TV-Series
Description
The character Austria from Hetalia World Series is the personification of the nation of Austria, known by his human name Roderich Edelstein. He is a supporting character defined by his refined, aristocratic demeanor and his deep appreciation for the arts, particularly classical music. Austria typically appears as a young man with brown, somewhat wavy hair that features a distinctive cowlick representing Mariazell, and violet eyes hidden behind a pair of glasses. He has a mole on the lower left side of his face, which serves as an erogenous zone for him. His standard attire consists of a formal, long navy blue coat paired with a classic white jabot and black pants, a somewhat old-fashioned look that reflects his traditional values and pride in his history.
In terms of personality, Austria is best described as a well-spoken young master who was initially aloof but became burdened by numerous responsibilities over time. He is generally more optimistic, easygoing, and quiet compared to the more serious and work-oriented Germany. He prioritizes his personal hobbies and comforts over his work, with his primary interests being art, playing the piano, and eating cake. He is a clean person who keeps his home tidy, but not necessarily orderly, as evidenced by his habit of leaving his underwear scattered in random places around his house. Despite his musical talent, Austria has a famously poor sense of direction and frequently gets lost, a trait based on a joke about an Austrian salesman getting lost in his own storehouse. He is not an outdoors person, is afraid of marine animals such as crabs and starfish, and is notably out of shape due to his indoor-centered lifestyle. He tires very easily from any physical activity that does not involve music or cooking, and he admits this is a result of his own habits. He is also somewhat camera shy and becomes flustered during events that are broadcast worldwide.
Austria's role in the story is heavily tied to his past as a major European power and his relationships with other central characters. He was once the master of the household that included a young Italy, whom he raised as a servant and often punished by forbidding him from eating pasta. During this time, he was one of many who mistakenly believed the young Italy was a girl until the child's voice broke. His marriage to Hungary was a valuable political alliance, formalized on June 8, 1867, to create the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While the union was primarily strategic, the two share a deep and lasting bond, and Hungary still seems to clean his house and care for him long after their marriage ended. Austria and Germany were allies in both World Wars and lived together during World War II. He is very reliant on Germany, to the point that if Germany were to catch even a slight cold, Austria would come down with a high fever and collapse. This dependence, which stems from his long history of ordering Germany around, is something he admits is a terrifying thing, though he has struggled to lessen it. His relationship with Prussia is characterized by intense rivalry and animosity; Prussia takes great pleasure in annoying and humiliating him, having stolen the region of Silesia from him and once hiring a painter to capture Austria's face of defeat for posterity. In the present day, Prussia often freeloads off of Austria. As a child, Austria was friends with Switzerland, though they eventually grew apart.
Developmentally, Austria shows a contrast between his youth and his present self. In his younger days, as seen in the Chibitalia storyline, he was more physically active, though still weak enough that he often had to be bailed out in wars by Switzerland and was frequently beaten by Hungary. As an adult, he has fully settled into a comfortable, non-physical lifestyle, admitting his own lack of fitness and reliance on others. His motivations often revolve around maintaining his refined lifestyle and dealing with the burdens of his past and present relationships. His notable abilities include being a highly skilled pianist and composer, using music as his primary form of emotional expression. He also has an unexpected but deep knowledge of underwear, a fact that both Germany and Prussia have acknowledged. His preferred method of solving problems is through marriage, reflecting his historical reliance on political unions.
In terms of personality, Austria is best described as a well-spoken young master who was initially aloof but became burdened by numerous responsibilities over time. He is generally more optimistic, easygoing, and quiet compared to the more serious and work-oriented Germany. He prioritizes his personal hobbies and comforts over his work, with his primary interests being art, playing the piano, and eating cake. He is a clean person who keeps his home tidy, but not necessarily orderly, as evidenced by his habit of leaving his underwear scattered in random places around his house. Despite his musical talent, Austria has a famously poor sense of direction and frequently gets lost, a trait based on a joke about an Austrian salesman getting lost in his own storehouse. He is not an outdoors person, is afraid of marine animals such as crabs and starfish, and is notably out of shape due to his indoor-centered lifestyle. He tires very easily from any physical activity that does not involve music or cooking, and he admits this is a result of his own habits. He is also somewhat camera shy and becomes flustered during events that are broadcast worldwide.
Austria's role in the story is heavily tied to his past as a major European power and his relationships with other central characters. He was once the master of the household that included a young Italy, whom he raised as a servant and often punished by forbidding him from eating pasta. During this time, he was one of many who mistakenly believed the young Italy was a girl until the child's voice broke. His marriage to Hungary was a valuable political alliance, formalized on June 8, 1867, to create the Austro-Hungarian Empire. While the union was primarily strategic, the two share a deep and lasting bond, and Hungary still seems to clean his house and care for him long after their marriage ended. Austria and Germany were allies in both World Wars and lived together during World War II. He is very reliant on Germany, to the point that if Germany were to catch even a slight cold, Austria would come down with a high fever and collapse. This dependence, which stems from his long history of ordering Germany around, is something he admits is a terrifying thing, though he has struggled to lessen it. His relationship with Prussia is characterized by intense rivalry and animosity; Prussia takes great pleasure in annoying and humiliating him, having stolen the region of Silesia from him and once hiring a painter to capture Austria's face of defeat for posterity. In the present day, Prussia often freeloads off of Austria. As a child, Austria was friends with Switzerland, though they eventually grew apart.
Developmentally, Austria shows a contrast between his youth and his present self. In his younger days, as seen in the Chibitalia storyline, he was more physically active, though still weak enough that he often had to be bailed out in wars by Switzerland and was frequently beaten by Hungary. As an adult, he has fully settled into a comfortable, non-physical lifestyle, admitting his own lack of fitness and reliance on others. His motivations often revolve around maintaining his refined lifestyle and dealing with the burdens of his past and present relationships. His notable abilities include being a highly skilled pianist and composer, using music as his primary form of emotional expression. He also has an unexpected but deep knowledge of underwear, a fact that both Germany and Prussia have acknowledged. His preferred method of solving problems is through marriage, reflecting his historical reliance on political unions.