Char Aznable
Template:Infobox Gundam Character
Char Aznable (シャア・アズナブル, Shaa Azunaburu) is a fictional character, and one of the main antagonists from the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam and its sequels, Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Char's Counterattack, voiced by Shuichi Ikeda (Japanese), Michael Kopsa (English dub of original series and Char's Counterattack), Steven Blum (Mobile Suit Gundam movies 1 through 3) and Tom Edwards (English dub of Zeta Gundam).
History
Template:Spoilers Char Aznable is also known as Quattro Bajeena & Edward Mass, but was born with the name Casval Rem Deikun. He is also known as the 'Red Comet', due to the speed at which he destroyed five of the Earth Federation's Magellan class battleships at the Battle of Loum during the One-Year War (which has earned him a promotion of two ranks to major). He is the elder brother of Sayla Mass, born with the name Artesia Som Deikun, and the son of late Zeon Zum Deikun, the former leader of the space colonies of Side 3, later the Republic of Zeon.
Mobile Suit Gundam
After their father's death, Char and Sayla were spirited away to Earth by his close associate Jimba Ral, and took on the identity of the aristocratic Mass family. However, Char was convinced that his father was murdered by the Zabi family, who formed the Principality of Zeon after his death. Seeking revenge, he created the Char Aznable identity and hid his face behind a distinctive mask, joining the Zeon military in order to get close enough to kill the Zabis.
He left Earth and enrolled at the Zeon Military Academy, and graduated as valedictorian of his class. During the One Year War, Char showed a great capacity not only as mobile suit pilot, but also as tactician and commanding officer. Late in the One Year War, Char became a bitter rival to Earth Federation pilot Amuro Ray, and he developed a rather peculiar relationship with the Newtype Lalah Sune. Char himself also developed into a Newtype, albeit a weak one.
At the end of the One Year War, Char went to Axis after the Zeon lost the war, his goal of revenge achieved by a combination of his own actions, those of his rival Amuro, and infighting among the Zabis themselves.
Zeta Gundam
Char reappears 7 years later in Zeta Gundam, barely disguised by replacing his mask with sunglasses and using the alias "Quattro Bajeena". Some time between UC 0079-0087, Char infiltrates the Earth Federation Forces as Axis Zeon's spy, that's when he started to use the alias Quattro Bajeena. However, things are turned upside down with the rising of Titans as an oppressive side. Char then join the renegade group of Earth Federation Force's soldier and in the end he become a leading member of the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG).
This time, rather than serving as the rival of the new protagonist, Kamille Bidan, Char serves as Kamille's mentor in the war against the Earth Federation's oppressive Titans organization. In Zeta Gundam, Char becomes an ally of his former adversaries in Mobile Suit Gundam: Amuro Ray, Hayato Kobayashi and Bright Noa. He serves under Bright Noa as leader of AEUG mobile suit forces.
Zeta Gundam puts ahead Char's image as a hero who is always willing to stand up and fight for the freedom of spacenoids. His political speech in front of Federation Assembly in Dakar, which was broadcast throughout Earth and Space, is one of the most important events in the UC Gundam timeline. It seals Char's total commitment toward space colonization and migration of humanity to space.
Despite AEUG's victory in the Gryps War against Titans, Char is defeated in the final battle by Haman Khan, leader of the Axis (later Neo Zeon) faction and assumed dead. However, as the final credits roll, Char's badly damaged mobile suit floats by, its cockpit hatch mysteriously open. However, Bright Noa remarks that he has a gut feeling that Char is simply watching from the sidelines and waiting for the right opportunity to return.
Char doesn't appear in the sequel to Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam Double Zeta. Yoshiyuki Tomino has stated officially that he had originally intended to feature Char in Double Zeta, but the plan was cancelled when he was granted to go-ahead with the theatrical movie Char's Counterattack.
Char's Counterattack
Another 5 years passed before Char returns in the movie Char's Counterattack, as the leader of a new Neo Zeon faction. He intends to drop the massive asteroid base Axis on the Earth, forcing a migration of its population into space, which he believes will force all of humanity to evolve into Newtypes. Only one thing stands in his way: the Earth Federation's Londo Bell task force, led by his former superior Bright Noa, and the Londo Bell's top ace pilot, his old archrival ace pilot Amuro Ray.
Both Char and Amuro pilots a mobile suit equipped with an advanced Psycommu system known as a Psycoframe. After their Psycoframes react to one another and overload, they both disappear without a trace. Since then there has been no news of the two. It is assumed that they both are killed in the massive explosion of psychic energy. (In the novelization of Char's Counterattack, both characters are confirmed to be KIA.
However, even this is not enough to stop Char from returning, albeit as a clone, in Gaia Gear, a Yoshiyuki Tomino-penned novel series set later in the Universal Century timeline. Afranshia Char is a clone made by final Zeon remnants to lead them in an attempt to overthrow the Federation one last time, using the mighty Gaia-Gear man-machine suit. Template:Spoilerend
Characteristics
Char has several recognizable characteristics.
- Blonde Hair
- Often wears red clothing.
- Usually wears a mask or sunglasses to hide his true identity.
- Usually pilots red (or, arguably pink-ish) mobile suits. Exception to this is the MSN-0100 Hyaku Shiki, which is painted in bright gold yellow, and the MSN-02 Zeong, which was painted in a greyish colour.
- Sports a small, diagonal scar between his eyes (incurred during a sword fight with Amuro during the Battle of A Boua Qu. The origin of this scar is different however in the Gundam novel.)
- He is never shown driving a car throughout his appearances.
- Often suspected of Ephebophilia, as supposedly exemplified by his relationship with Lalah Sune (who's age is 14, and, according to Tomino's novel Secret Rendezvous: Amuro and Lalah, was discovered by Char working as a prostitute), and Haman Karn, who was 14 at the beginning of their relationship (Char himself was no more than 19), as detailed in the manga Portrait of a Young Comet - Char's Deleted Affair. Char also swayed the disillusioned Quess Paraya (13 years old according to Gundam Official Guide) during the events of the movie Chars Counter Attack, where Quess latched onto Char after being rebuffed by Amuro Ray in hopes of learning from famous Newtypes. Though many fans suspect Char of being an ephebophile, Tomino has categorically denied this.
Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino publicly confirmed at Anime Expo New York 2002 that the name Char Aznable is inspired by French singer and songwriter Charles Aznavour (シャルル・アズナブール).
Mobile Suits
Apart from being an excellent commander, Char Aznable backs up his intellect and charisma through his experience as a mobile suit pilot. He pilots a mobile suit, commonly in his red and black color scheme with ruthless efficiency, all the while doing it without a pilot suit on. Some of the mobile suits that he piloted throughout the series are:
- MS-06C Zaku II- mobile suit that he started out with at the beginning of the war, and won his ace status in at the Battle of Loum.
- MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type - high-performance mobile suit issued to ace pilots and team commanders such as him.
- MSM-07S Z'Gok Commander Type – amphibious mobile suit, used by Char on the Jaburo Drop Operation.
- MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type - latest Zeon Mobile Suit incorporated in the last months of the war; special prototype given to ace pilots, damaged by Amuro Ray and the RX-78-2 Gundam at Side 5.
- MSN-02 Zeong A powerful Newtype mobile suit piloted during the Battle A Boa Qu, the final battle of the war.
- RMS-099 Rick Dias - AEUG mass produced, heavy attack mobile suit, piloted by Char during the early part of Gryps War.
- MSN-0100 Hyaku Shiki - AEUG prototype, personalized high-performance attack mobile suit, piloted by Char during the latter part of Gryps War. Contrary to his red trademark color, Hyaku Shiki is painted in bright gold yellow.
- MSN-04 Sazabi personal mobile suit during the Second Neo Zeon war, designed to make full use of his Newtype powers.
It is noteworthy to mention that Char so far is only the character in all Gundam series (be it the UC or non-UC) that has fought in three final battles of a movie/series. In Mobile Suit Gundam, Char fights against Amuro Ray at A Baoa Qu. In the finale of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Char and Kamille Bidan fights together against Haman Karn (of Axis Zeon) and Paptimus Scirocco (of Titans) in a three-way battle (AEUG vs Titans vs Neo Zeon). Char's last battle is in the finale of Char's Counterattack when again he fight against his archrival Amuro Ray.
Also, in the novel version of Mobile Suit Gundam starting in Book 2 to the end of Book 3; Char pilots a customized Rick-Dom.
Char Clones
Char Aznable is also responsible for spawning a series of Char Clones, characters based off similar characteristics to Char, in Gundam. That character usually serves the same purpose as Char in the story, as the primary rival of either the main character or a significant supporting character, sometimes also having blonde hair and is usually shrouded in mystery and a mask and sometimes has an extremist plan in mind (For example some of these "Char Clones" tried to force the people on Earth to migrate into space just like Char had tried to do). It is also a common theme for the "Char Clone" to be related to the female lead in some way. Sometimes the "clone" is the father, brother, former lover, etc. of the female lead.
The term Char Clone is often used disparagingly, as if suggesting that the creative staff of the series lacked the creativity to come up with an original character and simply resorted to copying Char.
- Zabine Chareux, and 'Iron Mask' aka Carozzo Ronah from Gundam F91
- Chronicle Asher from Victory Gundam
- Schwarz Brüder, Master Asia, and Ulube Ishikawa from G Gundam
- Lancerow Dawell, Jamil Neate from Gundam X
- Zechs Merquise, the 'Lightning Count' from Gundam Wing
- Harry Ord and Corin Nander from ∀ Gundam
- Rau Le Creuset from Gundam SEED
- "Alex Dino" aka Athrun Zala, and Neo Roanoke from Gundam SEED Destiny
- Chief Haro, Deathscythe and Professor Gerbera from Superior Defender Gundam Force
- Neyarl (Hal Vizardt / Vladi Zarth in the English version) from Gundam: True Odyssey (MS Saga)
An actual DNA clone from Char Aznable appeared in the story Gaia Gear (original novel by Yoshiyuki Tomino). Named Afranshia Char.
Cultural significance
Japanese pop culture holds Char Aznable in very much the same way western pop culture views science fiction icons Darth Vader and Mr. Spock. Even many people who do not watch anime at least know the name. Char Aznable has routinely placed in the top 10 lists of popular characters in both Gundam-specific and general-oriented fan magazines in Japan, such as Gundam Ace and Animage, typically ranking higher than the main character and his rival, Amuro Ray. In Gundam Ace, Char is consistently in the top 3 of the list, and held the number 1 spot for long periods of time, despite the fact that Gundam Ace tallies votes for Char's alter-ego Quattro Bajina separately. In fact, Quattro also consistently ranks in the top 10, and if the votes for Char and Quattro were tallied together, he would have held the number 1 ranking uninterrupted since the first Gundam Ace character poll.
On the popular Japanese bulletin board 2channel, the Gundam forums are named Char custom (シャア専用), and the anonymous placeholder for the name is changed to "3 times more anonymous" (通常の名無しさんの３倍), a reference to the "3 times faster than a normal Zaku" line from the original series. Char Custom itself refer's to Char's tendency to highly customize standard Mobile Suits to his exact specifications and generally making the said units far more potent than normal. This usually involves him coloring his suits red, which led some people to go as far as to label anything red "Char-custom", and to make vague references to the "3 times more potent" line in the original Gundam series (e.g. A red pencil might write 3 times faster, or is 3 times more likely to break).
Bandai has capitalized on Char's popularity by licensing out his name to various products. There has been a Char-custom laptop, Char-custom Nintendo Gamecube, and a Char-custom motorbike helmet. All these products have a red satin finish, and have the goldleaf Zeon insigna or the emblem of Char's Neo-Zeon emblazoned on them. A Char-custom Game Boy Advance SP was also created in Japan (with many sources claiming its battery will last 3 times as long as the normal GBA, or even that it will crash 3 times as much).
In a planned spaceflight for 2006, a Japanese internet investor named Daisuke Enomoto has asked to dress up as Char Aznable.
An episode of the anime series School Rumble features an extended Gundam parody, most notably featuring a one-shot character named Harry McKenzie. Harry is modelled after Char, including his appearance (highly similar to Char's Quattro persona), sunglasses, penchant for wearing red, and ownership of a red motorcycle with the kanji "Hyaku" (from the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki). Harry's two best friends are a Mexican girl named Lalah (who bears an odd resemblance to Revolutionary Girl Utena's Anthy Himemiya) and a teen who looks like a younger Anavel Gato and shares Gato's penchant for rousing speeches.
If one looks at popular Japanese culture as well, one can see the impact the Red Comet has made even outside of Gundam. For instance, one may note the characters of Ken Masters of the Street Fighter series and of Zero of the Mega Man series of video games, both of whom are crimson clad blondes who play the role of the "second main character" or "rival" to the protagonist. Even going further, another example could be Seifer Almassy of Final Fantasy VIII. Although not clad in red, Seifer bears a resemblance to Char as he appears in Char's Counterattack and has a scar across his forehead to symbolize his eternal rivalry to the games' protagonist Squall Leonhart. In fact, the symbol of a "Red Rival" has become one of Japanese pop cultures' most widely used archetypes. Even suggestions of Char's influence can be traced to Armored Core, in which, the ace pilot Nine Ball is known to sport red, and is the genre's mancing identity. Even Square-Enix, the role-playing game juggernaut, had a red-suited pilot figure in its mech RPG Xenogears in the form of the prince Bartholomew Fatima who himself was stripped from a seat of power and is almost an exact Char. Char is truly an iconic character to the Japanese.
Though he has not made an impact on American pop culture as a whole, Char is nearly as popular among American Gundam fans as he is among Japanese fans. On Gundam-related message boards, a somewhat popular meme is to say that a character (especially a Char Clone or one voiced by Shuichi Ikeda) "is a Char". This is derived from the poorly-written English text in the letter Hayato Kobayashi receives from Kai Shiden in Zeta Gundam, which includes the statement, "Captain Quattro, he is a CHAR." [1] The "3 times faster" jokes and referring to machines which are painted red as "Char custom" have also cropped up among American fans.
![[1]](http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/2236/quattroisachar9nq.jpg){kind=link}
Char is also derived from two real-world figures: His red color for personal mecha and skills as a pilot are a definite reference to Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, while his name was derived from the French popular singer Charles Aznavour.