Hugh Anthony Disward | |
---|---|
Japanese Name |
ヒュー・アンソニー・ディスワード |
Romanized Name |
Hyū Ansonī Disuwādo |
Nickname(s)/Alias(es) |
Huey (ヒューイ Hyūi) |
Debut |
|
Ward |
|
Voice actor |
小野 大輔 (adult) |
Status |
Alive |
Hugh Anthony Disward, also known as Huey, is one of the main protagonists of The Mystic Archives of Dantalian. He was a Pilot Officer during the Great War. Later, he inherited the estate of his grandfather, the famous bibliomaniac Wesley Disward. During his childhood, sometimes Hugh had to use dresses and introduce himself as Antoinette Disward.
Hugh is a key-keeper, meaning that he protects a Biblioprincess and has the key to access the phantom library inside her. As a key-keeper, he’s loved by the Phantom Books and he’s able to read them without hurting himself. Hugh is the guardian of the Dantalian's Bookshelf contained inside Dalian, another inheritance from Wesley. Other key-keepers of other phantom libraries are Hal Kamhout and the Professor.
Background[]
Hugh was born in the Disward family, a clan of envious, failed aristocrats. He’s the grandson of the famous bibliomaniac Wesley Disward.[1] Kamilla Sauer Keynes and her half-brother Leon Kim Keynes are his childhood friends.[2][3] As children, Hugh and Kamilla explored Wesley’s mansion and found all its secret entrances.[4] Since Hugh is from the high society, he has many acquaintances with those from equally prominent families. Among people he met during his childhood are Gaveston II, Lyfia Lavers Asquith and Mildred Dewar.[5][6][7] In The Cat and the Biblioprincess, Hugh affirms that he has an old friend who’s about to die.[8] Hugh had violin lessons and he used to visit a riding club.[9][10]
As a child, Hugh loved to see his father’s airplane models and drawings. Perhaps Hugh’s love for airplanes is inspired by his father. Hugh's mother comes from a wealthy family. The envious Diswards sent her to live far away, in Wesley’s mansion. Unable to protect her from the intrigues of his own family, Hugh’s father distanced himself from her. For this reason, Hugh lost respect for his father.[11]
Hugh would live and study in the capital, where his father is. However, Hugh visited his mother on the weekends, at Wesley’s mansion. There, Natalia would work as Hugh’s nanny. As a fashion designer, Hugh’s mother would require models for the dresses she created. When she couldn’t find girls, she would force Hugh to use a dress and a wig. He would introduce himself as Antoinette Disward.[12]
On a certain day, where Hugh was dressed as a girl, he met the Dead Book, a witch who went to the past to steal the key to the Dantalian's Bookshelf. The witch threatened the little boy, but he was saved by Dalian, who also traveled in time. On that occasion, Dalian lent the golden key to Hugh and he opened the Dantalian’s Bookshelf and met the girl in white for the first time. Hugh promised to become her friend and free her from her prison. Hugh received the golden key from the girl in white. Soon after, Hugh lost his memories about the event.[13] He would remember that day years later, after becoming Dalian’s key-keeper.[14]
As a child, Hugh would search for the Dantalian’s Bookshelf, rumored to be in Wesley’s possession. Hugh was not that close to Wesley, but from his grandfather Hugh learned about Phantom Books and the Dantalian's Bookshelf.[15][16][17] Miss Roedean is Hugh’s aunt and Davi Hillenbrand is Hugh’s uncle, brother of Hugh’s mother. Both want to arrange Hugh’s marriage to improve the status of the family.[18][19] Natalia also wants to see Hugh married.[20] The last time Hugh saw his uncle was during the funeral of Hugh’s mother.[21]
After his mother’s death, Hugh became an Allied Pilot Officer during the Great War. He served in the same airbase as Armand Jeremiah. Hugh helped Armand out of trouble many times. John McGuigan was Hugh’s flight instructor. Hugh was a skilled pilot, able to beat his superiors during simulated dogfights, even right after leaving flight school. At the start of the war, Hugh was an arrogant pilot who wanted to score the highest number of kills. That changed when he befriended Flight lieutenant Ilas Alcock. Hugh quotes Ilas when he says “I’m just an ordinary pilot”, meaning that they enjoy flying, rather than killing.[22][23]
Ilas eventually died when his hometown was attacked by a railway gun of the Central Powers. However, he was resurrected by the Professor, who planned to use the pilot to develop a Phantom Book Egg. Ilas’ second life was as the legendary captain Faceless Ghost, fighting against the Allies. As an Allied Pilot Officer, Hugh beat Ilas during a dogfight. Hugh earned a medal for his victory, but he soon discarded it.[24]
At the end of the Great War, Hugh received a letter informing about Wesley's death.[25] The will said that Hugh can have the late bibliomaniac’s mansion with the condition that he takes over the Dantalian’s Bookshelf and takes care of Dalian. Hugh didn’t want to return to university, so he planned to live leisurely off his grandfather’s inheritance. Hugh returned to Wesley’s mansion and met the Black Biblioprincess. Hugh learned that she’s the “heaven in the pot”, the vessel containing the Dantalian’s Bookshelf. Hugh became her key-keeper, the guardian who has the golden key that can open the gates of the phantom library.[26]
Together, Hugh and Dalian travel the world, looking for Phantom Books to seal inside the Dantalian’s Bookshelf.[27] They consult the owner of a used bookstore to obtain information about Phantom Books and about the criminal underworld. The old man has known Hugh since he was a little boy.[28] Hugh also can replace Wesley by assessing book collections and by helping the police in cases related to books.[29][30] The revolver Hugh uses was originally Wesley's.[31] Hugh also spends his time attending to Dalian’s whims. Hugh and Dalian often get lost or have to walk along difficult routes during their travels.[32]
In Dalian Days, Hugh is a student attending a university at the capital. He was assigned as a student teacher at the Road Windal Academy, an all-girls boarding school. He and Dalian moved to the Ombolo Mansion, located in St. Regal and built in the forest along the coastline.[33]
Personality[]
He is very kind and well-mannered and is usually seen as a calm and generally unfazed person who takes everything in stride, as he accepted his new-found responsibilities as the key-keeper of the Dantalian's Bookshelf without much questioning. Serving in this role, he shows to be very patient while taking care of Dalian and accepting her spoiled attitude. Dalian is rude to him, she beats and bosses him around, but he still cares for her. He can also be playful and tease her, especially when she tries to lie or hide her feelings. He prefers to accept or ignore Dalian’s bad manners instead of arguing with her.[34][35]
He frequently questions the offensive nicknames Dalian creates for him. He sometimes reproaches her due to her indelicate way of expressing herself.[36][37] He also frequently asks if Dalian has finished her meal, since she’s always attracting attention with the huge number of pastries she eats.[38] Hugh sometimes doesn’t interfere when Dalian is disrespectful to other people, but he can also cover her mouth when she steps over the line.[39][40] He drives her around and, since she complains about walking, he even carries her in his back.[41][42] Hugh also prepares her meals, makes her tea and organizes her books. He ignores absurd demands coming from her.[43][44][45]
From his serious demeanor, it's easy to notice that he's a trained, brave soldier, although he doesn’t exude a rough or intimidating atmosphere. Hugh shows concern for others, especially for Dalian. He drags and carries her unceremoniously to protect her from danger and he’s always ready to quickly draw his revolver or use hand-to-hand combat to defend himself. However, although he has notable marksman skills, he always tries to use non-lethal methods to deal with his opponents.[46][47][48]
As a flying ace, perhaps Hugh killed during the Great War, but it’s not something he boasts about. He never introduces himself as a former soldier, but as a former pilot. He likes to pilot not to kill, but to fly. He doesn't like to talk about the war. He was an arrogant young man at the start of the war, but he became humble after befriending Ilas Alcock. Hugh doesn’t like to be referred by his Royal Air Force rank. Hugh sometimes borrows a private airplane from Armand.[49][50]
As a child, Hugh was already calm, kind, resourceful and a book-lover. He’s particularly fond of detective novels.[51] He often goes to a bar by himself to read while drinking ale.[52] He has vast knowledge about literature, although he’s always listening to Dalian, since she usually knows a lot more than him.[53] Hugh is not a bibliomaniac as his ancestors from the Disward family. Hugh prays to God in Book of Soul Exchange, but in Book of Connection he affirms that he's not religious.[54][55] Although he’s part of the aristocracy, Hugh doesn’t seem interested in status and power. Hugh doesn’t rely on servants and he performs manual work such as cooking and fixing his car, which is unusual coming from people of his social class. Hugh was not very close to Wesley, but the latter taught him about Phantom Books.[56] Due to his contact with his grandfather, Hugh knows how bibliomaniacs think. The Disward family fears that Wesley had cursed books. Hugh knows better, so after the Great War he went to the Disward estate to live off of his grandfather’s inheritance.[57][58]
Hugh feels responsible for the troubles caused by the Phantom Books people borrowed from Wesley in the past.[59] At the same time, Hugh and Dalian also lend Phantom Books to those in need.[60] Hugh believes that knowledge is required for the progress of humanity, although the forbidden knowledge from Phantom Books often cause tragedies.[61] As a key-keeper, Hugh is loved by Phantom Books and he can use them effortlessly. He can read in different languages to explore the forbidden knowledge.[62] When people ask if he’s the guardian of the Dantalian’s Bookshelf, Hugh usually ignores the question or changes the subject.[63] In the anime, Hugh shakes hand using his right hand, since the golden key of the Dantalian’s Bookshelf is sealed inside his left hand.[64]
Hugh's mother used to make him wear girl’s clothes. Although he hated to use dresses and wigs, he loved his mother. He never managed to go against her wills or to escape from her. His mother’s attitude perhaps made him used to Kamilla, another unusual woman. Hugh doesn’t respect his father, since the latter distanced himself from the family. Hugh's father feels lonely at the capital, but Hugh doesn’t visit him. It saddens Hugh that his father stopped appreciating books and airplanes.[65][66] Hugh has problems to deal with his aunt Miss Roedean and his uncle Davi Hillenbrand, both people with strong personality, who want to see their nephew married. Hugh tries to change the subject when they talk about possible fiancées for him.[67][68] Hugh has no problems to address women and appreciate their beauty, but he doesn’t seem interested in a love relationship.[69][70] Since Miss Roedean is single, she takes Hugh as her companion during dinner parties.[71] Even after growing up, Hugh can’t question his nanny Natalia. He knows that she cares for him, but he finds her severe, demanding and bothersome.[72]
Hugh cares for the girl in the bookshelf. He wants to befriend her and to see her free from the Dantalian’s Bookshelf.[73] Although Hal Kamhout is very smart, Hugh is successful in tricking and staying one step ahead of him.[74] Hugh hates the way the Professor sees humans as specimens for experiments.[75] The owner of the used bookstore is always teasing and treating Hugh like a child, so Hugh sometimes feels embarrassed while interacting with the old man.[76] Armand admires Hugh for his ability to deal with Dalian. Hugh sees Armand as a bothersome friend, but he always ends up helping him. Hugh likes to be referred as Huey.[77]
In the manga, Hugh is frequently fixing his car. In this adaptation, he seems slightly more youthful and immature.[78] In Dalian Days, he's the mature figure among the young girls.[79] In Dalian-chan's Bookshelf, more than ever, Hugh is totally subservient to Dalian's whims. He also seems more lively.[80]
Appearance[]
Hugh is a young man who seems to be 18 or 19 years old. He has short blond hair and blue eyes. He wears a black leather frock coat with details in white. Under the coat, he wears a black shirt, a white suit and white pants. Hugh also uses a black brimmed hat and a greenish-blue tie. He wears a dark glove on his right hand to hide the mark that represents the key to the Dantalian's Bookshelf. Hugh wears the same in Dalian Days and Dalian-chan's Bookshelf.[81][82] He also wears aviator goggles while driving his car. Originally, he keeps his revolver in a pocket inside his coat, while in the adaptations he has a vertical shoulder holster.[83][84][85] In The Key-Keeper, Hugh appears as a child wearing a ruffled blue dress and a wig of curly dark grey hair.[86]
Anime[]
In this adaptation, Hugh has a wavier hair. He usually wears a long-sleeved white shirt, a gray vest, a red ascot tie and black trousers and shoes. When outside, he wears a black bowler hat and a beige trench coat. For cold weather, he wears a blue winter coat. He also uses brown gloves, especially on his right hand. As a child, he appears wearing white shirt, gray vest and black trousers. In Episode 1, a flashback shows a scene from his childhood, when he was wearing a pink long dress and a long blond wig.[87][88]
Manga[]
In this adaptation, besides Hugh’s original outfit, he also has another one which includes light-colored trench coat, shirt and brimmed hat, and dark-colored tie and pants. As a child, Hugh appears in white shirt and dark shorts, with suspenders, a blue string tie and long red-and-blue checkered socks.[89]
Trivia[]
- Daisuke Ono also voices Joutarou Kuujou from JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Erwin Smith from Attack on Titan, Shintarou Midorima from Kuroko's Basketball, Sebastian Michaelis from Black Butler, Shizu Heiwajima from Durarara!! and Silver the Hedgehog from the Sonic the Hedgehog series.[90]
- Daisuke Ono appreciates the scene in Episode 1 where Hugh takes responsibility for the trouble caused by Wesley's Phantom Book. It was an important moment for Hugh and Dalian's relationship.[91]
- After Hugh, Armand is Ono's favorite character, since he's a comic relief for the anime.[92]
- Kana Hanazawa also voices Marie from the Persona series, Chiaki Nanami from the Danganronpa series, Mitsuri Kanroji from Kimetsu no Yaiba, AE3803 from Cells at Work!, Rize Kamishiro from Tokyo Ghoul, Zera from Fairy Tail, Mayuri Shiina from Steins;Gate, Nene Kinokuni from Shokugeki no Soma, Kobato Hanato from Kobato, Shiemi Moriyama from Blue Exorcist, Shiro from Deadman Wonderland and Anri Sonohara from Durarara!!.[93]
- In the anime, Hugh's sports car looks like a T45. The model was produced by Spanish manufacturer Hispano-Suiza between 1911 and 1914.[94]
- Hugh's gun, a protective charm from his grandfather, is a Webley Revolver. It was a standard service pistol for the armed forces of the United Kingdom from 1887 until 1963. The model holds .455 caliber cartridges. It's a six gun, meaning that it can hold six cartridges in its revolving cylinder.[96] This number is usually respected throughout the anime, with Hugh reloading the gun when all the chambers are empty.[97] Although he uses the revolver throughout the series, he doesn't like guns.[98]
- In the anime, Alice and the Pirates line of the Japanese Lolita fashion boutique chain Baby, the Stars Shine Bright designed Hugh's costume.[99][100]
- Hugh's lighter is a windproof petrol lighter from Austrian manufacturer IMCO. The flame height can be adjusted and the fuel tank can be removed by twisting it, making the handling of the flame easier.[101][102] In the manga, he owns what appears to be an American Zippo lighter.[103]
- After opening the Library for the first time, Hugh has the key within him. A mark on his right hand represents that and resembles the key. He uses a glove to hide the mark.[104] In the anime, he starts to use his left hand to shake hands.[105] When he's in child form, the mark looks different.[106]
- He enjoys Hovis biscuits, a digestive snack from a British company, as shown in the anime.[107]
- There's a sketch of a 16-years-old Hugh in Dalian Days, volume 2.[108]