Char Aznable

ja:シャア・アズナブル Char Aznable (シャア・アズナブル) is a fictional character 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) and Michael Dubya (English dub of Zeta Gundam).

Char Aznable is also known as Quattro Bagina & Edward Mass, but was born with the name Casval Rem Daikun. 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 colony Side 3, later Principality of Zeon. 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 became the rulers of 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. 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 into self imposed hiding 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.

Char next appears 7 years later in Zeta Gundam, barely disguised by replacing his mask with sunglasses and using the alias "Quattro Bagina". This time, rather than serving as the rival of the new protagonist, Kamille Bidan, Char serves as Kamille's mentor in the fight against the Earth Federation's oppressive Titans organization as a leader of the Anti Earth Union Group (AEUG). In the end, Char is defeated in combat by his ex-lover 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.

Another 6 years pass before Char again reappears 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 and its top ace, his old rival Amuro Ray. Each pilots a mobile suit equipped with a advanced Psycommu system known as a Psycoframe, and after their Psycoframes react to one another and overload, both are apparently killed in a massive explosion of psychic energy.

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.

Char has several recognizable characteristics.

1. Blonde Hair
2. Often wears red clothing.
3. Usually wears a mask or sunglasses to hide his true identity.
4. Usually pilots red mobile suits, that are usually three times faster than similar mobile suits.
5. Often involved in ephebophilic relationships, as exemplified by his relationship with Lalah Sune (who was no more than 16, and, according to Tomino's novel Secret Rendezvous: Amuro and Lalah, was discovered by Char working as a prostitute), Haman Karn (who was also no more than 15 at the beginning of their relationship, as detailed in the manga Portrait of a Young Comet - Char's Deleted Affair), and Quess Paraya (also teenager).

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).

Char Clones

Aside from his actual clone, Afranshia, 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, 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).

• 'Iron Mask' Karozzo Ronah from Gundam F91
• Zabine Chareux from Gundam F91 and Crossbone Gundam
• Chronicle Asher from Victory Gundam
• Schwarz Brüder, Master Asia, and Ulube Ishikawa from G Gundam
• Lancerow Dawell from Gundam X
• Zechs Marquise, the 'Lightning Count' from Gundam Wing
• Harry Ord and Corin Nander from ∀ Gundam
• Rau Le Creuset from Gundam SEED
• Neo Lorrnoke from Gundam SEED Destiny

Athrun Zala from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny has some Char-like traits, serving as the main rival in the original Gundam Seed series and having an affinity for red mobile suits. However, in Gundam SEED Destiny, he could be better labeled as a "Quattro Clone", hiding under an assumed name ("Alex Dino") and a pair of large sunglasses. He is also likely to serve as the main character's mentor figure as the series progresses. One wonders if it was intentional that Gilbert Dullindal is one of the first people to recognize Athrun's true identity, since Gilbert's seiyuu is the same as Char's.

The Siberian Railway policewoman Adett Kisler from another Tomino anime, Overman King Gainer, could be considered a female clone of Char Aznable, as she begins the series as a rival to the two male main characters, is clad for most of the series in a red bodysuit, has blonde hair, and, later in the series, pilots a red Silhouette Engine mecha.