Cloud Strife - Final Fantasy
Cloud Strife is the main protagonist and made his first appearance in Square’s Final Fantasy VII, and has subsequently made appearances in a number of other releases and spinoffs, including Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Released on March 3rd of 2020.
Cloud Strife is also being remade 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 Apparel.
In addition, Cloud appears as a character in Advent Children, a computer animated science fiction drama that takes place two years after the events depicted in Final Fantasy VII.
Appearance and Personality
Cloud Strife has a lean figure and is of average height, with a pale complexion and spiky blond hair and blue eyes and wields a giant sword called the Buster Sword. Cloud has a blasé, unenthusiastic personality in the beginning of Final Fantasy VII, agreeing to only help AVALANCHE for the right price. As the story progresses, Cloud becomes genuinely engaged in the struggle for justice, finding meaning and inspiration in the fight against Shinra.
In the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children movie Cloud is seen to be in the possession of a motorcycle called “Fenrir” and in addition to his spiky blond hair and buster sword becomes one of his iconic possessions. The Fenrir motorcycle is a three-wheeled bike with extraordinary maneuvering capabilities allowing Cloud to switch from drive to reverse and stay upright without a driver. The bike also has a compartment that is capable of fitting Cloud’s fusion swords.
Creation
Cloud’s character contrasted greatly with 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 originally envisioned him with black hair, eventually changing it to a spiky blonde to make him stand out as the main character. Nomura also oversaw development of his personality, along with Yoshinori Kitase and Kazushige Nojima who created Cloud’s backstory and detailed his relationship against Sephiroth. Nojima and Kitase wished to make Cloud an atypical and mysterious kind of hero. Director and character designer Tetsuya Nomura and development leader Naoki Hamaguchi have mentioned that while Cloud may look and seem "this way," he was a dorky character in the original game. Cloud is expected to display more of his youthful side rather than the serious one commonly seen outside of the original game.
Backstory
Cloud was born in the mountainous village of Nibelheim. His neighbor was Tifa Lockhart, and his father died during his childhood, leaving him to be raised only by his mother. He was somewhat of a loner growing up and had a hard time getting along with his immature peers. As a young teen Cloud learns about Sephiroth and becomes inspired to be a member of SOLDIER. Cloud eventually becomes a Shinra infantryman, and, in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, at fifteen years old he meets a first-class SOLDIER named Zack Fair on their way to Modeoheim. The two become good friends after learning that they are both "backwater experts". When Cloud and Zack Fair invade a Mako Excavation Facility, they meet Genesis Rhapsodos and Dr. Hollander, former Shinra employees who have turned against the company.
Cloud is a self professed former SOLDIER member and current mercenary that is hired by AVALANCHE, an eco terrorist group fighting against Shinra Electrical Corp., a megacorporation that is harvesting the world’s Mako or "Lifestream". Cloud assists AVALANCHE's leader, Barret Wallace, in his fight against Shinra, including assisting him in the bombing of 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 trying to capture her because she is the last member of a race known as the Cetra.
Trivia
Cloud Strife is often cited as one of the most influential and well known characters ever to be created in a video game. Stated to have the most player-controlled appearances of any character in adaptations of the Final Fantasy series. This is the second-most appearances altogether, behind the character Gilgamesh.
The Japanese voice of Cloud Strife was voiced by Takahiro Sakurai ever since the release of Kingdom Hearts in the year 2002. Sakurai and Zack Fair’s Japanese voice actor Kenichi Suzumura are said to be good friends in real life, just as Cloud and Zack are in the Final Fantasy VII game. Sakurai and Suzumura have been casted together in a variety of other anime series and productions, including their own production mini-group, R-16.