Setsuna F. Seiei

Setsuna F. Seiei
Mobile Suit Gundam 00 character
Setsuna F. Seiei in Gundam 00
First appearance	Mobile Suit Gundam 00 episode 1
Voiced by	Japanese Mamoru Miyano English Brad Swaile
Profile
Genetic type	Innovator

Setsuna F. Seiei (刹那・F・セイエイ, Setsuna Efu Seiei^?), whose real name is Soran Ibrahim (سوران إبراهيم Suran Ibrahim), is a fictional character introduced as the protagonist of Sunrise's anime series Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Setsuna is a member of Celestial Being, an organization that aims to end all wars through the deployment of the revolutionary Gundam units in aggressive armed interventions. One of the Gundam pilots, also known as "Gundam Meisters," Setsuna remembers across the series his involvement in a war from the Middle East and wishes to find another way to end the conflict. He has also appeared in the direct film sequel Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer as well as video games and manga series related with the Gundam franchise.

Setsuna was created as a Kurd because director Seiji Mizushima wanted to explore the situation people in the Middle East go through which forces them to participate in wars. He was also made to contrast previous Gundam characters who were relatable with the audience. Setsuna has been a popular character in Japan, where voice actor Mamoru Miyano received an award for the role, and within the Gundam fanbase, ranking highly in various polls. However, critical reception to Setsuna's character from English-language publications for anime, manga and other media has been mixed, criticizing his silent personality but praising his growth across the series.

Setsuna being a Kurd was an international decision by Sunrise. This was done as critique to Japan's apathy towards religion. Director Seiji Mizushima wanted to give viewers a close approach to the wars in the Middle East, believing the problem would not be solved in a long time. Mizushima aimed to make the viewers understand Setsuna's feelings as a result of living under war conditions. In regards to his personality, Mizushima wanted the series' protagonist that could not be related with the audience. This was done to contrast previous Gundam protagonists and appeal to young viewers. While he saw his past as difficult to understand he might look appealing as a result. The staff also wanted to create a character the audience could relate to. Late in the series, Setsuna's Quanta system was introduced in order to convey his message that he wants war to end through communication rather than violence. This idea was explored once again in the movie where the plot was written so that nobody except Setsuna could end the conflict.