Chang Wufei

Chang Wufei was a Gundam pilot who participated in Operation Meteor during After Colony 195. A descendant of the proud Long Clan of Chinese warriors, he piloted the XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam and later the XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam in his pursuit of justice. Following the conflicts, he joined the Preventers and eventually became commander of the Mars Preventer base.

Biography

Early life

Wufei grew up as an heir of the Long Clan in Colony A0206. The Chinese government had feared the strength of the clan and exiled them to the aging colony. Unlike the warrior traditions of his clan, young Wufei was more interested in scholarly pursuits and attended boarding school, showing little interest in martial arts or combat.

At the age of 14, following clan custom, Wufei married Long Meiran, granddaughter of Master Long. The marriage was arranged by their families, likely for political or economic convenience. Neither Wufei nor Meiran were happy with the union initially—she considered him weak for preferring books over fighting, whilst he disagreed with her passionate belief in justice, thinking there was no such thing as universal justice. Despite being married, they never consummated their marriage and continued to act as if merely betrothed.

Wife’s sacrifice

In AC 194, General Septum of the United Earth Sphere Alliance attacked Colony A0206 with the intent to kill its inhabitants using biological weapons. Simultaneously, OZ forces led by Treize Khushrenada launched mobile suit attacks to capture the colony. Meiran charged into battle using a Tallgeese replica created by Master O, despite the physical toll the mobile suit took on her body.

When Wufei saw his wife in mortal danger, he followed her into battle using the incomplete Shenlong Gundam. During the combat, when a Leo attempted to destroy Wufei’s Gundam through self-destruction, Meiran sacrificed herself to protect her husband. The explosion left her severely wounded, and she died in Wufei’s arms in a field of flowers within the colony.

Before her death, Meiran acknowledged that Wufei was strong and she was not strong enough to be his wife. Wufei honoured her by finally calling her “Nataku”—the name she had used for herself after the Chinese protection deity. He renamed his Gundam “Nataku” in her memory and dedicated himself to pursuing the justice she believed in.

Operation Meteor

Determined to change the world that had taken his wife’s life, Wufei joined Operation Meteor in AC 195. Unlike the other Gundam scientists, Master O initially supported the original destructive plan until Wufei objected to using his home colony as one of the colony drops. This led to a rift between mentor and student, with Wufei rebelling against both Master O and the clan elders.

Wufei was sent to Earth as the fifth Gundam pilot. His first major mission was to destroy the Taurus mobile suits at Lake Victoria Base. There he encountered Lucrezia Noin, who hesitated to attack him due to his young age, allowing Wufei to escape to his Gundam. He destroyed several Aries mobile suits and used his beam cannon to shoot down an OZ transport plane loaded with Tauruses.

Alliance with the Gundam pilots

Wufei eventually met the other four Gundam pilots—Heero Yuy, Duo Maxwell, Quatre Raberba Winner, and Trowa Barton—at New Edwards Base. However, he arrived too late to prevent them from being manipulated by Treize into killing the Alliance’s pacifist leaders, including Field Marshal Noventa.

Along with Trowa, Wufei pursued Treize to his naval command ship and challenged him to a duel. Treize bested him in combat, leaving Wufei to doubt his abilities as a soldier. Defeated and confused, he travelled to China, where he encountered Sally Po leading rebels against Alliance forces. Sally helped him overcome his insecurities, and he used Shenlong to defeat OZ forces and kill Colonel Bundt.

Space operations

When OZ liberated the colonies from Alliance control, Wufei and the other Gundam pilots were forced to return to space. He launched a surprise attack on the space fortress Bulge but was caught in its giant beam cannon, causing significant damage to Shenlong and forcing him to use the Gundam’s beam glaive for propulsion to escape.

Later, whilst attempting to assassinate Romefeller Foundation Chief Engineer Tubarov, Wufei was captured and imprisoned. During captivity, he learned that the Gundam scientists were secretly rebuilding and improving his mobile suit. When Lady Une revolted against Tubarov, Wufei escaped with the incomplete Altron Gundam.

Colony’s destruction

Wufei returned to his home colony to train under Master Long, but OZ forces soon tracked him down. He took the battle outside the colony, but watched in horror as Master Long decided to destroy Colony A0206 through self-detonation to prevent OZ from capturing it. The destruction of his home left Wufei as possibly the last survivor of the Long Clan, deepening his grief and anger.

Sad and confused, Wufei continued his one-man crusade against OZ forces until Zechs Merquise in Wing Zero approached him with a proposal to unite against OZ and Romefeller. Considering Zechs an untrustworthy traitor, Wufei refused and fought him briefly before leaving.

Final battles

During the White Fang’s takeover of the Lunar Base, Wufei continued guerrilla attacks against mobile dolls. When his Altron was severely damaged, Sally Po and Heero Yuy rescued him. Surrounded by White Fang reinforcements, Heero convinced Wufei to pilot Wing Zero. The ZERO System helped Wufei understand that both Zechs and Treize were obstacles to achieving justice, and that working with the other Gundam pilots would aid his cause.

Wufei joined the others aboard the battleship Peacemillion for the final battle between the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and White Fang. During the climactic conflict, he sought out Treize in his Tallgeese II for a final duel. After Treize revealed that he knew the exact number of soldiers who had died under his command and mourned them all, he allowed himself to be impaled on Altron’s beam trident.

Wufei was devastated by his victory, crying as he remarked “I didn’t think I’d win.” Afterwards, he retrieved Wing Zero’s buster rifle and delivered it to Heero, who used it to destroy the final block of Libra descending towards Earth.

Mariemaia conflict

Dissatisfied with peacetime and haunted by Treize’s death, Wufei was the only Gundam pilot who refused Quatre’s plan to destroy the Gundams by sending them into the sun. Instead, he joined the Mariemaia Army to determine whether peace achieved at the expense of lives could truly be called peace.

When Heero and Duo infiltrated Colony X-18999 to rescue Relena Darlian, Wufei fought Heero in the colony’s tunnels. Later, as Heero attempted to reach Brussels in Wing Zero, Wufei intercepted him for another battle. The two clashed both in mobile suits and in philosophy until Heero made Wufei realise that continuing to fight would only increase the chance of catastrophic events like his colony’s self-destruction.

Preventers

After Heero destroyed the fortified Presidential Residence, Wufei joined the citizens in his Gundam as they rose up against Mariemaia’s forces. Seeing the people demand freedom and peace, he finally bid farewell to Treize and accepted that his battle was over. Away from the other pilots, Wufei detonated Altron on his own and was recruited by Sally Po to work for the Preventers.

By Mars Century 0022, Wufei had become head of the Mars Preventer base. As “Master Chang,” he was the direct superior of Kathy Po, whom he sent to Earth to meet with President Dorothy Catalonia and retrieve important files for Operation Mythos. When Kathy returned, Wufei used the files to awaken Heero from cryogenic sleep to undertake a new mission.

Personality & traits

Wufei was a conflicted character who remained calm in situations that would concern others, yet was prone to angry emotional outbursts when faced with conflicting ideologies or opponents he deemed weak. He despised weakness in both character and body, whether in others or himself, reflecting his warrior heritage.

His strict sense of honour was evident when he agreed to exit his Gundam and duel Treize aboard his vessel—a ship he could have easily destroyed from a distance. When defeated, he admitted his loss honourably and did not use his mobile suit to kill the man who had bested him.

Originally scholarly and cerebral in his youth, Wufei’s unwillingness to fight resulted in his wife’s death, fundamentally changing his character. He then chose to carry out Meiran’s path of justice in honour of her sacrifice, though his ideals often had a naivety to them, such as his desire to “destroy all evil to change the world.”

Wufei refused to fight those he considered weak, including pacifists, women, and children. This principle sometimes put him at odds with military objectives but reflected his personal code of honour. His apparent misogyny was actually rooted in his devotion to Meiran’s memory—no other woman could measure up to the ideal she represented to him.

Skills & abilities

Wufei was an expert in close-quarters and hand-to-hand combat, trained in various Chinese martial arts and weapons from his clan’s warrior traditions. Lady Une specifically ordered OZ soldiers to avoid one-on-one combat with the Shenlong Gundam, suggesting Wufei’s exceptional skill in individual combat situations.

Despite his martial focus, Wufei retained considerable intellectual capabilities. He was described as brainy and scholarly, with suggestions that he might have become a scientist rivalling Master O if the war had not occurred. This intelligence was evident in how he often stayed ahead of his fellow Gundam pilots despite working primarily alone.

Uniquely among the five main Gundam pilots, Wufei was the only one who never succumbed to the effects of the ZERO System. Although momentarily hampered during his time piloting Wing Zero, he managed to retain control of his faculties during combat, likely due to intense mental discipline developed through martial arts training.

Relationships

Long Meiran

Wufei’s relationship with his wife Long Meiran was complex and transformative. Initially arranged by their families when both were 14, neither wanted the marriage. Meiran considered Wufei weak for preferring scholarship over fighting, whilst he disagreed with her belief in justice. However, her sacrifice to protect him during the colony attack fundamentally changed Wufei’s worldview. Her death drove him to pursue the justice she believed in, and he honoured her memory by naming his Gundam “Nataku” after the protective deity name she used. Her influence shaped every aspect of his subsequent life and fighting philosophy.

Sally Po

Sally Po became one of Wufei’s most important allies and eventual colleagues. After his defeat by Treize left him doubting his abilities, Sally helped him overcome his insecurities whilst leading rebel forces in China. She taught him that everyone faces defeats and setbacks, but the important thing is not to give up. Later, after the Mariemaia conflict, Sally recruited Wufei to join the Preventers, where they worked together for decades. Her daughter Kathy Po would eventually serve under Wufei’s command at the Mars Preventer base.

Treize Khushrenada

Wufei’s relationship with Treize Khushrenada was one of the most complex in the series. Initially viewing Treize as the enemy responsible for his wife’s death, Wufei sought revenge throughout the conflicts. However, he also developed a grudging respect for Treize’s honour and convictions. Their final duel was as much philosophical as physical, with Treize allowing himself to be killed after revealing his profound grief for all the soldiers who had died under his command. Treize’s death devastated Wufei, who continued to be haunted by the man’s memory even after joining the Mariemaia Army.

Fellow Gundam pilots

Though preferring to work alone, Wufei eventually developed working relationships with the other Gundam pilots. He formed a particular partnership with Trowa Barton during their joint pursuit of Treize. His relationship with Heero Yuy was often antagonistic but evolved into mutual respect, particularly during their philosophical debates during the Mariemaia conflict. Wufei was grateful for assistance from Quatre and learned to coordinate with Duo Maxwell during space operations, though he remained the most solitary member of the group.

Mecha

Shenlong Gundam

The XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam was Wufei’s primary mobile suit during Operation Meteor and the early conflicts. Built by Master O and the Long Clan, it was designed to reflect Chinese martial arts traditions with its dragon-themed appearance and close-combat capabilities. Wufei renamed it “Nataku” after his deceased wife’s chosen name, treating the Gundam with deep reverence and honour.

Shenlong was equipped with a beam glaive as its primary weapon, reflecting Wufei’s preference for close-quarters combat. The mobile suit served him well during his missions on Earth and initial space operations, though it was eventually severely damaged during his attack on the space fortress Bulge. The Gundam’s design philosophy matched Wufei’s fighting style and his clan’s warrior traditions.

Altron Gundam

When Shenlong was damaged beyond effective repair, Wufei received the upgraded XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam. This improved version retained the dragon motif whilst adding enhanced armament, including twin beam tridents and additional defensive capabilities. Like its predecessor, Wufei continued to call it “Nataku” in honour of his wife’s memory.

Altron served as Wufei’s mobile suit through the final battles of the war, including his climactic duel with Treize. The Gundam’s enhanced capabilities allowed Wufei to hold his own against advanced opponents whilst maintaining the close-combat focus that matched his fighting philosophy. He eventually destroyed Altron himself after the Mariemaia conflict, symbolically ending his role as a warrior.

Full equipment list

XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam

Wufei’s original Gundam, nicknamed “Nataku.” Served throughout Operation Meteor and early space conflicts before being severely damaged at Bulge.

XXXG-01S2 Altron Gundam

The upgraded version of Shenlong, featuring enhanced armament and capabilities. Used during the final war and Mariemaia conflict until its destruction.

XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero

Temporarily piloted during rescue by Sally Po and Heero. Wufei was the only pilot never to succumb to the ZERO System’s psychological effects.

Epyon White

A self-built mobile suit piloted during the Mars Century era whilst serving as head of the Mars Preventer base. Continued to call it “Nataku” in keeping with tradition.

Behind the scenes

Chang Wufei was created by Katsuyuki Sumisawa for New Mobile Report Gundam Wing. His character design was handled by Shukou Murase, who gave him traditional Chinese features and clothing to reflect his heritage.

The character’s name carries multiple meanings—“Wu” translates to “five” in Chinese, reflecting his status as the fifth Gundam pilot, whilst “Wu fei” can also mean “nothing,” representing his self-image as disposable during his time as a pilot. His surname Chang was derived from Zhang Fei, a general from the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history.

Early in the series’ development, Wufei was originally planned to be from Africa rather than China. Additionally, promotional materials suggested that at one point he was conceived as a Newtype with the ability to divine the good or evil intentions of opponents, though this concept was not used in the final series.

Voice acting

In the Japanese version, Wufei was voiced by Ishino Ryuzou, who was born on 12 December 1962. Ishino’s other notable roles include Chousokabe Motochika in Sengoku Basara, though Wufei remains his most recognised character. His emotional portrayal of Wufei’s grief and anger, particularly during the character’s breakdown after defeating Treize, was particularly praised.

The English dub featured Ted Cole, born on 5 April 1971, who worked with Ocean Productions on numerous anime dubs. Cole’s other prominent roles included Yamcha in the Ocean dub of Dragon Ball Z, Tatewaki Kuno in Ranma ½, and Neil in Class of the Titans. Cole was more successful in his voice acting career than his Japanese counterpart, taking on multiple recurring roles across different series.

Appearances

Anime

• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing (1995) — Main character, debuts in “The Shooting Star She Saw”
• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz (1997) — Main character

Manga

• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Episode Zero — Featured in backstory revealing his marriage to Meiran
• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing Endless Waltz: Glory of the Losers — Retelling of the series events

Novels

• New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop (2010-2015) — Appears as “Master Chang,” head of Mars Preventer base

Video games

• SD Gundam G Generation series — Playable character across multiple entries
• Super Robot Wars series — Recurring character, often portrayed joining enemy factions before rejoining protagonists