Introduction: start analysis

Looking at Shuyin and Tidus with more attention than what a first glance has, it’s definitely possible to distinguish who is who. Tidus, in both appearance and personality, is more childish: he is bright, optimistic, somewhat naive. Compared with Shuyin, Tidus also looks younger. Shuyin instead is dark as well as more mature. Clothing is also different: Tidus clothes (having lived 1000 years after Shuyin) have a more modern look, while Shuyin wears a classic Blitzball player outfit.

Surface: analysing Shuyin and Tidus outfits

Please note: images of Shuyin’s and Tidus’ clothing will be added shortly.

Top: Tidus wears a hooded, striped and cropped yellow jacket which also has a sort of pocket on the right arm. The jacket is worn open showing Tidus abs and is partially covered by a black zippered overalls-like top. Shuyin’s top ensemble instead is less “daring”. The jacket has a checkered red and black pattern on the sleeves and a sort of “tasseled” red collar. Unlike Tidus, it is worn closed. Shuyin’s overalls consists of only a belt around the waist and two suspenders, no zipper. Shuyin has two shoulder pads, while Tidus has just one on his left shoulder which is linked to his armguard. Shuyin’s jacket is also longer than Tidus’s overalls top.

Armguards: Shuyin’s armguard is really simple and covers his arm up to his elbow. Tidus’ armguard instead, looks much more elaborate and covers all his arm.

Gloves: Shuyin and Tidus right gloves are identical, plain simple black. Shuyin left glove is like the right one, except for the fact it is fingerless. Tidus left glove instead seems joined to the armguard and has a bracelet with a chain that links to either side of the hand.

Belt: both Shuyin and Tidus wear a black waist belt. The one worn by Shuyin, however, is again very simple looking while Tidus’ one has a chain and also a pouch for each side.

Bottoms: Shuyin trousers fall past the knee. Tidus’s right pant leg is of the same length, but is has a zip so it’s possible to remove the part with the Zanarkand Abes logo. In doing so the right pant leg becomes as long as the left pant leg, leaving Tidus in shorts.

Shoes: quite identical, they are both yellow and black though Shuyin’s shoes have buckles (there are two of them), Tidus’ shoes have laces. There are six lace holes in total, but only the bottom five are used. Tidus also wears a pair of black socks, Shuyin probably wears a pair of socks too, but they aren’t shown.

Other accessories: Tidus has a chunky silver-like necklace and a pair of matching earrings bearing the Zanarkand Abes logo. Shuyin has none of all this stuff.

Deeper: analysing Shuyin and Tidus personality

Both Shuyin and Tidus were deeply attached to their second half and wanted to protect them at all costs. Both of them didn’t want Lenne or Yuna to sacrifice in the name of a greater good and tried to save the girl they loved. While Tidus managed to save Yuna’s life, Shuyin wasn’t as much as successful. So angry was Shuyin for not having been able to save his beloved Lenne, that he wanted to annihilate all Spira.

Luckily, after all he sufferings both couples went through, they reunited with their loved ones. One thousand years after their death, Shuyin and Lenne could finally fade together.

Conclusion: end analysis

Personality-wise they both have two sides (Tidus: happy outside and struggling inside, Shuyin: serious outside and angry inside). They are devoted to their lover and determined to save them from a certain death.

Shuyin and Tidus have things in common, yet they are two different beings and, as I hoped to have shown, Shuyin can’t be seen as a mere clone of Tidus. Especially because since Shuyin lived *before* Tidus it should be the latter considered as a clone of the first and not the other way round.