TV-Series
Description
Fausto, also known as Gelhardt von Faust, is the primary antagonist in the initial story arc of Saber Marionette J. He serves as the dictatorial leader of Gartlant, a highly militarized and technologically advanced nation that stands in stark contrast to the more traditional and rustic setting of Japoness. His ambition is not subtle; he is a megalomaniac driven to conquer all of Terra II and bring the entire planet under his authoritarian control.
At the beginning of the series, Fausto is portrayed as a cold, seemingly unfeeling tyrant who views the marionettes under his command solely as tools for achieving his goals. This is most evident in his relationship with his own trio of Saber Marionettes, the Saber Dolls: Tiger, Luchs, and Panther. Although each of these three possesses a rare Maiden Circuit that grants them genuine emotions, Fausto initially suppresses their feelings and treats them with a harsh cruelty that forces them to imitate his own ruthless nature. His behavior stands in direct opposition to the protagonist, Otaru Mamiya, who nurtures the emotional growth of his marionettes.
However, Fausto's motivations are rooted in a tragic history that predates the founding of the six nations of Terra II. He is a descendant of one of the six original male survivors of the crashed colony ship Mesopotamia. The original Fausto, like the first ruler Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa of Japoness, was deeply in love with Lorelei, a brilliant scientist who remained trapped and in suspended animation aboard the sentient and dangerously unstable computer of the Mesopotamia. The creation of the Maiden Circuits was originally a desperate plan by Ieyasu and Fausto to replicate Lorelei's personality and free her from the ship. Over three centuries, the successive clones and heirs of Fausto inherited this desire for power but also the lingering goal of rescuing Lorelei. In the present, his desire to conquer Terra II is intertwined with a possessive need to claim Lorelei as his own before anyone else can.
As the story progresses, Fausto undergoes significant development. His single-minded desire to defeat Otaru and rule the world leads to his plans falling apart and a growing awareness of his own failings. After the immediate threat of the Mesopotamia is resolved, Fausto retreats from his life of conquest. In the sequel stories, he demonstrates a change of heart by sending his Saber Dolls to live with Otaru in Japoness, hoping they will learn proper social skills and etiquette that he himself failed to teach them. When a clone of Faust is manipulated by the true mastermind, Doctor Hess, to cause chaos, the real Faust has turned away from his imperialist past. He ultimately allies himself with his former rival, Otaru, to save Terra II from a final, planet-threatening crisis.
Regarding notable abilities, Fausto is not a physically combative character in the same way as the marionettes. His power derives from his political authority, his strategic genius, and his absolute control over the military might of Gartlant. He commands the three powerful Saber Dolls, who act as his elite enforcers and are formidable warriors in their own right. He is also depicted as a skilled leader of men and a ruthless strategist, capable of leading a war effort against multiple neighboring nations simultaneously.
At the beginning of the series, Fausto is portrayed as a cold, seemingly unfeeling tyrant who views the marionettes under his command solely as tools for achieving his goals. This is most evident in his relationship with his own trio of Saber Marionettes, the Saber Dolls: Tiger, Luchs, and Panther. Although each of these three possesses a rare Maiden Circuit that grants them genuine emotions, Fausto initially suppresses their feelings and treats them with a harsh cruelty that forces them to imitate his own ruthless nature. His behavior stands in direct opposition to the protagonist, Otaru Mamiya, who nurtures the emotional growth of his marionettes.
However, Fausto's motivations are rooted in a tragic history that predates the founding of the six nations of Terra II. He is a descendant of one of the six original male survivors of the crashed colony ship Mesopotamia. The original Fausto, like the first ruler Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa of Japoness, was deeply in love with Lorelei, a brilliant scientist who remained trapped and in suspended animation aboard the sentient and dangerously unstable computer of the Mesopotamia. The creation of the Maiden Circuits was originally a desperate plan by Ieyasu and Fausto to replicate Lorelei's personality and free her from the ship. Over three centuries, the successive clones and heirs of Fausto inherited this desire for power but also the lingering goal of rescuing Lorelei. In the present, his desire to conquer Terra II is intertwined with a possessive need to claim Lorelei as his own before anyone else can.
As the story progresses, Fausto undergoes significant development. His single-minded desire to defeat Otaru and rule the world leads to his plans falling apart and a growing awareness of his own failings. After the immediate threat of the Mesopotamia is resolved, Fausto retreats from his life of conquest. In the sequel stories, he demonstrates a change of heart by sending his Saber Dolls to live with Otaru in Japoness, hoping they will learn proper social skills and etiquette that he himself failed to teach them. When a clone of Faust is manipulated by the true mastermind, Doctor Hess, to cause chaos, the real Faust has turned away from his imperialist past. He ultimately allies himself with his former rival, Otaru, to save Terra II from a final, planet-threatening crisis.
Regarding notable abilities, Fausto is not a physically combative character in the same way as the marionettes. His power derives from his political authority, his strategic genius, and his absolute control over the military might of Gartlant. He commands the three powerful Saber Dolls, who act as his elite enforcers and are formidable warriors in their own right. He is also depicted as a skilled leader of men and a ruthless strategist, capable of leading a war effort against multiple neighboring nations simultaneously.