Glemy Toto

Glemy Toto was a young Neo Zeon officer who claimed to be a descendant of the Zabi family and led the Glemy Faction in rebellion against Haman Karn during the First Neo Zeon War. Despite his youthful age of 17, Glemy rose to prominence within Neo Zeon’s ranks before ultimately betraying his superiors in an attempt to restore what he believed to be the rightful rule of the Zabi family.

Biography

Early life

According to production notes from the Gundam ZZ Part 2 book, Glemy was not a natural-born child but rather a test-tube baby created from the insemination of a Newtype woman’s egg with Gihren Zabi’s sperm as part of Zeon’s research into Newtype development. This artificial conception was part of a broader project that also produced Elpeo Ple and her clones, making Glemy effectively a half-sibling to the Ple series.

The young Glemy was placed with the aristocratic Toto family, who raised him as their adopted son whilst concealing his true origins. This arrangement kept him safe from political intrigue whilst allowing him to grow up with the privileges befitting his supposed noble status. Glemy himself remained unaware of his artificial origins and believed himself to be a legitimate descendant of the Zabi lineage.

Service under Neo Zeon

When Axis Zeon emerged as Neo Zeon in UC 0088, the 17-year-old Glemy joined their military forces. His claimed status as a member of the Zabi family made him highly valued by Haman Karn, who assigned him as a mobile suit pilot to the Endra Squadron led by Mashymre Cello.

Glemy’s initial role involved participating in attacks against the AEUG flagship Argama. During one such engagement, he encountered Roux Louka, a female pilot whom he mistook for a lost civilian. Instantly smitten, Glemy volunteered to escort her back to the Endra, only to discover she was an AEUG pilot when she escaped. Rather than feeling betrayed, Glemy became obsessed with Roux, developing unrequited romantic feelings that would persist throughout the war.

In another encounter, Glemy rescued Leina Ashta, believing her to be Roux. Instead of imprisoning her, he took on the role of mentor, teaching her music, dance, and the arts to present a sophisticated image of Neo Zeon. This act of chivalry demonstrated both his genuine desire to educate and his political awareness of public relations.

African campaign and awakening

When the war shifted to Earth, Glemy began to notice Haman’s growing suspicion of him, though he initially interpreted this as a test of his leadership capabilities. During his pursuit of the Argama in Africa, Glemy encountered the African Liberation Front’s Blue Corps, a resistance movement fighting against colonial rule.

This meeting proved pivotal to Glemy’s development. He briefly joined the Blue Corps, sympathising with their struggle for freedom and self-determination. When Neo Zeon forces attacked the Blue Corps under his own command, Glemy came to their rescue, rallying various resistance movements against the arriving Gundam Team.

Despite his excellent tactical command, the Blue Corps was nearly wiped out in the ensuing battle. A Blue Corps soldier took a fatal blow intended for Glemy, and with his dying words called Glemy “the one true leader of Zeon” because of his nature and beliefs. These words, combined with Haman’s increasingly suspicious behaviour, caused Glemy to secretly defect and begin amassing his own army.

Rise to power

Glemy’s disillusionment with Haman’s leadership grew as he realised she intended to rule Neo Zeon indefinitely, using Mineva Zabi as a mere figurehead. This understanding, coupled with his experiences in Africa, led him to begin recruiting supporters who favoured the rule of the Zabis over Haman’s personal ambitions.

During this period, Glemy also began his most controversial project: the cloning of Elpeo Ple. After Ple defected to the AEUG, Glemy replaced her with an identical clone called Ple Two. Unbeknownst to Haman and the Neo Zeon high command, he secretly created an entire army of Ple clones, each serving as powerful Cyber Newtypes under his direct control.

Glemy’s faction, which became known as the Glemy Army, attracted notable defectors including ace pilot Rakan Dahkaran and other officers who had grown disillusioned with Haman’s rule. His rumoured connection to the Zabi family served as a powerful rallying point for those who believed in the legitimacy of Zabi rule over Haman’s regency.

Civil war and downfall

In December UC 0088, as Neo Zeon reached the peak of its victory against the Earth Federation, Glemy revealed his heritage and launched a coup against Haman. This rebellion triggered a devastating civil war within Neo Zeon, splitting their forces between Haman loyalists and the Glemy Faction.

The internal conflict provided an opportunity for the Earth Federation and AEUG to launch a joint strike against Neo Zeon, creating a three-way battle at Axis. Glemy’s forces put up excellent resistance, deploying powerful mobile suits including the AMX-014 Döven Wolf and the colossal NZ-000 Queen Mansa.

However, the tide turned against Glemy when Ple Two began to hesitate in battle, influenced by her original’s spirit and her growing connection to Judau Ashta. During the final confrontation on 15 January UC 0089, Ple Two defected to Judau’s side, and Roux Louka killed Glemy by firing the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam’s beam rifle directly into the Queen Mansa’s cockpit, incinerating him instantly.

Personality & traits

Glemy presented a complex personality that combined genuine chivalry with calculated manipulation. Unlike other Neo Zeon soldiers, he was honourable and chivalrous, often appearing goofy in his adherence to refined manners and sophisticated behaviour. He condemned underhanded battle tactics such as taking hostages and held strong beliefs about how both men and women should conduct themselves with dignity.

His good nature made him extremely gullible, leading to numerous deceptions by others. His acts of chivalry often made him appear foolish to more pragmatic military minds. However, beneath this seemingly innocent exterior lay a more calculating individual capable of heartless manipulation when it served his purposes.

This duality was most evident in his treatment of subordinates. Glemy could be compared to a horse breeder: he raised his followers with care and attention, inspiring genuine loyalty through his charismatic leadership, but would desert them without hesitation when they failed to meet his expectations or became inconvenient to his plans.

His most recognised trait was his unrequited love for Roux Louka, which demonstrated both his romantic idealism and his tenacious nature. He genuinely believed he could “rescue” her from the AEUG and continued pursuing a relationship despite her repeated rejections. This obsession revealed his tendency towards self-delusion and his need to cast himself as a knight in shining armour.

Despite his youth, Glemy possessed natural leadership abilities that attracted followers to his cause. His belief in the righteousness of Zabi rule and his vision of a “true Neo Zeon” inspired others to join his rebellion against Haman. However, his political naivety and inexperience ultimately contributed to his downfall.

Skills & abilities

Military command

Despite his young age, Glemy demonstrated considerable talent as a military commander. His tactical acumen was evident during the African campaign, where he successfully coordinated resistance movements and showed excellent strategic thinking. His ability to inspire loyalty in subordinates made him an effective leader, as evidenced by the significant number of Neo Zeon officers who defected to join his faction.

Mobile suit piloting

Glemy was a competent mobile suit pilot, though not exceptional compared to ace pilots like Rakan Dahkaran or the Gundam Team. He effectively operated both the AMX-107 Bawoo in its various configurations and the massive NZ-000 Queen Mansa, demonstrating adaptability to different mobile suit types and combat roles.

Newtype abilities

As a test-tube baby created from Newtype genetic material, Glemy possessed latent Newtype abilities. While not as powerful as natural Newtypes like Judau Ashta or Haman Karn, his abilities were sufficient to effectively operate Psycommu-equipped mobile suits like the Queen Mansa and its funnel weapons system.

Scientific knowledge

Glemy’s most disturbing skill was his knowledge of cloning technology and Cyber Newtype enhancement. His successful creation of the Ple clone army demonstrated sophisticated understanding of genetic engineering and artificial Newtype development, suggesting access to advanced scientific resources and personnel within Neo Zeon.

Relationships

Roux Louka

Glemy’s relationship with Roux Louka defined much of his character development throughout the series. From their first encounter, when he mistook her for a lost civilian, Glemy became completely infatuated with the AEUG pilot. His romantic pursuit of Roux revealed both his chivalrous nature and his tendency towards obsession.

Despite Roux’s clear rejection of his advances and her obvious discomfort with his attention, Glemy persisted in believing he could win her affections and “rescue” her from what he saw as the misguided AEUG. This one-sided relationship demonstrated his capacity for self-delusion and his romantic idealism, treating their conflict more like a courtly romance than a military confrontation.

Ironically, it was Roux who delivered the killing blow that ended Glemy’s life, firing the Zeta Gundam’s beam rifle into the Queen Mansa’s cockpit. In his final moments, Glemy accepted this fate, perhaps finally understanding the futility of his romantic obsession.

Haman Karn

Haman Karn’s relationship with Glemy began as that of a superior officer recognising a valuable subordinate. Initially, Haman valued Glemy highly due to his supposed status as a member of the Zabi family, seeing him as both an asset and a potential threat to her regency over Mineva Zabi.

As Glemy’s influence grew, Haman became increasingly suspicious of his motives and loyalty. Her constant surveillance and mistrust ultimately became a self-fulfilling prophecy, driving Glemy to realise that Haman intended to rule Neo Zeon permanently rather than serving as a temporary regent. This revelation was the catalyst for his decision to rebel and form his own faction.

Their relationship deteriorated into open warfare during the Neo Zeon civil war, with both sides viewing the other as a betrayer of Zeon’s true ideals. Haman’s inability to trust Glemy, despite his initial loyalty, contributed directly to the fracturing of Neo Zeon at the moment of their greatest potential victory.

Elpeo Ple and the Ple clones

Glemy’s relationship with Elpeo Ple and her clones represented the darkest aspect of his character. Initially serving as Ple’s handler and mentor within Neo Zeon, Glemy manipulated her memories to transform her into a more effective and ruthless soldier, demonstrating his capacity for cold calculation beneath his chivalrous exterior.

When Ple defected to the AEUG, Glemy showed his true nature by abandoning her completely, viewing her defeat as a personal failure rather than mourning her apparent death. His creation of Ple Two and subsequent clone army revealed the extent of his manipulation and his willingness to treat people as expendable resources.

His relationship with Ple Two was particularly complex, as she served as both his most powerful weapon and a reminder of his earlier failure. The ultimate defection of Ple Two during the final battle represented both a tactical disaster and a personal rejection of his methods and ideology.

Leina Ashta

Glemy’s relationship with Leina Ashta showcased his more genuine desire to mentor and educate. After rescuing her in a case of mistaken identity, believing her to be Roux, Glemy chose to treat her as a student rather than a prisoner. He taught her music, dance, and the arts, genuinely attempting to provide her with a sophisticated education.

This relationship revealed Glemy’s capacity for genuine care and his political awareness of the importance of presenting Neo Zeon in a positive light. His treatment of Leina contrasted sharply with his manipulation of the Ple clones, suggesting that his cruelty was reserved for those he viewed as tools rather than individuals worthy of respect.

Mashymre Cello

Under Mashymre Cello’s command in the Endra Squadron, Glemy began his military career as a subordinate officer. Their relationship was professional, with Mashymre serving as Glemy’s initial superior in the Neo Zeon hierarchy. However, as Glemy’s influence grew and his true agenda became apparent, this relationship became strained.

The ultimate test of their relationship came during the Neo Zeon civil war, when former comrades found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict. Mashymre remained loyal to Haman, while Glemy’s rebellion represented a fundamental betrayal of their shared service under Neo Zeon.

Rakan Dahkaran

The defection of ace pilot Rakan Dahkaran to Glemy’s faction represented one of his greatest recruitment victories. Rakan’s decision to join the Glemy Army, despite his previous service under Haman, demonstrated the persuasive power of Glemy’s vision for Neo Zeon and his claimed legitimacy as a Zabi descendant.

Their relationship was built on shared disillusionment with Haman’s leadership and belief in the righteousness of Zabi rule. Rakan’s support provided Glemy’s faction with crucial military expertise and tactical capabilities, making the civil war far more devastating than it might otherwise have been.

Mecha

AMX-107 Bawoo

Glemy test-piloted the prototype AMX-107 Bawoo, a transformable mobile suit that could separate into the Bawoo Attacker and autonomous Bawoo Nutter units. His orange-coloured prototype featured distinctive markings, including an archaic kanji character combining the symbols for dragon and flight on the left thigh armour.

During his testing of the Bawoo, Glemy provided valuable feedback on the potential of the separated forms, leading developers to revive the transformation and docking mechanisms that had been initially dropped. His input resulted in the Bawoo Nutter being redesigned to function as a giant missile, significantly enhancing the mobile suit’s tactical versatility.

The Bawoo served as Glemy’s primary mobile suit during the middle period of the First Neo Zeon War, allowing him to participate effectively in combat operations whilst demonstrating his piloting skills. The suit’s ability to transform and separate proved particularly useful for the hit-and-run tactics favoured by Neo Zeon forces during their Earth campaign.

NZ-000 Queen Mansa

For the final battle of the First Neo Zeon War, Glemy piloted the massive NZ-000 Queen Mansa, one of the most powerful mobile suits ever constructed. This colossal machine represented the pinnacle of Neo Zeon’s Newtype weapon technology, combining the best features of the AMX-004 Qubeley series with the MRX-010 Psycho Gundam Mk-II.

The Queen Mansa’s armament included over twenty beam weapons mounted throughout its massive frame, plus thirty Psycommu-controlled funnels stored in a large tail binder. Its shoulder binders housed mega particle deflection systems that could not only absorb incoming beam fire but redirect it back at enemies. The mobile suit’s cockpit was housed within the detachable head unit, which could serve as an escape pod in emergencies.

Glemy’s operation of the Queen Mansa demonstrated his Newtype abilities and tactical understanding of large-scale mobile suit combat. However, the massive size of the mobile suit also made it a prominent target, and its complexity required significant coordination between pilot and support systems. His final battle in the Queen Mansa ended when Roux Louka managed to penetrate its defences and destroy the head unit with the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam’s beam rifle.

Behind the scenes

Creation and development

Glemy Toto was created by director Tomino Yoshiyuki as part of the cast of Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. His character served multiple narrative purposes: providing a romantic rival for the protagonist Judau Ashta, creating internal conflict within Neo Zeon, and exploring themes of legitimacy and inheritance that ran throughout the Universal Century timeline.

The character’s origins were deliberately kept mysterious during the original broadcast, with only hints about his connection to the Zabi family. Production notes later revealed the more complex backstory involving genetic engineering and test-tube conception, adding scientific elements that connected to the series’ broader themes about artificial Newtypes and human enhancement.

Glemy holds the distinction of being the first “Char Clone” character in the Gundam franchise—a masked or mysterious antagonist who serves as a rival to the protagonist. This archetype would become a recurring element in subsequent Gundam series, with characters like Zechs Merquise and Full Frontal following similar patterns.

Character development

Originally, director Tomino had planned for Char Aznable to return in Gundam ZZ and serve as the character who would split Neo Zeon through internal conflict. However, when Tomino received approval to produce Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack as a separate film, Char’s planned appearance in ZZ was cancelled.

Glemy’s character was developed to fill this narrative role, taking on the responsibility of creating internal strife within Neo Zeon and serving as a secondary antagonist alongside Haman Karn. This change required adjustments to the planned storyline but ultimately created a more focused narrative for both ZZ and the subsequent film.

The character’s romantic obsession with Roux Louka was intended to provide both comic relief and dramatic tension, showcasing his youthful naivety whilst also demonstrating the tragic consequences of unrequited love in wartime.

Voice acting

Japanese voice actor:

• Tsutomu Kashiwakura: Original series and most subsequent appearances

English voice actors:

• Jordan Schartner: English dub versions in various games and media

Kashiwakura’s performance emphasised both Glemy’s youthful enthusiasm and his underlying darkness, creating a complex portrayal that made the character both sympathetic and genuinely threatening. His delivery of Glemy’s romantic declarations and political speeches helped establish the character’s dual nature as both idealistic youth and calculating manipulator.

Cultural impact

Glemy’s character became notable for establishing the “Char Clone” archetype that would appear in subsequent Gundam series. His combination of mysterious origins, political ambitions, and romantic obsessions created a template that influenced later antagonist characters throughout the franchise.

The character’s backstory involving genetic engineering and artificial conception was unusual for 1980s anime, predating many later science fiction works that explored similar themes of designer babies and genetic manipulation. This element of his character connected to broader themes in the Universal Century about human enhancement and the ethics of artificial evolution.

Design evolution

Character designer Yasuhiko Yoshikazu created Glemy’s visual design to emphasise his youth and aristocratic background whilst also suggesting hidden depths beneath his pleasant exterior. The character’s blonde hair and blue eyes were intended to create contrast with the darker-haired protagonists whilst also suggesting European aristocratic lineage.

His mobile suit designs, particularly the custom Bawoo with its distinctive markings, reflected his personality through colour choices and decorative elements. The orange colour scheme of his prototype Bawoo was chosen to distinguish it from mass-production units whilst maintaining the Neo Zeon aesthetic.

Appearances

Anime

• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ (episodes 12-47)

Manga

• Mobile Suit Gundam: The Plot to Assassinate Gihren

Games

• Dynasty Warriors: Gundam series
• SD Gundam G Generation series
• Mobile Suit Gundam U.C. ENGAGE
• Super Robot Wars series

Other media

• Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn (flashback sequence)

External links

• Glemy Toto on the Gundam Wiki
• Glemy Toto on Wikipedia
• Glemy Toto on the Villains Wiki