Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam is a Japanese science fiction anime television series that originally aired on Nagoya Broadcasting Network between March 2, 1985, and February 22, 1986. Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam featured many new characters and several returning characters from the earlier Mobile Suit Gundam anime television series.

Protagonists

A.E.U.G

The protagonist of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Kamille Bidan is a troubled teen who has become estranged from his parents, both mobile suit developers. A scuffle with Titans officer Jerid Messa over his female-sounding name begins a series of events that eventually results in Kamille helping Quattro Bajeena to steal the RX-178 Gundam Mk-II prototypes and the deaths of both of his parents. Under the tutelage of Quattro and former Titans officer Emma Sheen, Kamille later became one of AEUG's top pilots during the Gryps Conflict—first using the stolen Gundam Mk-II and later in his personally designed Zeta Gundam. Over the course of the series, Kamille's rivalry with Jerid intensifies as both end up killing friends and loved ones of the other. One such example is the cyber-Newtype Four Murasame, whom Kamille met while in Hong Kong and fell in love with. When the two reunite at the Battle of Kilimanjaro, Four is killed by Jerid while attempting to save Kamille's life. Although Kamille survives the Gryps Conflict, the battle with Paptimus Scirocco leaves him in a near comatose state. According to Tomino, Kamille has the strongest Newtype powers in the series. Kamille, along with five other notable mecha and pilots from the various Gundam series, were recognized in the second set of "Anime Heroes and Heroines" stamps, released in Japan in 2005. In an interview for the laserdisc release of Zeta Gundam, Tomino states that Kamille was named and modeled after Camille Claudel, a sculptor and lover of Auguste Rodin who became deranged and ended her life in commitment.Interview text in Japanese In the Animage Anime Grand Prix poll from 1986 Kamille was voted the first most popular male anime character. He has also been voted as the eighth most popular male character from the 1980s by Newtype readers.

Fa Yuiry is the next-door neighbor of Kamille Bidan before the Gryps Conflict begins. After Kamille helps the AEUG officer Quattro Bajeena steal two Gundam Mk-II prototypes, the Titans arrest Fa's parents because of her close association with Kamille. Fa escapes with the help of Bright Noa and reunites with Kamille when Bright's shuttle is rescued by the AEUG ship Argama. Having sided with the AEUG, Fa stays on the Argama and becomes the pilot of the Methuss, rotating with Reccoa Londe. She also becomes a surrogate mother to two war orphans, Shinta and Qum, after they are sent to the Argama by Lt. Quattro. Fa and Kamille constantly quarrel with each other, so much so that the crew of the Argama refers to the quarreling as their hobby. However, Fa becomes jealous whenever Kamille shows an interest in another female. Fa is one of the few characters that survive the Gryps Conflict and even rescues Kamille after his last encounter with Paptimus Scirocco.

"Quattro" (Number 4 in Italian) as Casval Deikun's fourth alias name No longer wearing a mask, Char Aznable returns to the Earth Sphere and infiltrates the Earth Federation Forces using the humorous alias "Quattro Bajeena", which can be romanized as quarter vagina in reference to the James Bond film Octopussy. Char joins with other Federation officers, including former enemies such as Amuro Ray and Bright Noa, and becomes one of the top pilots of the AEUG. Char serves as Kamille Bidan's mentor in the war against the Earth Federation's oppressive Titans organization. Despite repeating prodding of his comrades, Char refuses to take a leadership position within the AEUG maintaining his Quattro facade and stating that he is merely a pilot. However, this changes after the death of Four Murasame when Kamille states that he will no longer refer to him as Quattro Bajeena. Char's political speech in front of Federation Assembly in Dakar, which is broadcast throughout Earth and Space, is one of the most important events in the UC Gundam timeline. It seals Char's total commitment toward space colonization and migration of humanity to space. Despite AEUG's victory in the Gryps Conflict against the Titans, Char is defeated in the final battle by Haman Karn, leader of the Axis faction and assumed dead. However, as the final credits roll, Char's damaged Hyaku Shiki floats by with its cockpit hatch open.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Emma Sheen is a former Titan pilot who defected to the AEUG after witnessing firsthand the cruel tactics of Bask Om. She is initially placed on provisional status, but it does not take long for her to prove herself in the eyes of the Argama crew. Emma first pilots the Rick Dias for the AEUG, and then Kamille's old repainted Gundam Mk-II after Kamille transfers to the Zeta Gundam. Emma meets her end when she is caught in an explosion caused by Yazan Gable and fatally injured by shrapnel. Emma would soon be retrieved by Kamille, but she then dies in his arms.

Former captain of White Base during the One Year War, Bright, like most of his comrades, was alienated by the Earth Federal Space Forces. He was assigned to captain the shuttle spacecraft Temptation. He gets beaten up by Bask Om and several other Titans officers when he objects to a set of orders coming from him. Bright defects to the AEUG to aid their struggle against the Titans. Considering his veteran experience in mobile suit warfare, AEUG then commissions Bright as captain of the AEUG spaceship Argama. Bright finds himself working with his former adversary, Char Aznable and later they form the core military leadership of AEUG. Several highlights of Bright's tour of duty above Argama are the attack on Federation Headquarters at Jaburo and Kilimanjaro, Operation Maelstrom, and the final three-way battle between the fleet of AEUG, Titans, and Axis near the Gryps Two space colony. After the climactic battle at Gryps Two, the AEUG fleet is left crippled with Bright being the sole experienced military commander within the ranks of AEUG leaders.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Apolly Bay is initially one of two wingmates to Quattro Bajeena. He later becomes chief of the AEUG ship Argamas Rick Dias team. Apolly is an experienced soldier who provides valuable support to his fellow pilots and a dose of wit as well. He is killed by Jerid Messa when he takes a shot that was meant for Fa Yuiry. The rest of the Argama crew are visibly saddened after his death.

Lieutenant J.G. Roberto is the second wingmate first seen entering the colony with Quattro and Apolly to acquire information about the Gundam Mk-II prototypes. He also pilots a RMS-099 Rick Dias. Roberto is seen as more serious and diligent than the wise cracking Apolly. He dies during an attack by Titans ace Buran Blutarch while helping Kamille and Quattro ensure that a space shuttle transporting Apolly and several other AEUG pilots back into space. Apolly witnesses his death from a distance and chokes back tears just as the shuttle launches.

Commodore Blex Forer is the initial leader of the AEUG. With the formation of the Titans after Operation Stardust, Blex was one of the first to see the increasing corruption in the Earth Government. He used his senatorial position as Commodore in the Federal Navy to influence certain executives of Anaheim Electronics to fund an anti-government movement. Anaheim, whose business interests were partially disrupted by the trade embargoes placed by the Federation on the colonies saw this as feasible. Thus Blex Forer became the founder of the Anti Earth Union Group or AEUG. Blex Forer would continuously clash wills with Titans leaders Jamitov Hymem and Bask Om in their brutal tactics against spacenoids. Blex operated from the ad-hoc flagship of the AEUG, the Argama, closely working with Henken Bekkener as co-captain. Blex meets his end in Dakar when he is assassinated in his hotel room. Blex, with his dying words, beseeches Quattro Bajeena to assume his rightful name of Char Aznable and take on leadership of AEUG.

Henken, a ship captain in the AEUG is first seen in command of the Argama. He works closely with Quattro Bagina and AEUG founder Blex Forra. A tall, burly, jovial and good natured man, he nonetheless takes his job seriously and even turns over command of Argama to Bright Noa, acknowledging Bright's professional experience. Henken subsequently transfers to the Irish-class battleship Radish. Henken is attracted to Emma Sheen and Emma shyly but good naturedly reciprocates the affection somewhat. Henken is killed in battle when he maneuvers the Radish to draw Yazan Gable's fire from Emma.

Ensign Reccoa Londe is a former guerilla fighter from the One Year War who later joined the AEUG in their fight against the Titans. A skilled pilot and spy, she also helped AEUG newcomer Kamille Bidan adjust to his new position aboard Argama. She was also one of the first to welcome Titans defector Emma Sheen despite widespread suspicions and helps her realize that she made the right choice; most notably by proving to her that the infamous 30-Bunch incident (where an entire colony was killed by poison gas) was carried out by none other than Colonel Bask Om of the Titans. Lonely and ignored by her love Quattro, Reccoa later does the opposite of Lieutenant Emma and joins the Titans due to the influence of Paptimus Scirocco. She even goes so far as to lead a mission using poison gas to exterminate another colony as ordered by Bask, whom she later kills. Reccoa is killed by the combined efforts of Emma Sheen and Yazan Gable.

Katz was one of the three war orphans aboard the White Base during the One Year War that were later adopted by Hayato Kobayashi and Fraw Bow. He along with his adoptive mother and siblings pay Amuro Ray a visit. Katz is initially disgusted by what he perceived as his former hero's cowardice and made that perfectly clear to him. However, he and Amuro later join up with Hayato along with some other members of Karaba and the AEUG on board the Audhumla and later he goes up into space with Quattro Bajeena. Katz shows some skill as a pilot and helps save the plight of his fellow pilots on numerous occasions. However, his naivete and recklessness makes him a thorn in the side of his superiors and led to his downfall. He constantly defies his superior officers by sortieing without their permission. Katz develops an interest in Sarah Zabiarov after she boards the Argama to warn them about an impending colony drop. Despite the fact that she initially deceives him in order to escape, Katz still harbors feelings for Sarah and hopes to free her from Scirocco's influence. Katz is killed when Yazan Gable shoots him down in the G-Defenser.

Wong Lee is a top official at Anaheim Electronics Company, which is the equity participant of AEUG. Although he is a civilian, he takes it upon himself to assault Kamille, who was occupied with repair of Haro and was late for the meeting as a punishment for him breaking military rules. After that he got in Argama, made orders carpingly to Bright Noa and Quattro Bajeena. Bright becomes fed up with Wong when he tried to communicate with Reccoa during a battle and orders him to sit down. Wong grudgingly yields to Bright in the end and leaves the Argama after it stops at La Vie En Rose for resupply.

Karaba