History Main / CharClone

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'': Camus is a blond-haired, highly skilled anti-villain. In the the third game, Sirius, a masked, blond-haired, highly-skilled knight who you have totally never met before joins your party. Sounds familiar? Notably, Camus himself has spawned many clones that the fandom call the "Camus archetype" (although only [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Eldigan and Ares]] are direct Char clones, even though neither of them wear masks). They typically fall under "MyCountryRightOrWrong", and sadly are usually killed off. The archetypes are largely distinct in that they tend to be based on Camus's personality, and he doesn't actually have much in common with Char personality-wise, being a goodhearted and loyal NobleTopEnforcer rather than a treacherous manipulator--far more similar to Ramba Ral than Char.

* ''Film/{{Shin Kamen Rider|2023}}'': Ichiro Midorika, a.k.a. Chou Augment-01/Kamen Rider No. 0, is an EnigmaticMinion within the ranks of SHOCKER and the brother of Ruriko, the film's female lead. Ichiro also has a [[HiddenAgendaVillain personal agenda]] through his plan to save all of humanity by transferring their souls (including those from SHOCKER, as revenge for his father and Ruriko's death) to the Habitat Realm, which mirrors [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Char's intention of migrating humanity into space through crashing the Axis asteroid on Earth]]. The prequel manga ''Nulla in mundo pax sincera: Shin Kamen Rider SHOCKER SIDE'' also shows that he previously wore a [[GoldColoredSuperiority gold-colored]] prototype combat suit, a possible nod to Char's [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Hyaku-Shiki]].

* ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'': Veniczar Arcadius wears a face-concealing elf mask, pilots a red[[note]]although to be fair, all PACT vessels are red[[/note]] AceCustom [[AMechByAnyOtherName Ryder]], is searching for [[AbusivePrecursors ancient Ryuvian]] LostTechnology for unknown purposes, and is related to [[spoiler:the Sunrider’s chief engineer Chigara Ashada by dint of them both being [[ArtificialHuman Prototype]] clones]]. And, as the charismatic dictator of the [[PeoplesRepublicOfTyranny People’s Alliance for Common Treatment]] and a GalacticConqueror, Arcadius is definitely the BigBad type of Char Clone. Liberation Day shows that [[spoiler:Alice, the primary Arcadius, also has [[CloningBlues issues with being a Prototype]] and an omnicidal, misanthropic hatred of humanity]], effectively making Arcadius [[spoiler:[[SamusIsAGirl a gender-swapped]]]] Rau le Creuset.

* Lacks access to whatever [[TechnologyMarchesOn bleeding-edge technologies]] or [[UniqueProtagonistAsset superhuman abilities]] that TheProtagonist usually [[UnskilledButStrong relies on to carry them to victory]], but [[WeakButSkilled manages to keep up anyway through his superior skill]]. This need not stay true for the entirety of the series, and can create an arms race as the hero [[BoxingLessonsForSuperman grows in experience]] but their rival [[EmpoweredBadassNormal gradually closes the technology gap]].

* An AceCustom HumongousMecha (or [[CoolPlane plane]]/[[CoolCar car]]/[[CoolBike motorcycle]]/whatever), [[LawOfChromaticSuperiority usually red]] (but occasionally gold, from Char's ''[[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Zeta Gundam]]'' mecha). May be referenced as being three times better ([[RedOnesGoFaster especially faster]]) than normal. Often, despite being highly-tuned their initial machine will [[TechnologyMarchesOn lack some powerful new technology used in the hero's]], making them WeakButSkilled while the hero is StrongButUnskilled (which can create an arms race as the hero grows in skill but their rival gradually closes the technology gap).

** ''Series/KamenRiderGaim'': [[NominalHero Kaito Kumon/Kamen Rider Baron]] is the red-colored [[TheRival rival]] to the title protagonist. He starts out as an AntiHero, then joins Kouta's alliance because of bigger threats like Yggdrasill Crporation and the Overlord Inves' invasion on Earth and becomes Lord Baron and effectively the final opponent Kouta needs to defeat before he can liberate the world.

* ''Anime/CrossAnge'': Salamandinay is a DRAGON that rides a red-colored Paramail (actually a SuperPrototype of it) and is very much not just a DRAGON princess, but their top AcePilot, being TheRival of Ange (which eventually became [[FriendlyRival a friendly one]]), generally representing the more benevolent side of Char (as Quattro). And since Ange already took Char's hair color (Blond), Sala had to take the contrasting hair color (black hair). Her 'mask' was actually this trope being played around: Sala doesn't wear mask (her piloting head piece doesn't even cover her face), but for the first half of the series, she's only seen full face in the opening, her face was mostly shrouded in her debut episode until the last moment where she's only there to give cryptic small exposition. So the show went out of the way to allude that she's a Char-like rival while not giving her any masks, something that Sala complained at an episode preview, thinking that she's been fooled into thinking that she's actually an AdvertisedExtra (she's not).

[[folder: Fan Works]]

* ''Anime/RobotRomanceTrilogy'': (''Anime/CombattlerV'', ''Anime/VoltesV'', and ''{{Anime/Daimos}}''): Sharkin and his successors invert this, as the villain of each is a blonde antagonist —particularly their characterization, NobleDemon traits, and connection to the main pilots of the opposing team — would serve as the basis for Char Aznable and his subsequent iterations.[[note]]Yoshiyuki Tomino worked on Anime/VoltesV and {{Anime/Daimos}} prior to creating Anime/MobileSuitGundam.[[/note]] Bonus points for {{Anime/Daimos}} for having his sister [[StarCrossedLovers romantically involved with the hero]].

* ''Anime/CrossAnge'': Salamandinay is a DRAGON that rides a red-colored Paramail (actually a SuperPrototype of it) and is very much not just a DRAGON princess, but their top AcePilot, being TheRival of Ange (which eventually became [[FriendlyRival a friendly one]]), generally representing the more benevolent side of Char (as Quattro). Her 'mask' was actually this trope being played around: Sala doesn't wear mask (her piloting head piece doesn't even cover her face), but for the first half of the series, she's only seen full face in the opening, her face was mostly shrouded in her debut episode until the last moment where she's only there to give cryptic small exposition. So the show went out of the way to allude that she's a Char-like rival while not giving her any masks, something that Sala complained at an episode preview, thinking that she's been fooled into thinking that she's actually an AdvertisedExtra (she's not).

* ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' gives us a pokemon based on the trope with Charcadet, a small, humanoid fire-type that resembles a young soldier in red with an elaborate helmet and mask, which can evolve into either the larger red humanoid Armarouge, gaining elaborate shoulder armor, giving it a passing resemblance to Char's Zaku, or the Purple Ceruledge, who uses hand-mounted energy weapons not unlike the Zeong (though {{LaserBlade}}s rather than FingerFirearms). Its evolved forms gain either psychic or ghost as a secondary typing, referencing Char's developing Newtype powers in the later part of the series, and perhaps his tormented relationship with the ghost of Lalah Sune in the final act. What really drives home the fact that it's a deliberate ShoutOut to ''Gundam'', however, is the fact that Charcadet's shiny version is identical to the normal one apart from having blue eyes, a reference to Casval [[PrinceAndPauper and]] [[IdenticalStranger the]] [[TheRealRemingtonSteele real Char Aznable]] in ''Manga/MobileSuitGundamTheOrigin'''s flashback arc.

%%* ''Romantic Robot Trilogy'' (''Anime/CombattlerV'', ''Anime/VoltesV'', and ''{{Anime/Daimos}}''): Sharkin's successors. Bonus points for the latter for having his sister [[StarCrossedLovers romantically involved with the hero]].

* ''Anime/StrainStrategicArmoredInfantry'': Ralph Werec is an AcePilot and brother of the main character, who betrayed his nation and become DragonWithAnAgenda of the series BigBad [[spoiler: and ultimately betrays her to pursue his agenda]]. While officially the series is ''Literature/ALittlePrincess'' [[RecycledInSpace in space]], has been described as "''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' starring Sayla". Actually, both Ralph and his main character sister Sara have elements of Char-cloning (though Sara's mech is ''pink''...). Amusingly enough, Ralph looks 99% identical to [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Zechs Merquise]], the biggest difference being a [[GoodScarsEvilScars large scar over one eye]].

* ''LightNovel/InfiniteStratos'': Charlotte Dunois is the pilot of an orange-coloured AceCustom IS under the disguise of a guy named Charles. Before the UnsettlingGenderReveal. she served briefly as TheMentor of sorts to Ichika. After the reveal though, she immediately became TheRival to the viewpoint of the other main female characters (as well as an EnsembleDarkhorse), becoming [[SupportPartyMember an excellent wingman]] who [[WeakButSkilled compensates for her unit's previous-generation specs through quick thinking and creative use of equipment]]. Her InSeriesNickname is "Char".

* WebSite/YouTube commentator [=ItsAGundam=] has a digital avatar that looks like Char with a tan. He took his name from his hobby of building ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' model kits, and uses a soundbyte of EnemyChatter from one of the shows (some poor schmuck yelling "IT'S A GUNDAAAM!") as his intro.

'''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Char Aznable]]:''' No, '''all''' of you are copying '''me'''!

** ''VideoGame/FireEmblemShadowDragonAndTheBladeOfLight'' and ''VideoGame/FireEmblemMysteryOfTheEmblem'': Camus is a blond-haired, highly skilled anti-villain. In the the third game, Sirius, a masked, blond-haired, highly-skilled knight who you have totally never met before joins your party. Sounds familiar? Notably, Camus himself has spawned many clones that the fandom call the "Camus archetype" (although only [[VideoGame/FireEmblemGenealogyOfTheHolyWar Eldigan and Ares]] are direct Char clones, even though neither of them wear masks). They typically fall under "MyCountryRightOrWrong", and sadly are usually killed off.

Char Clone is a character-specific subtrope of FountainOfExpies. Compare StockShonenRival, ShanaClone, and ReiAyanamiExpy. [[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with expies of [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Charmander, Charmeleon, and Charizard]]. See also RedplicaBaron; Char being an expy of Richthofen makes this whole trope an expy of an expy of the original RedBaron.

** Blonde princess Theia is introduced as a ShanaClone who fights by [[PowersDoTheFighting standing around and ordering big guns to shoot things for her]], but after CharacterDevelopment she turns into a {{Ladette}} with a number of Char traits, including the reveals that back on Forthorthe she's an AcePilot known for rushing into close-range at lightning speed, and that her spiritual colour is not Blue but Red. This is further hammered in after Book 16 when she completes the Combat Dress, a personal JetPack and weapon harness described as a "wearable space fighter". Her favoured loadout is "Assault Red" which outfits her with weapons and thrusters similar to the Alt Eisen, and she also has a "Command Green" preset which resembles a Zaku.

* ''LightNovel/TheCombatBakerAndAutomatonWaitress'': Erich Blitzdonner, aka [[RedBaron "The Crimson Hawk"]], is a legendary AcePilot with blond hair and a fondness for red, who single-handedly proved the viability of [[HumongousMecha humanoid assault weapons]] in [[FantasyConflictCounterpart the setting equivalent of World War I]] (meaning he doubles as a NoHistoricalFiguresWereHarmed version of the original Red Baron). He is also the [[LongLostRelative long-lost father]] of Jacob, one of the main characters, having entered the military under a false name to escape the reach of his own family. While officially Missing-in-Action (presumed dead), he later appears as a corporal under the service of the villainous [[BigBad General Genitz]] for [[EnigmaticMinion unknown reasons]], using a [[Anime/GundamWing Zechs]]-like mask to conceal his identity. [[spoiler:This is actually a RedHerring, with the masked corporal turning out to be [[KingIncognito Genitz himself]]. However, when the real Blitzdonner shows up he briefly takes the mask and wears it as a disguise.]]

* ''LightNovel/FullMetalPanic'': The leader of a JerkJock team of mecha pilots from a first season filler episode starts to quote Char's famous "mistakes of youth" speech before Kaname {{Dope Slap}}s him. For bonus points, he's voiced by Creator/TetsuInada, who's voiced Harry Ord in ''Anime/TurnAGundam'' and Elzam Von Branstein in ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars''.

* LightNovel/InvadersOfTheRokujyouma'':

A brief history of the original Char: in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'', he was TheRival to the main character. A mysterious [[CoolMask masked man]] with distinctive blond hair, he was an AcePilot called the [[RedBaron Red Comet]] with a penchant for piloting AceCustom mecha painted red (which was said to be [[Memes/{{Gundam}} three times faster]] than its mundane counterpart, despite the only visual difference being its [[RedOnesGoFaster color]]). Over the course of the series, it is revealed that Char has a [[HiddenAgendaVillain hidden agenda]] -- avenging his father, who was assassinated by the series BigBad -- and that his [[LongLostRelative estranged sister]] is part of the heroes' crew. The first indication of these goals came from leading Garma Zabi, who seemed to be a long time friend, into an enemy ambush where he was killed, and this was the start of him systematically targeting the Zabi family. In the sequel series, ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'', he [[HeelFaceTurn joins the good guys]] under the PaperThinDisguise of "Quattro" to act as TheMentor for the new generation; his presence solidifies the twist in the series that [[YourTerroristsAreOurFreedomFighters the heroic Federation of the original series had turned into the villains]]. His final appearance comes in the appropriately-named ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack'', where he's [[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor a villain again]], attempting to [[ColonyDrop drop a giant asteroid]] onto Earth [[WellIntentionedExtremist for the good of mankind]]. His self-righteous campaign involved leaking new technology to the heroes in the belief that he needed a WorthyOpponent at the top of their game to make his actions justified.

* ''Anime/SandsOfDestruction'': Yappi wears an EyepatchOfPower and red bandanna, voiced by Creator/ShuichiIkeda. To top it off, he is a friend turned rival to another teddy bear Toppi, who is [[RelationshipVoiceActor voiced by]] Creator/ToruFuruya.

*** The Flame Emperor, the DiscOneFinalBoss of the game's academy phase, who conceals their face with a helmet and a ceramic mask, seeking to destroy the Church of Seiros. Their true itentity [[spoiler:is actually Edelgard, the protagonist of the Black Eagles route, who seeks to overthrow the crests and systems that govern Fodlan put in place by the church in a violent revolution]]. Even after their identity is revealed, they still fit the mold of a Char Clone, switching from a MSG-Type to a CCA-Type.

** ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWarsOriginalGeneration'': Elzam von Branstein's mecha all follow the [[RedAndBlackAndEvilAllOver black-and-red color scheme]] and are ridiculously fast (so much so that his insane evasion skills make him an excellent ''tank''), and takes to wearing a pair of sunglasses to take a secret identity (which nobody actually falls for). He even shares a [[Creator/TetsuInada voice actor]] with Gundam's Harry Ord. Which comes full circle with a ShoutOut, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DX_IaXs5YQ "Ratsel, he is an ORD."]][[note]]For those who don't get it, Elzam[=/=]Ratsel is quoting Ord with his "[[{{Kiai}} UNIVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASE]]" line.[[/note]]

[-[[caption-width-right:348:[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam Char Aznable]] (bottom left) and some of his "clones" throughout the franchise. From top: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Mr. Bushido]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Neo Roanoke]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Rau Le Creuset]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Zechs Merquise]], [[Anime/TurnAGundam Harry Ord]], [[Anime/MobileFighterGGundam Schwartz Bruder]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Full Frontal]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Carozzo "Iron Mask" Ronah]], [[Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam Cronicle Asher]].[[note]]Not pictured: [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE Zeheart Galette]], [[Anime/GundamReconguistaInG Luin Lee]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans McGillis Fareed]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury Prospera Mercury]][[/note]]]]-]