Birthplace: Krugis Republic
Other Designations: Soran (original name, used by his mother), Kamal Majirif (self-reference in Episode 8), Soran Ibrahim (real name, used by Johann in ep19)
Unit: GN-001 Gundam Exia, GN-001 Gundam Avalanche Exia, GN-001RE Gundam Exia Repair, GN-001REII Gundam Exia Repair II, GN-0000 00 Gundam, GNT-0000 00 Qan[T], GNT-0000 00 Qan[T] Full Saber
Setsuna F. Seiei is the main protagonist of Gundam 00. As Celestial Being's primary Gundam Meister, he pilots the Exia in season one before moving to the 00 Gundam in season two and the 00 Qan[T] in the movie. His name itself kind of sums him up—it translates to something like "to obtain the moment."
He's quiet, introverted, and deeply opposed to war, viewing himself as someone meant to identify and eliminate the key conflicts that stand between the world and peace. He has zero patience for politicians and diplomats, convinced from personal experience that their endless negotiations just drag things out and make everything worse. His past as a child soldier under Ali Al-Saachez left him with old wounds that fuel his combat effectiveness, though he doesn't dwell on this. Despite claiming to be an atheist, he constantly questions God's role in human suffering and world events. What's striking is how much he idolizes the Gundams themselves—he wants to literally become one, to embody Exia as part of his identity. He's a martyr for Celestial Being's cause and deeply values honor in the traditional sense.
In a letter to Marina Ismail, Setsuna got more personal about what actually drives him. He wanted to understand humanity's darker side—why people harbor destructive intentions and ignore others' pain. He saw his Gundam as a tool to find these answers and somehow bridge that gap toward peace.
By season two, after five years away, Setsuna's taken on an unofficial leadership role among the Meisters. He's better at expressing himself now, less filtered. His core ideals haven't changed, but he's learned that self-improvement matters and that fighting for a better future requires hard choices—the kind that make people resent him. He'll make life-altering decisions for others when they can't decide for themselves, and he won't hesitate to kill if it's necessary. That said, he's become more understanding and willing to compromise, and his confidence actually inspires people around him.
Combat-wise, Setsuna's a machine. Ali Al-Saachez trained him young, so by age ten he already knew firearms, close-quarters combat, explosives, infiltration, and basically all guerrilla tactics. As Exia's pilot, he translated his KPSA experience into the Gundam's melee-focused style. Celestial Being taught him enough mobile suit maintenance to keep his machines running. His five-year break didn't rust his piloting skills at all—if anything, his close-range combat and accuracy got sharper.
The real game-changer comes with the 00 Gundam's concentrated GN particles and Trans-Am Raiser system. Prolonged exposure gradually enhanced Setsuna's brain to process quantum brainwaves, which he can now sense and track. Eventually he naturally evolved into humanity's first true Innovator—something that's never happened before, so even he doesn't fully understand his own abilities yet. He can anticipate opponent movements, sense danger from far away, has enhanced reflexes, and ages slower than normal humans. He communicates through quantum brainwaves too, though it's unclear if he can interface with Veda or CB tech the way the Innovades can.
After merging with the ELS, Setsuna's body became something else entirely—no longer fully human. The ELS restructured him using their biotech, keeping him eternally youthful but with a metallic sheen. He's essentially a hybrid: part Innovator, part ELS.
Content compiled by AnimeList.moe from publicly available sources.
