Demystifying the Enigmatic Red XIII of Final Fantasy VII - 33rd Square (2025)

Hey friend! Have you ever wanted to truly understand the complex, beastly character of Red XIII from Final Fantasy VII? With his fiery tail, flowing headdress, and wise nature, Red XIII adds an air of mystery to the technologically advanced world of FFVII.

In this comprehensive guide, we‘ll dig deep into uncovering the hidden secrets of Red XIII‘s unexplained species, his symbolic role in the story, and why fans are so desperate for him to take a starring role again in Final Fantasy VII Remake. Strap in as we demystify this beloved, enigmatic character!

Delving into Red XIII‘s Mysterious Species

Let‘s start by examining what exactly Red XIII is supposed to be. Covered in red-orange fur and resembling a cross between a lion and wolf, Red XIII walks on four powerful legs tipped with razor-sharp claws. With his rugged mane and intense stare, one may assume Red XIII is just a beast.

But he possesses human-like intelligence and speech. Red XIII‘s real name is even Nanaki, suggesting an advanced culture. So what is the true nature of his species?

Some key clues provide hints. Red XIII’s kind have exceptionally long lifespans, with Nanaki himself being 48 years old but still a child by their standards. Professor Hojo planned to breed Nanaki with Aerith because their bloodlines could potentially live for centuries.

Furthermore, Red XIII’s ancestral home of Cosmo Canyon is revealed to be a refuge for studying the planet’s Lifestream and spiritual forces. Bugenhagen, the village elder, implies Red’s kind has safeguarded this wisdom for untold generations.

Though never fully explained, we can surmise Red XIII’s species are mystical guardians, endowed with long life and intelligence to protect the planet. They are beasts bound to nature yet wise beyond any human. For fans like us, it’s exciting to speculate about these mysterious creatures‘ origins!

A Fierce Fighter With Hidden Strengths

In combat during FFVII, Red XIII‘s beastly nature makes him a damage-dealing powerhouse. With his Diamond weapon equipped, he can lunge at foes using powerful physical attacks like Lunatic High and Blood Fang. His stat growth emphasizes strength and vitality.

When needed, Red XIII can also harness his mystical energy to cast magical spells like Fire Amp and Cure. His signature Limit Break, Cosmo Memory, summons a fiery meteor against all enemies. And we can‘t forget Red XIII’s most iconic trait – that flaming tail! He can increase the party’s attack power using Howling Moon or lash enemies with Inferno.

Game stats wise, Red XIII has the highest starting Magic Power behind Aerith. He also ties Cloud and Barret for second-highest Vitality at the game’s outset. So while not the absolute strongest fighter, Red XIII is easily among the top damage dealers statistically. His combined physical and magical prowess make him extremely versatile in any battle scenario!

Parallels With Aerith as Ancients Connected to the Planet

Among FFVII‘s cast, Red XIII has the most in common with the mystical flower girl, Aerith Gainsborough. Both are the last survivors of age-old species granted special powers and deep ties to the Planet‘s Lifestream.

Aerith can hear the Planet‘s voice and wields incredible magic as a Cetra descendant. Red XIII defends the canyon‘s spiritual knowledge using his centuries-long lifespan. As fellow outcasts, they develop an understanding of each other‘s inner turmoil.

But an interesting contrast arises in how they deal with their destinies. Aerith accepts her fate to sacrifice herself for the greater good. Red XIII initially rejects his legacy, feeling trapped and lashing out. Only through understanding Seto‘s love does Nanaki willingly take up his forebears‘ role as guardian.

As two ancient races disappearing from the world, the bond between Aerith and Red XIII represents reconnecting with the past to build a better future. Their mystic powers and outlooks act as a moral compass for the party.

Theories and Mystery Surrounding Red XIII‘s Species

Since Square Enix has kept details light regarding his origins, the field is wide open for fans to speculate about Red XIII‘s unnamed species! We can surmise a few key traits based on available clues:

• Long-lived – Red XIII is 48 but still considered a child, implying a centuries-long average lifespan. The elders could be ancient.
• Spiritual – Their duty to study the Lifestream means this species is tied to the Planet in mystical ways. Likely highly intelligent.
• Reclusive – With Red XIII the last one seen, his kind may have retreated from the world at large. Possibly dwindling numbers.
• Proud – Seto‘s defiant last stand shows a strong sense of honor. Their reservation could be about protecting wisdom.

A popular fan theory posits Red XIII‘s species as descendants of animistic deities worshipped in ancient times. As technology and cities rose, these beast-folk allegedly retreated to live in the wilds. Cosmo Canyon became their last refuge to quietly study spiritual energy.

Some also believe the species may be extraterrestrials or creations of the Planet itself, based on their mystical qualities. Or they could even be related to the Ancients like Aerith! Without concrete details, the imagination runs wild about these tantalizing allies of the planet. There are so many possibilities waiting to be explored regarding their culture and history!

The Road to Redemption: Nanaki‘s Character Arc

On a personal level, witnessing Red XIII’s emotional journey is an impactful experience. We first meet him as a bitter captive in Shinra’s lab, resentful towards his father Seto for perceived weakness and humanity for his imprisonment.

This rage masks a profound self-doubt inside young Nanaki. Believing his father a coward, Nanaki feels unworthy of his great lineage. He is angry at his own helplessness to prevent Seto’s supposed shame.

But upon realizing his father’s true heroic sacrifice, Nanaki matures with a newfound strength. His insolence and anger are replaced by unwavering resolve to defend the planet. Through pride in his ancestors’ legacy, Nanaki gains the courage and wisdom to choose his own path as their descendant.

By the journey’s end, Nanaki is no longer a directionless child lashing out but a confident leader boldly walking towards the future. His emotional arc represents gaining the maturity to learn from the past rather than be beholden to it.

By the Numbers: Final Fantasy VII‘s Global Popularity

To provide some numerical context around Red XIII‘s iconic role, let‘s examine some data on Final Fantasy VII‘s unprecedented global popularity. Consider that:

• FFVII sold over 12 million copies worldwide for the PlayStation, making it the highest-selling FF title and 9th best-selling game ever.

• The game was made for a staggering $45 million budget at the time, among the biggest for media production.

• FFVII has earned over $100 million from downloads and rereleases on modern platforms.

• There are over 180 million total FFVII franchise sales including spin-off movies, games, etc.

• Red XIII himself scored in the top 5 favorite characters out of over 30 in fan polls for the 10th Anniversary Ultimania guide.

Given this phenomenal popularity across millions of fans, it‘s clear that Red XIII left a lasting impact as part of the legendary FFVII cast. His mysterious nature and cool design build fervent curiosity despite limited screentime.

The Quest to Make Nanaki Playable Again

Unfortunately, while he was a full party member in the 1997 original, Red XIII has so far been relegated to a minor NPC role in Final Fantasy VII Remake. He made a brief playable cameo in the very last battles, but otherwise only appears in cutscenes.

Director Tetsuya Nomura explained this limited role saying that since Nanaki entered the story late originally, having him fully playable didn‘t fit the game‘s structure. But fans have hardly taken this demotion lying down!

Across social media, comments, live events, and surveys, Final Fantasy aficionados have loudly made their wishes clear – #MakeRedXIIIPlayableAgain! The electrifying scenes of Nanaki in action during FFVII Remake‘s climax stoked players‘ appetite to take control of him once more.

His wise perspective would also add meaningful diversity to the sequel‘s cast. And with his long lifespan, Red XIII can believably be present throughout the full Remake saga rather than just one late act. After years of waiting, the time has come for this fan favorite character to retake the spotlight he deserves!

So in summary, from his cryptic backstory to surprising power to redemption arc, Red XIII adds crucial spirit and mystique to Final Fantasy VII‘s industrial world. While we can endlessly debate his origins and meaning, the global fan base is unified in hoping 2022‘s Final Fantasy VII Rebirth finally lets us cry out his name again!

What hidden details are you most eager to discover about this legendary wise beast in future FFVII chapters? Let me know in the comments if you stan Nanaki as much as I do!

Related