Wakka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Wakka | |
|---|---|
 Wakka, painted by Tetsuya Nomura |
|
| Game series | Final Fantasy series |
| First game | Final Fantasy X |
| Designed by | Tetsuya Nomura |
| Voice actor(s) (English) | John DiMaggio Dee Bradley Baker |
| Voice actor(s) (Japanese) | Kazuya Nakai |
| In-Universe Information | |
| Weapon | Blitzball |
| Special ability | Status magic |
| Overdrive | Slots |
| Race | Human |
| Home | Besaid |
| Age | 23 |
Wakka (ワッカ?) is a playable character in the Square-Enix video game Final Fantasy X. He is voiced by John DiMaggio (who also voices Kimahri) in the English version and Kazuya Nakai in the Japanese version. He is characterized by a long reddish-orange quiff and a Besaid Island accent (the real-world equivalent of which would be a Polynesian accent). As such, he uses such speech-mannerisms as saying "brudda" for "brother" and finishing sentences with "ya?". His name means "water" in Ainu.
In addition to being one of Summoner Yuna's guardians and childhood friends, Wakka is also a professional blitzball player and captain of the Besaid Aurochs, a team that — as of the beginning of Final Fantasy X — went ten years without winning a single game.[1] He uses blitzballs as his weapons in battle, and, as such, is the only character who can reliably hit flying monsters with basic attacks. His abilities give the party boosts in attack accuracy and also inflict negative statuses — such as Darkness, Silence and Sleep — on enemies.
Wakka is one of the first people to befriend Tidus after his arrival in the mainland of Spira, due both to his blitzball prowess and his resemblance to Wakka's deceased younger brother, Chappu.[2] Chappu is a fairly prominent figure in Wakka's history, and was romantically involved with Wakka's close friend and fellow guardian Lulu before he left to join the Crusaders, a militant group dedicated to defeating Sin. He was killed in battle while using a machina weapon provided by the Al Bhed, and for this reason, Wakka's religious distaste of the Al Bhed hardened into a more personal grudge.[3][4]
Wakka's hatred of the Al Bhed slowly transforms from blatant racism into an enlightened respect during the course of Final Fantasy X, as he closely befriends one of their number (Rikku), learns that his long-time friend Yuna is half Al Bhed and comes to realize the irrational nature of his prejudice. Despite his formerly deep-seated mistrust of machina and the Al Bhed, he takes to their airship with few misgivings and also fights unquestioningly in their defense during an attack on their city on Bikanel Island.
Wakka and Tidus develop a very close brother-like relationship over the course of the game, which at first angers Lulu. However, she eventually sees Tidus in a new light and begins to relate to him in a similar fashion. Wakka and Lulu, for their part, develop a deeper relationship of their own, marrying one another in the six months that follow the end of Final Fantasy X.[5] In Final Fantasy X-2, Wakka stresses over the responsibilities of being the father of Lulu's soon-to-be-born baby (even claiming it's tougher than fighting Sin). Further symbolizing Wakka's acceptance of the Al Bhed, he names their son "Vidina" — the Al Bhed word for "future" — after he is born.
[edit] Other appearances
A 15 year old version of Wakka has appeared as a non-playable character in Disney/Square-Enix's Kingdom Hearts series. First appearing in Kingdom Hearts, he is accompanied by Tidus and Selphie Tilmitt (from Final Fantasy VIII), who are both 13 years old. He is an optional opponent to battle and he uses his blitzball as his weapon.
Wakka appears once again in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, but this Wakka is only a fragment of Sora and Riku's memory within the walls of Castle Oblivion. He and Tidus are the only Final Fantasy X characters that appeared in the first Kingdom Hearts that don't make an appearance in its sequel. However, Selphie refers to them by name.
In Kingdom Hearts, Wakka is voiced by Dee Bradley Baker in the English version and Kazuya Nakai in the Japanese version.
[edit] References
- ^ Wakka: "This is where I was born. I started blitz when I was five. I joined the Aurochs at thirteen...ten years ago. Ten years...and we never won a game."(Final Fantasy X)
- ^ Tidus: "So, who's Chappu?" / Wakka: "My little brother, Chappu. He looked like you." ... / Wakka: "I'm more worried about a stupid game now than avenging my brother. Well, after the next tournament, I'll be a guardian full-time. I know it kinda looks like I'm using you, but I'm not."(Final Fantasy X)
- ^ Tidus: "He's dead?" / Wakka: "He was with the Crusaders when they fought Sin last year. He didn't make it."(Final Fantasy X)
- ^ Lulu: "Chappu... He left the sword Wakka gave him in Besaid. And he fought with an Al Bhed machina weapon instead."(Final Fantasy X)
- ^ (2004) in Studio BentStuff: Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube/Square-Enix, 583. ISBN 4-7575-1163-9.
