Char Aznable

Char Aznable, born Casval Rem Deikun, was a legendary military commander and ace pilot who shaped the course of multiple conflicts in the Universal Century. First rising to fame as the “Red Comet” in the Principality of Zeon during the One Year War, he later served as a leader in the Anti-Earth Union Group under the alias Quattro Bajeena before ultimately leading Neo Zeon in their attempt to force humanity’s migration to space.

Biography

Early life

Born on 27 September UC 0059 as Casval Rem Deikun, he was the son of Zeon Zum Deikun, founder of the Republic of Zeon, and brother to Artesia Som Deikun. Following his father’s death in UC 0069, suspected to be an assassination by the Zabi family, Casval and Artesia fled to Earth under the protection of Jimba Ral, who constantly reminded Casval of the Zabis’ betrayal.

The siblings lived under the guardianship of Don Teabolo Mass, who gave them the aliases Édouard and Sayla Mass. After another attempt on their lives claimed Jimba’s life, they relocated to Texas Colony. There, Casval met a young man named Char Aznable who bore a striking resemblance to him except for their eye colours. Through a series of events involving Kycilia Zabi’s agents, Casval assumed Char’s identity after the real Char’s death in a ship explosion.

Military career

Zeon Military Academy

Entering the Zeon Military Academy as Char Aznable, he excelled in his training and formed a close friendship with Garma Zabi. He led fellow students in the “Dawn Rebellion” against Federation forces, resulting in his temporary expulsion. He spent this period at the Federation’s Jaburo construction site in Mahal, gaining valuable intelligence before being reinstated to the academy.

One Year War

After graduation, Char joined the Teaching Mobile Battalion under Kycilia Zabi before transferring to the Space Attack Force with military ID PM0571977243S. During the Battle of Loum, he earned the nickname “Red Comet” after destroying five Federation battleships using innovative high-speed assault tactics, earning a two-rank promotion to Lieutenant Commander.

His most significant rivalry developed with Federation pilot Amuro Ray during battles involving the White Base. While pursuing personal vengeance against the Zabi family, Char manipulated events leading to Garma’s death, famously telling his former friend to “blame this on the misfortune of your birth.” This resulted in his transfer from Dozle Zabi’s Space Attack Force to Kycilia’s command.

During this period, Char rarely wore standard pilot suits in combat, claiming it represented his absolute confidence in survival. He commanded the Falmel, a customized Musai-class vessel, leading the Mad Angler Corps.

His final battle of the war occurred at A Baoa Qu, where he engaged in both mobile suit combat and a personal sword duel with Amuro Ray, receiving his trademark facial scar. He completed his revenge by killing Kycilia Zabi before escaping the fortress’s destruction.

Post One Year War

After the war, Char went to Axis, where he helped defend the asteroid in two major battles against the Federation. He initially supported Haman Karn becoming Regent to Mineva Lao Zabi, but later opposed her methods of educating the young princess. During this period, he formed a relationship with Natalie Bianchi, whose death contributed to his eventual departure from Axis.

Following a civil war against Colonel Enzo’s hardline faction, Char left Axis in UC 0083 with 600 loyal followers. He returned to the Earth Sphere in UC 0084 under the alias Quattro Bajeena, joining the Anti-Earth Union Group alongside former adversaries like Amuro Ray and Bright Noa.

AEUG leadership

As Quattro, Char served as an AEUG mobile suit commander during the Gryps Conflict, mentoring Kamille Bidan. He delivered a pivotal speech at Dakar that swayed public opinion against the Titans, revealing his true identity in the process. After the conflict’s end, he disappeared following a battle with Haman Karn.

Neo Zeon Movement

In UC 0093, Char emerged as leader of Neo Zeon, forming a relationship with Nanai Miguel and gathering followers including Gyunei Guss. He attempted to force humanity’s space migration by dropping Axis onto Earth, leading to his final confrontation with Amuro Ray. Both disappeared in a psychic resonance phenomenon while preventing the asteroid’s fall.

Legacy

Char’s influence extended far beyond his direct military achievements. His political philosophy and charismatic leadership inspired numerous movements among spacenoids. His tactical innovations influenced mobile suit combat doctrine, while his Newtype theories shaped understanding of human evolution. Even after his disappearance, his ideology continued to influence events through groups like the Sleeves and their leader Full Frontal.

Physical appearance

Char’s physical characteristics changed throughout his military career. During the One Year War, his records indicated that he was 175 cm tall, weighed 62 kg, and had AB blood type and brown eyes.

Files during the Gryps Conflict had his height at 180 cm and weight 62 kg. He was notably left-handed and had blue eyes during this time.

The scar on his forehead from his duel with Amuro at A Baoa Qu remained with him for the rest of his life.

He was known for wearing distinctive masks or sunglasses to conceal his identity, with designs varying throughout his career. During the One Year War, he carried a laser pistol similar to the one used by Kycilia Zabi. His pilot suits, when he chose to wear them, were customized in his signature red colour.

Personality

Char was a charismatic and complex individual who evolved from a revenge-driven soldier to a philosophical leader. Though outwardly confident, he harboured deep-seated emotional fragility stemming from his father’s death and expectations placed upon him as Zeon’s heir.

As a pilot, he was renowned for his exceptional abilities, particularly his high-speed combat tactics that earned him the “Red Comet” moniker. He developed into a powerful Newtype, though his abilities never matched those of Amuro Ray or Lalah Sune.

Beyond combat, Char was a skilled tactician and natural orator. He could inspire intense loyalty while manipulating events and people to achieve his goals. He showed particular interest in Newtype theory and development, both recognising and nurturing Newtype potential in others.

Char claimed to have no time for hobbies, and showed a disdain for reading, believing that there was nothing to learn from predecessors.

He displayed a preference for cacti. His favourite colours were red and gold.

Relationships

Zeon Zum Deikun

Char held deep respect for his father Zeon Zum Deikun and strongly believed in his philosophies. His father’s death, which he believed was an assassination by the Zabis, became the driving force behind his quest for revenge. The burden of being expected to succeed his father as a great leader contributed to his complex character development.

Sayla Mass

His relationship with his sister Sayla remained complex throughout his life. Despite their separation, he maintained a protective stance, attempting several times to convince her to leave the Federation military and providing her with gold to ensure her future. Their encounters during the One Year War were marked by mutual concern despite being on opposing sides.

Amuro Ray

His relationship with Amuro Ray defined much of his military career. Initially meeting as enemies during the One Year War, their rivalry intensified after Lalah’s death. During the Gryps Conflict, they formed an uneasy alliance, with Char noting that Amuro was more “lucky” than exceptional.

Their final confrontation in UC 0093 was driven by Char’s lingering resentment over Lalah’s death, though he ensured their battle would be on equal terms by leaking psychoframe technology to Anaheim Electronics.

Bright Noa

Despite being former enemies, Char served under Bright Noa during his time with the AEUG. Their professional relationship was marked by mutual respect, with Bright even urging Char to embrace his true identity as a leader for the spacenoids.

Kamille Bidan

Char served as a mentor to Kamille Bidan during the Gryps Conflict, helping the young pilot mature and evolve as both a soldier and a Newtype. Their relationship was characterised by mutual respect, with Char recognising that Kamille’s Newtype abilities eventually surpassed his own. Romantic Relationships

Lalah Sune

Lalah Sune was arguably his most significant relationship. After saving her from an Indian brothel, Char developed deep feelings for her, though these were complicated by his appreciation of her Newtype abilities. Her death protecting him from Amuro’s attack deeply affected him and influenced his future actions. He later admitted to seeking maternal qualities in her.

Natalie Bianchi

During his time on Axis, Char formed a relationship with Natalie Bianchi, who became pregnant with his child. Her death, which Haman Karn allowed to happen, was a primary factor in his departure from Axis.

Haman Karn

His relationship with Haman Karn was complex. Initially, she looked up to him and sought his support as she was discovering her Newtype powers. While Haman developed romantic feelings for Char, he maintained a guardian-like role. Their ideological differences eventually led to conflict, though Haman never completely abandoned her feelings for him.

Nanai Miguel

During the Second Neo Zeon War, Nanai Miguel became his formal love interest. While Char showed care for her, he remained more focused on his objectives regarding Amuro and Earth than on their relationship.

The Zabi family

Garma Zabi

His friendship with Garma Zabi was complex. While they were close during their academy days, Char ultimately used this friendship to further his revenge against the Zabis. Despite this betrayal, Char showed some regret over Garma’s death, acknowledging him as a good friend and lamenting the circumstances of his birth.

Dozle Zabi

Dozle Zabi initially trusted Char, but turned against him after Garma’s death, dismissing him from the Space Attack Force.

Kycilia Zabi

Kycilia Zabi was aware of Char’s true identity but still employed him, using his skills while maintaining careful oversight. She ultimately became his final Zabi family target.

Mineva Lao Zabi

Despite her being Dozle Zabi’s daughter, Char showed no ill will toward Mineva Lao Zabi. He attempted to protect her from Haman’s influence and ensure she received a normal upbringing. Their relationship demonstrated that his hatred of the Zabis did not extend to the next generation.

Military career

During the One Year War, Char served under military ID PM0571977243S, initially as a Lieutenant in the Space Attack Force. His exceptional performance at the Battle of Loum, where he destroyed five Magellan-class battleships, earned him a promotion to Lieutenant Commander and the nickname “Red Comet”. He later commanded the Mad Angler Corps before being promoted to Colonel under Kycilia’s command.

As Quattro Bajeena in UC 0087, he held the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Earth Federal Forces while secretly serving the AEUG. As mobile suit team commander aboard the Argama, he led numerous successful operations including the capture of the Gundam Mk-II from the Titans at Green Noa 1, the Jaburo drop operation, and the assault on Kilimanjaro Base. His political influence peaked with the Dakar speech, which helped legitimize the AEUG’s position against the Titans.

By UC 0093, Char had emerged as Supreme Commander of Neo Zeon, effectively serving as both military leader and head of state. From his declaration at Sweetwater Colony through the Fifth Luna drop on Lhasa and the attempted Axis drop, he demonstrated both tactical brilliance and strategic vision. He orchestrated the development of psychoframe technology, secretly arranging for its inclusion in both his Sazabi and Amuro’s Nu Gundam to ensure their final battle would be on equal terms.

Combat capabilities

Char was renowned for his technical expertise in mobile suit customization and combat. His personal units typically featured enhanced thruster output, modified panoramic monitors with enhanced tracking, and reinforced joint servos to handle his high-speed maneuvers. The distinctive dark red paint scheme (Coating Type RPM-001) became his trademark, though it originated from practical considerations rather than personal choice.

His equipment evolved throughout his career, from his early war reinforced combat helmet with integrated air filtration to his later enhanced normal suit during the Second Neo Zeon War. Each iteration of his gear was specifically modified to support his aggressive combat style and leadership requirements.

In battle, Char developed a unique fighting style characterized by high-speed hit-and-run attacks and innovative use of terrain. His signature “Red Comet Kick” demonstrated his ability to adapt mobile suit combat to close-quarters fighting techniques. He frequently combined psychological warfare with mobile suit combat, using his reputation and tactical acumen to unsettle opponents before engaging them directly. His precise targeting of enemy sensors and cameras, along with masterful use of debris and asteroids as tactical cover, showcased his superior spatial awareness and combat intuition.

Philosophical rvolution

Char’s ideological development traced a complex path from personal vengeance to global revolution. His early focus on revenge against the Zabi family evolved during his AEUG period into broader advocacy for Spacenoid independence and rights. By the time he led Neo Zeon, his philosophy had crystallized around the concept of forced human evolution through space migration.

His Newtype theory centered on the belief that human consciousness needed to escape Earth’s gravity for true evolution. This belief became increasingly radical over time, eventually leading to his attempt to force humanity into space through environmental catastrophe. His famous Dakar speech articulated many of these themes, particularly the corruption of Earth Federation governance and the necessity of human evolution, while also serving as a scathing criticism of the Titans’ oppression.

Strategic operations

The Granada Incident in UC 0079 demonstrated Char’s innovative approach to space warfare, as he utilized asteroids for tactical cover in ways that would influence future space combat doctrine. His undercover period at the Jaburo construction site provided him with detailed intelligence that proved crucial in later operations.

During the Axis Civil War in UC 0083, he commanded loyalist forces against Colonel Enzo’s hardline faction, successfully preventing a premature war with the Federation. His victory in this internal conflict came at a personal cost, contributing to his eventual departure from Axis with 600 loyal followers. These experiences shaped his later leadership style and tactical approach, particularly in space warfare and political maneuvering.

Notable achievements

• Battle of Loum: Destroyed 5 Magellan-class battleships
• Side 7 Incident: Led reconnaissance mission that discovered Project V
• Jaburo Infiltration: Successfully penetrated Earth Federation headquarters
• A Baoa Qu Defense: Commanded mobile suit forces in final battle

Mecha

Throughout his distinguished military career, Char Aznable piloted a diverse array of mobile suits that reflected both his evolution as a pilot and the advancement of mobile suit technology. His machines invariably featured superior performance specifications and, where possible, his signature red colour scheme. His progression from conventional mobile suits to Newtype-specific units paralleled his own development from ace pilot to political leader.

MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type

The MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type served as Char’s introduction to mobile suit warfare and the foundation of his legendary status. Developed in response to veteran pilots’ request for a high performance unit, the MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type was far more mobile than its predecessor, the MS-06F Zaku II, but was also far more difficult to control. Compared to the F Type, the S Type’s vernier nozzles were enlarged, and the output of its main thrusters were increased by 30% while retaining the same size. Char’s custom unit featured his distinctive red paint scheme and the removal of all safety limiters, allowing him to push the mobile suit to its structural limits.

Char’s services would earn him the nickname the “Red Comet”, and he would later be given the Musai-class ship, Falmer as Dozle Zabi personalyl ordered Char to investigate Side 7 due to a report on the mobile suit project of the Federation. The machine’s enhanced performance, combined with Char’s exceptional piloting skills, enabled him to achieve the impossible feat of destroying five Magellan-class battleships during the Battle of Loum, earning him both his nickname and a two-rank promotion.

Although the MS-06F Zaku II was the most heavily mass produced Zaku model of the One Year War, a handful of Zakus were modified for improved performance and assigned to squadron commanders and proven ace pilots. This mobile suit represented the perfect synthesis of Zeon engineering excellence and Char’s tactical innovation, establishing patterns of high-speed combat that would define his fighting style throughout his career.

MSN-04 Sazabi

The MSN-04 Sazabi represented the pinnacle of Char’s mobile suit technology and his final machine. After Char Aznable, the legendary Zeon ace, reappears in the early U.C. 0090s and establishes the second Neo Zeon movement, Char commissioned Anaheim Electronics to produce a custom-designed mobile suit specifically for his Newtype abilities and superb piloting skills. At 25.6 metres tall, the Sazabi was significantly larger than most contemporary mobile suits, reflecting the inclusion of advanced Psychoframe technology that allowed unprecedented integration between pilot and machine.

The MSN-04 Sazabi was one of the strongest Mobile Suits built at the time of its creation, as it was the first to introduce the usage of Psychoframe technology. This state-of-the-art development utilizes the recently invented Psycommu interface, allowing the pilot to communicate with the Mobile Suit using their brainwaves. The Sazabi featured six funnels stored in its backpack, each capable of independent operation through Char’s Newtype abilities. Char has shown that these funnels can attack at great distances and are ideal for dealing with nuclear missiles.

The Sazabi served as Char’s personal command unit during the Second Neo Zeon War, where it engaged in the legendary final duel with Amuro Ray’s RX-93 ν Gundam, a battle that ended with both pilots disappearing in a Psychoframe resonance phenomenon.

MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki

The MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki marked Char’s transition from revenge-focused ace pilot to political leader during his time with the AEUG as Quattro Bajeena. The Hyaku Shiki is a mobile suit built by Anaheim Electronics as part of the Zeta Project. It was originally designed as the prototype transformable mobile suit, MSN-001 Delta Gundam which incorporated Anaheim Electronics’ own movable frame technology and backpack-mounted wing binders for additional mobility. When transformation proved impossible due to frame limitations, the design was simplified into the elegant, high-performance Hyaku Shiki.

The Hyaku-Shiki was painted in a bright, highly distinctive gold paint scheme—ostensibly as a taunt to the Titans to prove that the AEUG could build mobile suits right under their noses – and had a reflective, anti-beam coating. The mobile suit’s anti-beam coating provided substantial protection against directed energy weapons, while its advanced movable frame technology granted exceptional mobility. Armed with a powerful beam rifle, clay bazooka, and the massive FHA-03M1 Mega Bazooka Launcher, the Hyaku Shiki served as Char’s primary machine throughout the Gryps Conflict.

Char used the Hyaku-Shiki as his personal mobile suit until the end of the Gryps Conflict, when it was heavily damaged in a battle against Axis leader Haman Karn’s AMX-004 Qubeley in February UC 0088. The machine’s golden appearance made it instantly recognisable on the battlefield and served as a powerful symbol of AEUG resistance against Titans oppression.

MSN-02 Zeong

The MSN-02 Zeong served as Char’s final mobile suit of the One Year War and introduced him to Newtype-specific technology. Developed by the Principality of Zeon at the A Baoa Qu space fortress during the One Year War, the Zeong was built exclusively for Newtype pilots. Despite being only 80% complete and lacking legs, the massive mobile suit retained full combat effectiveness in space operations. Although only “80 percent complete,” the Zeong was actually at 100 percent combat capacity, not needing its cosmetic legs for a space battle.

The Zeong, like its predecessors, was equipped with the Psycommu system, which allowed a Newtype pilot to utilize its wire-guided remote-controlled forearms for all-range attack effectively. Each of the Zeong’s detachable arms contained five mega particle cannons built into the fingers, while additional weapons were mounted in the waist and head. The mobile suit’s unusual design placed the cockpit in the head rather than the torso, allowing the head to separate and continue fighting independently if the body was destroyed.

Both the Zeong and the Gundam were destroyed in battle, but Amuro and Char survived, continuing their battle on foot inside A Baoa Qu. The Zeong represented Zeon’s ultimate mobile suit development and provided Char with his first experience of true Newtype-machine integration, foreshadowing his later mastery of psychoframe technology.

Other notable mobile suits

MSM-07S Z’Gok Commander Type

The MSM-07S Z’Gok Commander Type served as Char’s amphibious mobile suit during his infiltration of Jaburo, demonstrating his adaptability across different combat environments. The machine’s streamlined design and powerful claw weapons proved ideal for underwater operations and close-quarters combat within the Federation’s underground headquarters.

MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type

Char’s MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type represented the peak of conventional mobile suit technology available to Zeon forces during the later stages of the One Year War. Featuring beam weaponry and performance specifications that rivalled the Federation’s RX-78-2 Gundam, the Gelgoog provided Char with a powerful platform for his final operations before receiving the Zeong.

RMS-099 Rick Dias

During his tenure with the AEUG, Char also piloted the RMS-099 Rick Dias as his initial mobile suit before receiving the Hyaku Shiki. The Rick Dias introduced him to Anaheim Electronics technology and served as his platform for early Gryps Conflict operations, including the successful capture of the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II units from the Titans.

Full mecha list

• MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type
• MSM-07S Z’Gok Commander Type
• MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type
• MSN-02 Zeong
• MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki
• MSN-04 Sazabi

One Year War

• RTX-65 Guntank Early Type - Used briefly during training
• MS-06C Zaku II Early Type - Early war custom unit
• MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type - His iconic unit during early war
• MSM-07S Z’Gok Commander Type - Used for Jaburo infiltration
• MS-14S Gelgoog Commander Type - Late war high-performance unit
• MSN-02 Zeong - Final One Year War unit at A Baoa Qu

Gryps Conflict

• RMS-099 Rick Dias - Initial AEUG unit
• RX-178 Gundam Mk-II - Temporarily piloted
• MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki - Primary unit during AEUG service

Second Neo Zeon War

• MSN-04 Sazabi - Final mobile suit, custom-built for Char

Command vessels

• Falmel - Custom Musai-class light cruiser
• Zanzibar-class mobile cruiser
• Argama - Served aboard as mobile suit commander
• Rewloola - Neo Zeon flagship

Behind the scenes

Creation and Development

Char’s character was inspired by World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, known as the “Red Baron”, sharing similar nicknames and characteristics. His name was derived from French singer Charles Aznavour (シャルル・アズナブール). Series creator Yoshiyuki Tomino combined this with inspiration from the character Sharkin in the anime series Reideen.

The distinctive red colour of his mobile suits was originally a practical choice—the animation company had excess pink-red paint at the time. This would become one of his most recognizable traits and influence many future Gundam characters.

Cultural impact

The character became immensely popular in Japan, leading to numerous products branded as “Char Custom” versions, including:

• A Char Custom laptop
• A Char Custom Nintendo GameCube
• A Char Custom motorbike helmet
• A Char Custom credit card that offered three times the regular points
• A Char Custom Toyota Auris

Japanese internet investor Daisuke Enomoto planned to dress as Char during a 2006 spaceflight aboard Soyuz TMA-9, though medical issues prevented his participation.

Voice acting

Shuichi Ikeda has voiced Char in most of his appearances since the original series. The role helped establish Ikeda’s career, and his performance is considered iconic in the anime industry.

Michael Kopsa was the voice actor for Char for the English dub of Mobile Suit Gundam and Char’s Counterattack.

In Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, the young Char was voiced by Toshihiko Seki in Japanese and Keith Silverstein in English.

Trivia

• Despite being an ace pilot, Char was never shown driving a car in any of his animated appearances
• He typically avoided wearing pilot suits during the One Year War, only adopting them regularly after that conflict
• His nickname “Red Comet” was based on destroying five Federation battleships in the Battle of Loum
• The emblem on his personal mobile suits features the letter “A” with a bird design
• His signature combat move was a kick, which he used both in mobile suit combat and personal combat
• He had a habit of verbally counting down before launching in his mobile suit
• His mask designs changed throughout his career, with each new identity having a distinct style
• The “three times faster” description of his mobile suits became a running theme in the franchise
• He preferred casual clothing to formal uniforms during his leadership of Neo Zeon
• His birthday is officially listed as September 27, UC 0059, though some sources list November 17
• He was left-handed, as shown in several combat sequences
• The term “Char Clone” became used to describe similar characters in later Gundam series who wore masks or piloted red mobile suits

Technical notes

• All his custom mobile suits featured enhanced thrusters and mobility systems
• His mobile suits typically used a distinctive dark red paint scheme (Coating Type RPM-001)
• He was one of the first pilots to effectively use psychological warfare in mobile suit combat
• His custom Zaku II featured enhanced vernier thrusters that made it significantly faster than standard models
• The mono-eye sensor on his mobile suits was typically programmed with a unique scanning pattern

Appearances

TV Series

• Mobile Suit Gundam
• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam

Films

• Mobile Suit Gundam I
• Mobile Suit Gundam II: Soldiers of Sorrow
• Mobile Suit Gundam III: Encounters in Space
• Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack

OVA/ONAs

• Mobile Suit Gundam MS IGLOO
• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin

External links

• Char Aznable on Wikipedia
• Char Aznable on Japanese Wikipedia
• Char Aznable on the Gundam Wiki