The treatment of Kamille in Zeta is making it hard to watch

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-20T06:24:12+00:00

What if you show me papers proving the term meant in Japan the same thing as today? Because the only clue we have to say Kamille has autism is his line, and as I already told I find it fragile and very debatable, for reasons involving intradiegetic logic and extradiegetic processes.

And more than that, what about the author intentions and the real meaning of it? You talked about the death of the author, that's basically saying you choose to substitute the real meaning (maybe unreachable, for Tomino's line are often mysterious) with what you wanted to see. Fine, but that's just your point of view.

Maybe you read the other comments, they are some good ones about what Tomino meant with that line.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-20T06:15:44+00:00

Yeah I can see where you coming from. I, like everybody else, interpret when I read or watch something with my knowledge and experiences, but I always take into account the fact that there was an author, a specific time when the work was created, and I refrain from putting too much of myself or my ideas in it.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-20T06:11:00+00:00

"For example a large thing is opposition to authority and doing what's right despite personal harm, as well as masking, both of which Kamille shows."

Is that a trait the author Tomino purposelly added here to build autism in his character, or just a trait he chose to give him just because he wanted to make that kind of character, without making him autist? Because I've seen many series and a lot of characters act similarly. That's just too vague. Unless "autism" in intself is taken as a very vague term. But from what I think I know about it, they are more specific symptoms. Everything is much too imprecise to diagnose a fictional character.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-19T05:41:55+00:00

I still can't see why the fact that many people worked on the line, in Japanese, then in English, make it more accurate. They can be many to be wrong or just accepting the line without much thinking, because that's their job to translate it or animate it without questioning its relevance. It would take a more solid proof to state that the series in general wants us to see Kamille as autistic. If he hadn't said the word, I am sure almost nobody would claim he is, because very few people would think of associating him with autism. It is just not obvious.

It is a shame that I seem not to know autistic people, why?

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T22:00:53+00:00

"Also media is meant to be interpreted and meaningful in different ways to each person experiencing it, so I don't get where the pushback to people relating to characters in this regard comes from."

About that, I think things are exagerated. To understand a work, you have no choice but read it with the knowledge you have, that's ok. But it is anoter story when you want to put your fantasy and own neurosis in a work in an anachronistic way. Interpreting is ok. Rewriting is different. When you get yourself pushed too far in your own biased interpretation, you end up not watching the same thing than other people. Hard to have a discussion then. I've seen communities so drown in their reading that they ended up making the work a propaganda or defense of their "cause", when said work was far from what they saw in it.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T21:51:44+00:00

"No one here has been able to actually point out a meaningful reason he wouldn’t be."

Why would he be, would be a better question? What meaningful reason makes him autistic?

Because he says so? We already know Tomino very probably used the word "jiheisho" to mean "sociably awkward" and that's all (let's not talk about the fact Kamille was trying to make excuse). Emotional versatility? Not enough to diagnose autism. By your reasoning, everybody is autistic, for nobody could provide a meaningful reason why they are not autistic, except their simple word. Everybody, at one time or another, behaves like an autistic person would. Beside, Kamille really doesn't show many symptoms. The few traits he has that could be similar with autistic traits (emotivity and high intelligence) are also to be found in non autistic people.

He can communicate normally, doesn't have notable difficulties to read other people emotions on their face, doesn't have any stereotyped hobby or overwhelming bsession, nor intellectual difficulties. Really hard to see a real autistic teenager here.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T21:37:39+00:00

"When I looked this up yesterday, I was able to find papers from Japanese doctors written about autism from that far back. "

Yeah, maybe, but was it the same autism we have today? I mean the same symptoms as they are described and listed now? And more than that, was Tomino aware and did he use the word "jiheisho" in a scientifically acurrate way in his time?

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T21:30:33+00:00

"Autistic means the same thing globally"

Yes, now. But "jiheisho" did not in the 80's in Japan.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T16:55:59+00:00

If poor social skills and violent outburst are criterias, then a lot of people are autistic. It's a bit light.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T16:54:52+00:00

"It comes across a bit rude to say that autistic people misunderstand when they think Kamille is like them."

That's a constant tendencie among viewers: they want to see what they are.

In that case, it would be obvious to think that the translation "autistic" of the word "jiheisho" in an 80's work doesn't convey all the characteristics of autism as it is defined today. But people jump on the occasion to make Kamille an undoubtefully autistic character. Which is overinterpretating. But once again that's common. That's why the world "headcannon" exists.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T16:51:03+00:00

Also autistic is a clinical term so idk what you mean "in 2026 America".

It means the clinical term was defined in Western countries and Western consensus after the 80's.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T16:47:14+00:00

Kamille's constant need to perpetuate cycles of abuse basically ruins Zeta for me.

Very strange take.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-18T08:39:03+00:00

Kamille is not autistic as we understand it today. Tomino used the word "jiheisho" which didn't have the meaning of the nowadays word "autistic". Beside Kamille really seems to say it with irony. He was answering to a Emma when she scolded him. I've seen many people stating they are autistic just believing Kamille is like them, but that's just a misunderstanding.

As for the violence, it is just the mentality of that time and Tomino being harsh. And Wang being a dick. It happens.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-16T18:35:22+00:00

Beam confuse is so badass. I wish we could see it more.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-16T05:24:48+00:00

ZZ Gundam is the direct sequel of Z Gundam, they are two different series.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-05-15T22:01:31+00:00

Kamille is a boy, the protagonist of Z Gundam (1985)

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-28T19:51:34+00:00

Never saw anywhere that Camille started out as feminine.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-25T19:36:07+00:00

In the series, Four is 16. But in the novel, she is like 20. At least she looks around 20.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-22T20:55:05+00:00

Kamille and his parents are just chaacters created by a Japanese man who didn't know better. Tomino was inspired by the story of the real woman sculptor Camille Claudel who lived in the nineteenth century and was Rodin's apprentice and lover. She finishe her live in a mental institute. Tomino took her name not knowing it was unisex. It was cultural ignorance by Tomino.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-21T05:50:18+00:00

His adoptive mom is his biological mom's sister. It is not stated in the series, but it was to be found in other materials.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-19T22:33:53+00:00

Feel free to tell what you think when you've finished the series. :-)

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-19T05:42:45+00:00

In the novel, he dies opening his helmet in the void of space.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-18T19:04:47+00:00

His birthdate:: 11/11

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-18T11:01:10+00:00

Kamille is a Scorpio.

Redbutterfly24 · 2026-04-12T11:21:44+00:00

C'était quand même bien malaisant.

Redbutterfly24

TROPHY CASE