Lulu (Japanese: ルールー, Hepburn: Rūrū) is a fictional black magic user in the Final Fantasy series, and one of the main characters in Final Fantasy X, where she appears as one of several player characters and the Black Mage guardian of protagonist, Yuna. Designed by Tetsuya Nomura, he wanted to create a character that was different from how Black Mages were portrayed in previous games, while her outfit took advantage of the PlayStation 2's improved graphics, using an intricate dress that utilizes several belts in its skirt. She later appears as a side character in Final Fantasy X-2, where she is shown to have had a child with Wakka. In the original Japanese version she is voiced by Rio Natsuki, while in the English dub she is voiced by Paula Tiso.
Lulu | |
---|---|
Final Fantasy character | |
First game | Final Fantasy X (2001) |
Designed by | Tetsuya Nomura[1] |
Motion capture | Yoko Yoshida |
Voiced by | JA: Rio Natsuki[2] EN: Paula Tiso[3] |
Portrayed by | Nakamura Baishi[4] |
In-universe information | |
Class | Black Mage |
Weapon | Stuffed animals[1] |
Home | Besaid |
Since her introduction Lulu received mostly positive reception, cited as a frequent subject of cosplay by fans and considered one of the sexiest characters in gaming by media outlets, though some criticized her design by likening her to a dominatrix and calling her a "fetish object". Her character itself received more overall praise, seen as the most level-headed amongst the cast and called one of the better voiced characters in Final Fantasy X. Other outlets voiced approval for her character's growth in the title, as well as her motherly demeanor.
Lulu was designed by Tetsuya Nomura for Final Fantasy X. She is classified as a Black Mage, a type of spellcaster in the Final Fantasy franchise that specializes in the use of offensive magic.[1] Nomura, however, wanted to create a character that was different from how Black Mages were portrayed in previous games. To this end he gave her a unique hairstyle and outfit,[5] with her hair in an upright bun while her clothes consist of a low-cut, fur-lined, dark grey and black dress that displays her pronounced cleavage. Lulu is 167 cm (5 ft 6 in) tall, and with her hair and high heels stands 173 cm (5 ft 8 in).[1]
Taking into account the PlayStation 2's improved graphics handling, Nomura went into more depth with his character designs than in previous games, felt he "went kind of crazy" on Lulu's in particular. For her outfit, he devised a series of belts that attached to her skirt in a certain order, and insisted that the 3D character modeler reproduce them to his exact specifications.[5][6] Belts were frequently used element of Nomura's character designs at the time, and he stated that when people teased him for utilizing them, it only encouraged him to incorporate them more into his characters.[7] However due to the outfit's complexity during animated cutscenes the development team focused on only showing her from the waist up, and excluded her from doing complex actions in them at all.[8]
In addition to her magic, Lulu can also utilize animated stuffed animals as weapons that attack on her behalf, a concept originally planned for use in Final Fantasy VI.[8] Each is based on a recurring character in the Final Fantasy franchise, such as moogles and cactuars. Nomura mapped out all the available options when designing her concept as a list, however one in particular, the Tonberry, was cut from the final game.[1] Her strongest weapon, the Onion Knight, in particular went through several drafts in the sketch phase, with the finalized version having sprite art of its Final Fantasy III namesake displayed on its shield.[9]
In English, Lulu is voiced by Paula Tiso, while in Japanese she is voiced by Rio Natsuki. Tiso stated that prior to recording they would watch the scenes first, which she felt made it easier for her to get into the mindset of the character. She found Lulu to be a bit challenging nonetheless as the character was the "exact opposite of bubbly and smiley" voice work she was used to doing prior. To make it easier, she had a chair brought in and did the voice recording from a seated position to allow her to give a more focused portrayal.[3]
Natsuki on the other hand enjoyed that it was a smaller role, and she preferred to play roles where she let other character's shine, and felt that was an aspect she shared with Lulu.[2] Originally upon seeing Lulu's early design she thought the character was meant to be intimidating, and during the audition spoke in a deeper tone. After seeing her in-game however, she found Lulu to be "beautiful", and cited her reliance on stuffed animals as bringing an element of cuteness to her. An established voice actor, the development team were fans of her work, and she helped the less experienced voice actors during recording sessions.[10] She particularly grew attached to voicing Lulu after seeing a scene of all the party members jumping off an airship, and when it came time to voice the scene she enjoyed working with the other voice actors to create a sense of momentum and atmosphere for it.[2]
As introduced in Square Enix's 2001 role playing game Final Fantasy X as one of the game's playable characters, Lulu is a 22-year-old black magic user and an older sister figure to Yuna, whom she grew up with alongside the brothers Wakka and Chappu on their home of Besaid Island.[11] Acting as one of protagonist Yuna's guardians during her pilgrimage, she had previously accompanied two other summoners in the same manner, though both ended abruptly.[12][13] Lulu had been romantically involved with, Chappu, and his death at the hands of the antagonist Sin prior to the game's events affected her greatly.[14] She later falls in love with Wakka.[15]
In the game's sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, she was relegated to a supporting role due to game director Motomu Toriyama feeling her presence as a playable character would have undermined Yuna's story, as the latter "would have relied on her like an older sister and this would have got in the way of [Yuna's] quest to find a new self". Lulu can instead be found in the game's Besaid location married to Wakka,[15] where they have a child together.[16]
Outside of Final Fantasy X series, Lulu makes an appearance in several other games, including Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius, Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia, and as a "minion" companion character in Final Fantasy XIV.[17][18][19] Cards of the character have also been featured in the Final Fantasy Trading Card Game.[20] In theatre, Lulu appears in the Final Fantasy X kabuki stage play. Portrayed by Nakamura Baishi, her designed was changed to a more Japanese aesthetic to fit the kabuki theme of the production, replacing her dress with a fur-lined kimono.[4]
Several items of merchandise were produced to promote the character and game, including trading cards, wall scrolls, and plushies modeled after those she uses in game. In additional several figures were also produced, including a 1/6th scale statue by ARTFX, as well as both regular and chibi bottle topper figures produced as part of a 2001 promotion with soda company Coca-Cola.[21] In 2004 Trading Ars released a PVC statue of Lulu posed with her lower body lying on the ground.[22] Meanwhile, Lulu's outfit was included as part of a Final Fantasy-themed promotion for Gunslinger Stratos 2.[23]
Lulu's outfit drew particular focus from media outlets, with Todd Hargosh of Game Industry News calling it the strangest outfit he had ever seen and felt the belts made her "look like a dominatrix.[24] Daniel Żelazny of PPE praised Lulu as having one of best female character outfits in gaming for how it deviated from what a Black Mage was expected to look like in the series, and the overt and complex nature of it, calling it one of his better concepts and her one of his favorite Final Fantasy characters.[25] Dave Smith of IGN stated that while Nomura had a tendency to "over-accessorize" his character designs, he felt Lulu's design was just right, stating that between her "floor-length skirt, elaborately-pinned hair, and collection of super-cute mascot dolls", the character was one of the "coolest" he had seen in the Final Fantasy franchise at that point. He additionally praise as matching her style, giving her a "beautifully menacing presence".[26] Despite the complexity of Lulu's design, she has been cited as a frequent subject of cosplay.[27][28][29]
In 2009, GamesRadar+ called her one of the sexiest video game characters of the last decade, attributing her appeal to her large breasts and outfit, the latter of which they described as a "goth-mage-hooker" aesthetic and added that the "whole thing looks like it could fall right off at any second". They acknowledged that her personality was also a significant factor of her appeal, voicing approval of her protective nature, and strength as a mage.[30] Gus Turner of Complex shared these sentiments, but also praised the character's voice, describing it as "smoky" and "sensual", and gave further praise of how she was a voice of reason in the game's central plot.[31] The staff of GMR magazine also praised her voice, appreciating her "calm presence" amongst the cast, and stating their preference for the "sultry, dollhugging, goth mama" over the playable cast of X-2'.[32] However, Gamasutra editor Kurt Kalata criticized her appearance as "outlandish", calling "goth girl" Lulu more akin to a "fetish object" than an inhabitant of Final Fantasy X's world.[33] Japanese magazine Game Criticism also voiced concerns, feeling the fanservice was "excessive" and describing her outfit as a "S & M straightjacket".[34]
Damien Mecheri in the book The Legend of Final Fantasy X stated that a good team in a roleplaying game is incomplete with a character who is "a bit cold, dark, and taciturn", and felt Lulu filled this role well. He compared her character design to Edea Kramer of Final Fantasy VIII in how both were built around "bizarre features from the imagination of Tetsuya Nomura". Mecheri stated that while here character was not particularly complex, he enjoyed the "odd couple" aspect she had with Wakka, and how her personality as a mature woman despite her young age brought a "bit of wisdom to the cast of characters."[35] Media outlets offered their own examination of her character, with Paul Shkreli of RPGamer enjoying the evolution of her character in the game and how she came to question her core tenets, stating that "Lulu's irony is that her humanity is what makes her effective as a protector, not the other way around".[36] Margaret David of Den of Geek praised how Lulu's voice acting helped her character, stating that her "harsh but protective manner" came through in a way text alone could not expressed, and without it would have potentially painted her as an unlikable character instead of the "dark horse fave" she became.[37]
Matt Sainsbury of DigitallyDownloaded.net meanwhile felt the design helped flesh out her role as a character, particularly as a Black Mage. He pointed out that in previous entries in the Final Fantasy series such characters were often portrayed as "mysterious, dark characters" able to wield destructive magic liberally, "but not really sufficient for the kind of characterisation needed in modern JRPG storytelling". While Lulu's design initially appeared to fit that mold by invoking imagery of sadomasochism in his view, her characterization was a severe but motherly figure to the group. He enjoyed how this subverted expectations while still allowing her character design to make sense, something he felt was a particular good trait of the Final Fantasy games as a whole, and added that her maternal role made her a particularly nuanced character in them.[38]
Tidus: We're taking the same boat as Yuna, right? Why do we gotta wait here? / Wakka: Yuna came to [Besaid] ten years ago, when the last Calm started. [...] Since then, she's been like a little sister to me and Lulu. But she had the talent...she became an apprentice. Now, today, she leaves as a summoner. / Lulu: This is our journey. We should leave together.
Tidus: Who was that? / Lulu: Until half a year ago, he was a summoner. Wakka and I were his guardians. / Wakka: It was kind of a short pilgrimage. / Lulu: He gave up halfway. Here, on this plain. Now, he is a monk at the Bevelle temple. ... This is my third pilgrimage as a guardian.