Yuna - Final Fantasy
Yuna is a female protagonist in the Japanese role-playing game Final Fantasy X, developed by Square and released on the PlayStation 2 in 2001. She acts as the main protagonist of Final Fantasy X’s sequel, Final Fantasy X-2. Yuna was designed by Tetsuya Nomura, a veteran character designer of the Final Fantasy series, and written by Motomu Toriyama.
The game is based on a group of adventurers and their mission to stop a rampaging monster known as Sin, and Yuna appears as a Summoner that helps the party achieve their goal. Since her debut in Final Fantasy X, Yuna has inspired a range of fan art, and made appearances in spinoff games, given rise to merchandise, and has been recreated as a number of different figures. Since her first appearance, Yuna has also appeared in Dissidia Final Fantasy, Opera Omnia, Theatrhythm, Record Keeper, Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, Final Fantasy X-2, and other titles.
Yuna enjoyed a great critical reception and is often placed high in various rankings of female video characters due to her complex and deep character, as well as her beautiful appearance. Her design was inspired by traditional Japanese clothing called the hakama and furisode, while her name is derived from the Okinawan word meaning “night”.
Appearance
In Final Fantasy X, Yuna wears a long, pleated purple skirt with a decorated floral pattern and black boots. She also wears a spaghetti-string camisole under a white sash that goes around her neck and lays on her chest. On top of that, she wears a yellow obi with a chōchō musubi knot and a decorative obidome to clinch the cords. Two kimono-styled sleeves with a pink to white gradient are also a part of her general outfit and are tied together using a purple cord. She wields a staff that is inspired by a khakkhara, a staff used by followers of Buddhism, particularly those in East Asia. In Final Fantasy X-2, however, most of her traditional Japanese clothing is exchanged for a more revealing outfit. Here, she wears a pair of black shorts and a multi-layered skirt that covers her left side. In X-2, Yuna’s hair also has a long braid that falls almost down to her feet.
Personality
Yuna is a sweet, kind, and loyal person that is also quite well-mannered and considerate of others. She often sees the best in others and is fully committed to complete anything that she feels is a part of her duty. Because of her trusting and obliging nature, she often places the needs of others before her own and is apologetic when she feels she has done someone wrong or let someone down. She is incredibly disciplined and committed follower to the teachings of Yevon, like most summoners are. While she still feels sadness and fear, Yuna tends to hide them from others. Overall, Yuna is willing to sacrifice everything for others in order to accomplish their goal of destroying Sin.
Backstory
Yuna first appears as a Summoner that can utilize healing magic and summon beings called aeons using Fayths (spirits). She is known in Spira as the daughter of Braska, a master of summoning. Yuna decides to join a Summoner's pilgrimage so that she can become a master herself. In order to achieve this rank, she is required to summon the Final Aeon in a battle where she must sacrifice herself. Eventually, she falls in love with Tidus, the male protagonist of the Final Fantasy X and former Blitzball player. Tidus manages to persuade Yuna to not sacrifice herself. In the end, Sin is defeated and Yuna, along with the help of her guardians, defeats Yu Yevon, who was responsible for reviving Sin. With the antagonist defeated, peace is returned to Spira.
Creation and Trivia
Designer Tetsuya Nomura has stated that he based Yuna’s outfit on the hakama, a traditional piece of Japanese clothing. Her name is also a reference to the word for “night” in the Okinawan dialect, something that contrasts with Tidus’ name, which stands for “sun” in the same dialect. When Nomura learned she would perform a dance called the “sending”, he decided she should also have an outfit that would have a feeling of “flow”, and chose to give her a Japanese furisode, or long-sleeved kimono, as a result. In Final Fantasy X-2, her traditional Japanese outfit is exchanged for something more revealing, likely representing her change in character.
Reception
Yuna received positive reception from her appearance in Final Fantasy X. She has been often referred to as a “babe” and an overall well-designed heroine. Chip, a computer and communications magazine published in Europe and Asia, ranked her number 13th in their list of the best “girls of gaming” list. She regularly appears in the rankings of the hottest video game heroines as well. However, going beyond her favorable appearance, she is often cited as one of the best Final Fantasy characters of all time because of the depth of her character and personality.