Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy
Cloud Strife is the main protagonist and made his first appearance in Final Fantasy VII Square , and has subsequently made appearances in a number of other releases and spin-offs, including Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Released on March 3, 2020.
Cloud Strife is also being redesigned and graphically updated in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake . Cloud is a popular choice in Final Fantasy cosplay , and has inspired a number of Final Fantasy figurines and other merchandise and clothing .
Additionally, Cloud appears as a character in Advent Children , a computer-animated science fiction drama set two years after the events depicted in Final Fantasy VII: None.
Appearance and personality
Cloud Strife has a slender build and average height, a pale complexion, spiky blond hair, and blue eyes, and wields a giant sword called the Buster Sword. Cloud has a jaded and unenthusiastic personality at the beginning of Final Fantasy VII, agreeing to help AVALANCHE only in exchange for a reasonable price. As the story progresses, Cloud becomes truly committed to the fight for justice, finding meaning and inspiration in the fight against Shinra.
In the compilation of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children , Cloud is seen in possession of a motorcycle called "Fenrir," and in addition to his spiky blond hair and Buster Sword, it becomes one of his signature possessions. The Fenrir Motorcycle is a three-wheeled motorcycle with extraordinary maneuvering abilities, allowing Cloud to shift between forward and reverse gears and remain upright without a rider. The motorcycle also has a compartment capable of holding Cloud's Fusion Swords.
Creation
Cloud's character stood in stark contrast to the previous Final Fantasy VI, which had no main character. Yoshinori Kitase decided early on that Cloud would be the main protagonist of Final Fantasy VII. He was one of the first characters designed for Final Fantasy VII by Tetsuya Nomura , who initially envisioned him with black hair, eventually changing it to a spiky blond to make him stand out as the main character. Nomura also oversaw the development of his personality, along with Yoshinori Kitase and Kazushige Nojima , who created Cloud's backstory and detailed his relationship with Sephiroth . Nojima and Kitase wanted to make Cloud an atypical and mysterious hero. Director and character designer Tetsuya Nomura and development lead Naoki Hamaguchi mentioned that while Cloud may have this appearance, he was a nerdy character in the original game. Cloud is expected to show more of his youthful side rather than the serious side typically seen outside of the original game.
Background story
Cloud was born in the mountain village of Nibelheim. His neighbor was Tifa Lockhart , and his father died during his childhood, leaving him to be raised alone by his mother. He was somewhat of a loner growing up and had trouble getting along with his immature peers. As a young teenager, Cloud discovered Sephiroth and was inspired to become a member of SOLDIER. Cloud eventually became a Shinra infantryman, and in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, at age fifteen, he met a SOLDIER First Class named Zack Fair on their way to Modeoheim. The two became good friends after learning that they were both "experts in troubled waters." When Cloud and Zack Fair invaded a Mako excavation facility, they encountered Genesis Rhapsodos and Dr. Hollander, former Shinra employees who had turned against the company.
Cloud is a self-proclaimed former member of SOLDIER and a current mercenary hired by AVALANCHE, an eco-terrorist group fighting against the Shinra Electrical Corp., a megacorporation that harvests the world's Mako or "Lifestream." Cloud aids AVALANCHE's leader, Barret Wallace , in his fight against Shinra, including helping him bomb a Shinra Mako power plant. Cloud is childhood friends with Tifa Lockhart , who convinces him to continue fighting for AVALANCHE. Cloud also becomes intimately involved with Aerith Gainsborough , whom he helps evade Shinra, who are attempting to capture her because she is the last member of a race known as the Cetra.
Anecdotes
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Cloud Strife is often cited as one of the most influential and well-known characters ever created in a video game. He is renowned for having the most player-controlled appearances of any character in the Final Fantasy series adaptations. He is the second most-appearing character overall, behind only Gilgamesh.
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Cloud Strife's Japanese voice has been provided by Takahiro Sakurai since the release of Kingdom Hearts in 2002. Sakurai and Zack Fair's Japanese voice actor, Kenichi Suzumura, are reportedly good friends in real life, much like Cloud and Zack are in Final Fantasy VII. Sakurai and Suzumura have been cast together in numerous other anime series and productions, including their own mini-production group, R-16.
