Discussion Main / CharClone

Per TRS, this is being disambiguated:

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/posts.php?discussion=17116107400.72958400&page=2#comment-42

Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.

TLP link

TRS Queue | Works That Require Cleanup of Complaining | Troper Wall

Linking to a past Trope Repair Shop thread that dealt with this page: Trying too hard, started by SakurazakiSetsuna on May 25th 2011 at 2:20:19 AM

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

Previous Trope Repair Shop thread: Ambiguous Name, started by Odd1 on May 18th 2014 at 3:47:51 AM

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman

Is Lennon from Tweeny Witches a Char Clone? I see some similarities between him and Char Aznable, but I need help because I'm unfamiliar with Gundam:

• Is introduced as a mysterious masked figure.
• Starts out as a threatening villain but makes a Heel–Face Turn.
• Has piloting skills as a pirate.
• Has pale skin and blonde hair, the latter of which his mask hides.
• Wears heavy red eyeliner and his mask has red eyes, though he's not as strongly associated as Arusu with red.
• Is revealed to be the lost older brother of the heroine and the son of one of the most powerful figures in the world.
• Has a tragic past involving the loss of his parents and wants revenge for it.

However, I see some differences as well:

• Is only a teenager and physically weak.
• It is his mother, Atelia, who possesses the charisma.
• Is suspected but innocent of being the traitor among the witches. It is Sigma who is The Starscream and possesses the Chronic Backstabbing Disorder.
• Starts out with nihilistic values and doesn't even have big goals.
• Stops seeking revenge after he learns the truth about his parents. It is Sigma who avenges his father against the enemy faction of the series.
• Is capable of remorse, disqualifying from being an example of The Sociopath.
• Stays an ally of the Magical Girl Squad for the rest of the series.

My father told me he's not one because, if he remembers correctly, Char makes efforts to change things. In ElfenLiedFan90's Discord server, however, two people told me he is because he has too many similar traits to be a mere coincidence, and Gundam has a big impact on Japanese anime culture.

Do an example always have to be a clear reference to Char Aznable from Gundam?

Edited by IukaSylvie Hide / Show Replies

Does Lotor from Voltron count? or is he more of a Liquid Snake Clone.

It may not be the traditional idea of a Char Clone. But I find it interesting that Thunderbolt gave a vaguely Amuro look to ti's Zeon main character, and had a Blonde be his Federation rival.

I question if Charlotte from Infinite Stratos should actually be here.

Yes, she's blond and is a mecha pilot.

Her mech isn't red or gold (it's orange so it's sorta close I guess). The Ace Custom bit is really mitigated since ALL of the mech's are unique customs except for the school's practice models. She is an Ace Pilot...again, just like the other girls. She doesn't have a mask, a little sister, or a grudge with a noble family. While she and the other girls do try to mentor Ichika it doesn't really amount to much and he never sees her (or any of them) as a mentor figure. It's also hard to call her The Rival when all of the girls are rivals to each other due to being a harem series, especially as she doesn't get an 'Amuro' to really have a personal rivalry with for mecha combat or anything else.

If it's on the basis of her nickname, I dispute that. Some subs use "Char" but Ichika is very clearly pronouncing it "Charl" as is used on other subs (including the ones on the DVD). This is because "Charles" is pronounced "Shah-ul-z" in Japanese and "Charlotte" like "Shah-ul-otte" unlike in English where Charles is pronounced with "ch" while Charlotte is like "sh". Basically Ichika drops the last bit at the end and uses "Shah-ul" (Charl) since that's the common part of both her names.

If she's only here because of the blond hair and the nickname then she really shouldn't be here.

can you consider Tobi and Pein from Naruto as Char clones? They share similarities to Char Aznable too you know.

Ali-Al Saachez from Gundam 00 counts too. He pilot red mobile suits and one of The Hero's Arch-Enemy. He also a subverts of the Zeta-type Char Clone due to being Setsuna's Evil Mentor when he was a Child Soldier.

John Devil, Written over 100 years before the original Char Aznable, and yet all Henri de Belcamp lacks is a mask and he would fit in at a Char Clone convention perfectly.

• Blond. Check
• Son of nobility. Check
• Anti-Villain. Check
• The Rival to The Hero (In this case the Great Detective Gregory Temple). Check
• Charismatic Ambitious Magnificent Bastard Chessmaster. Check check check and Mate

I've added this to the John Devil page under YMMV.

Edited by MithrandirOlorin

Would it be too much of a stretch to see Asuka as a sort of gender-flipped Char?

- Ace Pilot;

- Custom red mecha;

- Blonde/Redhead (depending on medium);

- Even thought they fight on the same side, Asuka harbours some sentiment of rivalry on the main character (and Rei too, because of their sync rates)

I suppose those elements are not entirely occasional, given that Char Clones are a particular kind of Mecha trope. It just happens to be subtle, among all the more blatant deconstruction of everything else around it.

Edited by ElectricBoogaloo There's no Part 1, I just thought it was funny at the time.

What about Racer X?

SPEED UP | MISSILE | DOUBLE | LASER | MULTIPLE | ? Hide / Show Replies

Quatre is not a Char clone. Just because he's blonde does not make him a Char Clone, seriously. This is Square Peg Round Trope.

Hide / Show Replies

Would Griffith be considered a Char Clone, he has some of the tropes pegged.

Prince Sharkin was inspired by Flash Gordon? How do you figure? The only thing they have in common is blond hair.