

Across all _Gundam_ universes, there is always at least one character based on
[Char Aznable](http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Char_Aznable) from the original
Gundam series. (I say "at least one" because sometimes there is a softer
character that is less obviously based on Char.)

  * In _Gundam Wing_ , the obvious Char knockoff would be Zechs Marquise; the tell-tale characteristic is the mask. He was the sister of Releena and the child of the Peacecraft family. This an obvious nod to the fact that Char was really Casval Rem Deikun, son of Zeon Dum Deikun. His sister was Artesia Rem Deikun, who took the alias Sayla and was an active member aboard White Base.
  * Quatra is the less obvious Char clone, who shares Char's blonde hair and is named after the number 4. (Char in multiple Indian languages means four and his alias in Zeta Gundam was Lt. Quatro.)
  * In the most recent _Gundam Unicorn_ , Full Frontal is obviously the main Char character (many in the show itself believing him to be the famed Red Comet) while Ensign Ridhe is the softer Char character (indicated by his blonde hair, his family's ancestry, and rivalry with the main character).

The Char character usually has some kind of "cool" nickname; Char's is Red
Comet, and Zechs has the name Lightning Count. Additionally, their mobile suit
is usually colored red or white. Would this make Athuran Zala also a Char
character, with his signature Red mobile suits?

Basically, what I'm wondering is: **Is there a defined set of characteristics
like the above mentions and their occurrences across all _Gundam_ series
(whether they be Universal Century or not)?**


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gundam
What are the characteristics and themes present in Gundam characters based on Char Aznable?


It seems that there is always a masked antagonist in the Gundam series, but
they vary in how much they resemble the original Char.

In Gundam Seed, it is [Rau Le
Creuset](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rau_Le_Creuset#Rau_Le_Creuset) .
Masked, and related by blood to a member of the protagonists camp. IIRC he is
also a noble who stands to inherit, but unlike Char Aznable,

> his family is not usurped.

In G-Gundam, it would be [Schwarz
Bruder](http://gundam.wikia.com/wiki/Schwarz_Bruder). It is a bit tricky to
bring him in the equation, though, because G-Gundam is much simpler than the
other Gundam series.

Going by these examples and the ones mentioned in the question, the constant
features seem to be

  * The character wears a mask to hide his true identity.
  * The character fights for the (apparent) enemy.
  * The character is male.
  * The character is related by blood or cloning to the protagonist or a close ally.

The features that vary among the Char Aznable knockoffs are

  * The character has a strong sense of honour and fair-play (IIRC Rau Le Creuset is the exception here).
  * The character is a noble.
  * The character bears a secret grudge (Schwarz Bruder would be the exception).
  * The character has a nickname (again Schwarz Bruder is the exception).

With respect to Quatre in Gundam Wing, I don't think he is a Char-based
character. Quatre makes no secret of his identity and doesn't wear a mask. His
name is not a clue IMO; almost all characters in the show were named after
numbers in French. The role of Char is aptly fulfilled by Zechs Marquise.


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answer


I can't remember the character's name, but he was in Gundam 00. First season,
he was one of the nations' Aces (blue...so he flew for Union?). He was one of
a very small number of antagonists that could hold his own against the
meisters, but got seriously messed up along the way. He returns in the second
season wearing a mask (black and red though) and a new MS. This new MS was a
melee focused unit.

He was a bit odd, in that he came into his archetype later in the show,
originally being little more than a dedicated, if only slightly stronger mook.

Also, could Yzak from SEED (he piloted Duel Gundam) be considered here?


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