Naoki Hamaguchi Clarifies Misunderstanding of Cloud and Aerith’s Relationship in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
- ⚡Xe⚡
- Jan 23
- 2 min read
In a recent interview with AUTOMATON, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi addressed recent misunderstandings surrounding the relationship between Cloud and Aerith. The issue arose after some fans and media outlets interpreted Hamaguchi's statement as suggesting that the bond between Cloud and Aerith is not romantic, but rather familial in nature, with an older sister/younger brother dynamic.
The confusion seems to have also originated from a comment made by Cloud’s mother, Claudia, in the game. In the Japanese version, Claudia expresses that a partner who “will pull him along like a sister” would be ideal for Cloud. This line was translated into English as: “An older, more mature girl who could keep you on the straight and narrow (...) That’s the perfect type for you, I’d say.” Hamaguchi was asked about Aerith and Cloud’s relationship, confirming that “Aerith has always been this sort of sisterly character pulling Cloud along and encouraging him.” However, this comment was misinterpreted by some media outlets, who mistakenly described their bond as familial rather than romantic.
Hamaguchi addressed this by clarifying that these interpretations were based on a misunderstanding. He emphasized that as creators, they do not make explicit statements about romantic relationships outside of the content itself:
“As creators, we will continue to convey (the relationships between our characters etc.) through our content. For example, no-one will make any official statements about who Cloud likes, who Aerith likes, and so on.”
Hamaguchi also pointed out that the figurative concept of a “wife who is like an older sister” is more common in Japan, where the line was originally written, and not as familiar in North American culture. This, combined with the translation, contributed to the misunderstanding about the nature of Cloud and Aerith’s bond.
Despite the confusion, Hamaguchi reassured fans that the portrayal of character relationships in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth remains consistent with the franchise’s tradition. Hamaguchi concluded this topic by saying
“Again, I would like to convey to the fans that the characters’ relationships are portrayed through content.”
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-⚡Xe⚡
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