stories and claims about actor improvisation need their own evidence; repetition does not turn them into production records. This article does not certify either claim.
A Sunrise news item from July 2008 does use the expression in a headline connected with Saachez. That is a useful official example of the association, but it does not establish the phrase’s origin or the circumstances in which the dialogue was recorded.
Collecting Ali: character cards, kits and finished figures
Choose a character card if you want Ali himself, a model kit if you enjoy the distinctive machines, or a finished action figure if you want articulation without assembly. These are related character and mobile-suit products, not merchandise verified to print the quote.
HG kits and ROBOT Spirits figures are different product types. For used examples, check completeness and assembly condition. Enact variants also require care: the Moralia Development Type and Agrissa Type are not interchangeable labels.
Continue exploring
Gundam 00’s eight TV opening and ending themes
Sources
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