TV-Series
Description
Elfman Strauss is a mage of the Fairy Tail guild and the elder brother of Mirajane and Lisanna Strauss. His black guild stamp is located on the left side of his neck. A large, muscular man with tan skin, he has white hair styled upwards in long, wavy spikes and a stitched scar running down the right side of his face, crossing his eye. His attire often reflects a Japanese aesthetic, typically a dark blue high-collared jacket with the kanji for "the greatest" on the back, loose pants, and traditional geta sandals. This outfit is frequently damaged during his magical transformations.
In his youth, Elfman was notably shy and weak, with his primary talent being cooking. He was a caring individual, appreciated by his younger sister Lisanna and Natsu Dragneel, and was responsible for looking after Happy's egg before it hatched. A pivotal mission with his sisters led him to attempt a Full-Body Take Over. Losing control of the beast's power, he accidentally struck Lisanna, who was believed to have died. This event filled him with profound guilt and reshaped his personality, driving him to become stronger to protect his remaining sister, Mirajane. It also sparked his obsession with manliness, often using the word "man" as a point of pride and a guide for his behavior. He is fiercely protective of his sisters and guild allies, willing to confront even much stronger opponents. Despite his rugged and often aggressive exterior, he is emotionally vulnerable and can be moved to tears when his strength is questioned. It was later discovered that Lisanna had been transported to Edolas instead of dying, though this revelation did not erase the deep psychological impact the event had on him.
His magic is a variant of Take Over called Beast Soul, which allows him to record and seal a monster's body part he has touched into his right arm, later transforming his arm or body into that creature. Initially, he could only perform Partial Take Over, transforming just his right arm, which earned him the epithet "Beast Arm Elfman." These early transformations were unstable, shifting between different beasts. His known Beast Arm forms include Scale Bull, Bear, Black Bull, Iron Bull, Stone Bull, and Jet Black Sword.
The trauma of the incident with Lisanna prevented him from attempting a Full-Body Take Over for a long time. However, during a confrontation with the Phantom Lord guild, he mastered it to save Mirajane. His primary Full-Body form is called Beast Soul, transforming him into a large, furry, horned creature described as the "King of monsters," drastically increasing his physical strength, speed, and sense of smell. Other full-body forms include Weretiger and Lizardman.
Beyond the main storyline, Elfman appears in various omakes and OVAs. In "Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan," he is protective of Mirajane, stating no man can date her unless they are stronger than him. In "Natsu and the Dragon Egg," a younger, timid Elfman is shown distressed over his inability to perform Full-Body Take Over like his sisters and is revealed to be the one who nurtured Happy's egg. He also participates in guild social events like hanami in "Rainbow Sakura" and experiences attire-swapping chaos in "Whose Clothes Are These?"
In the OVA "Welcome to Fairy Hills!!," he is involved in a comedic incident where male guild members discover a peeping hole leading to the women's bath. The "Fairy Academy" OVA expands on his academy persona, where he mistakes Lucy's admiration for Mirajane as a romantic interest and later participates in a school rivalry. "Memory Days" features a young Elfman discouraging Mirajane from fighting Erza. "The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land" OVA hints at a developing romantic relationship with Evergreen, as they are shown visiting a water park together and she petrifies him to avoid embarrassment when other guild members are spotted.
Elfman is a playable character in several video games, including *Fairy Tail Portable Guild*, its sequel, *Fairy Tail Gekitou! Madoushi Kessen*, *Fairy Tail Gekitotsu! Kardia Daiseidou*, *Fairy Tail Zeref Awakens*, and as DLC in the 2020 *Fairy Tail* game. His available moves in these games generally reflect his anime and manga abilities, such as various Beast Arm transformations and his powerful Beast Soul.
After the guild's seven-year disappearance on Tenrou Island, Elfman, along with his sisters and Cana Alberona, trained in the mountains. This training resulted in his hair and sideburns growing longer and his physique becoming even more muscular. His relationship with Evergreen continued to develop, notably during the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island, where they were partners and faced his sister Mirajane together.
In his youth, Elfman was notably shy and weak, with his primary talent being cooking. He was a caring individual, appreciated by his younger sister Lisanna and Natsu Dragneel, and was responsible for looking after Happy's egg before it hatched. A pivotal mission with his sisters led him to attempt a Full-Body Take Over. Losing control of the beast's power, he accidentally struck Lisanna, who was believed to have died. This event filled him with profound guilt and reshaped his personality, driving him to become stronger to protect his remaining sister, Mirajane. It also sparked his obsession with manliness, often using the word "man" as a point of pride and a guide for his behavior. He is fiercely protective of his sisters and guild allies, willing to confront even much stronger opponents. Despite his rugged and often aggressive exterior, he is emotionally vulnerable and can be moved to tears when his strength is questioned. It was later discovered that Lisanna had been transported to Edolas instead of dying, though this revelation did not erase the deep psychological impact the event had on him.
His magic is a variant of Take Over called Beast Soul, which allows him to record and seal a monster's body part he has touched into his right arm, later transforming his arm or body into that creature. Initially, he could only perform Partial Take Over, transforming just his right arm, which earned him the epithet "Beast Arm Elfman." These early transformations were unstable, shifting between different beasts. His known Beast Arm forms include Scale Bull, Bear, Black Bull, Iron Bull, Stone Bull, and Jet Black Sword.
The trauma of the incident with Lisanna prevented him from attempting a Full-Body Take Over for a long time. However, during a confrontation with the Phantom Lord guild, he mastered it to save Mirajane. His primary Full-Body form is called Beast Soul, transforming him into a large, furry, horned creature described as the "King of monsters," drastically increasing his physical strength, speed, and sense of smell. Other full-body forms include Weretiger and Lizardman.
Beyond the main storyline, Elfman appears in various omakes and OVAs. In "Fairy Academy: Yankee-kun and Yankee-chan," he is protective of Mirajane, stating no man can date her unless they are stronger than him. In "Natsu and the Dragon Egg," a younger, timid Elfman is shown distressed over his inability to perform Full-Body Take Over like his sisters and is revealed to be the one who nurtured Happy's egg. He also participates in guild social events like hanami in "Rainbow Sakura" and experiences attire-swapping chaos in "Whose Clothes Are These?"
In the OVA "Welcome to Fairy Hills!!," he is involved in a comedic incident where male guild members discover a peeping hole leading to the women's bath. The "Fairy Academy" OVA expands on his academy persona, where he mistakes Lucy's admiration for Mirajane as a romantic interest and later participates in a school rivalry. "Memory Days" features a young Elfman discouraging Mirajane from fighting Erza. "The Exciting Ryuzetsu Land" OVA hints at a developing romantic relationship with Evergreen, as they are shown visiting a water park together and she petrifies him to avoid embarrassment when other guild members are spotted.
Elfman is a playable character in several video games, including *Fairy Tail Portable Guild*, its sequel, *Fairy Tail Gekitou! Madoushi Kessen*, *Fairy Tail Gekitotsu! Kardia Daiseidou*, *Fairy Tail Zeref Awakens*, and as DLC in the 2020 *Fairy Tail* game. His available moves in these games generally reflect his anime and manga abilities, such as various Beast Arm transformations and his powerful Beast Soul.
After the guild's seven-year disappearance on Tenrou Island, Elfman, along with his sisters and Cana Alberona, trained in the mountains. This training resulted in his hair and sideburns growing longer and his physique becoming even more muscular. His relationship with Evergreen continued to develop, notably during the S-Class Mage Promotion Trial on Tenrou Island, where they were partners and faced his sister Mirajane together.