Syaoran (Japanese: 小狼, Hepburn: Shaoran) is a fictional character and protagonist in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, a manga series written and illustrated by Clamp.

Syaoran has featured in other works by Clamp, including the manga xxxHolic and the drama CD series Holistuba.

He also received positive comments by manga and anime publications, mainly due to how heroic he is in order to save the person he loves: Sakura.

In order to further appeal to the demography and the company, Sugawara suggested Syaoran needs to be stronger based on how popularity polls from this genre works.

As a result, the manga's second story arc focused on more on fight scenes which Clamp reflected they could have drawn more if they went back.

[4] In building up his character, Syaoran was written to act as a detective when confronting Fei-Wang Reed spy Kyle Rondart in the Jade World story arc.

[6] Sugawara stated that he wanted Syaoran to become a stronger fighter and further expand his bond with Kurogane in order to appeal more to the shonen manga demography.

[7] In order to make his fight scenes more entertaining, Clamp thought about giving Syaoran named sword techniques like those of Kurogane but in the end this was not added to the series.

[8] In the animated adaptations of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Syaoran is voiced by Miyu Irino in Japanese, and by Jason Liebrecht in English.

Fellow voice actress Yui Makino also discussed Irino's role, saying that he was the most difficult character to cast because of the requirement to portray the two Syaorans.

[15] Sakura losing her memories of Syaoran and struggling to once again develop feelings for him is one of the main themes of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, showing the value of relationships throughout the series.

[23] Syaoran specializes in hand-to-hand combat, mainly focusing on kicks taught by hunter Seishirō during his childhood when he had no visual perception of depth because he was blind in his right eye.

Before leaving his former friends, he devours Fai's left eye to gain his own magic powers, which grow stronger every time he uses them.

[37][38] Yuko later makes the clone reborn as normal humans, using her and Clow's magic left behind as their payment as they are the ones responsible for Fei-Wang's actions.

Being reborn as a descendant of the sorcerer Clow Reed, Syaoran and Sakura break free from the tube and use their new powers to help their friends defeat Fei-Wang.

[51][52] Upon their second meeting, the clone communicates with the original and tells him to reunite a sacred area from the world of Nirai Kanai, Utaki.

[53] In Utaki, the original Syaoran seeks to fight the clone in order to make him reincarnate alongside the undead from the world.

[64][65][66] In the 2007 Seiyu Awards, Miyu Irino was a nominee in the category "Best New Actor" for his portrayal as Syaoran, but lost to Tetsuya Kakihara and Masakazu Morita.

Ed Sizemore from Comics Worth Reading called him as "the perfect young hero" because of his seriousness, with points given for his care for Sakura.

[71] While DVDTalk found Syaoran's story similar to that of Sora from the Kingdom Hearts video games developed by Square Enix, they felt that the narrative provided in both OVAs offered a darker tone as well as multiple plot twists that might heavily surprise the audience through the subject of cloning.

[73] Japanese singer Maaya Sakamoto said that in the animated adaptation of Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle, Syaoran's straightforward feelings and strength to protect Sakura were very touching.

[75] The plot twist in which Syaoran is revealed to be a clone and his fight against his original self has been regarded as "a titanic clash" by Chris Zimmerman from Comic Book Bin.

[78] The twist has been a "potential real upset" because Syaoran is revealed to have been created by the series' main antagonist, Fei-Wang Reed.

Syaoran has been labeled as "an agent of destruction" because he ignores seemingly mortal wounds and encounters various opponents in a single manga volume.

[82] Manga News praised the ending for the heavy focus on the clones of Syaoran and Sakura, giving emotional scenes, as well as their relationship Yuko and Fei-Wang Reed, but lamented Fai and Kurogane for having less prominent roles.

[84] Mania Entertainment's Megan Lavey said Syaoran's and Sakura's initial relationship is a "pretty simple love story", and liked their personalities.

[85] IGN's Jeff Harris said Syaoran's role is interesting because he sacrifices his relationship with Sakura and his own life to recover her memories.

[89] Sarahi Isuki Castella Olivera from Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla said that while the two Syaoran are nearly identical characters, they possess different hearts with the clone losing it in the series' second half as a result of being controlled by Fei Wang Reed.