Syrus Truesdale

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Syrus Truesdale (Sho Marufuji)
Appears in	Yu-Gi-Oh! (Duel Monsters) GX
Debut	Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Episode 1
Birthday	Unknown
Deck	Vehicroid
Sign	Unknown
Age	15 at debut; currently 17
Height	Unknown
Weight	Unknown
Blood type	Unknown
Favorite food	Fried prawn, tamagopan (egg-bread) Liver and onions (English version)
Least favorite food	Milk
Status at debut	Student taking the Duel Academy entrance exam
Relations	Older brother: Zane Truesdale (Ryo Marufuji)
Seiyū	Masami Suzuki
Voice actor(s)	Wayne Grayson

Syrus Truesdale, known in Japan as Sho Marufuji (丸藤翔, Marufuji Shō^?), is a fictional character in the anime series Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters GX in Japan) and the manga series of the same name. In the English version, Syrus is voiced by Wayne Grayson, while Masami Suzuki takes the role in the Japanese version.

A decent duelist, though hindered by a great deal of self doubt, Syrus' journey toward strengthening himself provides sharp contrast to protagonist Jaden's active determination.

[edit] Character design

Syrus' design incorporates multiple layers of clothing and a wide range of expressions. Depicted here is the duelist in full Slifer Red regalia from front, side, and rear alongside views of his head from different angles.

Syrus' character design was overseen by Kenichi Hara.^[1] His usual outfit consists of the standard Duel Academy uniform with alternating colors over the course of the series. The designs for all three uniforms worn by Syrus are identical in basic makeup. With his red uniform, a yellow shirt is hidden underneath the jacket, whereas with his yellow uniform, this is reversed. With his blue uniform, the shirt is black, and the collar has buttons not present in his other incarnations. His blue hair (of a lighter tint than his brother's) is sectioned in three layers, his grey eyes positioned between the three bangs closest to his face and behind a pair of round-lensed glasses. He carries an Academy-issued Duel Disk on his left hand.

[edit] Fictional character biography

Syrus is the younger brother of Zane Truesdale (Ryo Marufuji) who attends Duel Academy (Duel Academia), residing in the Slifer Red (Osiris Red) dormitory along with Chumley Huffington (Hayato Maeda) and Jaden Yuki (Judai Yuki).

From the onset of the first year, he faces Jaden in preparation for a Tag Duel, but, priding himself on finding a way to outdo his roommate, overlooks the abilities of his own cards. It was for this same reason that Zane forbade him from using the Power Bond card when they were younger, for Syrus was unable to cope with its potential drawback.^[2] In the subsequent Duel with the Paradox Brothers (Meikyū Brothers in the English manga and Japanese version), Syrus fell for every single ploy the brothers set. Praised by Jaden, he regained his wits, and brought up the courage to activate Power Bond, which allowed the two to claim victory.

During the second year, Syrus is given an opportunity to advance to Ra Yellow should he be able to defeat Missy (Ran Kochou).^[3] Feeling that he should not shoulder his brother's legacy, Syrus gives his Power Bond card to Chazz Princeton (Jun Manjoume) before the start of the Duel (reclaims it afterwards), and is successful in overcoming Missy. Syrus would also develop a rivalry with Tyranno Hassleberry (Tyranno Kenzan) over which of the two is better suited to being Jaden's best friend (in the Japanese version, it is over who has the right to call him "big brother"). They constantly argue and fight, prompting their repetitive separation by Alexis Rhodes (Asuka Tenjouin),^[4] with their rivalry coming to a temporary halt when the two decide to duel to settle matters once and for all, though Tyranno allows himself to be defeated after seeing Syrus' devotion to Jaden.^[5]

During the field trip to Domino City, Syrus teams up with Tyranno in a duel against the first duo of the Light Brigade, Frost (Kourimaru) and Thunder (Ikazuchimaru). Although the two are pinned down by their opponents, who tuned their decks specifically to combat their cards, they end up pooling their efforts to combine their monsters into Super Vehicroid - Rex Union. Despite their teamwork, however, Frost ends the Duel by wiping out all players but himself, and promptly drags them to his master's lair, from where they are transported to KaibaLand as bait for Jaden and Aster by order of Sarina (Mizuchi Saiou).

As he observes his brother's actions following his "rebirth," Syrus notes Zane's newfound disrespect for his own cards and opponents. He dismisses the barbaric persona, refusing to believe that his brother has sunk so low. Determined to bring his brother back to his senses, Syrus acknowledges the inevitability that the two of them will face one another.^[6] During the GX tournament, Syrus and Zane do duel, and they are hooked up to electrodes, just as Zane and Mad Dog (Inukai) were in the Underground Duel. Despite his best efforts and Jaden's secret move to place Power Bond back into his deck, Syrus loses, but does not give up in hoping that his brother can be returned to his former self.

Shortly after the beginning of the third year at Duel Academy, Syrus advances to Obelisk Blue. As a result of Dis-Duels being called for by Professor Cobra, Syrus becomes self-conscious of his worthiness to wear the outfit of the elites, and sets out to prove himself. In the Japanese version, he also wishes to adopt his brother's discarded title, and thus merit the name of "Kaiser Sho" (カイザー翔, Kaizā Shō^?). Inspired by Jaden's match with Austin O'Brien, however, he decides to remain in Ra Yellow, and sets aside his goal for the future.^[7] After the Academy is transported to the other world, Syrus becomes one of the zombified students along with Chazz.^[8]

Syrus has a crush on Dark Magician Girl (Black Magician Girl).^[9] In the original version of the series, he ends the majority of his sentences with "ssu" (an elision of "desu"). Furthermore, he calls Judai "Aniki," meaning "big brother," while referring to him as "Bro" in the English-language manga.

[edit] Deck

Syrus plays a Vehicroid deck, composed of cartoon-like versions of real vehicles. Syrus' Vehicroids are generally lacking in terms of martial strength, but he supplements them through other cards and often combines them to form stronger cards. In addition, his Vehicroids have the benefit of possessing abilities that cover most strategic maneuvers, such as immunity to destruction, direct attacks and power increases. His most powerful monster, Super Vehicroid - Stealth Union (based on GaoGaiGar from The King of Braves GaoGaiGar), can take on the abilities of another monster equipped to it.

[edit] References