Setsuna F. Seiei

Setsuna F. Seiei (刹那・F・セイエイ, Setsuna Efu Seiei) is the main protagonist of Mobile Suit Gundam 00 and a Gundam Meister for Celestial Being. He pilots the GN-001 Gundam Exia in the first season and later the GN-0000 Gundam 00. Born as Soran Ibrahim in Kurdistan, Setsuna was a child soldier before joining Celestial Being, where he seeks to eliminate war through armed intervention.

Biography

Early life

Setsuna was born in AD 2291 as Soran Ibrahim in Kurdistan, a region caught in the middle of conflicts between the world’s major power blocs. As a child, he was conscripted into a terrorist organisation and forced to fight as a child soldier. During this period, he witnessed the devastation caused by warfare and became disillusioned with the cycle of violence that plagued his homeland.

At the age of 11, Setsuna was rescued by Celestial Being during one of their interventions. The experience left a profound impact on him, and he came to view the Gundams as symbols of salvation. He eventually joined Celestial Being, taking the name “Setsuna F. Seiei” and becoming a Gundam Meister.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00

As a Gundam Meister, Setsuna pilots the GN-001 Gundam Exia, a close-combat specialised mobile suit. He carries out Celestial Being’s mission of armed intervention, attacking all parties involved in conflicts regardless of their affiliation. Setsuna is deeply committed to Celestial Being’s goal of eliminating warfare, viewing his actions as necessary to end the cycle of violence that consumed his homeland.

Setsuna’s interactions with other characters, particularly Marina Ismail, the princess of Azadistan, challenge his worldview and force him to question the ethics of armed intervention. His relationship with his fellow Gundam Meisters—Lockon Stratos, Allelujah Haptism, and Tieria Erde—also influences his development as he learns to work as part of a team.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season

In the second season, set four years after the events of the first season, Setsuna continues to serve Celestial Being, now piloting the advanced GN-0000 Gundam 00. The new Gundam features twin GN Drives, providing unprecedented power and capabilities. Setsuna’s resolve to eliminate warfare remains strong, but he faces new challenges from the Innovators, a mysterious faction that opposes Celestial Being.

Throughout the second season, Setsuna undergoes significant character development, becoming more capable of expressing his emotions and forming connections with others. His relationship with Marina Ismail deepens, and he continues to question and refine his understanding of Celestial Being’s mission.

Personality & traits

Setsuna is initially characterised by his stoic and emotionless demeanour, a result of his traumatic experiences as a child soldier. He is deeply committed to Celestial Being’s mission and rarely questions orders, viewing the Gundams as instruments of salvation. However, his interactions with others gradually reveal his capacity for growth and emotional connection.

Setsuna’s past as a child soldier continues to haunt him, and he often struggles with the morality of his actions. Despite his commitment to eliminating warfare, he is not blind to the suffering his interventions cause, leading to internal conflict as he grapples with the ethics of armed intervention.

Skills & abilities

As a Gundam Meister, Setsuna is an exceptional mobile suit pilot with extensive combat experience dating back to his time as a child soldier. His skills in close-combat are particularly notable, making him highly effective with the Gundam Exia’s specialised armament. Setsuna’s piloting abilities improve significantly throughout the series, and he becomes one of the most capable pilots in Celestial Being.

Setsuna also possesses the ability to enter a state called “Trans-Am” when using the Gundam 00’s twin GN Drive system, which dramatically increases his combat capabilities. This ability, combined with his piloting skills, makes him a formidable opponent even against superior numbers.

Mecha

GN-001 Gundam Exia

Setsuna’s primary mobile suit in the first season, the Gundam Exia is specialised for close-combat with its extensive melee weaponry. The mobile suit’s design emphasises speed and mobility, allowing Setsuna to engage enemies at close range with devastating effectiveness.

GN-0000 Gundam 00

Setsuna’s advanced mobile suit in the second season, the Gundam 00 features twin GN Drives that provide unprecedented power. The mobile suit’s capabilities far exceed those of conventional Gundams, making it one of the most powerful mobile suits in existence.

Relationships

Marina Ismail

Setsuna’s relationship with Marina Ismail, the princess of Azadistan, challenges his worldview and forces him to question the ethics of armed intervention. Marina’s pacifist ideals contrast with Setsuna’s methods, leading to complex interactions that influence Setsuna’s character development.

Lockon Stratos

Setsuna’s relationship with Lockon Stratos, the pilot of the Gundam Dynames, evolves from professional to personal as the series progresses. Lockon’s more laid-back personality contrasts with Setsuna’s stoicism, but their shared commitment to Celestial Being’s mission creates a bond between them.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam 00
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 Second Season
• Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer

External links

• Setsuna F. Seiei on the Gundam Wiki
• Setsuna F. Seiei on Wikipedia