OVA
Description
Casval Rem Deikun is the birth name of a central figure in the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin narrative, a character known to history by many aliases, including Édouard Mass and, most famously, Char Aznable. Born in U.C. 0057 on the space colony Side 3, Casval is the son of Zeon Zum Deikun, a prominent and charismatic advocate for spacer independence, and his partner, Astraia Tor Deikun. He has a younger sister, Artesia Som Deikun, who later becomes known as Sayla Mass.
Casval’s early childhood is marked by tragedy and political upheaval. His father, Zeon, died under mysterious circumstances, which many supporters, including the loyal family friend Jimba Ral, believed to be an assassination orchestrated by the rival Zabi family, led by Degwin Sodo Zabi. Following this event, the young Casval and his sister were forced to flee for their lives from the Zabis, who seized power. They were spirited away to Earth by Jimba Ral, and for their safety, they were adopted by a wealthy friend of their father, Don Teabolo Mass, taking the names Édouard and Sayla Mass.
His formative years were defined by this hidden existence. He was constantly reminded by Jimba Ral of the Zabi family's betrayal, an ideology that fueled a deep-seated and simmering desire for revenge. This period hardened him, transforming him from a child of privilege into a cold, calculating, and ruthless young man. He is described as being terrifyingly different from other children, displaying a chilling composure and a growing paranoia about being hunted. His intelligence and maturity were evident from a young age, as he was able to stand his ground against Kycilia Zabi, one of the Zabi heirs, threatening her with political ruin when she attempted to intimidate him.
A crucial turning point occurred when the Deikun children moved to a colony called Texas, where they befriended a youth named Char Aznable, who bore a striking resemblance to Casval with the singular difference being the color of their eyes—Casval has blue eyes while the real Char has brown eyes. When Casval decided to return to the Zabi-controlled Side 3 to infiltrate their regime, he orchestrated an elaborate identity swap. He arranged for a weapon to be found in Char's luggage, then suggested they exchange tickets and identification. The real Char, traveling under Casval's alias, was subsequently killed when his shuttle was bombed, an assassination likely ordered by Kycilia Zabi. Casval thus assumed the identity of Char Aznable, using the dead man’s papers to enroll in the Zeon Military Academy, and began wearing sunglasses to conceal his distinctive blue eyes.
Casval’s motivations are layered and evolve over time. His primary driving force is a deep-seated vengeance against the Zabi family, whom he holds personally responsible for his father’s death and the destruction of his birthright. However, he also develops a complex disdain for his father’s idealistic and impractical philosophies, which he views as naïve tabletop theories. He seeks not only to destroy the Zabis but also to prove his own superiority and achieve a kind of justice or retribution on his own terms. His role in the story, particularly as portrayed in The Origin, is that of a tragic prince turned revolutionary, whose quest for revenge transforms him into a charismatic but deeply flawed and manipulative figure.
His key relationships are defined by this quest. At the Zeon academy, he deliberately befriended Garma Zabi, the beloved youngest son of Degwin Zabi, using their friendship to gain strategic advantage. Casval’s ultimate act of vengeance is his cold-blooded betrayal of Garma during the One Year War, leading him into a fatal trap and coldly informing his friend of the treachery moments before his death. His relationship with his sister, Artesia/Sayla, is another core component. While he genuinely wishes to protect her from the brutal path he has chosen, his actions often frighten and alienate her. He also demonstrates a manipulative and pragmatic streak, as seen when he deliberately sacrifices a loyal friend, Lino Fernandez, to further his own goals and solidify his new identity.
Throughout his development, Casval displays remarkable abilities. He is a prodigiously gifted strategist and a natural leader, able to inspire fervent loyalty in his followers. As a mobile suit pilot, his skills are legendary; he earned the fearsome nickname The Red Comet for his incredible speed and combat prowess, most notably at the Battle of Loum where he single-handedly destroyed five Federation battleships. He is also a master of manipulation and deception, capable of long-term scheming to dismantle his enemies from within. Later in his life, after assuming the identity of Char Aznable, he is recognized as a potential Newtype, developing enhanced spatial awareness and psychic abilities that allow him to form powerful bonds and rivalries, most famously with the Federation pilot Amuro Ray.
Casval’s early childhood is marked by tragedy and political upheaval. His father, Zeon, died under mysterious circumstances, which many supporters, including the loyal family friend Jimba Ral, believed to be an assassination orchestrated by the rival Zabi family, led by Degwin Sodo Zabi. Following this event, the young Casval and his sister were forced to flee for their lives from the Zabis, who seized power. They were spirited away to Earth by Jimba Ral, and for their safety, they were adopted by a wealthy friend of their father, Don Teabolo Mass, taking the names Édouard and Sayla Mass.
His formative years were defined by this hidden existence. He was constantly reminded by Jimba Ral of the Zabi family's betrayal, an ideology that fueled a deep-seated and simmering desire for revenge. This period hardened him, transforming him from a child of privilege into a cold, calculating, and ruthless young man. He is described as being terrifyingly different from other children, displaying a chilling composure and a growing paranoia about being hunted. His intelligence and maturity were evident from a young age, as he was able to stand his ground against Kycilia Zabi, one of the Zabi heirs, threatening her with political ruin when she attempted to intimidate him.
A crucial turning point occurred when the Deikun children moved to a colony called Texas, where they befriended a youth named Char Aznable, who bore a striking resemblance to Casval with the singular difference being the color of their eyes—Casval has blue eyes while the real Char has brown eyes. When Casval decided to return to the Zabi-controlled Side 3 to infiltrate their regime, he orchestrated an elaborate identity swap. He arranged for a weapon to be found in Char's luggage, then suggested they exchange tickets and identification. The real Char, traveling under Casval's alias, was subsequently killed when his shuttle was bombed, an assassination likely ordered by Kycilia Zabi. Casval thus assumed the identity of Char Aznable, using the dead man’s papers to enroll in the Zeon Military Academy, and began wearing sunglasses to conceal his distinctive blue eyes.
Casval’s motivations are layered and evolve over time. His primary driving force is a deep-seated vengeance against the Zabi family, whom he holds personally responsible for his father’s death and the destruction of his birthright. However, he also develops a complex disdain for his father’s idealistic and impractical philosophies, which he views as naïve tabletop theories. He seeks not only to destroy the Zabis but also to prove his own superiority and achieve a kind of justice or retribution on his own terms. His role in the story, particularly as portrayed in The Origin, is that of a tragic prince turned revolutionary, whose quest for revenge transforms him into a charismatic but deeply flawed and manipulative figure.
His key relationships are defined by this quest. At the Zeon academy, he deliberately befriended Garma Zabi, the beloved youngest son of Degwin Zabi, using their friendship to gain strategic advantage. Casval’s ultimate act of vengeance is his cold-blooded betrayal of Garma during the One Year War, leading him into a fatal trap and coldly informing his friend of the treachery moments before his death. His relationship with his sister, Artesia/Sayla, is another core component. While he genuinely wishes to protect her from the brutal path he has chosen, his actions often frighten and alienate her. He also demonstrates a manipulative and pragmatic streak, as seen when he deliberately sacrifices a loyal friend, Lino Fernandez, to further his own goals and solidify his new identity.
Throughout his development, Casval displays remarkable abilities. He is a prodigiously gifted strategist and a natural leader, able to inspire fervent loyalty in his followers. As a mobile suit pilot, his skills are legendary; he earned the fearsome nickname The Red Comet for his incredible speed and combat prowess, most notably at the Battle of Loum where he single-handedly destroyed five Federation battleships. He is also a master of manipulation and deception, capable of long-term scheming to dismantle his enemies from within. Later in his life, after assuming the identity of Char Aznable, he is recognized as a potential Newtype, developing enhanced spatial awareness and psychic abilities that allow him to form powerful bonds and rivalries, most famously with the Federation pilot Amuro Ray.