Lacus Clyne
Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny character
Lacus Clyne in the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED OVA
First appearanceMobile Suit Gundam SEED episode 7
Voiced byRie Tanaka (Japanese)[1]
Chantal Strand (English, Ocean)[1]
Jillian Michaels (English singing voice, Ocean)
Stephanie Sheh[2] (English, NYAV)
In-universe information
RelativesSiegel Clyne (father)
Genetic typeCyber-Coordinator

Lacus Clyne (ラクス・クライン, Rakusu Kurain) 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, a Coordinator, Lacus is introduced when she is found in space by the battleship 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 Archangel to stop both sides from fighting. Lacus is voiced in the Japanese series by Rie Tanaka. In the Ocean English dub, her speaking voiced is done by Chantal Strand, while Jillian Michaels does her singing voice. In the NYAV English dub, she is voiced by Stephanie Sheh.

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 Animage's 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 her praise; speculations regarding her role in the series were made, but in the end it was found surprising.

Appearances

In the TV series

In Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Lacus Clyne is the daughter of PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne.[3] Often seen with Haro machines, Lacus is one of the genetically enhanced humans known as Coordinators whose career as an idol singer has brought her enormous popularity.[3] When she is dispatched to the ruins of Junius Seven, her vessel is attacked by an Earth Alliance battleship, a faction composed of Natural that oppose PLANT.[3] 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 because she is a Coordinator.[4] In the following battle, ZAFT forces attacking the Archangel are forced to retreat after Lacus is used as a hostage by Natarle Badgiruel.[5] Disgusted by this action, Kira escorts Lacus back to ZAFT in secret. He hands her over to Athrun Zala, who is engaged to Lacus.[6] Late in the war, a wounded Kira is brought to Lacus' home by her friend Reverend Malchio.[7] As Kira is nursed back to health, he resolves to keep fighting in order to find a way to end the war. In response, Lacus helps Kira steal the mobile suit ZGMF-X10A Freedom.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10]

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.[11] Lacus is almost killed in an assassination attempt by Coordinators but Kira defeats the assassins with the Freedom.[12] She, along with Murrue, Kira, Andrew, and most of the Archangel's crew reunite hoping to stop the new war.[13][14] Lacus, along with Andrew, go into space, to see what the situation is at the PLANTs.[15] She delivers the newly built Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice mobile suits to Kira and Athrun during her returning.[16][17] She also reveals her presence to the 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.[18]

In other media

Apart from her role in the original series, Lacus is also featured in the original video 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.[19] 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.[20][21] In the end of the OVA as well as Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition, Lacus remains as a member of the PLANT Supreme Council.[22] 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.[23][24][25] Two CDs soundtracks have also been released based on Lacus' character featuring tracks by her Japanese voice actress, Tanaka Rie.[26][27] 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.

Reception

Lacus Clyne consistently ranked highly in the most popular female category in the Animage Anime Grand Prix poll in the 25th to 30th editions of the poll.[28][29] In the 27th to 29th versions of the poll, Lacus Clyne placed first in this category.[30][31][32] In another poll, she was voted as the second most popular female anime character from the 2000s.[33] In a poll organized by Sunrise regarding which was the best couple in the Gundam franchise, Lacus and Kira were second.[34] In another poll from the same site, Lacus was voted as the most popular princess from the entire franchise.[35] 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.[36][37] 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.[38][39] 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.[40][41]

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.[42] Kim Wolstenholme from Mania Entertainment liked Lacus's introduction to the series as it added tension to it the friendship between Kira and Athrun. Kim noted that while Lacus and Athrun were engaged, he wondered how Lacus and Kira started relating in the series.[43] 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.[44] 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.[45] 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.[46] 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.[47] 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 quality distinct from the original Japanese version despite finding it varying at some points.[48]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Production info and staff credits". Bandai Entertainment. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011. Retrieved April 20, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Sunrise to Release Gundam SEED, Destiny with New English Dub". Anime News Network. August 11, 2017. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lacus Clyne Gundam SEED profile". GundamOfficial. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
  4. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (November 23, 2002). "The Songstress of The Enemy Forces". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 8. TBS.
  5. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (November 30, 2002). "The Fading Light". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 9. TBS.
  6. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (December 7, 2002). "Crossroads". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 10. TBS.
  7. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (May 10, 2003). "Grieving Skies". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 31. TBS.
  8. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (May 31, 2003). "Seen and Unseen". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 34. TBS.
  9. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (July 26, 2003). "Lacus Strikes". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 42. TBS.
  10. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (September 13, 2003). "Day of Wrath". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Episode 48. TBS.
  11. ↑ "Kira Yamato Gundam SEED Destiny profile". GundamOfficial. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
  12. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (January 8, 2005). "Resurrected Wings". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 13. TBS.
  13. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (January 15, 2005). "Flight to Tomorrow". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 14. TBS.
  14. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (March 26, 2005). "The Shadows of War". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 23. TBS.
  15. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (April 16, 2005). "The Promise". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 26. TBS.
  16. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (July 16, 2005). "Kira of the Sky". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 39. TBS.
  17. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (August 6, 2005). "Freedom and Justice". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 42. TBS.
  18. ↑ Director: Mitsuo Fukuda (September 24, 2005). "Rey". Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny. Episode 49. TBS.
  19. ↑ Mitsuo Fukuda (Director) (April 15, 2008). Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny: Final Plus (DVD). Bandai Entertainment.
  20. ↑ Mitsuo Fukuda (Director) (July 11, 2005). Gundam SEED: Special Edition: The Empty Battlefield (DVD). Bandai Entertainment.
  21. ↑ Mitsuo Fukuda (Director) (June 17, 2008). Gundam SEED Destiny: Special Edition: The Shattered World (DVD). Bandai Entertainment.
  22. ↑ ""DATA GUNDAM" file". Monthly Gundam Ace (in Japanese). May 2007.
  23. ↑ Iwase, Masatsugu (2004). Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. New York: Del Rey Manga. ISBN 0-345-47045-1.
  24. ↑ Iwase, Masatsugu (2007). Gundam SEED Destiny 4. New York: Del Rey Manga. ISBN 978-0-345-49277-7.
  25. ↑ Kuori, Chimaki (2005). Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny: The Edge 1. Kadokawa Shoten. ISBN 978-4-04-713722-6.
  26. ↑ "機動戦士ガンダム SEED スーツCD (3) ラクス・クライン×ハロ" (in Japanese). Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  27. ↑ "機動戦士ガンダム SEED DESTINY スーツ CD 8 ラクスクライン×ミーアキャンベル" (in Japanese). Retrieved May 11, 2011.
  28. ↑ ＞＞第25回アニメグランプリ ［2003年6月号］ (in Japanese). Animage. June 2003. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  29. ↑ ＞＞第26回アニメグランプリ ［2004年6月号］ (in Japanese). Animage. June 2004. Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  30. ↑ ＞＞第27回アニメグランプリ ［2005年6月号］ (in Japanese). Animage. June 2005. Archived from the original on June 27, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  31. ↑ トップ ＞ 第28回アニメグランプリ ［2006年6月号］（現在位置） (in Japanese). Animage. June 2006. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2009.
  32. ↑ Animage Magazine’s 29th Anime Grand-Prix Results 2007
  33. ↑ "Newtype's Top 30 Male and Female Characters of Each Decade". Newtype (in Japanese). Kadokawa Shoten. March 2010.
  34. ↑ "ガンダム国勢調査 第52回". Sunrise. Archived from the original on July 30, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  35. ↑ "ガンダム国勢調査 第36回". Sunrise. Archived from the original on July 19, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  36. ↑ ガンダム国勢調査 第102回 (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  37. ↑ "ガンダム国勢調査 第56回 Gundam 56th census" (in Japanese). Sunrise. Archived from the original on August 22, 2008. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  38. ↑ ガンダム国勢調査 第124回 (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  39. ↑ ガンダム国勢調査 第125回 (in Japanese). Sunrise. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
  40. ↑ アキバ総研（秋葉原総合研究所）担当者コラム番外編 声優版アカデミー賞「第1回声優アワード」 (in Japanese). Akiba Kakabu. March 4, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  41. ↑ "Results of Japan's First Ever Seiyuu Awards Announced". Anime News Network. March 5, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  42. ↑ Cheung, Ever (November 2002). "Animefringe Coverage: Kidou Senshi Gundam SEED". Animefringe. 11 (11). Retrieved April 15, 2011.
  43. ↑ Wolstenholme, Kim (September 15, 2005). "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Vol. #02". Mania Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  44. ↑ Liversidge, Ross (November 3, 2006). "Anime Review: Gundam Seed Vol. 9-10". UK Anime Network. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  45. ↑ Wolstenholme, Kim (April 19, 2006). "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Vol. #09". Mania Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  46. ↑ Beveridge, Chris (March 23, 2005). "Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Vol. #09". Mania Entertainment. Archived from the original on April 15, 2011. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  47. ↑ Liversidge, Ross (January 6, 2008). "Anime Review: Gundam Seed Destiny 06 - 09". UK Anime Network. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  48. ↑ Martin, Theron (September 30, 2008). "Gundam SEED Destiny TV Movie II: Their Respective Swords DVD". Anime News Network. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
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