Why do they have those Colours?

[Grasshopper]

So I started watching the series since Gundam Wing, and I've always wondered why protagonist gundams were always coloured white and blue, whereas the antagonist was always coloured in some shade of red.

Gundam Wing:
Heero - Wing and Wing Zero
Zechs - Epyon

Gundam Seed:
Kira - Strike and Freedom
Athrun - Aegis and Justice

Gundam Seed Destiny:
Kira - Freedom and Strike Freedom
Shin - Impulse and Destiny
Athrun - Savior and Infinite Justice

Gundam 00:
Setsuna - Exia and 00
Ali Al-Saachez - Enact, Throne Zwei, and Arche

I'll admit the in Destiny it wasn't exactly a protagonist and antagonist thing isn't as clear due to some character transitions that took place throughout the series; but the relationship is still there.

So yeah, I'm sure a lot of you have noticed this as well, and I was just wondering if anyone knows why they do this, is it like tradition? or can they not think of some new colours? lol.

[2Shea]

Because it all pays homage to the original Gundam series.

http://imprinttalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/rx-78-2.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/1016/ms06schar.jpg

That's all lol.

[sazabi24]

because every series needs a crappy char clone :)

[3625]

I think that Mwu/Rau (as a pair) make a pretty good Char clone. Just as Kira makes a good Amuro clone, IMO.

I admit that I don't like Heero/Zechs, though.

[dspr8_rugged]

It has been the color scheme for the last 30 years, so yes, it's tradition.

And it's a matter of reference to know who the lead Gundam unit is by it having shades of red, white and blue. The red MS unit varies. It may or may not be the antagonist.

[Host Samurai]

Respect bitches. :pimp

[Zetta]

Tradition.

It's actually explained though.

They mentioned that the blue and white color scheme is usually the one used for prototypes (hence, why RX-78-2 looks like that). The red color scheme usually denotes aces. Most of the Zeon aces had red on their mobile suit somewhere though Char is the most blatent example.... what with his nickname being the Red Comet.

Not every gundam follows this rule.

0083 and Turn A for instance had both the Neue Ziel and the Turn X in limegreen/grey respectievely. Basically, it's tradition for the main character to have the iconic blue and white scheme while the rival is only red/gold if he's a Char Expy.

Mu/Rau, Ali, Zechs, Harry Ord, etc. The red thing is also a running joke since Char's mobile suits were supposedly 3 times faster than normal. The amount of 3 times faster refrences both in Gundam and in Japan is astounding.

Even a recent example: When Trans-Am was first used, someone actually mentioned they're three times faster if I recall. What does it do? Yup, turn the Gundam red :ho