TV-Series
Description
In the Cosmic Era timeline of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, Haro appears not as a single character, but as a collection of small, spherical robot companions belonging to the idol and politician Lacus Clyne. These particular units were built for her by Athrun Zala, Lacus's fiancé at the time, as a gift. Unlike the larger, basketball-sized Haro units from the original Universal Century series, these versions are significantly smaller, roughly the size of a softball or small enough to fit easily in one's hands.
The personality of these Haro units is cheerful, playful, and simple. They are capable of basic speech, though their dialogue is typically limited to short, repetitive phrases, a trait consistent with Haro units across the Gundam franchise. They frequently utter their own name, "Haro!", as an interjection. Lacus's favorite, a pink Haro often referred to as Pink-Chan or Mr. Pink, has a distinctive verbal tic, often adding the phrase "you too" to its sentences in a seemingly nonsensical manner, and has been known to exclaim a mild oath like "dammit". This behavior provides a source of lighthearted, comic relief. Their motivations are simple, driven by a basic artificial intelligence focused on providing companionship, playing, and following their owner.
In the story, Haro serves several roles. Primarily, they act as loyal pets and companions to Lacus, offering her comfort and emotional support, especially amidst the turmoil of war. They can often be seen bouncing around her quarters or on the bridge of the ship Archangel, adding a sense of normalcy and innocence. Beyond mere pets, some Haro units possess practical abilities, such as the capacity to unlock doors, and they serve as data storage and playback devices, capable of relaying recorded messages or information. For instance, they have been used to guide reunions between characters. In the sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, a notable red Haro named Mister Red belongs to Meer Campbell, Lacus's impersonator. This unit serves a more duplicitous purpose, being used as part of Chairman Durandal's schemes to deliver deceptive messages and facilitate espionage.
The key relationship for the SEED Haros is undoubtedly with Lacus Clyne. She is their owner and caretaker, and they are a constant presence by her side, reflecting her gentle and nurturing personality. Their origin is directly tied to Athrun Zala, whose act of building them demonstrates his initial affection for Lacus. The pink Pink-Chan is her most prominent and beloved companion. The collection also includes other colored units, such as yellow, orange, blue, green, and black, with a notable navy blue one upon which Lacus paints a mustache as a recurring visual gag. The parody comic Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Club Yonkoma humorously suggests that Athrun built a total of 35 Haros for her.
As for development, the individual Haro units themselves do not undergo significant character growth or change. Their design and function remain largely static throughout the series. Rather than internal development, their role evolves as Lacus's own position changes. Initially just the pets of a peaceful pop star, they accompany her as she becomes a fugitive, a clandestine leader of a rebel faction, and eventually a prominent political figure. The introduction of Mister Red in Gundam SEED Destiny acts as a variation on the concept, presenting a Haro used for more manipulative ends, in contrast to the sincere companionship offered by Lacus's collection.
Notable abilities of the SEED Haro units include their compact, spherical design that allows them to roll and hop to move around. They can open their segmented metal shells to reveal small, retractable limbs for manipulating objects. While not commonly seen piloting mobile suits like some counterparts in other timelines, their core functions include basic speech, facial recognition, voice recognition, and the ability to operate in zero gravity by flapping their appendage covers. The model used by Meer Campbell, Mister Red, notably speaks in English, contrasting with the primarily Japanese-speaking Haros in Lacus's collection.
The personality of these Haro units is cheerful, playful, and simple. They are capable of basic speech, though their dialogue is typically limited to short, repetitive phrases, a trait consistent with Haro units across the Gundam franchise. They frequently utter their own name, "Haro!", as an interjection. Lacus's favorite, a pink Haro often referred to as Pink-Chan or Mr. Pink, has a distinctive verbal tic, often adding the phrase "you too" to its sentences in a seemingly nonsensical manner, and has been known to exclaim a mild oath like "dammit". This behavior provides a source of lighthearted, comic relief. Their motivations are simple, driven by a basic artificial intelligence focused on providing companionship, playing, and following their owner.
In the story, Haro serves several roles. Primarily, they act as loyal pets and companions to Lacus, offering her comfort and emotional support, especially amidst the turmoil of war. They can often be seen bouncing around her quarters or on the bridge of the ship Archangel, adding a sense of normalcy and innocence. Beyond mere pets, some Haro units possess practical abilities, such as the capacity to unlock doors, and they serve as data storage and playback devices, capable of relaying recorded messages or information. For instance, they have been used to guide reunions between characters. In the sequel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, a notable red Haro named Mister Red belongs to Meer Campbell, Lacus's impersonator. This unit serves a more duplicitous purpose, being used as part of Chairman Durandal's schemes to deliver deceptive messages and facilitate espionage.
The key relationship for the SEED Haros is undoubtedly with Lacus Clyne. She is their owner and caretaker, and they are a constant presence by her side, reflecting her gentle and nurturing personality. Their origin is directly tied to Athrun Zala, whose act of building them demonstrates his initial affection for Lacus. The pink Pink-Chan is her most prominent and beloved companion. The collection also includes other colored units, such as yellow, orange, blue, green, and black, with a notable navy blue one upon which Lacus paints a mustache as a recurring visual gag. The parody comic Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Club Yonkoma humorously suggests that Athrun built a total of 35 Haros for her.
As for development, the individual Haro units themselves do not undergo significant character growth or change. Their design and function remain largely static throughout the series. Rather than internal development, their role evolves as Lacus's own position changes. Initially just the pets of a peaceful pop star, they accompany her as she becomes a fugitive, a clandestine leader of a rebel faction, and eventually a prominent political figure. The introduction of Mister Red in Gundam SEED Destiny acts as a variation on the concept, presenting a Haro used for more manipulative ends, in contrast to the sincere companionship offered by Lacus's collection.
Notable abilities of the SEED Haro units include their compact, spherical design that allows them to roll and hop to move around. They can open their segmented metal shells to reveal small, retractable limbs for manipulating objects. While not commonly seen piloting mobile suits like some counterparts in other timelines, their core functions include basic speech, facial recognition, voice recognition, and the ability to operate in zero gravity by flapping their appendage covers. The model used by Meer Campbell, Mister Red, notably speaks in English, contrasting with the primarily Japanese-speaking Haros in Lacus's collection.