Lacus Clyne
Encyclopedia
is a fictional character
introduced in the Japanese science fiction
anime
television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
and appearing in the sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
, both part of the Gundam
franchise by Sunrise. In the start of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Lacus is a good natured and popular female vocalist from the space colony PLANT. Born as a genetically enhanced human, Coordinator, Lacus is introduced when she is found in space by the Archangel, a ship of regular humans, the Naturals. Late in the war between the races of Coordinators and Naturals, Lacus becomes the co-leader of the Clyne Faction, joining with the battle ship the Archangel to stop both sides from fighting. Lacus is voiced in the Japanese series by Rie Tanaka
. In the English adaptation, Chantal Strand
is her regular voice actress, while Jillian Michaels
does her singing voice.
Lacus' character has also appeared in different adaptations from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny, as well as various video games. Her character has been popular in Japan, appearing at the top of Animages Anime Grand Prix polls four times in the category of most popular female anime characters. She has also appeared in other popularity polls from Sunrise and other magazines. Moreover, publications for manga, anime and other media have commented on Lacus' character, giving it praise; speculations regarding her role in the series where made, but in the end it was found surprising.
has brought her enormous popularity. When she is dispatched to the ruins of Junius Seven, her vessel is attacked by a Earth Alliance battleship, a faction composed of Natural that oppose PLANT.. Her lifepod is subsequently rescued by the mobile suit GAT-X105 Strike and brought to the Earth Alliance ship Archangel. There Lacus befriends the Strike pilot Kira Yamato
while most of the others remain indifferent owing to the fact she is a Coordinator. In the following battle, ZAFT forces attacking the Archangel are forced to retreat after Lacus is used as a hostage by Natarle Badgiruel. Disgusted by this action, Kira escorts Lacus back to ZAFT in secret. He hands her over to Athrun Zala
, who is engaged to Lacus. Late in the war, a wounded Kira is brought to Lacus home by her friend Reverend Malchio. As Kira is nursed back to health, he resolves to keeping fighting in order to find a way to end the war. In response, Lacus helps Kira steal the mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom. Because of this, Lacus and her father Siegel are declared as traitors and the latter is killed by ZAFT soldiers. Lacus steals the ship Eternal and joins the Orb Union-owned Kusanagi and the recently defected Archangel to form the Three Ships Alliance, a group dedicated to stopping the war. Before the last battle to stop both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT, Lacus gives Kira a ring, asking him to come back safely to her.
At the start of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Lacus is living with Kira at Reverend Malchio's orphanage in the Marshall Islands
. However, a disaster from the new war forces them to move in with their former comrades Andrew Waltfeld and Murrue Ramius at their shared mansion in Orb. Lacus is almost killed in an assassination attempt by Coordinators but Kira defeats the assassins with the Freedom. She, along with Murrue, Kira, Andrew, and most of the Archangel's crew reunite hoping to stop the new war. Lacus, along with Andrew, go into space, to see what the situation is at the PLANTs. She delivers the newly-built Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice mobile suits to Kira and Athrun during her returning. She also reveals her presence to public and the fact that ZAFT has been using an impersonation of her for their own benefit. Later, Lacus and Kira reveal to the crew of the Archangel Durandal's plan to assign behavioral genes to every human being in order to render war and conflict obsolete. Lacus then leads Terminal and its allies in the final battle to stop Durandal.
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Final Plus. After Durandal's death, Lacus is invited back to the PLANTs to serve as a mediator between ZAFT and the other nations. She also appears in two series of films Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Special Edition
and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition
which retell the events from its respective series. In the end of the OVA as well as Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition, Lacus remains as a member from PLANT Supreme Council. She is also featured in the manga
adaptations of both Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny, the latter also including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge. Two CDs soundtracks have also been released based on Lacus' character featuring tracks by her Japanese voice actress, Tanaka Rie. Lacus is a playable character in both video games Gundam SEED Destiny: OMNI vs ZAFT II and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
, she also appears in Super Robot Wars Alpha 3
, Super Robot Wars Judgement
, Super Robot Wars W
and Super Robot Wars K as captain of the Eternal. Lacus is a Pilot in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
piloting the Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice. In a collection mission she is seen piloting a ball. She also shows up in the SD Gundam G Generation
games.
Anime Grand Prix poll in the 25th to 30th editions of the poll. In the 27th to 29th versions of the poll, Lacus Clyne placed first in this category. In another poll, she was voted as the second most popular female anime character from the 2000's. In a poll organized by Sunrise regarding which was the best couple in the Gundam franchise, Lacus and Kira were second. In another poll from the same site, Lacus was voted as the most popular princess from the entire franchise. She was also second in a poll which asked fans what female characters from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny would they want to see in swimming suit, as well as another one in wedding dress from the Gundam franchise. Two other polls asked fans what was the most memorable characters from Gundam SEED and from Gundam SEED Destiny; Lacus was sixth in the former and fifth in the latter. In the 2007 Seiyu Awards
, Rie Tanaka
was a nominee in the category "Best Actresses in supporting roles" for her portrayal as Lacus in the Gundam SEED Destiny OVA, but lost to Ami Koshimizu
and Yuko Goto
.
The character has also received comments by publications for manga, anime and other media. When Gundam SEED was during its first episodes in Japan, Ever Cheung from Animefringe wondered about the future regarding Lacus and Kira as he noticed the two about to embrace in the anime's opening theme. He commented if his doubts may be right, he would find the story more interesting that he thought. Kim Wolstenholme from Mania Entertainment liked Lacus's introduction to the series as it added tension to it the frienship between Kira and Athrun. Kim noted that while Lacus and Athrun were engaged, he wondered how Lacus and Kira started relating in the series. Ross Liversidge from UK Anime Network stated he did not expect Lacus's faction entrance to the war in the last episodes from Gundam SEED as it emphasized the disasters happening within the series. Wolstenholme liked how Lacus started to take place in the war as it contrasted her actions in the series' first episodes, while also delivering surprising revelations. Moreover, Chris Beverdige, also writing for Mania, found Lacus' development throughout these episodes interesting and at the same time comical due to the design of her ship and how it is decorated by the Haros she possesses. While reviewing Gundam SEED Destiny, Liversidge stated that Lacus had become "a cult" within the series' setting due to how besides being pop-idol, she is backed up by a large number of soldiers. Lacus' public appearance in the series to reveal that Meer Campbell was impersonating her and state her true intentions was also called "totally mesmerising" by Liversidge. Chantal Strand
was praised for her performance as both Lacus's and Meer's English voice actress by Anime News Network
writer Theron Martin for giving them qualtity distinct from the original Japanese version despite finding it varying at some points.
Character (arts)
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
introduced in the Japanese science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
is an anime series developed by Sunrise and directed by Mitsuo Fukuda. As with other series from the Gundam franchise, Gundam SEED takes place in a parallel timeline, in this case the Cosmic Era, the first to do so...
and appearing in the sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny
is an anime television series, acting as a sequel of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise. It retains most of the staff from Gundam SEED, including Director Mitsuo Fukuda. Set two years after the original Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, the plot follows the new character Shinn Asuka, a soldier from ZAFT,...
, both part of the Gundam
Gundam
The is a metaseries of anime created by Sunrise studios that features giant robots called "Mobile Suits" ; usually the protagonist's MS will carry the name Gundam....
franchise by Sunrise. In the start of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Lacus is a good natured and popular female vocalist from the space colony PLANT. Born as a genetically enhanced human, Coordinator, Lacus is introduced when she is found in space by the Archangel, a ship of regular humans, the Naturals. Late in the war between the races of Coordinators and Naturals, Lacus becomes the co-leader of the Clyne Faction, joining with the battle ship the Archangel to stop both sides from fighting. Lacus is voiced in the Japanese series by Rie Tanaka
Rie Tanaka
is a singer and voice actress . Notable among her numerous roles are Lacus Clyne in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Chii and Freya in Chobits, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches and Suigintou in the anime adaptation of Rozen Maiden.-Personal life:As a child, Tanaka took singing classes...
. In the English adaptation, Chantal Strand
Chantal Strand
Chantal Strand is a Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for the voice role of Bijou in Hamtaro, Cassie in Dragon Tales and did the voice of Secret Bear in the Care Bears 2000's merchandise as a talking toy.-Biography:She has a twin sister Michelle Strand...
is her regular voice actress, while Jillian Michaels
Jillian Michaels (actress)
Jillian Michaels is a Canadian voice actress who has done English dubs of Japanese anime like InuYasha, Hamtaro, and Silent Möbius...
does her singing voice.
Lacus' character has also appeared in different adaptations from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny, as well as various video games. Her character has been popular in Japan, appearing at the top of Animages Anime Grand Prix polls four times in the category of most popular female anime characters. She has also appeared in other popularity polls from Sunrise and other magazines. Moreover, publications for manga, anime and other media have commented on Lacus' character, giving it praise; speculations regarding her role in the series where made, but in the end it was found surprising.
In the TV series
In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Lacus Clyne is the daughter of PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne. Often seen with Haro machines, Lacus is one of the genetically enhanced humans known as Coordinators whose career as an idol singerJapanese idol
In Japanese culture, are media personalities in their teens and early twenties who are considered particularly attractive or cute and who will, for a period ranging from several months to a few years, regularly appear in the mass media, e.g...
has brought her enormous popularity. When she is dispatched to the ruins of Junius Seven, her vessel is attacked by a Earth Alliance battleship, a faction composed of Natural that oppose PLANT.. Her lifepod is subsequently rescued by the mobile suit GAT-X105 Strike and brought to the Earth Alliance ship Archangel. There Lacus befriends the Strike pilot Kira Yamato
Kira Yamato
is a fictional character first introduced as the protagonist from the 2002 Japanese anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise, part of the Gundam franchise. In the series, Kira is a first-generation Coordinator, a genetically enhanced human being born of normal humans...
while most of the others remain indifferent owing to the fact she is a Coordinator. In the following battle, ZAFT forces attacking the Archangel are forced to retreat after Lacus is used as a hostage by Natarle Badgiruel. Disgusted by this action, Kira escorts Lacus back to ZAFT in secret. He hands her over to Athrun Zala
Athrun Zala
is a fictional character from the Japanese science fiction anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and its sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, part of the Gundam franchise. In the former, Athrun Zala is introduced as a member from the military organization ZAFT, composed of...
, who is engaged to Lacus. Late in the war, a wounded Kira is brought to Lacus home by her friend Reverend Malchio. As Kira is nursed back to health, he resolves to keeping fighting in order to find a way to end the war. In response, Lacus helps Kira steal the mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom. Because of this, Lacus and her father Siegel are declared as traitors and the latter is killed by ZAFT soldiers. Lacus steals the ship Eternal and joins the Orb Union-owned Kusanagi and the recently defected Archangel to form the Three Ships Alliance, a group dedicated to stopping the war. Before the last battle to stop both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT, Lacus gives Kira a ring, asking him to come back safely to her.
At the start of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, Lacus is living with Kira at Reverend Malchio's orphanage in the Marshall Islands
Marshall Islands
The Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
. However, a disaster from the new war forces them to move in with their former comrades Andrew Waltfeld and Murrue Ramius at their shared mansion in Orb. Lacus is almost killed in an assassination attempt by Coordinators but Kira defeats the assassins with the Freedom. She, along with Murrue, Kira, Andrew, and most of the Archangel's crew reunite hoping to stop the new war. Lacus, along with Andrew, go into space, to see what the situation is at the PLANTs. She delivers the newly-built Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice mobile suits to Kira and Athrun during her returning. She also reveals her presence to public and the fact that ZAFT has been using an impersonation of her for their own benefit. Later, Lacus and Kira reveal to the crew of the Archangel Durandal's plan to assign behavioral genes to every human being in order to render war and conflict obsolete. Lacus then leads Terminal and its allies in the final battle to stop Durandal.
In other media
Apart from her role in the original series, Lacus is also featured in in the original video animationOriginal video animation
, abbreviated as media , are animated films and series made specially for release in home-video formats. The term originated in relation to Japanese animation...
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny Final Plus. After Durandal's death, Lacus is invited back to the PLANTs to serve as a mediator between ZAFT and the other nations. She also appears in two series of films Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Special Edition
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Special Edition
are three special edition movies that were released following the conclusion of Gundam SEED.-Overview:Much like the Mobile Suit Gundam theatrical movies, the Gundam SEED: Special Edition movies are intended to be an override of the story from the TV series.These episodes are in fact a complete...
and Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition
is Gundam SEED Destinys counterpart to Gundam SEED: Special Edition. It is a four-part compilation movie.-Overview:Like the three specials of Gundam SEED, these specials feature new or changed scenes of the TV series...
which retell the events from its respective series. In the end of the OVA as well as Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition, Lacus remains as a member from PLANT Supreme Council. She is also featured in the manga
Manga
Manga is the Japanese word for "comics" and consists of comics and print cartoons . In the West, the term "manga" has been appropriated to refer specifically to comics created in Japan, or by Japanese authors, in the Japanese language and conforming to the style developed in Japan in the late 19th...
adaptations of both Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny, the latter also including Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge. Two CDs soundtracks have also been released based on Lacus' character featuring tracks by her Japanese voice actress, Tanaka Rie. Lacus is a playable character in both video games Gundam SEED Destiny: OMNI vs ZAFT II and Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2, originally released in Japan as , is a tactical action video game based on the Gundam anime series, and the sequel to 2007's Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. It is developed by Koei/Omega Force and is published by Namco Bandai...
, she also appears in Super Robot Wars Alpha 3
Super Robot Wars Alpha 3
for the PlayStation 2 is the last game in the Alpha series. The 3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha, or simply, Alpha 3, contains one of the largest casts to ever be placed together within a Super Robot Wars game...
, Super Robot Wars Judgement
Super Robot Wars Judgement
, is a tactical role-playing video game released for the Game Boy Advance by Banpresto.-Gameplay:Judgement features several systems used in previous games, as well as new ones...
, Super Robot Wars W
Super Robot Wars W
is part of the Super Robot Wars franchise and was published for the Nintendo DS by Banpresto. It is the first Super Robot Wars game released for the Nintendo DS. Like some DS games, special features can be unlocked by starting a new game with any of the Game Boy Advance era games inserted into SLOT...
and Super Robot Wars K as captain of the Eternal. Lacus is a Pilot in Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2
Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 2, originally released in Japan as , is a tactical action video game based on the Gundam anime series, and the sequel to 2007's Dynasty Warriors: Gundam. It is developed by Koei/Omega Force and is published by Namco Bandai...
piloting the Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice. In a collection mission she is seen piloting a ball. She also shows up in the SD Gundam G Generation
SD Gundam G Generation
SD Gundam G Generation is a series of strategy-RPG video games that focus on the Gundam anime franchise.-History:The G Generation series technically began in 1996, when Bandai released a series of six games for Nintendo's Super Famicom console's Sufami Turbo add-on, each focusing on a particular...
games.
Reception
Lacus Clyne consistently ranked highly in the most popular female category in the AnimageAnimage
is a Japanese anime and entertainment magazine which Tokuma Shoten began publishing in July 1978. Hayao Miyazaki's internationally renowned manga, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, was serialized in Animage from 1982 through 1994...
Anime Grand Prix poll in the 25th to 30th editions of the poll. In the 27th to 29th versions of the poll, Lacus Clyne placed first in this category. In another poll, she was voted as the second most popular female anime character from the 2000's. In a poll organized by Sunrise regarding which was the best couple in the Gundam franchise, Lacus and Kira were second. In another poll from the same site, Lacus was voted as the most popular princess from the entire franchise. She was also second in a poll which asked fans what female characters from Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny would they want to see in swimming suit, as well as another one in wedding dress from the Gundam franchise. Two other polls asked fans what was the most memorable characters from Gundam SEED and from Gundam SEED Destiny; Lacus was sixth in the former and fifth in the latter. In the 2007 Seiyu Awards
Seiyu Awards
The are award ceremonies for the recognition of voice acting talent for outstanding performance in anime and other media in Japan...
, Rie Tanaka
Rie Tanaka
is a singer and voice actress . Notable among her numerous roles are Lacus Clyne in Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny, Chii and Freya in Chobits, Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke in Strike Witches and Suigintou in the anime adaptation of Rozen Maiden.-Personal life:As a child, Tanaka took singing classes...
was a nominee in the category "Best Actresses in supporting roles" for her portrayal as Lacus in the Gundam SEED Destiny OVA, but lost to Ami Koshimizu
Ami Koshimizu
is a Japanese voice actress affiliated with Production Baobab management. She was born in the city of Kokubunji in Tokyo Prefecture. She is an award winning voice actress.-Career:*She graduated from Aomori Yamada High School...
and Yuko Goto
Yuko Goto
is a Japanese voice actress who works for Production Baobab. In direct contrast to her cute-and-vulnerable moé typecasting, Yūko in real life is a devotee of biker culture who dresses and acts as such when not working, right down to her motorcycle...
.
The character has also received comments by publications for manga, anime and other media. When Gundam SEED was during its first episodes in Japan, Ever Cheung from Animefringe wondered about the future regarding Lacus and Kira as he noticed the two about to embrace in the anime's opening theme. He commented if his doubts may be right, he would find the story more interesting that he thought. Kim Wolstenholme from Mania Entertainment liked Lacus's introduction to the series as it added tension to it the frienship between Kira and Athrun. Kim noted that while Lacus and Athrun were engaged, he wondered how Lacus and Kira started relating in the series. Ross Liversidge from UK Anime Network stated he did not expect Lacus's faction entrance to the war in the last episodes from Gundam SEED as it emphasized the disasters happening within the series. Wolstenholme liked how Lacus started to take place in the war as it contrasted her actions in the series' first episodes, while also delivering surprising revelations. Moreover, Chris Beverdige, also writing for Mania, found Lacus' development throughout these episodes interesting and at the same time comical due to the design of her ship and how it is decorated by the Haros she possesses. While reviewing Gundam SEED Destiny, Liversidge stated that Lacus had become "a cult" within the series' setting due to how besides being pop-idol, she is backed up by a large number of soldiers. Lacus' public appearance in the series to reveal that Meer Campbell was impersonating her and state her true intentions was also called "totally mesmerising" by Liversidge. Chantal Strand
Chantal Strand
Chantal Strand is a Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for the voice role of Bijou in Hamtaro, Cassie in Dragon Tales and did the voice of Secret Bear in the Care Bears 2000's merchandise as a talking toy.-Biography:She has a twin sister Michelle Strand...
was praised for her performance as both Lacus's and Meer's English voice actress by Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
writer Theron Martin for giving them qualtity distinct from the original Japanese version despite finding it varying at some points.