TV-Series
Description
Julius Juukulius is a supporting character in the anime Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, where he serves as a knight of the Royal Guard for the Kingdom of Lugnica. Known by the epithet of the "Finest Knight" due to his exceptional conduct and skill, he is the first knight to the merchant Anastasia Hoshin during the Royal Selection. He is a tall young man of 21 years with a well-built yet lean frame, standing at 179 centimeters. He has light purple hair, which is usually kept neat save for a single strand that falls across his face, and sharp yellow eyes behind a pair of glasses that he requires due to mild nearsightedness.
Julius comes from the noble Juukulius family, though his path to nobility was unconventional. Born as a commoner, he was the son of Klein Juukulius, who had left the family to marry a common woman. At the age of eleven, Julius lost both parents in a devastating flood. He was subsequently taken in by his uncle, Alviero Juukulius, to be raised as the heir to the knightly family, as Alviero's biological son, Joshua, was too frail to pursue that path. This transition from a humble life to the expectations of high nobility greatly shaped his early years.
In terms of personality, Julius acts with an unwavering sense of propriety, conviction, and chivalry that befits his title as the finest knight. He is considerate and caring towards others, but also possesses a strict and honest nature, offering accurate assessments of people's strengths and weaknesses, which is a result of his elite upbringing. He holds a deep disdain for those who forget their place or act without dignity, which initially put him at odds with the protagonist, Subaru Natsuki. However, beneath this noble and confident exterior, Julius is revealed to be a deeply insecure individual who desperately clings to the bonds he forms with others. This trait, pointed out by the first Sword Saint Reid Astrea, stems from the loss of his parents and the void he seeks to fill through his relationships and duties as a knight. He is also secretly a passionate enthusiast of magic, particularly lost or forgotten spells, and his interest in the subject is a genuine personal hobby.
Julius's role in the story is that of a rival, ally, and foil to Subaru Natsuki. Their relationship begins in conflict when Julius publicly humiliates Subaru in a mock duel after Subaru's disruptive behavior in the royal court, which Julius sees as a deep insult to the entire knightly order. While this action fosters a lasting animosity from Subaru, it was done to prevent other, more hot-headed knights from killing Subaru for his transgressions. Their dynamic evolves as they are forced to cooperate against the White Whale and the Witch Cult, ultimately growing into a mutual respect and a very close friendship. This bond becomes particularly significant when Julius is later attacked by Roy Alphard, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, who devours Julius's name. This act erases all memories of Julius from everyone in the world, making Subaru the only person who still remembers who he is, a shared burden that solidifies their unique connection.
His key relationships are central to his character. Beyond Subaru, he shares a very close brotherly bond with his adoptive younger brother, Joshua. While he loves Joshua dearly, he also harbors deep guilt over a childhood incident where he snuck his sickly brother out for a ride, which led to Joshua developing a severe cough that almost killed him. Julius also counts Reinhard van Astrea, the "Sword Saint," as one of his closest friends and trusts him with his life, though their friendship is tinged with a quiet, underlying jealousy of Reinhard's unparalleled power. His relationship with his master, Anastasia Hoshin, is one of absolute loyalty. He serves her faithfully, even though it has put him in a precarious position with his own noble family for backing a foreigner for the throne. Perhaps his most unique bonds are with the six quasi-spirits (Ia for fire, Kua for water, Aro for wind, Iku for earth, Nes for yin, and In for yang) who are naturally drawn to him due to his Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits. He affectionately refers to them as his "buds" and they are like family to him, forming the source of his magical power.
Julius undergoes a profound character development following the loss of his name. Stripped of his identity, his powerful spirit contract is left in an ambiguous state, and even his beloved spirits no longer recognize him. Having lost the relationships and status that defined his "perfect knight" persona, he is forced to confront his own insecurity and accept his commoner origins. In a pivotal moment, he willingly severs his broken contract with his spirits, an act of great pain, and then asks them to form a new contract with him from scratch. This act of honesty and acceptance allows his "buds" to evolve into true, fully-fledged spirits. Reforging this bond symbolizes his internal resolution, allowing him to move forward not as the world's idea of the "Finest Knight," but as his authentic self.
As a fighter, Julius is exceptionally powerful, combining masterful swordsmanship with versatile magical abilities. His primary strength lies in his role as a Spirit Knight, using the six elemental quasi-spirits for offense, defense, and support. He can combine their powers for various effects, such as healing with Kua, enhancing his own strength with In, and debilitating enemies with Nes. His signature technique is the magic sword art Clarista, where he imbues his blade with all six spirits' power. The ultimate expression of this is Al Clarista, a beam of rainbow light capable of cutting through magical effects like the Unseen Hands of Sloth. After his spirits evolve, he gains access to even more powerful techniques like Al Cranvel, where he enshrouds his own body in rainbow light to vastly increase his speed and power. His foundational ability is his Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits, which allows him to see, communicate with, and attract spirits, though earning their loyalty still requires personal effort.
Julius comes from the noble Juukulius family, though his path to nobility was unconventional. Born as a commoner, he was the son of Klein Juukulius, who had left the family to marry a common woman. At the age of eleven, Julius lost both parents in a devastating flood. He was subsequently taken in by his uncle, Alviero Juukulius, to be raised as the heir to the knightly family, as Alviero's biological son, Joshua, was too frail to pursue that path. This transition from a humble life to the expectations of high nobility greatly shaped his early years.
In terms of personality, Julius acts with an unwavering sense of propriety, conviction, and chivalry that befits his title as the finest knight. He is considerate and caring towards others, but also possesses a strict and honest nature, offering accurate assessments of people's strengths and weaknesses, which is a result of his elite upbringing. He holds a deep disdain for those who forget their place or act without dignity, which initially put him at odds with the protagonist, Subaru Natsuki. However, beneath this noble and confident exterior, Julius is revealed to be a deeply insecure individual who desperately clings to the bonds he forms with others. This trait, pointed out by the first Sword Saint Reid Astrea, stems from the loss of his parents and the void he seeks to fill through his relationships and duties as a knight. He is also secretly a passionate enthusiast of magic, particularly lost or forgotten spells, and his interest in the subject is a genuine personal hobby.
Julius's role in the story is that of a rival, ally, and foil to Subaru Natsuki. Their relationship begins in conflict when Julius publicly humiliates Subaru in a mock duel after Subaru's disruptive behavior in the royal court, which Julius sees as a deep insult to the entire knightly order. While this action fosters a lasting animosity from Subaru, it was done to prevent other, more hot-headed knights from killing Subaru for his transgressions. Their dynamic evolves as they are forced to cooperate against the White Whale and the Witch Cult, ultimately growing into a mutual respect and a very close friendship. This bond becomes particularly significant when Julius is later attacked by Roy Alphard, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, who devours Julius's name. This act erases all memories of Julius from everyone in the world, making Subaru the only person who still remembers who he is, a shared burden that solidifies their unique connection.
His key relationships are central to his character. Beyond Subaru, he shares a very close brotherly bond with his adoptive younger brother, Joshua. While he loves Joshua dearly, he also harbors deep guilt over a childhood incident where he snuck his sickly brother out for a ride, which led to Joshua developing a severe cough that almost killed him. Julius also counts Reinhard van Astrea, the "Sword Saint," as one of his closest friends and trusts him with his life, though their friendship is tinged with a quiet, underlying jealousy of Reinhard's unparalleled power. His relationship with his master, Anastasia Hoshin, is one of absolute loyalty. He serves her faithfully, even though it has put him in a precarious position with his own noble family for backing a foreigner for the throne. Perhaps his most unique bonds are with the six quasi-spirits (Ia for fire, Kua for water, Aro for wind, Iku for earth, Nes for yin, and In for yang) who are naturally drawn to him due to his Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits. He affectionately refers to them as his "buds" and they are like family to him, forming the source of his magical power.
Julius undergoes a profound character development following the loss of his name. Stripped of his identity, his powerful spirit contract is left in an ambiguous state, and even his beloved spirits no longer recognize him. Having lost the relationships and status that defined his "perfect knight" persona, he is forced to confront his own insecurity and accept his commoner origins. In a pivotal moment, he willingly severs his broken contract with his spirits, an act of great pain, and then asks them to form a new contract with him from scratch. This act of honesty and acceptance allows his "buds" to evolve into true, fully-fledged spirits. Reforging this bond symbolizes his internal resolution, allowing him to move forward not as the world's idea of the "Finest Knight," but as his authentic self.
As a fighter, Julius is exceptionally powerful, combining masterful swordsmanship with versatile magical abilities. His primary strength lies in his role as a Spirit Knight, using the six elemental quasi-spirits for offense, defense, and support. He can combine their powers for various effects, such as healing with Kua, enhancing his own strength with In, and debilitating enemies with Nes. His signature technique is the magic sword art Clarista, where he imbues his blade with all six spirits' power. The ultimate expression of this is Al Clarista, a beam of rainbow light capable of cutting through magical effects like the Unseen Hands of Sloth. After his spirits evolve, he gains access to even more powerful techniques like Al Cranvel, where he enshrouds his own body in rainbow light to vastly increase his speed and power. His foundational ability is his Divine Protection of Gathering Spirits, which allows him to see, communicate with, and attract spirits, though earning their loyalty still requires personal effort.