TV-Series
Description
In the anime ClassicaLoid, Beethoven is one of the central characters, a resurrected being known as a Classicaloid who carries the memories and name of the historical composer Ludwig van Beethoven. He is a tall man with a broad-shouldered build, shaggy white hair, and distinctive split-ended eyebrows. His typical attire consists of a yellow-brown shirt, a black leather-like jacket, and a red bandana tied around his neck.

Beethoven’s personality is defined by a combination of obsessive passion, stubbornness, and sheer genius. He is an eccentric and highly particular individual who becomes single-mindedly absorbed in whatever has captured his interest at the moment, whether it be perfecting a new musical composition, brewing the ideal cup of coffee, or mastering the art of cooking gyoza dumplings. This narrow focus often makes him seem oblivious or indifferent to the people and chaos around him. While he is arrogant and self-centered, he also possesses a strangely innocent, pure, and even childish side, which contrasts with his intense and often intimidating demeanor. He is deeply fixated on the concept of fate, frequently exclaiming phrases like Is this fate? or I will overcome fate when faced with an obstacle, showing a powerful resolve in the face of adversity.

In terms of his role in the story, Beethoven resides at the Otowakan mansion with the other Classicaloids and the human siblings, Kanae and Sousuke. He was created by Kanae’s father, Kyougo, and along with Mozart, was taken from the Arkhe Corporation to live with him for a time before finding their way to the mansion. His primary motivation is not a grand goal but rather a series of intense, short-term passions. His most famous obsession is the recreation of a perfect jet-black gyoza he once ate, which leads him to constantly experiment with cooking, often with explosive or inedible results. He is driven by a belief that true music comes from passion and inspiration, and he channels this belief into his creative endeavors and his powerful Musik.

Beethoven shares a complex but close relationship with Mozart, being one of the few people who can calm the latter’s destructive tantrums, as seen when he stops Mozart’s rampage caused by the Requiem. Mozart affectionately calls him Lu-kun. He also has a notable dynamic with the adoring and anxious Schubert, whom he often ignores or dismisses as a nuisance but occasionally acknowledges in a mentor-like capacity. His relationship with the landlord, Kanae, is somewhat formal and cordial; he frequently offers her his experimental gyoza, and in one instance, his awkward attempts to engage her in conversation were misinterpreted as a romantic confession, which he was shocked to have rejected. He shows little patience for the boastful Wagner, whom he frequently mocks.

Throughout the series, Beethoven remains a largely static yet reliably powerful force. He does not undergo a fundamental change in personality but instead reveals hidden depths, particularly his vulnerability regarding his historical deafness and his pure, earnest approach to his new passions. In critical moments, he transforms from an eccentric, comic figure into an overwhelmingly serious and capable ally, protecting the Otowakan and its residents from various threats.

His primary ability is to perform a Musik, a supernatural musical performance triggered by intense emotion. When activating his Musik, his outfit changes into a formal black tailcoat with a red cravat, and he brandishes a black, metallic baton shaped like a clock hand, declaring Spielen wir unsere Musik. He has several distinct Musiks, each based on a famous composition. His Symphony No. 6 Pastoral can turn an area into a dance floor and bring large machinery to life as robots. The Piano Concerto No. 5 Emperor summons a legion of emperor penguins to fight for him. His Violin Sonata No. 9 Kreutzer transforms his baton into an electric guitar and summons a meteor shower. The famous Fur Elise creates a peaceful, idyllic field where he can relax with coffee. His Symphony No. 9 Ode to Joy is treated as a powerful encore piece. Other Musiks include the Symphony No. 7, which summons a giant slot machine, the Piano Sonata No. 14 Moonlight, which calls forth mochi-pounding rabbits, and the imposing Symphony No. 5 Fate, which transforms him into a giant, demon-like red being for combat.