In the Real World: Ulrich is a unique character. He has a lot of talents and abilities, but he also has a lot of real-world problems and weaknesses. He seems cool and popular, but he definitely doesn’t fit the arch type that goes along with that type of character.

Ulrich is good at martial arts. He practices and studies certain techniques and styles. He can hold his own against most of the enemies that come along, whether they be various monsters or people possessed by Xana (who acquire increased strength and speed while possessed). Of all the characters, he’s probably the strongest in the real world. He’s also talented at sports (like soccer) and is popular with the girls in the school. He seems to be somewhat suave with the ladies, when he wants to be.

However, it’s been stated that Ulrich’s grades aren’t so good, and there are plenty of times in which he screws up. For example, he spends a great deal of time fretting over how to tell Yumi how he feels, and obviously has confidence issues in that regard. Perhaps he feels that he might not be good enough for her. Either way, his attempts so far have failed.

It should also be noted that Ulrich has issues with his parents. We are told that they want him to be the best, and have high expectations of him that he has trouble meeting. He seems to be very concerned about gaining their approval. But while they do seem stern, they also apparently love him very much.

Ulrich’s general attitude shifts quite drastically depending who is around him. He’s a very nice, helpful person when around Yumi or the younger students who like him. He’s playfully crude when around Odd (which makes for the most amusing dialogue in the series; they sound like genuine boys who poke fun at each other mercilessly). And he’s an absolute smart-ass when around Sissi and her gang, most of the time. I have mixed feelings about his attitude toward Sissi. Most of the time, she does deserve this attitude. She can be very mean when she wants to be, and never hesitates to cut down the other characters. Also, she can take whatever insults Ulrich dishes out, without batting an eye. But sometimes, I feel that Ulrich has been a little too hard on her, especially since he knows that she has a very deep crush on him. But there are times when Ulrich is nice to her, usually after he gets a glimpse of her good side. So Ulrich obviously tries to be fair in his attitude toward her, or anyone else.

Another note to make about Ulrich is that he tends to get jealous very easily when it comes to Yumi. He jumps to conclusions and goes off on her, but usually has the good sense to apologize afterward. There is a sense of nobility that surrounds Ulrich, so that even when he’s acting like an asshole, you can forgive him.

In Lyoko: Ulrich’s Lyoko attire seems to be that of a ninja/samurai. In “Garage Kids”, the design is very obviously a samurai, but in the actual Code Lyoko series, it looks far more like a ninja-based design to me (plus, his attacks are far more ninja-related). Eh, maybe I’m watching too much ninja anime though. Perhaps Ulrich has an interest in Japanese culture? This could be a result or a cause of his interest in Yumi. Either way, he makes a formidable player in the game-like world. He has a wider range of attacks and moves than the others, including the ability to split himself into three bodies (they are not illusions, as they can all three attack) and “super-sprint” (as you may have guessed, this allows him to run super fast). He uses a sword as his main weapon, and it’s very powerful. It can kill nearly any enemy with one shot to the “impact” spot. The problem is that it’s harder for him to reach that spot than it is for Yumi or Odd. Ulrich has to get up close and personal with an enemy in order to destroy it.

Something interesting to note is that Ulrich is much more bold with his feelings for Yumi in Lyoko than he is in the real world. I’ve counted at least six occasions in which he admitted something to her (relating to his feelings or interest in her) or made a bold flirt of some sort while in Lyoko. This is in contrast to the almost shy behavior he exhibits toward her in the real world. I would say that Ulrich simply feels more powerful and confident while in Lyoko. He’s a freaking ninja! He can do anything! Right? Well, at least he seems to think so.