The Cult of Kefka

[SOLDIERis1337]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyZoe-r9qb0#noexternalembed


I was displeased to learn that everyone's favorite clown had no club, so I took the honor of creating one for him.

Kefka is cooler than you and your family for several reasons.

*He showed up to an important Imperial function wearing a jester's outfit and face paint while acting like a nut job and Gestahl let him keep his job, and later made him his right hand man.

*He didn't need a plan like the rest of the villains, he was just out for a good time and seized opportunities when they were in front of him.

*He doesn't do what he does because of a superiority complex or desire to destroy everything just to destroy, he does what he does because he thinks its fun and hilarious.

*He accomplished a whole lot more than the other villains of the series, actually becoming the god of magic and ruling the world unopposed for a year.

Now let this Kefka love fest begin!

 

[Ⓐaron]

Kefka > all other FF villains. It is known.

 

[Dark and Divine]

I want to join!

Kefka is one of my three favourite villains/characters of all time.

Gotta love the crazy villainous jester!

Here's a link to my personal Kefka gallery:

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee239/Dark_and_Divine/Kefka%20Palazzo/?start=all

Highlight of the gallery:

Even after Dissidia, this is still my favourite Kefka pic.

The way he's looking back at you is overwhelming! You can see that there's definitely evil in those eyes!!

Might as well take the opportunity to say what i like about Kefka...

Well, for starters, I like the way that Kefka broke with the tradition concerning FF villains.

While the others before him were cold, evil Knights in armour, Kefka was loud, temperemental and downright insane, with his jester design being a breath of fresh air when compared with his armoured ancestors. And Kefka's character added an element to his evilness that was not too usual at that time: Humour.

Something very interesting about Kefka is his intricate and very detailed background, even though most of it was revealed in the Ultimania-like book for FFVI and not in the game itself.

His background is so detailed that it is even stated what is his zodiac sign and his blood type!

I like Kefka's personality, too. His flamboyant demeanour; his coldness; his intelligence and insanity ; his manipulative and saddistic nature; his sense of humour...

As for his voice, I really liked the way that Shigeru Chiba was able to caught the essence of Kefka's character in his work. The subtle way that Chiba changed from a normal tone to a fiery and loud tone of voice was just amazing. I really hope that whoever is doing Kefka's voice for the West will be able to do the same good work as Chiba did.

And we can't talk about Kefka without mentioning his laugh.

When I heard his laugh for the first time, right after the "sand in my boots" scene, I was really surprised and laughed my ass off. It was something unexpected, but very amusing and became a trademark of Kefka's character.

Kefka had also some incredible lines throughout the game. The aforementioned "sand in my boots" line; the "Run, run or you will be well done" line; the "Son of a Submariner" line...

Those were all great and memorable lines that went down in the history of Final Fantasy.

My personal favourite is: "This is sickening! You sound like pages from a self-help booklet! Prepare yourselves!"

In a more plot-specific point, i like how Kefka was able to go from an unrespected general to the very Source of Magic in his World and all his despicable acts in order to do so.

Wich leads us to his power. I admire Kefka's power as the God of Magic.

Kefka holds the power that turned the world in ruins and his Light of Judgement is a force to be reckoned, being able to destroy entire towns and cut fissures to the Planet itself.

Concerning Kefka's design, i like how they made him a colourful, intimidating yet majestic figure, with his uniform being very adorned as if Kefka was an emperor of sorts.

I like his uniform very much, with his colourful and intricate design.

His final form, as the God of Magic, is also amazing with his angelical and demonic wings.

Finally, other thing i like about Kefka, is the symbolism behind his character, namely his final form as a seraph and some of his attacks, such as "Fallen One" and "Forsaken" being some sort of reference to Lucifer.

These are the reasons why Kefka Palazzo, together with Sephiroth and Kuja, is my favourite character, not only from Final Fantasy but from all media in general!

All that remains now is to wait for Dissidia to see Kefka in action, but what I'm looking really forward to is a FFVI remake for the current generation consoles to see Kefka in all his glory!

 

[SOLDIERis1337]

Personally I like Kefka's look in Dissidia best. The CGI scenes from FF VI Anthology look nice, but when I see Dissidia Kefka its like I'm staring into the face of pure insanity.

 

[Max Payne]

Kefka is the best villain, but I just can't get over his similarity to Joker in Dissidia. I prefer his "wolf in sheep's clothing" look.

 

[Dark and Divine]

I like his Dissidia look too, but, for instance, his lips paint is a little bit exagerated, imo. It seems a little bit more subtle in the original Amano artwork. I'm not too fond of his goblin ears either.

Anyway, here's Kefka's profile from FFVI's Ultimania-like guide:

Age: 35 year old
occupations: Large demon derived loyal retainer
height/weight: 167cm/48kg
date of birth: November 19th (Scorpio)
Blood type: AB
birthplace: Unclear
likes: Mirror
hates: General Leo
hobbies: Playing with Dolls

For reasons unknown, Kefka is abandoned at birth. He is raised in a local orphanage where is he is physically abused, and develops autistic traits, growing into a taciturn child.

At a young age, Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the head of his class, and is brought to the Magitek lab in Vector, where he becomes the first Magitek knight. The process warps Kefka's mind, and he realizes he exists only to kill. He worships the emperor, and by the age of 23 is promoted to commander of one of Gestahl's troop battalion.

At the age of 25, Kefka encounters the second ruin knight, an eight year old child by the name of Celes. He takes a keen interest in her, and trains her to become a hardened runic knight.

At the age of 30, Kefka is promoted to prime minister of the empire, second only to the emperor himself. A year later, he is promoted to the position of chief of staff of the entire imperial troop. As one of the empires most brilliant minds Kefka accomplishes much in the name of the emperor, conquering foreign lands in his name.

It is around this time that Kefka becomes interested in espers; this interest grows into an obsession with magic and the demonic, and Kefka eventually has a nervous breakdown. The breakdown is part of a long term effect of the Magitek process, which was unrefined during Kefka's augmentation.

Due to Kefka's mental decline, he is demoted. This happens, ironically enough, just around the time his protegé Celes Chere, now 15, is promoted to Admiral. The collapse occurs at the start of the 3rd imperial campaign. Kefka loses all good sensation in his body, and forgets his fondest memories, leaving with him only memories of his childhood abuse.

Kefka begins to play with dolls, and his behaviour becomes increasingly eccentric; he begins to adorn himself with garish robes, and feminine embellishments, and his speech patterns and behaviour change appropriately. He becomes increasingly more violent, and has fits of anger, where he uses his magical abilities to attack soldiers who make fun of him. He gradually becomes the most feared man in the empire, a man who only finds beauty in death and destruction.

Timeline:

-35: Kefka Palazzo is born. His parents abandon him at an orphanage where Kefka is beaten physically. Kefka develops an autistic personality, and withdraws from the world.

-17: Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the top of his class.

-12: Kefka is promoted to the head of his platoon.

-10: Kefka takes an interest in Celes Chere, the 8 year old daughter of a slain General and noble woman. Kefka uses his influence to shape her into one of the finest ruin knights in the empire.

- 5: Kefka is promoted to the position of Chancellor of the Empire, second only to Gestahl.

- 4: In addition to his social promotion, Kefka is promoted the very top of the imperial army, as the commander supreme.

- 3: Around the time his ward Celes ascends to the rank of Leuitenant, Kefka has a nervous breakdown, and developes many personal eccentricities. He is deemed unfit for his position in empire and is demoted. However, due to his many years of service, The emperor sees it fit to keep Kefka around to do the jobs no one else is willing to do. 26 year old Leo Chirstophe is promoted, and Kefka develops a deep hatred for him.

- 0: An esper is discovered in Narshe; Kefka sends Biggs, Wedge, and a half-esper Girl named Terra to recover it.

The Magitek Knights of Emperor Gestahl

- As the right hand man of Emperor Gestahl, a Magitek knight participates in various military campaigns.
- Kefka is imbued with the power of the Espers by Cid.
- But because of the expirement, Kefka fell ill.
- Now he is a dangerous member of the empire.
- The Magitek facility siphons magical power from the Esper, and
uses it to augment humans.
- The test subject gains mighty power, but it creates discord in the mind, emotional stability, and quirks in speech patterns and behavior.


Childhood

- Kefka is thrown away at birth, and is raised in an orphanage on the edge of Thamasa.
- Kefka is beaten severely as a child. He develops into a taciturn individual. (The word autism is surrounded by two words I am unable to translate.)


Young adulthood

- Kefka graduates from the imperial academy at the head of his class, and enters the Magitek facility. With Doctor Cid, he studies espers and magically derived experiments.
- Kefka finds purpose in his Magitek experiments. Due to his blind loyalty to emperor Gestahl, he receives much power.
- At the age of 23, Kefka is promoted to commander of the Magitek Knight platoon.
- At the age of 25, Kefka encounters Celes, and takes an interest in her. He uses his political pull to make sure she develops into a Rune Knight.


Adulthood

- At the age of 30, Kefka is appointed to the position of Prime minister.
- At the age of 31, Kefka is named General of the whole imperial army.
- As the brains behind the Imperial army, Kefka accomplishes much. He is particularly intrigued by the possibilities of magic power, and thus grows into his role as head of Gestahl's Magitek army perfectly.
- Unfortunately, Kefka's madness deepens, his affection for his charge Celes being the last remnant of his humanity.

Nervous Breakdown

- Kefka's mental began around the time he was appointed Prime Minister. The cause of the collapse being a side-effect from the Magitek augmentation process.
- Kefka's collapse becomes visible around the time Celes is promoted to the position of Rear Admiral, during the Third Imperial campaign.
- All of Kefka's pleasant memories begin to deteriorate. He loses his ability to experience pleasant sensations, and his ability to appreciate beauty. The only desire left is the desire to destroy the world.
- After spiraling into insanity, Kefka starts to wear makeup and garish clothing, acting like a complete buffoon. His behavior changes and his patterns of speech deteriorate.
- Kefka begins to act conspicuously, and his motives come into question.

Character Reputation

- It is debated whether Kefka is autistic or his taciturn nature is due to abuse and assault.
- Kefka's reputation among his co-workers is not good; he is viewed as eccentric, and not trusted by those who participate in imperial campaigns.
- Kefka is prone to temper tantrums, where he destroys property with his great magical abilities.
- When around Celes, Kefka acts as a kind older brother.

Before his nervous breakdown

- Kefka lived in a tower connected to the Magitek research facilities with Celes.

After the nervous breakdown

- Kefka is placed under house arrest, let out for work related activities only.
- In his home he gathers many jewels, and plays with dolls.

Combat Efficiency

- Kefka is a tremendously powerful mage, but his aptitude for hand-to-hand combat is low.
- His powers as a mage are increased by his nervous breakdown.
- The Spirit of the Esper that imbued Kefka acts through him. (Editor's note: Maybe this demon Maria is actually the Esper that Kefka was augmented with?)

Change in goals due to Magitek side effects

- Before his nervous breakdown, the existence of magic was the only thing that confirmed Kefka's own existence to himself.
- After the side effects emerge, Kefka's only goal is to find the highest power in the world, that which can destroy anything.


Dolls (more a section on androgyny)

- Kefka adorns his dolls the same way he adorns himself, with makeup and garish clothing
- When Kefka is in a bad mood, he destroys his dolls for fun.

Mirror

- Kefka is fascinated by the phenomena of the mirror image.
- Kefka dresses up for himself solely for the purpose of seeing himself in the mirror.

Relationship with Celes before nervous breakdown.

- Stemming from their common experience of Magitek augmentation, Kefka viewed Celes as the love of his life; He viewed her as his daughter and his sister.
- Celes was the only person Kefka was able to care about.
- Kefka would essentially die for his young ward.


Relationship with Celes after the Nervous breakdown

- Kefka begins to view Celes as a play toy; strong and weak, beautiful and submissive, his perfect doll (editor's note: EWW creepy.)
- Kefka finds beauty in the fact that Celes is mentally damaged, since he too, has suffered.


Relationship with Dr. Cid

- In his early adulthood, Kefka served as part of Cid's research staff, and was his subordinate.
- After becoming Prime Minister, Kefka forced Cid to make the research the creation of an ultimate magical based weapon.


Relationship with Leo Christophe

- Because Leo, a consummate soldier, is opposed to the use of magic, he and Kefka clash in ideology often.


Relationship with Emperor Gestahl

- Kefka views Gestahl as the absolute master who gives his existence meaning.
- Kefka and Gestahl have a heavy reliance on each other; Kefka is given the nickname "The Shark of the Emperor".


Relationship with Terra Brandford

- Before his Nervous breakdown, Kefka viewed Terra as a valuable research test subject.
- After his nervous breakdown, Kefka viewed Terra as a magically powered toy.
- Kefka fears Terra for her natural power.

 

[Makoeyes987]

Kefka's look in Dissidia pleases me greatly.

Kefka pleases me greatly in general. He's definitely one of my favorite villains. I fucking jumped on the chance to get the Master Creatures Kefka Palazzo figure when it first came out.

Dancing Mad is one of the best final battle themes too.

And thank you so much for posting that info on Kefka from the FFVI World Scenario guide. God, if I could get one off of ebay I'd probably start scanning that and hopefully get a project going for that one too. It's such an interesting piece.

Kefka's relationship with Terra in Dissidia amuses me greatly.

 

[Dark and Divine]

Some Dissidia cutscenes featuring Kefka(contains spoilers)...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BM8F7HZQqCU#noexternalembed&hl=pt-br&fs=1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTbhrlDEc44#noexternalembed&hl=pt-br&fs=1


...Kefka's profile in Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania...

(Credits go to Balthea for scanning this)

...some rare artwork...

...scenes from FFVI...

...The Tiers...

...Kefka's last form in FFVI...

...and in Dissidia...

...Kefka's atwork in Dissidia Ultimania...

...Kefka's Tower by Yoshitaka Amano...

...and, finally, the Light of Judgement!

 

[SOLDIERis1337]

Wow, I didn't even know they had an Ultimania type guide for FF VI. Thanks a ton for all that info, I never knew Kefka was beaten as a child in the orphanage he was raised, nor did I know that he actually cared about Celes before his break down. Do you have any more of that translated?

 

[Dark and Divine]

Unfortunately, no! That's all I have, but to be honest, I don't know if there's anything more than this.

 

[SOLDIERis1337]

That's a shame. Did they happen to come out of one of these books?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Final-Fantasy-VI-Guide-Book_W0QQitemZ110358934196QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110358934196&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50#ebayphotohosting

http://cgi.ebay.com/FINAL-FANTASY-VI-ADVANCE-Official-Complete-Guide-FN_W0QQitemZ310123724247QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item310123724247&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

If that's the source maybe we could have one of our members buy it and then the site could have FF VI translations like the Compilation and FF IX have.

 

[Dark and Divine]

I'm not sure, since I've never seen the book's cover.

But the name of the book is "Final Fantasy VI Settei Shiryhen" [ISBN 4-87-188299-3] and apparently is one of six Final Fantasy VI guidebooks released in 1994 by NTT Publishing.

Maybe Suzaku may know something more about this, since he was the one who identified the book in Final Fantasy Wikia.

Edit: I found it! But there's no cover photo. Oh well...

http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/guest/cgi-bin/wshosea.cgi?KEYWORD=%34-%38%37-%31%38%38%32%39%39-%33

 

[Ravynne Nevyrmore]

I'm not actually a fan of Kefka, but thought I'd share this beautiful artwork with you.

http://emmil.deviantart.com/art/Kefka-Palazzo-FF6-113044878

 

[SOLDIERis1337]

That is truly a work of art. Bravo to you if you're the artist, if not then bravo to whoever is the artist.

 

[Celes Chere]

I love Kefka, he's amazing. <3 Probably the only Clown I'm actually not afraid of. He is just plain appealing. Beaten as a child? That's so sad. I guess even he has a reason for being so screwy.

Relationship with Celes before nervous breakdown.

- Stemming from their common experience of Magitek augmentation, Kefka viewed Celes as the love of his life; He viewed her as his daughter and his sister.
- Celes was the only person Kefka was able to care about.
- Kefka would essentially die for his young ward.

I had an awe moment. That is so sweet. (I am totally looking over the twisted maniac part, how typical)

 

[Ravynne Nevyrmore]

Bravo to you if you're the artist, if not then bravo to whoever is the artist.

Negatory. Emmil is someone I watch on DA for her 1337 skillz in digital painting.

http://emmil.deviantart.com/

Carry on.

 

[Masamune]

Kefka is the best villain, but I just can't get over his similarity to Joker in Dissidia. I prefer his "wolf in sheep's clothing" look.

Ironically, Kefka's seiyuu (Shigeru Chiba) also voiced Joker from Hokuto no Ken.

 

[Makoeyes987]

Holy shit, Masamune, are you serious?

I always loved Joker in Fist of the North Star. One of the favorite villains

 

[Max Payne]

Kefka is the best villain, but I just can't get over his similarity to Joker in Dissidia. I prefer his "wolf in sheep's clothing" look.

Ironically, Kefka's seiyuu (Shigeru Chiba) also voiced Joker from Hokuto no Ken.

FFS. I never noticed the fucking similarities. Green hair, purple suit, pale skin. Christ.

 

[Dark and Divine]

Ok, now to hear some opinions....


What is your favourite event concerning Kefka in FFVI?

Mine are when he move the Warring Triad out of alignment, unleashing enough raw power to cause the World of Ruin and when, before the final battle, everyone is stating words of hope and Kefka pawns them all with the "Self-help booklet" line.


EDIT: Here's a little bonus - A gallery full of Kefka pics from Dissidia:

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/ee239/Dark_and_Divine/Kefka Palazzo - Dissidia/?start=all

Enjoy!

 

[Flowing Ice]

I wish to join!!! Kefka is just...excellent. He's the embodiment of insanity, in as controllable a form as it can be, as a villain. I love twisted villains such as Kefka. Never know what they'll do, making it all the more fun.

 

[Dark and Divine]

The Welcome Comittee welcomes you, then!

 

[Flowing Ice]

Thanks! To go with your question. I definitely agree with when he put them out of alignment. Also, the scene before the final boss fights, awesome. anytime we get to hear his laugh too.

 

[Ⓐaron]

Besides the scenes already mentioned, the events at Thamasa are a pretty defining moment for Kefka's character, as is the poisoning of Doma. The final battle is definitely the best though.

 

[ForceStealer]

Yeah, my favorite part was definitely when he first really unveils his power. Kills Leo, massacres the Espers (who I really felt bad for). I remember watching that scene and thinking "holy crap I'm screwed..." Which is a good thing for a villain to make you think

I was wondering, Kefka's article on the FF wiki (http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Kefka_Palazzo) mentions Kefka's laugh being audible with Dancing Mad loops in Dissidia. A, is Dancing Mad even IN Dissidia? I beat the game and I never heard it. The FF6 tracks are the boss battle and the "Fierce Battle" the fancier boss theme.