The Design Evolution of Cloud Strife
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 4 окт 2024
- In today's episode we look at the one of the most iconic Final Fantasy character designs with Tetsuya Nomura's FF7 Cloud Strife.
We consider not just the attributes of this particular character and why Cloud Strife worked in the Final Fantasy 7 world, but also how, historically speaking the approach to Cloud's design was representative of Squaresoft's game-changing pivot into the realms of 3D game design and 3D JRPG design. We Also finally consider adaptations including Kingdom Hearts Cloud Strife and Advent Children Cloud, and the how's and why's of those design changes.
My Cloud Strife Analysis with regards to his role in FF7 story can be found here: • Cloud Strife Analysis ...
-- A huge thank you to my Patrons who are supporting these Game Discourses:
M!
Eastern Fox
Leo L
Durian A'l
You can become a Patron here:
/ gamediscourses
OR
Show your appreciation with a Coffee:
ko-fi.com/game...
If you enjoy Final Fantasy 7 you might enjoy some other episodes I have on the channel, starting with this playlist of Final Fantasy analysis: • Final Fantasy Analysis
Thanks for watching! If you enjoyed these game discourses, please consider joining the channel.
Alleyway Jack
#FinalFantasy #FF7 #cloudstrife
![Tee Grizzley - Robbery 8 [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/34_vkNV6wrU/mqdefault.jpg)
God the original hair was so crazy
I like how Cloud's outfit really grounds him in the city of Midgard. He has a slightly anachronistic sword, but it is grungy, mechanical and brutal looking. His jumpsuit is a dark purple like the in ever twilight city. His single pauldron is rusted and has bolts sticking out like it has been repaired and modified. The bracer looks like some kind of mechanical component.
Tifa and Barrett also fit perfectly well, with their biker bar look.
Aerith stands out with her bright, pastel outfit, and that is certainly intentional.
Though I love FF8 and Squall, I don't feel like his look is as suited to his world as well as Cloud.
I love Cloud’s Advent Children design for several reasons, but most of all because it’s so evocative of his personality at that point in his life. He’s darker and more brooding, and he’s dressed very much like he’s still in mourning for Zack, Aerith, and the other friends he lost. The Fenrir symbol just emphasizes his feelings of isolation, which makes his character arc much more meaningful.
Also, I just love the cloak and baggy pants a lot more than the tight SOLDIER uniform; it gives him more weight and aesthetic variety.
Agreed his AC design is perfect imo. I like how his hair is modeled. It seems slightly shorter and overall the tone of his design is darker
Working my way through all your vids, absolute quality in each one.
Thank you, glad you're enjoying them :D
Thanks for the FF7 content!! 🙌🏽
You're welcome 😃
The Golden Rectangle principle does indeed work with a seventh entry in a media franchise. (iykyk)
Great vid mate!
His design also lends itself to him being a deconstruction of the 90s anti-hero archetype.
He wields a weapon that's oversized and dresses with salvaged armor that appears to be imitating the knightly look from prior Final Fantasy games. Because he is someone imitating the image of a hero and is subsequently trying to appear "cool" in the process.
Great video! Really insightful
Thank you :)
One interesting piece of concept art that I've seen is one where Cloud's skin is more tanned than what we got in the final product. I thought that one was cool and I wonder why they changed it. You make a comment about Cloud's blonde hair being less common for protagonists of the era, but Terra and Celes, I believe, were also blondes. Granted, Terra's hair looked green on her sprite due to technical limitations, but I wonder how Terra being blonde might complicate your claim about blondes being the secondary characters. I've even seen jokes online that Amano's artwork has so many characters that have blonde or light hair.
Great video.
Yes I remember seeing that tanned Cloud image. Interesting, not sure whether it was an underlayer that hadn't been highlighted by the artist yet, or if they were genuinely making him tan similar to how Tidus ended up being in FFX.
Re. the cast of FF6, there are a lot of blondes in there; Edgar, Sabin, Locke (sort of), Celes, and then Terra who was designed blonde by Amano, but green-haired by Kazuko Shibuya and in the final game... I've no idea why they had so many blondes in that game other than we could argue it's a huge ensemble cast which is about 50/50 with light-haired to dark-haired characters, maybe it just helps distinguish them on the 16-bit graphics. I also if making Terra's hair green in the final version helped them distinguish her on screen from the brothers Edgar/Sabin, and Locke/Setzer who had the same colour palettes, and make her seem more 'otherworldly', not sure.
Glad someone else noticed how his advent children amalgamaties elements of people who had an effect on cloud psychologically
But what would Cloud look like now? (2024?) Middle aged, a bit chubbier, receding hairline and probably a bad back from carrying that sword around? Oh and Tifa with things drooping a little further south UU 😂
For God so loved the world he gaved his one and only son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but eternal life John 3:16