The Zabi Family from the original GUNDAM

[Buried Alien]

Question for classic GUNDAM aficionados.

What do you think the ethnic/national origins were for the infamous Zabi Family of Zeon? They were obviously Europeans, but what part of Europe?

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[Jazzy Jay]

The Zeon uniforms seem to suggest Prussia/Germany, but I always figured that the colony residents had extremely mixed ethnic backgrounds.

[LordEd1976]

I have to agree with Jazzy jay. The Zabi's clothes seem to suggest germany or eastern european.

But then again, the colonies of Gundam don't seem to link with any particular nationality. Its not like in G Gundam where each colony is based off a specific country (Neo-America, Neo-China, Neo-Japan, etc.)

[Buried Alien]

Thanks for your insights, guys. This is helpful to me for a GUNDAM fanfic I've been developing for some time.

I sort of see the Zabis descended from Greek, Macedonian, or Turkish descent. Is any of those three feasible?

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[Darth Joker]

The Zeon uniforms seem to suggest Prussia/Germany, but I always figured that the colony residents had extremely mixed ethnic backgrounds.

The German-esque uniforms may have to do with Ghiren Zabi being a bit of a Hitler analogy. Hitler himself is even mentioned in the anime, with it being suggested that Ghiren is a fan of Hitler.

[LordEd1976]

Thanks for your insights, guys. This is helpful to me for a GUNDAM fanfic I've been developing for some time.

I sort of see the Zabis descended from Greek, Macedonian, or Turkish descent. Is any of those three feasible?

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I've always seen them as being descended from Eastern european stock

[ChrisIII]

Aren't the Zabi from different mothers? I think that's mentioned in the series somewhere.

[Buried Alien]

I've always seen them as being descended from Eastern european stock

Would Eastern European extend to the peoples of Macedonia and Greece, or is it more restricted to the Germanic and Slavic groups that occupy areas such as Germany, Poland, western Russia, etc.?

Not that I have any objection to the Zabis being of Germanic or Slavic stock, but it's almost a cliche to have authoritiarian rulers come from there.

Aren't the Zabi from different mothers? I think that's mentioned in the series somewhere.

That's quite possible. The Zabi siblings each looked very different from each other.

The character I'm writing about is young Duchess Minerva, the last surviving Zabi.

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[wchua24]

the original gundam is gundam wing right?

[ChrisIII]

Nope, the original Gundam series is "Mobile Suit Gundam". "Gundam Wing" is actually the sixth (I think) Gundam TV series, and not only that, it's set in a different universe/continuity than the original. They're tied mainly by the fact that they have Mobile suits, including of course Gundams(Although the Gundams in "Gundam Wing" are more superheroic in appearence and power than the original Gundam) a masked villain who is related to the show's heroine, which them being the heirs to a deposed monarch; the whole colony/earth conflict, etc.


Gundam Wing was, however, the first Gundam to be broadcast on an American network (Although the Gundam OAVs had been released previously on VHS).


Basically, the original Gundam series-and many of the follow-up TV series, movies, and OAVs-is set in the "Universal Century" Timeline. However in the 90s the UC timeline merchandising was dipping a bit so they made "Alternate universe" TV series and Gundams with more styilized designs. "Gundam Wing" is one of these (Others include G Gundam, Gundam X, Turn A Gundam and Gundam SEED). This continues to this day with Gundam 00, although the UC timeline is still very popular-it's just hasn't been the focus of the franchises's TV efforts for a long time.

[LordEd1976]

Would Eastern European extend to the peoples of Macedonia and Greece, or is it more restricted to the Germanic and Slavic groups that occupy areas such as Germany, Poland, western Russia, etc.?

Not that I have any objection to the Zabis being of Germanic or Slavic stock, but it's almost a cliche to have authoritiarian rulers come from there.

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When I say Eastern European I'm thinking more along the lines of Germanic and Slavic. and you're right it is a bit of a cliche but the look of the costumes and some of the mannerisms indicate noble Prussian background or influence.

[Buried Alien]

When I say Eastern European I'm thinking more along the lines of Germanic and Slavic. and you're right it is a bit of a cliche but the look of the costumes and some of the mannerisms indicate noble Prussian background or influence.

Hmmm. OK.

Of course, these parts of Europe are geographically close enough to each other that a mix of various ethnic backgrounds (i.e. the eastern German, Prussian, Macedonian, etc.) would probably be feasible.

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