Tifa's Design: Has It Gotten Better?

[Gym Leader Devil]

When Loz hauls tifa up by her top to finish her off (before Marlene beans him in the head with a materia orb), I clearly hear leather crackling against leather. That could just be me, but I wear a lot of leather myself. I'd think I know what it sounds like. Plus what everyone else said about the look of it.

I loved all of Tifa's designs. The old mini-skirt and tank-top combo was pretty much the embodiment of a bargirl from the slums. Once the scene moved to Edge, things just weren't quite as slummy, as it were. That plus the raising of two kids, one of whom was a boy who should not be encouraged to look up "mommy's" skirt, probably led to the clothing change. I did lament the loss of her hair and the fact that she just didn't look very Tifa in the face.

 

[Ite]

Why are cosplayers' leather always so much glossier than all the leather in Square games, anyway?

^Confusing leather with plastic/latex.

 

[Alex Strife]

I miss her "Dolphin Tail" very much in Dissidia, to be honest.

 

[Ghost X]

What I loved about FFVII was the basic design of all characters. "Less is more" and such. There was a bit of colour too. Gave 'em all a bit of individuality. I found AC designs rather boring in a monotonous way. Her Dissidia design seems similar to her FFVII one, so I don't mind it either. Oddly, I think the original shape of her head was rather defining, and in that respect, her realistic models sort of take that feature away. Tifa is more than just fan service, her role was fairly important in the story.

 

[ForceStealer]

Everyone always makes such a fuss about the dolphin tail thing. For something that was such a defining part of her design, I can't say I ever took that much notice of it. Now in Dissidia - yes, they were sticking to original designs they should have kept it. But her getting a haircut 2 years after the game didn't strike me as a travesty. The "generic pretty Asian" thing can't be THAT connected to her hair, can it? People change their hair all the time. I thought it was the face structure that changed or some such.

 

[Max Payne]

My problems with AC Tifa

-Too weak and wispy, doesn't seem as great a fighter as everyone else.
-No Dolphin Tail, hair seems more black than brown in most lighting, generally more thin and less voluminous than the original.
-Her eyes are a brown yellowish color, opposed to the more reddish color of the original
-The ridiculous leather apron over large leather shorts. Do not like.

 

[Max Payne]

, I can't say I ever took that much notice of it.

Are you blind nigger, how do you not notice this chick's GIGANTIC and weirdly shaped pony tail? It's one of the most unique things about her design.

The "generic pretty Asian" thing can't be THAT connected to her hair, can it? People change their hair all the time. I thought it was the face structure that changed or some such.[/QUOTE]

90 percent of Asian Idols have very thin, very black straight hair. Exactly like AC Tifa.

I have plenty of photos.

 

[ForceStealer]

I'll agree to all of those except the hair really. There are some differences, but again real people change their hair all the time, it didn't strike me as a fundamental difference to her character like her fighting skills and eye color.

But I still to like her fight scene, I know she loses, but Loz cheats for one thing, she still exhibits some really cool moves. And completely launching the Shadowcreeper into the air with a single kick, as well as dispatching three more with a roundhouse in ACC was a welcome addition. But still more would be preferred.


When I first saw Tifa's artwork, I assumed the dolphin tail thing to be a depiction of motion. Like she just flicked her hair to one side and her ponytail split in the movement. You can't really see much of it in the lego graphics and my first time through the game I didn't use her very much in battle, that is why I never took much notice of it. And she doesn't have when she's all whore'd up for Corneo's place, and Cloud recognized her right off the bat.

 

[Max Payne]

I'll agree to all of those except the hair really. There are some differences, but again real people change their hair all the time, it didn't strike me as a fundamental difference to her character like her fighting skills and eye color.

Hair is a huge part of character design. Not Cloud and Vincent largely have the same hair style, updated for a pseudo realistic style. The fact that it was so unique is why we miss it.

 

[ForceStealer]

So unless it is done with a lot of pomp and circumstance a la Garnet's haircut, is it taboo to change a character's hair? Or is it just that specific to Tifa's wonky ponytail? No one seemed as upset about Barret's switch to cornrows, so I guess that's it. (That is an honest question, you all the artist, after all.)

But am I really the only person that, upon seeing Tifa's character art for the first time, assumed that it was just her hair in motion?

I mean we didn't assume her hair constantly sticks out to the side did we?

 

[Max Payne]

So unless it is done with a lot of pomp and circumstance a la Garnet's haircut, is it taboo to change a character's hair? Or is it just that specific to Tifa's wonky ponytail? No one seemed as upset about Barret's switch to cornrows, so I guess that's it. (That is an honest question, you all the artist, after all.)

Barret barely had any hair to begin with, why would anyone give a damn about him switching it up?

The problem is Tifa went from unique hairstyle to your generic hair. Her hair isn't as thick, it barely seems as if it's the same color.

 

[Gym Leader Devil]

I agree on this one. If she'd had a more generic hairstyle to begin with, the change would have been fine by me. The main reason I missed the old style in ACC was because it was so very different from the norm. And for the record, I did indeed assume it always stuck out like that just from reading the instruction booklet before I popped the game in. I mean, if Cloud's hair does what it does, why not her's?

 

[Elisa Maza]

But am I really the only person that, upon seeing Tifa's character art for the first time, assumed that it was just her hair in motion?

I mean we didn't assume her hair constantly sticks out to the side did we?

Agreed on this one. I mean, even in the game, her hair is not pointing to the side. It is drawn this way so her hairstyle could be seen. Otherwise, it would be covered by her body.

Same with Aerith's original artwork. I don't think her hair was stuck pointing to the side either.

As for Tifa's generic hairstyle in ACC... I agree. I wouldn't mind the clothes, Nomura did say that she had the pockets so she could have orders and pencils in them, since she runs a bar.

Her hair was changed because they didn't know how to make them move and they had problems with the light... It was haaaaaaaaaaaaaard work.

BTW, in the Reunion Files (I think), Nomura says that in the end, Tifa's ACC model required more work than Cloud's.

I still cannot understand why they didn't go with Nomura's first concept art for Tifa in ACC:

PWETTY!! I can totally see Tifa being like this! *_*

 

[Max Payne]

Are people really not getting that the dolphin tail= the length of her hair and the parted end, not her hair being curved to the bloody side by the wind?

 

[Gym Leader Devil]

I thought that's what we were talking about right up until the comparison pic with Aerith's hair got thrown in. Then I was kinda "What the hell? Is there another joke I'm not getting here or what?"

 

[Alessa Gillespie]

-The ridiculous leather apron over large leather shorts. Do not like.

I feel I should mention it's not leather. Her shorts and shirt are obviously leather but the apron is made of some sort of canvas material. It's easier to see the difference in the Loz fight.

But yeah I have no fucking clue why she'd suddenly be so hot for really bad looking leather clothing. It's not comfy and it makes you sweat a lot. I can only assume she takes the top off while working and wears a white tanktop underneath.

 

[Tifabelle]

Isn't her hair described in one of the books (ultimania) as being "split like a dolphin's tail"? So this is supposed to be part of her design, not just a momentary blowing-in-the-wind thing.

 

[Roger]

I feel I should mention it's not leather. Her shorts and shirt are obviously leather but the apron is made of some sort of canvas material. It's easier to see the difference in the Loz fight.

But yeah I have no fucking clue why she'd suddenly be so hot for really bad looking leather clothing. It's not comfy and it makes you sweat a lot. I can only assume she takes the top off while working and wears a white tanktop underneath.

Yeah, it's pretty apparant in proper lighting.

 

[Tifabelle]

Oh yeah, I forgot-

As for Tifa's generic hairstyle in ACC... I agree. I wouldn't mind the clothes, Nomura did say that she had the pockets so she could have orders and pencils in them, since she runs a bar.

She ran a bar in FFVII too. Just sayin'.

 

[Roger]

I'm gonna assume she just wears it as to not drive Denzel crazy with her bod and CoD didn't pick up on it.

 

[Dana Scully]

I honestly never connected Tifa's split hair in her concept art to be from anything other than movement, like Force mentioned. I never thought the split would be there normally.

The biggest thing that bugs me about her AC design is the retcon of her eye colour, because it's not like eye colour is hard to animate or something. There's no reason to change it. While I prefer her OG outfit, I can see why they would change it - she's not working in the slums anymore, and a tank top and mini-skirt aren't exactly 'respectable business person' attire in Edge. And, as someone mentioned (Splintered, I think), it's not the best outfit for someone who's supposed to be seen as a mother.

I could do without the leather vest, though. I swear they just added it for modesty's sake and to make her boobs look smaller. There's no practical reason for her to be wearing it (unless, arguably, she wore it as armor. But she was wearing it while washing the dishes, so yeah).

Really, Squeenix, just put her in a sports bra and a modestly-cut tank top. It's okay to be normal sometimes.

 

[Tifabelle]

While I prefer her OG outfit, I can see why they would change it - she's not working in the slums anymore, and a tank top and mini-skirt aren't exactly 'respectable business person' attire in Edge.

:/ It's not like Edge is a high-class neighborhood, lol. I think as you said, it has more to do with the idea of her being in a mother role.

I could do without the leather vest, though. I swear they just added it for modesty's sake and to make her boobs look smaller. There's no practical reason for her to be wearing it (unless, arguably, she wore it as armor. But she was wearing it while washing the dishes, so yeah).

Right or wrong, SE (and particularly Nomura's designs) have never been "practical". Sometimes, yes, or certain elements of an outfit, have practicality. But they are typically grandiose with extra bells and whistles.

I don't see how the vest is anymore modest. It's another layer, but it doesn't cover any more than the tank top does.

Really, Squeenix, just put her in a sports bra and a modestly-cut tank top. It's okay to be normal sometimes.

This is going back to that conversation regarding FF and "normal" clothes. FF7 has arguably the most normal clothes out of them.

 

[ForceStealer]

Relax, peeps. I know the end of her hair is how it is. I was just saying that when I first saw the art when I first played the game, long before I saw a lot of FF7 media and had never heard of an ultimania, I assumed the ponytail just split in movement. I was providing justification in response to:

Are you blind nigger, how do you not notice this chick's GIGANTIC and weirdly shaped pony tail? It's one of the most unique things about her design.

That's all.

Her hair was changed because they didn't know how to make them move and they had problems with the light... It was haaaaaaaaaaaaaard work.

I hear this a lot, but it makes me wonder, if they didn't say that. If they had just said Tifa cut her hair, would you have minded it?

She ran a bar in FFVII too. Just sayin'.

Okay? So what? For one thing, the new 7th Heaven looks like a slightly classier establishment than the old one. With more seats as opposed to only like two tables to remember orders.

As for leather being uncomfortable, the top isn't directly on her skin, at least, that tank top is under it. I don't get the shorts. Though her skirt was leather too.

 

[Dana Scully]

:/ It's not like Edge is a high-class neighborhood, lol. I think as you said, it has more to do with the idea of her being in a mother role.

High-class, no, but it's a far cry from the slums. What we see of Edge in ACC/DoC doesn't exactly scream of poverty. Doesn't scream wealth either, mind you, but I still don't see it as a place where someone trying to run a respectable restaurant/bar would be wearing Tifa's OG outfit.

Right or wrong, SE (and particularly Nomura's designs) have never been "practical". Sometimes, yes, or certain elements of an outfit, have practicality. But they are typically grandiose with extra bells and whistles.

Very true. Still, Tifa's design is pretty ordinary compared to everyone else's, so I think a tank top would have fit the design just as well.

I don't see how the vest is anymore modest. It's another layer, but it doesn't cover any more than the tank top does.

Certain shots (like the one a few posts up) has the vest jutting out, which makes her look flatter than she is, and the stiffness of the leather versus the cloth of the tank top takes away a lot from the shape AND THAT'S TRAGIC.

Though I'm looking at other screencaps now and it seems more form-fitting in some shots than others, so yeah.

 

[Tifabelle]

Relax, peeps. I know the end of her hair is how it is. I was just saying that when I first saw the art when I first played the game, long before I saw a lot of FF7 media and had never heard of an ultimania, I assumed the ponytail just split in movement.

Wasn't attacking your perception or anything. Just pointing out that the split was supposed to be an intentional implement to her design, as opposed to a random feature of one drawing.

I hear this a lot, but it makes me wonder, if they didn't say that. If they had just said Tifa cut her hair, would you have minded it?

Not sure if you're addressing me, or if that was just a typo, but that was Tea-chan.

Okay? So what? For one thing, the new 7th Heaven looks like a slightly classier establishment than the old one. With more seats as opposed to only like two tables to remember orders.

No, no. You misunderstand. My point was more to Nomura's logic. She already was a barmaid, so to say "well now she's a barmaid so we need to change her outfit" is sort of silly.