Qum

Qum (クム) was a war orphan who served aboard the Argama during the Gryps Conflict and First Neo Zeon War. Along with her brother Shinta, she was brought to the Anti-Earth Union Group battleship by Char Aznable after their father was killed by the Titans.

Biography

Early life

Qum and Shinta were brother and sister whose father was set up and subsequently killed by the Titans as part of a cover-up operation. The Titans needed someone to blame for the assassination of Blex Forer, leader of the Anti-Earth Union Group, and chose their father as a convenient scapegoat to hide their own involvement in the murder.

The day after their father’s execution, the children were found selling water near a river where Char Aznable had arranged to meet Hayato Kobayashi to discuss Blex’s death. When Hayato asked about the children, Char initially dismissed their plight but then heard the voice of Lalah Sune, prompting him to reconsider his response.

Aboard the Argama

When Char returned from his trip to the Earth Federation capital at Dakar, he brought the orphaned children with him to the Argama. They remained aboard the ship as mascots and comic relief, filling a similar role to that which Katz Kobayashi and his adoptive siblings had played aboard the White Base during the One Year War.

For the most part, both Qum and Shinta were entrusted to the care of their babysitter Fa Yuiry and their pet robot Haro. When they became bored, they would often pester Kamille Bidan, Bright Noa, or the ship’s doctor Hasan for additional entertainment. Their mischievous behaviour frequently irked the Argama crew.

The children developed a bond with the cyber-Newtype Rosamia Badam when she boarded the Argama under the delusion that Kamille was her brother. Rosamia’s childlike nature resonated with both Qum and Shinta, and they gained her affections during her time on the ship. However, with a little help from the children, Rosamia was able to commandeer a RGM-79N GM Custom and escape from the ship.

First Neo Zeon War

During the First Neo Zeon War, Qum and Shinta continued to stay aboard the Argama and appeared to have grown significantly more mature, even after the departure of Fa and a comatose Kamille. They were given the responsibility of watching over Axis prisoner Chara Soon, who was kept tied to Shinta with a rope leash as a security measure.

When the crew travelled to La Vie en Rose to acquire the new Nahel Argama, the station came under attack by Illia Pazom in her MS-14J ReGelgu. During the battle, both children were sucked through a hull breach into space until being rescued by Bright Noa.

To protect her from getting hurt in the final battle at Side 3, Qum was not present during the last battle of the war. She was last seen saying farewell to Judau Ashta and Roux Louka as they departed for Jupiter.

Personality and traits

Qum was characteristically mischievous and playful, often getting into trouble alongside her brother Shinta. She demonstrated a childlike curiosity about the ship and its operations, frequently wandering into areas where she should not have been. Despite her troublesome behaviour, she showed loyalty to the Argama crew who had taken her in.

As she matured during the First Neo Zeon War, Qum became more responsible and was trusted with the important task of helping to guard prisoners. She displayed courage during dangerous situations, though the crew remained protective of her safety during major battles.

Relationships

Shinta

Shinta was Qum’s brother and constant companion. The two children were inseparable and worked together in both their mischievous schemes and their more serious responsibilities aboard the Argama. They shared the trauma of losing their father to the Titans and found comfort in each other’s presence.

Fa Yuiry

Fa Yuiry served as Qum’s primary caretaker aboard the Argama, taking on a maternal role for both her and Shinta. She was one of the few crew members who showed patience with their antics and ensured their well-being during the conflicts.

Rosamia Badam

Qum developed a friendship with the troubled cyber-Newtype Rosamia Badam during her time aboard the Argama. Their childlike natures allowed them to connect, and Qum ultimately helped her escape from the ship when she became distressed by her situation.

Behind the scenes

Qum was voiced by Mayumi Shou in Japanese and Caitlynne Medrek in English. Shou was born on 5 February 1965 in Tokyo and formerly worked at Aoni Production before becoming a director at Kekke Corporation. She is married to voice actor Keiichi Nanba and is known for voicing Chi-Chi in the Dragon Ball series.

The character was designed by Hiroyuki Kitazume, who served as character designer for both Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ. Qum and Shinta were created to fill a similar narrative role to the trio of war orphans from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, providing both comic relief and emotional weight to the story.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
• Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ