TV-Series
Description
Chronos de Mediz, known in English-language versions as Vellian Crowler, is the head professor and department chair of techniques at Duel Academy. His name is derived from Chronos, the personification of time in Greek mythology, and the Medici family, the influential Italian noble house of the Renaissance. He is a man in his mid-thirties with a distinctive and flamboyant appearance, wearing a regal variation of the Obelisk Blue uniform complete with gold trimmings and a ruffled pink collar. His blonde hair is styled in two layers, with the further layer bound tightly into a ponytail, and he wears crescent-shaped earrings. Instead of a standard Duel Disk, he uses an Academy-issued Duel Vest, which is worn horizontally across his torso and features a motion sensor to eject cards when he draws.
Professor de Mediz holds an elitist and traditional view of dueling, believing that only the most skilled students deserve to be at the academy. In the first year, he is a primary antagonist, determined to expel students he considers low-performers, with the protagonist Jaden Yuki being his main target. His motivation stems from a belief in maintaining the highest standards, but it manifests as scheming and underhanded behavior. After suffering a humiliating defeat to Jaden during the entrance exams, he concocts numerous plots to have him and his friends removed, such as hiring a hitman named Titan, employing the Paradox Brothers to duel Jaden and Syrus Truesdale, and setting traps to have them caught violating school rules. Despite these petty and villainous schemes, he is not without a sense of fairness, as demonstrated when he passes Chumley Huffington for his dueling skill even though he lost the match.
Professor de Mediz speaks with an Italian accent, frequently using phrases such as Mamma mia, and has a habit of ending his sentences with a questioning tag. He is highly sensitive about his appearance and gets angered when mistaken for a woman; he insists on being called Doctor, claiming to hold a Ph.D. in dueling. He also harbors a strong dislike for cats, particularly the pet of his colleague, Professor Lyman Banner. His personality and role evolve significantly over the series. The turning point occurs when he is chosen as one of the seven guardians of the Spirit Keys to prevent the resurrection of the Sacred Beasts. He duels the Shadow Rider Camula and, despite being defeated and turned into a doll, he uses the opportunity to impart a lesson to his students about never letting their hearts be defeated by darkness. After being restored, he begins to show genuine appreciation for all his students.
During the second year, while Chancellor Sheppard is away, de Mediz serves as temporary principal alongside Vice-Chancellor Jean-Louis Bonaparte. Though the two often argue and scheme to market the academy, de Mediz frequently defends the Slifer Red dormitory against Bonaparte's attempts to abolish it, showing a growing sense of fairness. By the third year, his respect for Jaden has grown, and he trusts him to save the day when things go wrong. In the fourth season, after Bonaparte departs, he ascends to vice-principal. Facing the impending graduation of Jaden's class, he briefly reverts to his old, bitter self, forcing his students to do excessive work in an attempt to prevent them from earning enough credits to leave. This culminates in a final duel with Jaden, which he loses in the same manner as his first defeat, helping him accept the natural end of the school year.
Professor de Mediz is a central authority figure whose relationships with the students are key to his development. His initial antagonistic dynamic with Jaden Yuki transforms into one of grudging respect and eventual admiration. He has a notable professional rivalry with Vice-Chancellor Bonaparte, often clashing over educational philosophy. He duels Chumley Huffington and, despite winning, offers him a recommendation to Industrial Illusions, demonstrating his ability to put a student's future above his own ego.
His notable abilities are showcased through his Ancient Gear Deck. His primary strategy focuses on quickly summoning his powerful signature card, Ancient Gear Golem, using cards like The Trojan Horse. Many of his monsters possess the ability to prevent opponents from activating Spell and Trap Cards during the battle phase. In later duels, he can summon even more formidable variants, such as the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, proving his skill as a top-tier duelist and pushing Jaden to his limits in their final match.
Professor de Mediz holds an elitist and traditional view of dueling, believing that only the most skilled students deserve to be at the academy. In the first year, he is a primary antagonist, determined to expel students he considers low-performers, with the protagonist Jaden Yuki being his main target. His motivation stems from a belief in maintaining the highest standards, but it manifests as scheming and underhanded behavior. After suffering a humiliating defeat to Jaden during the entrance exams, he concocts numerous plots to have him and his friends removed, such as hiring a hitman named Titan, employing the Paradox Brothers to duel Jaden and Syrus Truesdale, and setting traps to have them caught violating school rules. Despite these petty and villainous schemes, he is not without a sense of fairness, as demonstrated when he passes Chumley Huffington for his dueling skill even though he lost the match.
Professor de Mediz speaks with an Italian accent, frequently using phrases such as Mamma mia, and has a habit of ending his sentences with a questioning tag. He is highly sensitive about his appearance and gets angered when mistaken for a woman; he insists on being called Doctor, claiming to hold a Ph.D. in dueling. He also harbors a strong dislike for cats, particularly the pet of his colleague, Professor Lyman Banner. His personality and role evolve significantly over the series. The turning point occurs when he is chosen as one of the seven guardians of the Spirit Keys to prevent the resurrection of the Sacred Beasts. He duels the Shadow Rider Camula and, despite being defeated and turned into a doll, he uses the opportunity to impart a lesson to his students about never letting their hearts be defeated by darkness. After being restored, he begins to show genuine appreciation for all his students.
During the second year, while Chancellor Sheppard is away, de Mediz serves as temporary principal alongside Vice-Chancellor Jean-Louis Bonaparte. Though the two often argue and scheme to market the academy, de Mediz frequently defends the Slifer Red dormitory against Bonaparte's attempts to abolish it, showing a growing sense of fairness. By the third year, his respect for Jaden has grown, and he trusts him to save the day when things go wrong. In the fourth season, after Bonaparte departs, he ascends to vice-principal. Facing the impending graduation of Jaden's class, he briefly reverts to his old, bitter self, forcing his students to do excessive work in an attempt to prevent them from earning enough credits to leave. This culminates in a final duel with Jaden, which he loses in the same manner as his first defeat, helping him accept the natural end of the school year.
Professor de Mediz is a central authority figure whose relationships with the students are key to his development. His initial antagonistic dynamic with Jaden Yuki transforms into one of grudging respect and eventual admiration. He has a notable professional rivalry with Vice-Chancellor Bonaparte, often clashing over educational philosophy. He duels Chumley Huffington and, despite winning, offers him a recommendation to Industrial Illusions, demonstrating his ability to put a student's future above his own ego.
His notable abilities are showcased through his Ancient Gear Deck. His primary strategy focuses on quickly summoning his powerful signature card, Ancient Gear Golem, using cards like The Trojan Horse. Many of his monsters possess the ability to prevent opponents from activating Spell and Trap Cards during the battle phase. In later duels, he can summon even more formidable variants, such as the Ultimate Ancient Gear Golem, proving his skill as a top-tier duelist and pushing Jaden to his limits in their final match.