N o t . I n t e r e s t e d - A Cloud Strife Club

[The Witch]

Wow, very good post, Alak. And for the most part I agree with you.

- Advent Children shows him depressed because Aeris' death comes back to haunt him. He's failed to find a cure for Denzel's geostigma. In the process, he's contracted geostigma. Yeah, a person can only take so much failure before sinking into depression. At the end of the movie, he's kind of sort of back to his old self from the end of FF7.

Yeah, muchly agree here. I always thought that it was a biiiiig happiness boost for Cloud when he realized Aerith and Zack where always with him.

- Dirge of Cerberus only shows him for like a measly 30 seconds. He's picking up his phone now and he makes some lame joke. I'm going to out on a limb and say he's officially back to the awkwardly lovable but still introvert Cloud.

What joke?

I must know eeeeet
(I am very much appreciating this deep discussion, btw. )

random arts:
http://fc08.deviantart.net/fs28/f/2008/177/7/6/76cd92ddcc51eae21350cc631b9729d8.jpg

http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/173/8/2/cloud_strife_by_eeriefaery-d3jph5n.jpg <--not sure if this has been posted before


In the mean time how about another question.
What do you think Cloud's ethnic background consists of?

 

[Saints&Storms]

I found this beautiful Cloud gif on Tumblr, don't know who made it so they can come get on me for that I guess but anyway its very pretty, not usually a fan of "Pouty Cloud" but I don't mind it here

Enjoi

 

[The Witch]

I knowwwwwwwwwwwwwww
I loved that gif as well. And that should mean somethin' comin' from me because I hate how they reconstructed Cloud's face in that scene in ACC. But he looks so adorable there I just have to sqee.

He reminds me of Sora.

 

[Alak]

What joke?

I must know eeeeet

Actually, upon rewatching that scene, it's not so much as a lame joke as it is a corny comment. It's when he single-handedly destroys the Omega reactor, slices through the energy tendril, and picks up the phone to say "Sorry about the wait" with a smirk. It was cocky Cloud all over again. I like that about him, but I couldn't help but facepalm after hearing him say that since he was actually the first person to complete his objective. Here's a Youtube link to all the DoC cutscenes involving Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Cid, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLfmgEwwoEE

Skip to 5:42 to listen to a hilarious phone call between Vincent, Tifa, Barret, and Cloud. Skip to 7:21 to see him destroy the reactor with full on epic smugness. Oh, and 8:17 also has the most awkward group cheer

 

[Saints&Storms]

Actually, upon rewatching that scene, it's not so much as a lame joke as it is a corny comment. It's when he single-handedly destroys the Omega reactor, slices through the energy tendril, and picks up the phone to say "Sorry about the wait" with a smirk. It was cocky Cloud all over again. I like that about him, but I couldn't help but facepalm after hearing him say that since he was actually the first person to complete his objective. Here's a Youtube link to all the DoC cutscenes involving Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Cid, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLfmgEwwoEE

Skip to 5:42 to listen to a hilarious phone call between Vincent, Tifa, Barret, and Cloud. Skip to 7:21 to see him destroy the reactor with full on epic smugness. Oh, and 8:17 also has the most awkward group cheer

I love that phone call, I probably played it a trillion times, I never found the reactor thing funny because I couldn't understand what was going on and now I do laugh a little bit at the thought, Clouds such a show off xD

I really like Vincent and Clouds relationship as its shown through that phone-call, it said a lot imho.

 

[The Witch]

Yeah, I agree. I think that one phone call really established their bond as friends. The fact that Cloud says "what do you think?" in this cocky half chuckle as if Vincent knows what he'll say--it shows bromance ye know?



I love Cloud's VA so much. I don't think any other voice would fit him as good.

 

[Alak]

Now that I think of his voice, I'm not entirely sure what Cloud's accent reminds me of. I want to say east coast U.S.A. like Brooklyn. What does everyone else think?

Oh, and while trying to find interviews of him so I can try can figure out his voice, I came across this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K9_5f0nCrg

Don't watch the video, just listen to the audio lol.

 

[Dragon Mage]

lol I think it's confusing because we don't have an exact timeline. If we did try to make one, we'd probably see Cloud grow up as any real person would (which also adds to the awesomeness of his character). Honestly, I think we both are correct in our interpretations.

- Cloud as a child is unsociable. He looks down on other children his age, especially those who are friends with Tifa. This leads to a lot of fights with his peers. He does know Tifa, however, so she remembers him at this stage in their lives. Since he has a crush on her and wants to prove himself, Cloud goes on to be like his idol... assuming this path with get him the ladies. (I think this part of his life is what you're referring to)

- Cloud leaves to try and join SOLDIER and this is the last time Tifa talks to him until he's 21 and she's 20. No game/novel specifies this, but I personally assumed that they never bothered trying to contact one another between childhood and adulthood.

- Cloud's 16 years old in Crisis Core. We know he failed to get into SOLDIER, so he doesn't have that same childish, arrogant attitude (at least based on what we've seen in his appearances in the game). We know that he's open and friendly towards Zack. We don't exactly see him talking to anyone else, so it may be assumed that he's still an introvert who has a playful side. (This part of his life is what I was referring to)

- Cloud visits Nibelheim and is too embarrassed about his failures to show his face in public. So, we know why he's not particularly talkative in Nibelheim. However, everything bad happens. His childhood idol kills his mom, severely injures Tifa, beats up his best friend, and burns the town to the ground. Oh, and he gets stabbed by Sephiroth and drugged by Hojo & Co.

- Right before FF7, Cloud regains sanity (word usage is highly debatable) just in time to find his best friend/savior to be riddled with bullets. Considering how loud Cloud screams at this part of the scene, I'd say the whole Mr. Nice Guy persona is effectively buried.

- FF7 begins with Cloud having no family, no friends, and no real job. Since everyone he was close to was either hurt and/or killed, we understand why he's really aloof. It's not to say that he has a heart of ice, but Cloud certainly put up a massive wall around himself. Towards the end of the game, we see him acting somewhere between his Crisis Core self and the distant mercenary persona.

- Advent Children shows him depressed because Aeris' death comes back to haunt him. He's failed to find a cure for Denzel's geostigma. In the process, he's contracted geostigma. Yeah, a person can only take so much failure before sinking into depression. At the end of the movie, he's kind of sort of back to his old self from the end of FF7.

- Dirge of Cerberus only shows him for like a measly 30 seconds. He's picking up his phone now and he makes some lame joke. I'm going to out on a limb and say he's officially back to the awkwardly lovable but still introvert Cloud.


That's the timeline I picture for Cloud in terms of his personality. Of course, this is coming from a fan's point of view so take it with a grain of salt.

Let me worship you.

Please.

This.... this ENTIRE quote.... is pretty much everything I've been trying to say.... but somehow massively failing in the process. Cloud is an introvert, but that doesn't mean he can't be approachable and a fun guy. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

*worships*

Now I really want to play DoC again, just to see that cutscene. I do remember that awkward group cheer though -- it was pretty silly. The thing I remember the most from that game is Cid cussing about his ship.

What do you think Cloud's ethnic background consists of?

Easy.

Cloud is a Viking. He's got the hair, eyes, and gigantic sword to prove it.

*pinches f a r f a l l a for improper thoughts*

I was referring to the weapon. *tsks*

As for Cloud's voice actor, aren't you talking about the soap opera star? Steve Burton, right? Link He was born in Indiana, so he shouldn't have too much of an accent.
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.
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LMAO. Wow. Is this coincidence or what? Cloud's VA was on the cover of PlayGirl magazine in 1995.

There is something just so perfectly right about that.

 

[Saints&Storms]

Now that I think of his voice, I'm not entirely sure what Cloud's accent reminds me of. I want to say east coast U.S.A. like Brooklyn. What does everyone else think?

Oh, and while trying to find interviews of him so I can try can figure out his voice, I came across this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K9_5f0nCrg

Don't watch the video, just listen to the audio lol.

Steve Burton definitely gives Cloud some sort of accent when he acts for him, and honestly to me I agree it sound like a New York accent, I think Burton has played the games and knows Midgar was a New York-ish kind of place so perhaps that's why he acts in that accent.

I am a long-time watcher of General Hospital so I have heard Steve Burton say many things and was able to picture Cloud actually saying them xD /ENDOFNONSENSEBABBLE

What do you think Cloud's ethnic background consists of?

Easy, Italian/Sicilian. Thats all I can think of when I see him, he just looks like a southern Italian guy to me, that golden tan, light hair and blue eyes are just so...Sicilian, but I guess that falls in the same boat as what Dragon Mage said, in a sub-class sort of way.

But either way yes, I see him being a sexy Sicilian. /isbiasedofherownitalianheritage

 

[The Witch]

and gigantic sword to prove it.

and gigantic sword to prove it.

and gigantic sword to prove it.

and gigantic sword to prove it.

and gigantic sword to prove it.

and gigantic sword to prove it.

*imagine the person in the background is me and the wrestler is Cloud*

*pinches f a r f a l l a for improper thoughts*

I was referring to the weapon. *tsks*

You practically begged me to

Steve Burton definitely gives Cloud some sort of accent when he acts for him, and honestly to me I agree it sound like a New York accent, I think Burton has played the games and knows Midgar was a New York-ish kind of place so perhaps that's why he acts in that accent.

I don't know... I want to say it sounds City-ish... but I guess I'm having a hard time thinking it since he was raised a country boy. I think it's a bit of country and city accent, to be honest. Actually, I take that back. I think Cloud's voice sounds a lot more City-like than country but he still has some country sound to him.

I am a long-time watcher of General Hospital so I have heard Steve Burton say many things and was able to picture Cloud actually saying them xD /ENDOFNONSENSEBABBLE

Oh, thank god! I was afraid I was the only fangirl who pictured Cloud saying all that stuff as Steve said it

What do you think Cloud's ethnic background consists of?

Easy, Italian/Sicilian. Thats all I can think of when I see him, he just looks like a southern Italian guy to me, that golden tan, light hair and blue eyes are just so...Sicilian, but I guess that falls in the same boat as what Dragon Mage said, in a sub-class sort of way.

But either way yes, I see him being a sexy Sicilian. /isbiasedofherownitalianheritage

Bingo!

I totally agree. Cloud just has this golden skin and the typical Italian blonde hair and blue eyes... not to mention isn't it said that most Italians are short? Either way, I totally agree. Cloud would be from around the Mediterranean.

I was going to say Italy so I kinda have nothing else to add. >.< If not Italy maybe northern Germany since the north is jam packed with a lot of blonde-blue eyed folk.

I see Cloud as Italian/German

 

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Sorry to all the guys in this club who has to listen to our fan girl-ness *cough* @Spawn *cough* Ahem excuse me.

Hey its okay. I don't mind you guys talking about those topics.

 

[The Witch]

Yeh, lol Us girls seem to kinda forget that there's guys here. Sorry

We do have a question being asked bout what we think Cloud's ethnic background would be. Caitlin (sorry if that's the wrong spelling ) chose a viking (sexy ) Tori chose a Sicilian/Italian background cali and I went with either Italian or Northern German. grin

What ethnic background do you think he'd have?

 

[Saints&Storms]

Oh glob, sorry men of the club -- I suggest we speak of other more neutral things now; like Cali's topic of his ethnicity [which is a good one, very fun to think about Cloud being Italian] or maybe everyone can discuss which of Cloud techniques are you favorite? That's a pretty neutral one, huh?

Or how about; What movie character/hero can you compare Cloud to/think he is similar to? (Sorry if this is confusing...?)

 

[The Witch]

Good idea

What movie character/hero can you compare Cloud to/think he is similar to?

Hmm, I'm not sure. The only one that comes to my mind is Leo's role in shutter island. Edward(leo's role) suffers the same confusion of reality because of traumatic events in his life... just as Cloud did. So I guess that could be one.

Other than that, I'm drawing a blank

 

[Dragon Mage]

Todd from SOLIDIER.

Don't give me that look, it's a real movie!

In any case, Todd is a super soldier (ringing any bells?) who's been conditioned from birth to be a perfect killing machine. As a result, he's very introverted, shows almost no emotion, but goes on a roaring rampage of revenge to protect the people who took care of him when he was left for dead.

Super soldier, check.

Introvert/emotional veil, check.

Insanely protective of friends, check.

Yup, sounds like Cloud!

 

[The Witch]

Haha

I've never seen that one before. But another one that reminded me of Cloud was Riddick from the Chronicles of Riddick. Hardened mercenary type of guy, with special glowing eyes-that sort of thing--but the last time I saw that film was 2004 so I'd have to watch Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick once more before I settle on it.

 

[Saints&Storms]

I really like your answers you two,(How can I top them!?) I am gonna try and come up with one as good

What movie character/hero can you compare Cloud to/think he is similar to?

I am gonna go in a whole different direction here and say, I can't ever find a male character that totally reminds me of Cloud, but I do find a few female Characters that share his woes and problems, in my honest opinion I think Cloud's kinda like Buffy from Buffy the vampire Slayer; but I do wanna say the closest I've ever come to seeing another male character to Cloud would probably be Spiderman/Peter Parker -- an outcast or ventures form 'loser' to 'beloved hero', but that's just me I guess...

 

[Richard B Riddick]

What movie character/hero can you compare Cloud to/think he is similar to?
:

Cloud Strife

Clint Eastwood as the man with no name

• Both wear ponchos.
• Both exude an aura of violence and mysteriousness.
• Both are loners who don't speak much.
• Both commit acts of violence for a living.
• Both bear tons of tragedy.

I think that fits.

Or, maybe the real inspiration for Cloud's red poncho in Kingdom Hearts is...

Strider Hiryu

In which case, I hope Square never re-makes FF7 to keep them from screwing the character further...

 

[Alak]

Quick question:

Why do you think Cloud kept the black sleeve on his left arm in DoC despite having been cured of geostigma? Is it because he's just really that bent on wearing an asymmetrical outfit? Is it because he was too used to wearing it from before that he decided to keep it? Was it so that the developers of the game could give us a Cloud he recognize?

Sorry if this question was asked before, but I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it.

 

[Saints&Storms]

Quick question:

Why do you think Cloud kept the black sleeve on his left arm in DoC despite having been cured of geostigma? Is it because he's just really that bent on wearing an asymmetrical outfit? Is it because he was too used to wearing it from before that he decided to keep it? Was it so that the developers of the game could give us a Cloud he recognize?

Sorry if this question was asked before, but I just wanted to see what you guys thought about it.

Great question Alak, I always wondered this too, I mean honestly after ripping it away in Advent Children its kind of odd he'd put it back on again even though he was cured?

I haven't really read much about it either in datebooks, maybe its just his outfit choice but honestly it seems like he wears it because he still wears his pink ribbon beneath it -- which I think would be nice.

And no that topic has never surfaced here before, an interesting one though, food for thought kinda.