Line #35 Expy/Gundam


1	!!''Franchise/{{Gundam}}''
2	{{Expy}} in this series.
3	----
4	* Most Gundam series will have a character based on Char Aznable. Wikipedia lists 16 Char clones in the entire Gundam franchise to date. They're most easily identified by the fact that they wear a [[CoolMask mask]] for [[RuleOfCool little or no reason]] and occasionally have a penchant for piloting red mobile suits. They're almost always TheRival and/or TheDragon. Notable Char expies include Carozzo "Iron Mask" Ronah from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91'', Chronicle Asher from ''Anime/MobileSuitVictoryGundam'', Schwarz Bruder from ''Anime/MobileFighterGGundam'', Zechs Merquise from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'', Lancerow Darell from ''Anime/AfterWarGundamX'', Harry Ord from ''Anime/TurnAGundam'', Rau Le Creuset from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'', Neo Roanoke and Rey Za Burrel from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'', Graham Aker and Ali-al Saachez from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'', Zeheart Galette from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE'', Full Frontal from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn'', [=McGillis=] Fareed from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'', Prospera Mercury from ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury''... and even a literal clone of Char in the ''Literature/GaiaGear'' series of novels & audio dramas. Char clones show up quite often in other HumongousMecha series' as well (see Elzam Branstein's entry in the Games section).
5	** Lelouch vi Britannia from ''Anime/CodeGeass'' is a borderline example. Apparently the idea of him wearing a mask came from executives who said something along the lines of "It just wouldn't be a Sunrise show without a mask".%%Can examples be borderline?
6	** Ironically, Char is an Expy himself from Prince Sharkin, TheDragon of ''Anime/{{Raideen}}'', Creator/YoshiyukiTomino's first HumongousMecha anime.
7	* Sayla Mass, Char's younger sister, has expies of her own in [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamF91 Cecily Fairchild]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Relena Darlian]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Cagalli]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Yula]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDFreedom Athha]] (who also shares traits with Relena). The common traits shared among these characters are that they were exiled princesses who adopted a different alias, has a strong relationship with the lead character, and she has a relative who's (usually) the lead character's [[TheRival main rival]].
8	** [[FountainOfExpies Expies of Relena]] would also include [[Anime/TurnAGundam Dianna Soreil]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Lacus]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Clyne]], [[Anime/SDGundamForce Princess Rele]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Marina Ismail]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans Kudelia Aina Bernstein]]. These princesses are defined by their commitment to pacifism and willingness to embrace their royal heritage.
9	** A surprising combination of the rebellious princess archetype (and a mishmash of some of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'''s female characters) appears in [[FallenPrincess Angelise Ikaruga Misurugi]], the titular heroine from ''Anime/CrossAnge''. Carrying the looks and piloting skills of Stella Loussier, the tomboyish disposition and attitude of Cagalli, and a singing voice to rival Lacus, Ange also pilots Ragnamail Villkiss, which itself is an expy of the two most prominent Gundams from ''SEED Destiny.''
10	* Char's [[BigBad boss]], Gihren Zabi, has also had his fair share of expies. There's Fonse Kagatie from ''Victory'', Siedel Rasso from ''Gundam X'', Patrick Zala from ''Gundam SEED'', Rustal Elion from ''Iron-Blooded Orphans'', and Delling Rembran from ''The Witch from Mercury'', all of whom share Gihren's status as amoral military dictators who preach a MasterRace philosophy and have a love of superweapons. Patrick even duplicates Gihren's infamous "Sieg Zeon!" speech in his rant about "Who exploits the Coordinators"? Gihren's son and/or clone, [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Glemmy Toto]] has his own expy in ''SEED'''s Muruta Azrael, who shares his [[FaceOfAnAngelMindOfADemon looks]], childish demeanour, creepy interactions with women, willingness to use children as weapons, and total lack of scruples.
11	* ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' had Lalah Sune as the franchise's first PhlebotinumGirl. Since then [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Four Murasame and Rosamia Badam]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Elpeo Puru & her clones]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Quess Paraya]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny Stella Loussier]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAGE Yurin L'Ciel]] have danced in her shoes and one another's, fighting for the villains, developing a connection to the hero, and eventually dying horribly.
12	* After Char, the most commonly duplicated character may be ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'''s Yazan Gable, a brutal thug who was the franchise's first, and most archetypal SociopathicSoldier. His progeny include [[ColonelKilgore Rakan Dakharan]] of ''ZZ Gundam'', [[DistaffCounterpart Rezun]] [[DarkActionGirl Schneider]] of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack'', Ash Grey from ''Gundam SEED Astray'', [[PsychoForHire Ali Al-Saachez]] from ''Gundam 00'', and [[CreepyChild Desil Galette]] from ''Gundam AGE'', as well as [[AxeCrazy Luciano Bradley]] of ''Anime/CodeGeass'' infamy, and [[CombatSadomasochist Gauron]] from ''Literature/FullMetalPanic''.
13	* Though he's not replicated as often as Char or Yazan, DarkMessiah and ManipulativeBastard [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Paptimus Scirocco]] has three notable expies in [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Treize Khushrenada]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeedDestiny Gilbert Durandal]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Ribbons Almark]].
14	* Mecha Expies are also par for the course in Gundam. ''Wing's'' Shenlong Gundam is an Expy of ''G's'' Dragon Gundam (both are Chinese dragon themed mecha with extendable arms and carry a polearm), ''X's'' Leopard is an Expy of ''Wing's'' Heavyarms (loaded with [[MoreDakka lots of guns]] and the main weapon is a [[{{BFG}} large]] [[GatlingGood Gatling gun]]), and Deathscythe and Deathscythe Hell resemble Master Asia's Kowloon and Master Gundams respectively (with retractable metal "cloaks" that make them look bulkier than they really are).
15	* The [[MookMobile grunt suits]] are almost always based on either the Zaku since they have the green color scheme (like the Dark Army Mobile Suit or the Graze), CyberCyclops head design (like the Jenice and the GINN), and plain tank-like build (like the Leo ans the Tieren) of Zeon's original mass-produced mobile suit.
16	** In the CE timeline, here are their mecha expies:
17	*** Strike = RX-78-2 Gundam
18	*** Freedom = Gundam Formula 91 + Gundam Double X
19	*** The Impulse is based on the RX-78-2 Gundam, but plays a role similar to the [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Gundam Mk. II]] in ''Destiny''. Similarly, Destiny played a role similar to the MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam.
20	*** Strike Freedom = Freedom + [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamCharsCounterattack Hi-Nu Gundam]]
21	*** Akatsuki = Hyaku Shiki
22	** Speaking of Mecha expies, the [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED Aile Strike Gundam]] now has a expy outside the franchise: The [[Anime/CodeGeass Lancelot Air Calvary.]] [[Anime/CrossAnge Ragnamail Villkiss]] is inspired by the Strike Freedom and Destiny.
23	* [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing Heero Yuy]], the archetypical stoic lead Gundam pilot, has his expies in Setsuna F. Seiei, Mikazuki Augus, and to a lesser extent, Sven Cal Bayan and Hiroto Kuga.
24	* ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz]]'' has Mariemaia Khushrenada, who is based on [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Mineva]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ Lao]] [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamUnicorn Zabi]], being the daughter of a deceased major villain who's used as a figurehead by the [[ManBehindTheMan true leader]] of the new villain faction.
25	* Sting Oakley and Auel Neider are Expies of two characters from ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSeed Gundam SEED]]'', with [[OnlySaneMan Sting]] playing [[SoreLoser Clotho Bauer]] to [[SociopathicSoldier Auel's]] [[AxeCrazy Shani Andras]]. The Boosted Men and the Extended as a whole are a collective expy of UC's Cyber-Newtypes, each being {{Muggles}} who were upgraded with surgery and drugs to duplicate the the powers of Coordinators and Newtypes, respectively.
26	* Garrod Ran is something of an expy of Judau Ashita, since both were war orphans who couldn't help but get caught up in the events of the world around them and both grew into real badass (or in the case of Garrod BadassNormal) pilots, and even though they both had reason to neither one of them succumbed to their HeroicBSOD for very long. Both also specialize in stealing mobile suits at the start of their respective series.
27	* Setsuna F. Seiei from ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Gundam 00]]'' is pretty much a dead ringer for [[Literature/FullMetalPanic Sousuke Sagara]]. Pilot of a [[RealityIsOutToLunch physics-defying]] SuperPrototype {{Mecha}}? Check. ChildSoldier in a wartorn Islamic country? Check. AxCrazy [[TheRival rivals]] with unhealthy obsessions? You got it. Need I go on? Makes you think their creators were trying to one-up each other.
28	* It goes much further with [[Anime/MobileSuitGundam00 Lockon Stratos]] and [[Literature/FullMetalPanic Kurz Weber]] who are both cool snipers who excel at in giant robot sniping, who [[HandsomeLech can get almost any girl they want]], though this might have a bit to do with their [[Creator/ShinichiroMiki shared voice]]. [[spoiler: They also both die (or seemingly die) in combat sniping. Lockon turns out to have a BackupTwin who [[LegacyCharacter becomes the new Lockon]], while Kurz ends up having been NotQuiteDead.]]
29	* Both ''Gundam Wing's'' Heero Yuy (the original one, the namesake of the Gundam pilot) and King Peacecraft, as well as ''Gundam SEED's'' George Glenn, were based on Zeon Zum Deikun, as charismatic visionary leaders whose ideologies play major roles in their respective series [[spoiler:and whose murders are pivotal moments that greatly escalate conflict in each timeline]]. Uzumi Nara Athha is based on King Peacecraft. Uzumi is the only one of these to not be a PosthumousCharacter [[spoiler:until a HeroicSacrifice takes care of that problem]].
30	* As for the rest of the ''Gundam SEED'' characters:
31	** Murrue Ramius = a gender-flipped Bright Noa, with Archangel being White Base.
32	*** Murrue has her own expy in ''Gundam 00'''s Sumeragi Lee Noriega; her CommanderContrarian, Natarle Badgiruel, lives on as Kati Manniquin.
33	** Mu La Flaga = Sleggar Law with some of Char's Quattro persona thrown into the mix.
34	** Andrew Waltfeld = Ramba Ral, with Aisha as his Crowley Hamon.
35	** Nicol Amalfi = Quatre Raberba Winner; they're both kind-hearted pilots with a love for music.
36	** Admiral Lewis Halberton = General Revil
37	** The DOM Trooper pilots (Hilda, Mars, and Herbert) = the Black Tri-Stars; they even have the Tri-Stars' [[SignatureMove signature Jet Stream Attack]]. The only difference is that one is gender-flipped and this time they're EliteMooks in the ''heroes' ''army.
38	* And now ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Gundam AGE]]'' has Yurin L'Ciel as an expy of Tiffa Addil from ''[[Anime/AfterWarGundamX Gundam X]]'', being both loli MysteriousWaif characters that help the main hero with their clairvoyance powers. [[spoiler:Unlike Tiffa, however, Yurin ends up as the PhlebotinumGirl of the series and is heartlessly killed by Desil Galette.]]
39	* [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamAge Emily Amonde]], [[Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny Lunamaria Hawke]], and [[Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam Fa Yuriy]] are expies of [[ChildhoodFriend Frau Bow]] in this following concept: She is a semi-major character who despite having no direct conflict with or impact toward the main story, initially has a close relationship with the protagonist, and join the boy's fleet to "look after" with him. She likes him, but he doesn't notice her because he [[TemporaryLoveInterest loves somebody else]]. In /he cases of the above three, however, they do end up winning their crush's heart (Emily with Flit, Luna with Shinn, Fa with Kamille). She also tends to suffers from the StayInTheKitchen issue (or in [[ActionGirl Luna]]'s case, TheWorfEffect).
40	* ''Anime/GundamBuildFighters'':
41	** Mr. Ral looks like - and has [[RoleReprise the same]] [[Creator/MasashiHirose voice actor]] as - Ramba Ral, an EnsembleDarkhorse from the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam''. The reason he's not actually Ramba Ral is because ''Build Fighters'' is set in an AlternateContinuity where ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'' is [[RecursiveCanon a work of fiction.]]
42	* ''[[{{Anime/SuperDimensionFortressMacross}} Macross]]'' director Noburo Ishiguro stated that Roy Focker was based on Sleggar Law.
43	* ''Gundam SEED'''s [[AllLovingHero Kira Yamato]], male ShrinkingViolet and general NiceGuy who has a penchant for [[NoOneCouldSurviveThat surviving things exploding right in his face]], gets an expy in Tusk from ''Cross Ange'', right down to the brown hair and purple eyes. While not a MartialPacifist and being far more willing to kill when necessary, Tusk shares Kira's optimism and has a protection complex towards Ange, his LoveInterest. [[spoiler:Also like Kira, he gets to share [[TheirFirstTime his first time]] on-screen with his beloved; the difference being that Kira's girlfriend, Flay Allster, was [[IHaveBoobsSoYouMustObey manipulating him with sex]] (and ultimately, that relationship ended horribly). In contrast, the love scene Tusk shares with Ange is completely genuine and heartfelt.]]

Context Expy / Gundam