A young soldier from Shinra who longs to be a SOLDIER
Profile
Age: 15 years old (at first appearance) ~ 21 years old (at the end of the story)
Height: 173cm (at age 21)
Birth Date: [μ]-εγλ 1986/8/11
Blood Type: Type AB
Birthplace: Nibelheim
Voice Actor (JP): Takahiro Sakurai
Voice Actor (ENG): Steve Burton
An introverted boy from Nibelheim, the village where Shinra’s first mako reactor was built. Cloud joined Shinra because he wanted to become a SOLDIER, but was only hired as a general army soldier, and is worried about his shortcomings. During an investigation mission to Modeoheim, he meets Zack and the two small-town natives hit it off. He opens his heart to Zack, who treats him kindly regardless of his status or age, and learns many things from the friend and SOLDIER he admires.
Promise to a Childhood Friend
Before leaving for Midgar, Cloud vowed “I will become a SOLDIER” to Tifa, a girl from the village he had a slight crush on, and promised to protect her. Having made such a big announcement in front of her, he couldn’t let Tifa see him as nothing more than an ordinary soldier, so he was nervous and tried to hide his true identity in his hometown, where he was there on a mission.
→ In front of the mako reactor, he has to protect Tifa while hiding his true identity.
Admiring Sephiroth
Sephiroth, the 1st Class SOLDIER, was the ideal of the boys of that time. Cloud was no different, and he had always dreamed of the day when he would be just like Sephiroth. This had everything to do with the isolation that Cloud felt in the village. Cloud, who is shy and finds it difficult to fit in with others, tells himself “I am special” to compensate for his awkwardness and aspires to become a SOLDIER, someone who is truly special. However, after leaving the village, he quickly realized his own incompetence. In the midst of his discouragement, he met Zack.
↑ Cloud’s feelings of respect and admiration for Sephiroth are shattered through a series of tragedies in his hometown of Nibelheim.
Zack’s Successor
Positive and friendly, Zack listened to Cloud’s dreams without making fun of them, and encouraged Cloud to pursue his dreams. His influence on Cloud is significant, and his desires will be inherited by Cloud. However, they will be warped by the Jenova Cells implanted by Hojo to become…
← The Buster Sword also passes from Zack to Cloud.
“If only I too were a SOLDIER——”
――Nibelheim: Feeling helpless
“What’s it like to be a SOLDIER?”
――Modeo Valley: Asking Zack
“On the helicopter… I felt sick…”
――Junon: Reuniting with Zack on a rescue mission
“I am… the proof that you lived.”
――The Wastelands: Looking at Zack
↑ In front of the reactor, he was deeply embarrassed because Tifa was protecting him rather than the other way around.
↑ His desire to be a SOLDIER was obvious in every word he said to Zack.
← Cloud is not a fan of vehicles. On the helicopter flight to his post, he became motion sick and collapsed.
→ He and Zack became close friends after being together on several missions.
Link to the FFVII Series
The Protagonist Acting as a “Hero Like Zack”
Cloud is best known as the protagonist of FFVII. At the beginning of the story, he seems to be a cool hero, but the true Cloud is simply not good at socializing and is influenced strongly by the inferiority complex: “I wanted to be a SOLDIER, but I couldn’t”. Wanting to hide this part of himself, the Jenova Cells implanted at Nibelheim formed a personality in Cloud based on Zack’s career. In CC, the unskilled original Cloud is front and center, and we can see the influence Zack had on him.
← Cloud at the beginning of the story, when he introduced himself with Zack’s job title. Aerith is in a deep state of surprise when she meets Cloud, because he is imitating Zack’s behavior.