Author: Aellis

“Clerith” is an Official Keyword for Final Fantasy VII

"Clerith" seems to be not only officially recognized as a ship, but evidently the Japanese version of the term describing Cloud and Aeris's romantic relationship is so significant that searching it on Apple's iOS will bring you to Final Fantasy VII. The Japanese ship name is クラエア (kuraea, a portmanteu of Kuraudo and Earisu, the … Continue reading “Clerith” is an Official Keyword for Final Fantasy VII →

The Clerith Love Story as told by Final Fantasy VII Dismantled

Final Fantasy VII Kaitai Shinsho The Complete, which the English-speaking fandom calls Final Fantasy VII Dismantled, was the first official guidebook for Final Fantasy VII. Supervised by Square and edited by Studio Bentstuff, it was first released in 1997. Chapter 5 of Dismantled is its "Story" section, and while going through tips and tricks, it … Continue reading The Clerith Love Story as told by Final Fantasy VII Dismantled →

All the times Cloud and Aeris’s relationship is described using the word “heart” (心)

In the myriad of official books, manuals, pamphlets, descriptions, and signage, we see time and time again Cloud's relationship with Aeris being described using the word "heart" (心). From Aeris thawing Cloud's heart to his heartfelt grief at her loss, here's a digital exhibit of the Clerith relationship. Aeris's brightness comes to open Cloud's cold … Continue reading All the times Cloud and Aeris’s relationship is described using the word “heart” (心) →

FF7 Deleted Scene: Aerith is Cloud’s strength

Ultimania Omega - screenshot + translation Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega included a series of deleted scenes from the game, complete with script dialogue and notes. The final scene listed features a conversation between Cloud and Rufus, and would have taken place toward the end of the game. The two enemies parley in Gold Saucer, … Continue reading FF7 Deleted Scene: Aerith is Cloud’s strength →

What the Devs Say About Final Fantasy VII’s Love Triangle: It’s Open-Ended (duh!)

I'm a Clerith fan through and through, but plenty of players saw a different love story than me - they saw a romance story between Cloud and Tifa instead in the original game and subsequent Compilation. The game never spelled out who Cloud "ends up with" or has feelings for present-day, which has led to … Continue reading What the Devs Say About Final Fantasy VII’s Love Triangle: It’s Open-Ended (duh!) →

FF35th Anniversary T-Shirt Collaboration with Uniqlo

Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo paired up this spring with Square to collaborate on a series of T-shirts celebrating Final Fantasy's 35th Anniversary. One T-shirt for every main title, from Final Fantasy I all the way up to the yet-unreleased Final Fantasy XVI, were sold. As a limited-edition item, the shirts all sold out so fast … Continue reading FF35th Anniversary T-Shirt Collaboration with Uniqlo →

The Cloud/Aerith Artwork of Yoshitaka Amano

Yoshitaka Amano, official illustrator for Final Fantasy VII, drew a number of pieces featuring Cloud and Aeris. Yet interestingly, he drew none with Cloud and Tifa together - in fact, only one single piece of Tifa exists. This could be because Tifa was a later addition to the game, and Amano was commissioned to create … Continue reading The Cloud/Aerith Artwork of Yoshitaka Amano →

Cloud and Aerith Parfaits by Square’s Tokyo Cafe, Artnia

Artnia, which sits outside of Square Enix's headquarters in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, is the company's official store and cafe - selling merchandise and themed food and drinks. It's mostly built around the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises, featuring a range of goods and even museum-esque displays. While living in Tokyo, I was lucky enough … Continue reading Cloud and Aerith Parfaits by Square’s Tokyo Cafe, Artnia →