Kira Yamato

Kira Yamato (キラ・ヤマト?) is a fictional character first introduced as the protagonist from the 2002 Japanese anime television series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise, part of the Gundam franchise. In the series, Kira is a first-generation Coordinator, a genetically enhanced human being born of normal humans (Naturals). At the beginning of Gundam SEED, Kira lives on the neutral space colony Heliopolis to avoid the war between the Coordinators and the Naturals, but the colony becomes involved in the war shortly thereafter. Born as a Coordinator, Kira is the only person within the Earth Alliance, the Naturals' military faction, who is able to effectively pilot their mobile suit, a type of a mecha created by them. He is forced to become a mobile suit pilot to participate in various battles to protect his friends. Kira has also been featured in Gundam SEED's direct sequel Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny, where he once again fights to stop a new war between the races' military organizations. He is voiced in the Japanese series by Sōichirō Hoshi and in the English adaptation by Matt Hill.

Kira has also appeared in the manga adaptations from the two TV series as well as the film compilations. Various video games from the Gundam franchise as well as crossover games also feature Kira as a pilot from mobile suits. Director Mitsuo Fukuda regarded Kira's actions as based on Japanese people's thoughts, and emphasized a large development occurring to his character across the series. Kira is one of the most popular characters in the Anime Grand Prix popularity polls for favorite male characters, often coming in first or second between 2002 to 2005. His character has also been well received by publications for manga, anime and other media due to his personality and role in both Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny.