| Yuna | |
|---|---|
| Final Fantasy character | |
 Yuna inFinal Fantasy X, as illustrated byTetsuya Nomura. | |
| First game | Final Fantasy X (2001) |
| Created by | Yoshinori Kitase |
| Designed by | Tetsuya Nomura Tetsu Tsukamoto (X-2) |
| Voiced by | |
| Motion capture | Mayuko Aoki |
| Portrayed by | Nakamura Yonekichi |
| In-universe information | |
| Race | HalfAl Bhed |
| Weapon | Staff (FFX) Guns (FFX-2) |
| Home | Besaid |
Yuna (ユウナ,Yūna) is a character fromSquare Enix'sFinal Fantasy series. She was introduced as the femaleprotagonist and one of the mainplayable characters of the 2001role-playing video gameFinal Fantasy X. She appears as a summoner embarking on a journey to defeat the world-threatening monster,Sin, alongside her companions, including the male protagonist,Tidus. Yuna reappears inFinal Fantasy X-2, where she becomes the protagonist, searching for a way to find Tidus two years after his disappearance. Other Square Enix games have featured Yuna, notablyDissidia 012 Final Fantasy.
Tetsuya Nomura based Yuna's overall design onhakama, but also wanted to give her outfit something that would flow and so gave her afurisode. Nomura said that her name means "night" in theOkinawan language, which contrasts with Tidus's name, which is Okinawan for "sun". ForX-2, the game's staff wanted Tetsu Tsukamoto to redesign her costume to reflect her personality and the game's atmosphere.
Many media critics and fans received Yuna's character well, particularly praised Yuna for her story in the first game and her relationship with Tidus, and her characterization. Despite the critical reception, there was a mixed reception for her role inX-2 due to her redesign and aesthethics involving her changed personality.
InFinal Fantasy X, Yuna is introduced as a summoner from the world of Spira who can control creatures known asaeons with help from spirits known as Fayths.[3] Daughter of the late High SummonerBraska, who destroyed Sin ten years earlier, Yuna embarks on a quest to defeat Sin with her Guardians, Lulu and Wakka.[4] Yuna must journey to temples across the world, acquire the aeon from each and summon theFinal Aeon in a battle that will kill them both.[5] In the meantime, she gradually becomes more open and falls in love with her guardianTidus as both often talk about their pasts and aspire to see their home, Zanarkand.[6] Upon arriving at the place where Yuna can summon the final aeon, Tidus persuades the group to look for another way to defeat Sin without using any sacrifices.[7] After entering Sin's body, Tidus is forced to kill Braska's Aeon, his father Jecht, and Sin is later destroyed by the destruction of the disembodied spirit ofYu Yevon, who is responsible for reviving Sin after each defeat, allowing an eternal Calm to start in Spira.[8] However, Tidus disappears as he is the product of the Fayth, who could not depart until Sin's defeat and has a sad separation from her. In the international version of the game, Yuna finds a blurry video of a man she believes to be Tidus and decides to go on a quest to find him.[9]
InFinal Fantasy X-2, set two years afterFFX, Yuna is a member of thesphere hunting group, the Gullwings (カモメ団,Kamome Dan; lit. "Seagulls"), along with her cousinRikku and the silentPaine formed by the Al-bhed members Brother and Buddy, Rikku's relatives. In the game's international version, the Gullwings go their separate ways before the game's opening, with Yuna returning to Besaid Island. The trio then reunites to explore a newfound tower.[10] InX-2, Yuna journeys to Spira in search of the truth behind a sphere containing a video featuring a man resembling Tidus in prison.[11] During her journey, Yuna discovers the man from the sphere was actuallyShuyin, a spirit who wishes to destroy Spira in revenge for the death of his lover,Lenne. Yuna possesses a sphere from Lenne that allows her to replicate her singing and wishes to stop Shuyin's revenge.[12] With the help of Paine's former comrades, the Gullwings defeat Shuyin, who departs to the afterlife with Lenne's spirit sealed in the sphere Yuna kept.[13] Depending on the player's progress throughout the game, the Fayth may revive Tidus so that she can reunite with him.[14][15] The game's HD Remastered version adds a new audio drama where Yuna becomes a part of the group called Yevoners, whose main temple is on Besaid. In the story, she breaks up with Tidus after telling him she loves somebody else before declaring she will fight the revived Sin once again.[16]
She also appears inDissidia 012 Final Fantasy, an action game that features severalFinal Fantasy characters, as one of the characters to be summoned by the goddess Cosmos to participate in a war against her rival, Chaos. For this game, Yuna appears in herFinal Fantasy X form, but slightly arranged to fit with the game's cast. Yuna retains her memories fromX and tries to make Tidus join her cast only for him to be wounded by The Emperor on his attempt to kill Yuna. Yuna is later killed by the mannekins alongside other Cosmos' soldiers in the end of the012 narrative.[17] Additionally, she has an alternative design based onYoshitaka Amano's illustration, and a wedding dress fromFFX.[18][19] HerX-2 regular form was made available asdownloadable content.[20] She also appears inDissidia NT as a warrior summoned by Cosmos's heir apparent, Materia, to take part in a war with her rival, Spiritus. However, Yuna is one of many characters summoned far away from the war and arrives well after its completion.
Outside theFinal Fantasy series, Yuna appears inKingdom Hearts II as a pixie along with Paine and Rikku. Bribed byMaleficent into spying onLeon's resistance group from Radiant Garden, the pixies eventually switch sides after being abandoned by the witch and told ofSora's cause.[21] Yuna is also featured in the board game style video gameItadaki Street Special, appearing alongside Auron and Tidus,[22] and representsFinal Fantasy X in the rhythm gameTheatrhythm Final Fantasy.[23]
Multiple figures and figurines of Yuna were produced by various manufacturers,[24] including a 2001 figure by Square.[25] A 2003 audio CDFinal Fantasy X-2 Vocal Collections features performances byMayuko Aoki,Marika Matsumoto andMegumi Toyoguchi, the voice actresses for Yuna, Rikku and Paine, respectively.[26][27][28][29] Yonekichi Nakamura portrays Yuna in the 2023 kabuki play adaptation ofFinal Fantasy X.[30]
The concept for Yuna was created by producerYoshinori Kitase, based on an early draft concept forFinal Fantasy X of a world where people die when they reach seventeen years of age.[31] The goal was for a character who was strong-willed and determined without being physically strong.[32] Her name was meant to contrast against protagonist Tidus; while his name meant "sun" inOkinawan, Yuna's name meant "night".[33] The relationship between Tidus and Yuna was always a central part of the plot, though other subplots such as Jecht's arc were later seen by Kitase as more moving.[34]
Yuna was designed by recurring artistTetsuya Nomura. Art directorYusuke Naora created a "tropical" draft design to go with the game's exotic Asian setting that was scrapped by Nomura in favour of a traditional Japanese look.[35] Nomura based Yuna's design onhakama, a type of traditional Japanese clothing. Nomura said that after learning Yuna was to perform a dance called the "sending", he wanted to give her outfit something that would flow. For this reason, the specific type ofkimono he chose for her was afurisode, a long-sleeved kimono. She was also given a flower motif using ahibiscus, which referenced her name. The motif of sun and night present in their names also extended to her accessories.[33] The open back of her outfit was left over from a scrapped concept of visible tattoos representing a character's skills and abilities.[36]
The positive fan reaction ofFFX convinced the developers to continue Yuna's story and those of other characters withFinal Fantasy X-2. Costume designer Tetsu Tsukamoto said that Yuna's radical design changes from one game to the other reflected a huge cultural change. Producer Yoshinori Kitase added that they did not want to makeX-2 feel like an extension of its predecessor, so they changed the clothing of Yuna, Rikku, and others' to make them seem more active. They accomplished this before creating the story and setting. Because Yuna, Rikku, and Paine live in a more carefree world, the designers wanted them to dress up, a feature that became key to the gameplay. Scenario writerKazushige Nojima described her new outfit as a "natural reaction to the heavy stuff she wore inFFX". Yuna's singing performance was used to demonstrate the pop feel that the game incorporates.[37][38]Final Fantasy X directorMotomu Toriyama said her personality was the result of not having her bear the responsibility of being a summoner anymore. He added that while "she could be seen as a completely different person, ... deep in her heart, she is the same old Yuna".[39]
In the games' Japanese versions, Yuna has been voiced byMayuko Aoki.[2]Hedy Burress provides the character's voice in the English adaptations. Voicing Yuna, Burress remembers trying to translate Yuna's duty, respect, and honor and wanting to retain the gentleness and femininity of her character. When commenting on how the audiences would react toFinal Fantasy X, Burress said that she wanted them to participate in the game itself and "transport them into a completely different world" through the voices.[40] Nakamura Yonekichi portrayed her in the 2023 kabuki performances.[41]
Yuna has seen generally positive opinions from critics. Magazines have described her as one of the favorite[42][43] and bestFinal Fantasy character.[44][45] In official Square Enix polls, Yuna was voted the third most commonly favorite femaleFinal Fantasy character in 2013.[46] and the most popularFinal Fantasy heroine in 2014.[47] Readers ofGame Informer voted Yuna's relationship with Tidus as the best of 2001.[48] as well as 16th in a similar poll byFamitsu 2010.[49] In a 2010ASCII Media Works poll in which Japanese fans would vote whose video game ormanga character would like to name their children after, Yuna came second in the female category.[50]
In his review ofFinal Fantasy X-2, Jeremy Dunham ofIGN praised the clothing designs, combining "proven and recognizableFinal Fantasy styles" with a "revealing neo-modern fashion sense", referencing her warrior costume as a stand-out, and also said that English voice actress Burress's performance sounded more comfortable as opposed to the previous game.[51] Brad Shoemaker ofGameSpot praised Burress' voice acting, saying that it brought her fully to life in accordance with the other changes in the character.[52] The bookPackaging Girlhood: Rescuing Our Daughters from Marketers' Schemes described Yuna's appearance as being a "sexyMTV video star", adding that it is a "lesson to girls that being brave, strong, and ready to fight can only last so long – the next adventure is fashion, boyfriends, and sex".[53]GameSpy's Raymond "Psylancer" Padilla called her "the video-game vixen of my dreams".[54] Christian Nutt, also ofGameSpy, described Burress' portrayal of Yuna inX-2 as superb.[55] Various publications compared Yuna to other fictional characters, including theCharlie's Angels's Natalie Cook as portrayed byCameron Diaz;[56][57][58] andTomb Raider starLara Croft, due to her attire and gun-wielding skills.[59] She was included onIGN's list of top 25Final Fantasy characters, with Dave Smith commenting that while her original appearance made her "fineeye-candy" and her sending scene was one of the best works by theCG studio Square Visual Works, it was the sequel that gave her more confidence and attitude, as well as "a gratuitously exploitative costume".[60]
Negative response focused on the character's revealing clothes and singer areas which produced backlash enough from gamers to avoid labeling as an actualFinal Fantasy game in contrast to previous more fitting heroes.[61][62]GameSpot felt that while her character feels rewritten, the caring parts from Yuna remain intact, but still felt the costumes were too skimpy.[63] Having criticized Burress's acting in the original game to the point that gamers feel the need of hearing to the Japanese actress,Eurogamer thought that the actress improved her work, but felt that Yuna's characterization might come across as too cheesy not only due to the usage of her as a singer involving Jpop most notably theSpice Girls.[64] Similarly,GameSpy praised the improvement of Burress despite noticing poor lip syncing. Yuna's quest to Tidus was noted to be a strong narrative to motivate players but he felt such potential was lost as Square instead focused the plot on a series of sidequests which lack appeal.[65]Gaming Age negatively compared the Gullwings with the filmCharlie's Angels, panning the former for making as entire game unbearable especially when Yuna starts singing.[66] Despite having mixed feelings about Yuna's traits fromX-2,Fanbyte panned Yuna's characterization from the audio dramaWill for going back to her original persona, undoing any type of character arc the character went through.[67]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)Lulu: The fayth are people who gave their lives to battle Sin. Yevon took their souls, willingly given from their still-living bodies. /Tidus: Huh? /Lulu: Now they live forever trapped in statues. But when a summoner beckons, the souls of the fayth emerge once again. That's what we call an aeon. /Tidus: All that in this room? S-So what's Yuna doing in there? /Wakka: She prays with all her heart for a way to defeat Sin.
Tidus: We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right? Why do we gotta wait here? /Wakka: Yuna came to this village ten years ago, when the last Calm started.[...] Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent...she became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner. /Lulu: This is our journey. We should leave together.
Rikku: The pilgrimages have to stop! If they don't, and they get to Zanarkand...they might defeat Sin. Yunie could...but then she... Yunie will die, you know?! You know, don't you? Summoners journey to get the Final Aeon. Yuna told you, didn't she? With the Final Aeon, she can beat Sin. But then...but then... If she calls it, the Final Aeon's going to kill her! Even if she defeats Sin, it will kill Yunie too, you know! /Tidus: Was I the only one who didn't know...?
Yuna: I'll continue. I must. If I give up now...I could do anything I wanted to, and yet... Even if I was with you, I could never forget. /Tidus: I'll go with you. I'm your guardian. Unless I'm...fired? /Yuna: Stay with me until the end. Please. /Tidus: Not until the end... Always. /Yuna: Always, then.
Tidus: I give up. So what would an adult do, then? They know they can just throw away a summoner, then they can do whatever they like. You're right. I might not even have a chance. But no way am I gonna just stand here and let Yuna go. And what Auron said about there being a way... I think it's true. /Rikku: You'll think of something? /Tidus: I'll go ask Yunalesca. She's got to know something. /Rikku: You really think she'll help you? /Tidus: I don't know, but I have to try. This is my story. It'll go the way I want it...or I'll end it here. /Yuna: Wait. You say it's your story, but it's my story, too, you know? It would be so easy...to let my fate just carry me away...following this same path my whole life through. But I know...I can't. What I do, I do...with no regrets.
Tidus: We'll beat Yu Yevon. /Fayth: If you defeat Yu Yevon, it will end. Tell me, what do you know about Yu Yevon? /Tidus: He's what makes Sin come back! /Yuna: Sin is his armor. It protects him. /Fayth: Yu Yevon was once a summoner, long ago. He was peerless. Yet now he lives for one purpose: only to summon.[...] Even if you defeat[ed] Sin with the Final Summoning, Yu Yevon will live. Yu Yevon will join with the Final Aeon. He will transform it into a new Sin.
Tidus: Yuna, I have to go. I'm sorry I couldn't show you Zanarkand. Goodbye! /Wakka: Hey! /Rikku: We're gonna see you again...? / ... /Yuna: I love you.
Yuna [voiceover]: It all began when I saw this sphere of you. At least, it looked like you. I couldn't say for sure. I thought I might find more spheres like it if I joined the Gullwings. So I did. Oh, in case you're wondering, the Gullwings are sphere hunters, and sphere hunters are, well...this! We fly all over Spira. I'm really enjoying myself.
Shuyin: Lenne. We disappeared together, but when I awoke, I was alone. I looked for you for so long. While I wandered, I realized something: Spira hasn't really changed at all. Everyone's still fighting over nothing. Still dying like they used to. A thousand years have passed, and they can't leave the hatred behind. I'm through waiting. I'll fix it. This world continues to fail us, and what's worse, I failed to protect you. Vegnagun will make that all go away. And we'll fade together again, together. Help me do it, Lenne.
Shuyin: A thousand years, and this moment is all we get? /Lenne: This moment's enough. I don't need anything else. Just knowing how you feel is enough. Shuyin, let's end this. Let's go home. /Shuyin: Can we? /Lenne: That was all a thousand years ago. We've come too far to look back now. Rest, Shuyin. Rest with me. Let's go. I have a new song for you.
Fayth: You heard it, didn't you? You want to see him? /Yuna: Him? /Fayth: Yes. You want to walk together again? /Yuna: Yes! /Fayth: I can't promise anything, but we'll do what we can.
Yuna: Are you real? /Tidus: I think so. Do I pass? /Yuna: You're back. /Tidus: I am back. I'm home. /Yuna: Welcome home.
Yuna: Where's Maleficent? /Sora: Looks like she ran away. / ... /Sora: Umm, hey...if you're looking to pick sides, why don't you pick Leon's? They can always use help. /Yuna: Does this Leon have any treasure? /Donald: Yeah, lots of stuff! /Rikku: Perfect! /Paine: Come on. /Sora: Who ARE you? /Yuna: Oh, we're nothing worth mentioning. /Paine: Just three treasure fanatics.
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