Meer Campbell

Infobox animanga character
name = Meer Campbell
series = Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny


caption = Meer Campbell in "Gundam SEED Destiny"
first = "Gundam SEED Destiny" episode 9
last = "Gundam SEED Destiny" episode 47
creator =
voiced by = Rie Tanaka (Japanese)cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/destiny/credits/index.html |title=Credits |accessdate=2008-04-05 |work=GundamOfficial |publisher=Bandai America Incorporated]
Chantal Strand (English)
Jillian Michaels (English singing voice)
Fact|date=April 2008
alias = Lacus Clyne
age = 17 [GSD] cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/destiny/characters/chara_meer.html |title=Meer Campbell |accessdate=2008-04-05 |work=GundamOfficial |publisher=Bandai America Incorporated]
born = July 2
death =
nationality = PLANT [GSD]
relatives =
divider = yes
paux1 name = Genetic type
paux1 = Coordinator
aux1 name = Allegiance
aux1 = PLANT [GSD]

nihongo|Meer Campbell|ミーア・キャンベル|Mīa Kyanberu is a fictional character from the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny".

Gundam SEED Destiny

Impersonating Lacus

Meer Campbell has a voice that sounds very similar to her idol's, Lacus Clyne, and she uses this to her advantage as she impersonates Lacus throughout the episodes. Reflecting this, both Meer Campbell and Lacus Clyne are voiced by Rie Tanaka in the Japanese version and by Chantal Strand in the English dub. Jillian Michaels provides the English singing voice of both as well.Fact|date=April 2008 Her name means "lake" in Dutch, possibly reflecting her role in the story as her idol—Lacus's name also means lake but in Latin.

Meer is contacted by Chairman Gilbert Durandal, who asks her to pose as Lacus to enhance his political position. After she accepts the job, Meer's face is surgically altered to look identical to Lacus; however, tell-tale signs that reveal their own identities—their hairclips and attire.

Meer takes Lacus' image as a pop star further: singing more upbeat versions of her songs, more dancing, more revealing clothing, etc.

Realizing that Lacus has a political influence greater than his, Durandal uses Meer to gain support for his policies. Meer believes in Durandal's ideals, and is glad to further his agenda by impersonating Lacus. Meer's belief is that by impersonating Lacus, she will be loved by everyone. However, a few people can tell the difference; Athrun Zala, Kira Yamato, and most of the other major characters in the Three Ships Alliance easily know she is not the real Lacus, especially since Lacus has been living with most of the senior members of the Three Ships Alliance in Orb, and later onboard the "Archangel". In "The Edge" (a manga series depicting Athrun's side of the story), Gilbert Durandal acknowledges to Athrun that Meer is an impostor.

Meer is flirty and tends to be very excitable, especially in Athrun's presence.

When she first meets Athrun, she introduces herself as Meer Campbell, and admits she is not Lacus Clyne. When Athrun attempts to convince her to escape Gibraltar with him, she refuses, claiming that she is Lacus and that she prefers to be Lacus. Later in the series, Meer insists to Athrun and Lacus herself that she is Lacus.

Throughout the series, Meer attempts to get closer to Athrun, going so far as to sneak into his bedroom while he is asleep. Athrun attempts to keep her at a distance and tells her that the real Lacus would not do any of the things which she does. Even though Athrun never encourages her, Meer continues to try to get closer to him; on the other hand, despite not having romantic feelings for her, Athrun did care for her as a friend, since he tried to get her to defect with him and was visibly upset when she died.

Hiding

Meer's imposture is revealed to the general public by Lacus after the Battle of Onogoro, when the real Lacus interrupted Meer's TV news broadcast. Following this, Durandal sends Meer, along with her bodyguard Sarah into hiding at the lunar city of Copernicus. Ironically, the "Archangel", after being assigned to Orb's 2nd Space Fleet, also lands on Copernicus with Lacus Clyne in tow. Sarah informs Meer of the "Archangel"'s presence and tells her that the other one may be with them. Sarah then suggests that Meer (whom she addresses as Lacus) do something about it, and Meer, with the obsession of remaining as Lacus, accepts.

As Kira, Athrun, Lacus, and Meyrin Hawke go shopping, Meer's red Haro gives a note to Lacus saying that Meer is going to be killed (or as the letter says "I'm going to killed! -Meer"). Athrun and Meyrin say they believe that it is a trap, but Lacus decides to go anyway, since Meer asked for Lacus' help. The other three accompany Lacus to meet Meer.

Later events

Meer meets the others in an empty amphitheater surrounded by armed men waiting in ambush. She was surprised to see Athrun, whom she thought had died after he was branded a traitor. Meer clings to the belief she is Lacus Clyne as the real Lacus tries to calm her down, telling Meer she is her own person with her own dreams, even if she looks and sounds like Lacus now. Desperate, Meer threatens to shoot Lacus but is stopped by Athrun, who shoots the gun out of her hands.

Sarah, who is also lying in wait, tries to shoot Lacus, but Kira's mechanical bird Torii (Birdy in the dubbed version) alerts Athrun to the threat. Gunfire ensues, as Athrun takes down most of the armed men, and Sarah is seriously injured when a grenade she throws is deflected back at her by Kira and Meyrin.
Mu La Flaga arrives in the ORB-01 Akatsuki after the firefight to evacuate them all. As Lacus climbs onto the hand of the Akatsuki, Kira asks Meer to go with them, and she accepts. However, Sarah fires one more shot at Lacus; Meer tries to alert Lacus but is hit by the bullet while running towards her, while Athrun and Kira shoot and kill Sarah.

Meer gives Lacus a picture of herself before her cosmetic surgery, and she dies in Lacus' arms. Athrun carries Meer's body to the "Archangel", where a funeral service is held for her. Lacus and the others read Meer's personal diary about her life.

References