Characters of Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX, a PlayStation role-playing game consisting of four CD-ROMs, features a cast containing various major and minor characters. Players control a maximum of four characters for combat at once, with eight main playable characters in the party and other, temporary characters, the names of the character's listed in this article are their official names, though the names of the main playable characters can be changed by the player.
Concept and creation
The main characters were based on the character class archetypes from previous Final Fantasy games. Zidane is based on the Thief class, while Steiner is based on the Knight class. Each character in Final Fantasy IX has a unique ability; these include summoning, black magic, white magic, blue magic, and techniques such as "Jump". The characters were designed after the creation of Final Fantasy IXs plot, unlike its predecessors VII and VIII, which had their protagonists created before the story. Both Zidane and Vivi's size and age were made to be less than the characters from these titles. Zidane was one of the original three characters to be revealed, along with Vivi and Steiner.Original concepts and designs were created by Toshiyuki Itahana, Shūkō Murase, Hideo Minaba and Shin Nagasawa.The game's character designs were meant to strike a balance between realism and a comic-like style, while taking inspiration from the style employed for the characters in The Dark Crystal.
Main playable characters
Zidane Tribal
Zidane Tribal is the main protagonist of Final Fantasy IX. He was conceived and written by Hironobu Sakaguchi. The womanizing aspect of his character was conceived by Hiroyuki Ito. Sakaguchi described him as a person who "likes girls and doesn't care for much", lacking any real objective and being carefree, but a key character nonetheless. Zidane has shoulder-length blonde hair, blue eyes, and a prehensile monkey-like tail, as shown in game when he uses it to evade Steiner. He wields either two daggers or a single swallow-blade. Zidane is identified as a thief, and has the unique ability to steal items from enemies. He assists in the kidnapping of Garnet, who goes willingly, as she desires to escape the kingdom. He takes an instant liking to her and does not hesitate to flirt with her throughout the game. Near the end of the game, it is revealed that Zidane is a Genome created on the planet Terra to replace the antagonist Kuja as a more powerful "Angel of Death".Vivi Ornitier
Vivi Ornitier first appears at the beginning of the game, becoming embroiled in Tantalus's plan to kidnap Princess Garnet when he travels to Alexandria to attend a performance of the play I Want to be Your Canary. Vivi's appearance is based on the black mage characters from previous Final Fantasy games. He wears a blue outfit and a tall hat, and has no facial features beyond a set of yellow eyes. He joins with Zidane and others, and later discovers others like him, later learning that they are mindless, manufactured foot soldiers created by Kuja. He continues to search for the truth about his origins and point in life, as well as what makes him different from others like him, such as his ability to express emotions. In the Black Mage Village he discovers, he eventually learns that Black Mages live for only one year, though that Vivi may be a prototype with a longer lifespan. In the ending, it is implied that he eventually died, having multiple Black Mage children.Adelbert Steiner
Adelbert Steiner is the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, the only group of male soldiers in Alexandria's military force. Steiner is unusual amongst Final Fantasy characters in that while the game allows the player to choose his name, the chosen name becomes his surname instead of his first name. For instance, if the player entered the name "Steve", he would be called "Captain Adelbert Steve". This also makes him one of the few Final Fantasy characters to be called by both the first and last name given in the game's manual during actual gameplay.Steiner wears a full suit of heavy armour throughout the game, giving him a bulky appearance. His armour is often remarked on by others, such as when Zidane refers to him as "Rusty" early on in the game. Steiner only seems to mind this once, though his armour never actually appears damaged or ill-maintained.
Steiner meets Zidane and the Tantalus group during their performance of the play I Want to be Your Canary. He follows the Tantalus group after their "kidnapping" of Princess Garnet because of his oath to protect her from danger. He joins forces with Zidane, whom he hates due to being a thief, but is willing to put up with just about anything to ensure Garnet's safety. When the party learns of the Queen's role in the attacks on Burmecia, Steiner questions his loyalty, as he does not believe such horrible deeds could be committed by the person he dedicated his life to defending. He resolves this conflict by transferring his loyalty fully to Garnet.
Despite his grouchy demeanor and disdain for most members of the group, Steiner has a humble respect for Vivi, admiring his magical abilities and referring to him as "Master Vivi". When both Steiner and Vivi are in the party, Steiner has access to the Magic Sword ability, which allow Vivi to charge Steiner's sword with the power of his black magic abilities, although MP consumption is limited to Steiner alone.
Steiner's love interest is his ex-rival, General Beatrix, which occurs as a result of Eiko's failed love letter to Zidane, presented in a comedy of errors fashion. As the game progresses, Steiner's experiences and resolution of personal conflicts allow his personality to soften somewhat towards the end and he is able to form not only a respectful friendship with Zidane but also a relationship with Beatrix.
Garnet Til Alexandros XVII / Dagger
Garnet Til Alexandros XVII, is the heroine of Final Fantasy IX. She is the Princess of Alexandria, one of four major nations located on the Mist Continent, and the only heir to the royal throne. She attempts to escape from the kingdom due to her concerns about her mother's actions and behavior, joining with Zidane during Zidane's kidnapping attempt of her. They head toward Lindblum. with Garnet assuming the alias "Dagger" to disguise herself. During their travels, she is hunted by her mother, who sends beings called Black Waltzes to retrieve her. Garnet later learns that she was a summoner, being adopted as the Princess of Alexandria and repressing her memories of childhood, and her Eidolons are extracted by Zorn and Thorn, though she regains the ability to summon them later. She becomes Queen after Brahne's death, with Brahne apologizing for having become the person she did, having fallen under Kuja's influence.Amarant Coral
Amarant Coral is the last character to join the party. His name in the Japanese version of the game is Salamander Coral, a possible reference to the Salamander's portrayal in mythology, as he is known as "The Flaming Amarant". In the game, Amarant is also known as "Red" and "Scarlet Hair" in his introductory battle. He fights using gloves or knuckles, like the monk character class in other Final Fantasy games, but also possesses the "Throw" command, which is normally associated with the ninja class. He holds a grudge against Zidane, the reasons of which are initially undisclosed. Amarant's combative nature and arrogant attitude often leads to conflict, but eventually his personality begins to change as a result of Zidane's influence.Amarant lives by a harsh code where "only the strong survive", and finds meaning in life through combat. Very little is revealed regarding his extended past; even he can only recall that his first real memory is "of the face of a guy I had to fight". The warrior he wanted to challenge was Zidane, but he never got the chance to until meeting him in Madain Sari while tracking down Garnet alongside Lani. Lani seems to have a crush on him, but Amarant is seemingly unaware of this.
Amarant's reputation as a fighter made him feared in Treno, so King, the owner of one of Treno's waterfront mansions and auction house, hired him as a security guard. When Zidane raids the mansion, he frames Amarant, who becomes a wanted man with a considerable bounty on his head. This is shown in the inn in Treno, where a wanted poster of him can be seen. Amarant does not divulge this information until a conversation with Freya outside the auction house in Disc 3, and keeps the reasoning for his grudge towards Zidane, who does not remember him, secret for a significant portion of the game. Afterwards, Amarant works as a mercenary for hire. Queen Brahne later summons him to retrieve Princess Garnet's pendant and assassinate Vivi, and he takes the job after learning that Zidane is traveling with them. Another bounty hunter, Lani, arrives first and holds Eiko hostage, demanding that Garnet relinquish the pendant. Compelled by a sense of fairness, Amarant ambushes the pair and saves Eiko. He challenges Lani, who gives up the pendant and retreats. He then duels with Zidane; after losing the fight, he returns the pendant and demands that Zidane deliver the finishing blow. Zidane refuses, and, confused by his mercy, Amarant decides to follow him to understand his power.
While with the party, Amarant remains aloof and dismissive, to the point of not performing a victory dance after battle. His "lone wolf" persona culminates during the raid on Ipsen's Castle, where he seeks to prove that working alone "beats working in a team any day", and sets off in search of a set of mirrors alone. After finding the mirrors, Amarant falls and nearly dies; he is saved by Zidane, who had re-entered the castle after making it out with the party, but noticed that Amarant had not. Amarant is again confused by Zidane's willingness to help him, and his personality gradually begins to change under Zidane's influence, as after this he begins to perform a victory dance after battles. On Terra, Amarant concludes that "blind pursuit of power is a meaningless vice".