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Changes: Celes Chere

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{{sideicon|prime=FFVI}}
  
{{sideicon|prime=FFVI}}
 
{{FA|September 15, 2012}}
  
{{FA|September 15, 2012}}
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{{infobox character
  
{{infobox character
 
|name=Celes Chere
  
|name=Celes Chere
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|romaji=Serisu Shēru
  
|romaji=Serisu Shēru
 
|lit=Ceris Chere
  
|lit=Ceris Chere
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|aka=Celes Chère<ref name="Chère credits">https://youtu.be/jbb8zDmzXZc?t=500</ref>
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|image=[[File:Celes II.jpg|200px|Celes's character design by Yoshitaka Amano.]]
  
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|image=Celes II.jpg
 
|portrait=[[File:Celes Chère menu.png|50px|Menu portrait (SNES/PSX/GBA).]] [[File:FFVI Celes Chere Menu iOS.png|50x50px|Portrait (iOS/Android).]]
  
|portrait=[[File:Celes Chère menu.png|50px|Menu portrait (SNES/PSX/GBA).]] [[File:FFVI Celes Chere Menu iOS.png|50x50px|Portrait (iOS/Android).]]
 
|sprite=[[File:CelesSprite.png|ASrite.]] [[File:CelesMaria.png|Impersonating Maria during the opera scene.]]<hr/>[[File:FFVI Celes Chere Sprite iOS.png|48x48px|Field sprite (iOS/Android).]] [[File:FFVI Celes Chere - Maria Sprite iOS.png|48x48px|As Maria sprite (iOS/Android).]]
  
|sprite=[[File:CelesSprite.png|ASrite.]] [[File:CelesMaria.png|Impersonating Maria during the opera scene.]]<hr/>[[File:FFVI Celes Chere Sprite iOS.png|48x48px|Field sprite (iOS/Android).]] [[File:FFVI Celes Chere - Maria Sprite iOS.png|48x48px|As Maria sprite (iOS/Android).]]
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*[[Returners]]
  
*[[Returners]]
 
|occupation=Imperial General
  
|occupation=Imperial General
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|hobby=Taking care of [[Cid Del Norte Marquez|Cid's]] greenhouse rose topiary<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
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|hobby=Taking care of [[Cid Del Norte Marguez|Cid's]] greenhouse rose topiary<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
 
|loves=Antique picture books<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
  
|loves=Antique picture books<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
 
|hates=Weak men<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
  
|hates=Weak men<ref name="ultimaniavol1"/>
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|type=playable
  
|type=playable
 
|job=[[Rune Knight]]
  
|job=[[Rune Knight]]
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|skill=[[Runic]]
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|abilities=[[Runic]]
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|limitbreak=Spinning Edge
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|limit break=Spinning Edge
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|weapon=Most [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Swords|swords]], [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Daggers|daggers]], many [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Maces|maces]]
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|weapon=[[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Daggers|Daggers]], [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Swords|swords]], [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Maces|maces]]
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|armor=Most [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Heavy Armor|heavy armor]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Shields|shields]], mage and [[female-exclusive equipment]]
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|armor=[[Final Fantasy VI armor#Shields|Shields]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Hats|hats]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Female hats|female hats]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Helmets|helmets]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Light armor|light armor]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Heavy armor|heavy armor]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Robes|robes]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Female clothes|female clothes]]
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|ultimateweapon=Save the Queen
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|ultimate weapon=Save the Queen
 
|designer=[[Yoshitaka Amano]]
  
|designer=[[Yoshitaka Amano]]
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|japaneseva=[[Houko Kuwashima]]
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|japanese voice actor=[[Houko Kuwashima]]
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|englishva=[[Wikipedia: Christina Rose|Christina Rose]]
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|english voice actor=[[Christina Rose]]
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|party member 1=Celes (Final Fantasy VI party member)
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|gameplay=true
  
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|party member game 1=FFVI
 
|other appearances=true
  
|other appearances=true
 
|dffoo=true
  
|dffoo=true
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|gallery=true
  
|gallery=true
 
}}
  
}}
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{{Q|A Magitek knight forged by the Empire and tempered in battle. None have ever truly known the woman beneath the general's guise...|Game description}}
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{{Quote|A Magitek knight forged by the Empire and tempered in battle. None have ever truly known the woman beneath the general's guise...|Game description}}
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'''General Celes Chere''', also spelled as '''Celes Chère''', is a playable character in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. A genetically enhanced [[Magitek Knight]] initially serving as a general of the [[Gestahlian Empire]], she becomes disillusioned with the empire and turns her back on them to join the [[Returners]].
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'''Celes Chere''' is a playable character in ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. She was raised in the [[Gestahlian Empire]] and received a [[magic (term)|magic]] infusion to turn her into a [[Magitek Knight]], and rose through the ranks to become a general. However, she becomes disillusioned with the Empire and turns traitor, joining the [[Returners]] and forming a friendship with [[Locke Cole|Locke]].
   
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In the [[World of Ruin (Final Fantasy VI)|World of Ruin]] Celes becomes the game's viewpoint character for the first several dungeons and is the first character the player controls. She travels across the new world seeking information on what has become of her friends since the [[Cataclysm (Final Fantasy VI)|cataclysm]] and brings them together again to strike back at [[Kefka Palazzo|Kefka]] and free the world from his rule.
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Celes was close to [[Cid Del Norte Marquez|Cid]] while growing up, an imperial scientist who raised her as if she were his own daughter. She was forced to be genetically enhanced as a Magitek Knight for the empire, giving her unique magical abilities. Celes became one of the empire's generals, aiding in its conquest of the world. After becoming disillusioned by the empire's conquest, she is sentenced to death for betrayal. She is rescued by [[Locke Cole]] before her execution, and joins the Returners. Celes is Locke's love interest, and works as a foil to [[Terra Branford]], their character development and abilities paralleling each other.
  
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Celes is one of two characters in the game who learns some [[Magic (Final Fantasy VI command)|magic]] spells without [[Magicite (Final Fantasy VI)|magicite]], and her spells focus on [[Final Fantasy VI elements#Ice|ice]] and defensive [[Final Fantasy VI statuses|status effects]]. She can use equip most [[Final Fantasy VI weapons|weapons]] and [[Final Fantasy VI armor|armor]] including [[female-exclusive equipment]], and her unique ability is [[Runic]] that lets her nullify magic effects with her sword.
  
   
 
==Profile==
  
==Profile==
 
===Appearance===
  
===Appearance===
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[[File:FF6 Celes SD.png|120px|left|thumb|Celes's SD artwork.]]
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[[File:Celes SD Art.png|120px|left|thumb|Celes's SD artwork by [[Tetsuya Nomura]].]]
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Celes has long blonde hair and blue eyes. Her outfit varies considerably between her [[Final Fantasy VI concept art|concept arts]] and game sprites. In her artworks, Celes wears a rich gold-yellow vest with detached sleeves that run up to her biceps and pants of the same color. She wears white boots and a top under her vest that comes up to her collarbone—the top is colored black, blue, purple, or pink in different concept art, but in spin-offs is consistently a shade of blue-indigo. Her sleeves and pants are laced on her thigh and upper arm. In her game sprites, Celes wears a low-cut green leotard with a belt around her waist, armored shoulderpads connected to a white cape, and blue boots and wrist bangles. Spin-offs have used either of these two designs.
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Celes is eighteen years old and has long blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. In concept art and renders in the ''[[Final Fantasy Anthology]]'' release, she wears yellow and purple armor with high boots and a sword as her weapon. In-game, Celes's sprite wears a long white cloak over a green leotard with white boots. When disguised as the opera singer Maria, Celes wears an elaborate white and beige gown, and keeps her hair tied back in a ribbon.
  
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Celes is also strongly associated with the dress she wore when performing in the [[Opera "Maria and Draco"]], an elaborate white gown with blue details, puffed shoulders, and a flared floor-length skirt with a blue ribbon around her waist. In this outfit Celes wears her hair tied with a blue ribbon.
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Celes's signature weapon is a curved sword with a blue handle with a tassel and a golden crossguard with a swirl shape, one side curving up and the other down. Some spin-offs give this sword a more ornate blade with details carved into the metal, based on a piece of concept art where beads and other accessories are wound over the blade. {{Show image|Celes.jpg}} This sword has never been named and ''[[Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'' simply calls it "Celes' Sword".
   
 
===Personality===
  
===Personality===
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{{quote|I'm a former general, not some opera floozy!|Celes is indignant at the idea of performing.}}
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Initially, Celes is aloof and independent. She refuses Locke's assistance, preferring to remain imprisoned to face her execution with pride. Celes's bond with the other party members forms slowly, and outside of Terra and Locke, few of them take kindly to her when they first meet. She tells them to judge her based on her actions rather than trying to convince them by words. Despite her upbringing in the Empire and having committed atrocities herself in the past, Celes's morals don't allow her to support their more egregious acts, and she accepts the mantle of traitor to try to stop them.
  
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Initially Celes is a independent and harsh woman. She refuses Locke's offer to escape with him, preferring to remain imprisoned to face her execution with pride. She fiercely rejects [[Edgar Roni Figaro|Edgar]]'s suggestion that Locke is smitten with her, and when [[Terra Branford|Terra]] asks her "is it possible for you to love other people", Celes thinks she is mocking her and walks away. Despite her defection from the Empire Celes continues to identify with her former rank and brings it up to assert her dignity and pride. As time goes on Celes opens up more to the other party members and refers to them as her friends and comrades, and she is the driving force in the World of Ruin that begins reuniting the scattered party.
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Despite serving in the Empire Celes has a strong sense of morals and self-sacrifice. She volunteers to lead the expedition to the southern continent to infiltrate the Empire, and stays behind in the [[Magitek Research Facility (Final Fantasy VI)|Magitek Research Facility]] to distract Kefka and give the others time to escape. When [[Gestahl|Emperor Gestahl]] offers her the chance to ruin the world with him and Kefka, Celes declares "Power only breeds war... It's something we'd all be better off without" and then turns on them.
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Her friendship with Locke is implied to be mutually romantic, though the two never openly express such feelings. She is hurt when Locke believes Kefka's lie that she was faking betraying the Empire to infiltrate the Returners, and for a time after when they reunite she refuses to speak to him. In the World of Ruin when Celes attempts suicide in an optional story scene, she discovers a bird bandaged with Locke's bandana, restoring her hope that he is alive somewhere in the world and giving her the strength to continue.
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Celes cares deeply for Terra, acting as a sort of surrogate sister to her. When the party invades [[Kefka's Tower]] she questions what will happen to Terra if the party destroys the [[Warring Triad]], the source of magic in the world. During the ending Celes is increasingly concerned for Terra's well-being as her powers begin to fade, and she is the party member who awakens on the ''[[Falcon (Final Fantasy VI)|Falcon]]'' after Terra falls and hurriedly searches the deck for her. In the game's final scenes where Terra steps to the bow of the ship and lets loose her ponytail, Celes steps up behind her and watches as she does so.
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===Abilities===
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Celes's ability is [[Runic]], which allows her to absorb the magical attacks of enemies to negate them and restore her MP. She is closely associated with [[Ice (element)|ice]] and naturally learns [[Blizzard (ability)|Blizzard]] magic and its [[Blizzara (ability)|upgraded]] [[Blizzaga (ability)|forms]], and is also associated with [[Holy (element)|holy light]] through the [[Holy (ability)|Holy spell]]. Spin-off appearances adopt Celes' Runic with a more general theme of redirecting, absorbing, and nullifying enemy attacks, and her abilities are often expanded into a [[Spellblade (command)|Spellblade]]-like theme with Celes using her sword as a medium to channel magic through.
   
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In ''[[Final Fantasy Record Keeper]]'', Celes specializes in Spellblade and Knight abilities to attack with ice and holy skills. Her early Soul Breaks grant her Runic status, which negates certain magical attacks used against her and restores her ability charges. When using higher-tier Soul Breaks that give infinite ability charges while in effect, Celes' instead gives herself the "Magic Blink" status to avoid enemy spells, and she is able to grant this status to her allies as well. ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia]]'' gives Celes a theme of tanking magic damage, with abilities that force enemies to attack her, allow her to absorb magical BRV attacks to increase her BRV, and grant her [[Regen (status)|HP Regen]] and BRV Regen. ''[[Final Fantasy Brave Exvius]]'' more simply focuses Celes on using ice magic to attack enemies and buffing and healing allies.
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Although she protests the notion of being "love-starved" or suited to perform an opera, her actions don't support her statements. As she becomes attached to Locke, she worries he sees her as a replacement for [[Rachel]] and is hurt when he questions her loyalty. She has difficulty connecting with the other members of the group even after they begin to trust her; when she tries to talk to Terra, for instance, she misunderstands Terra's questions about love and takes it as mockery.
  
   
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Celes's [[Desperation Attack]] is [[Spinning Edge (Limit)|Spinning Edge]] and it is treated as her [[Limit Break (ability)|Limit Break]] or equivalent mechanic in spin-off titles.
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Celes is adaptable, capable of deceit and sabotage as well as martial skills. Even after cutting ties with the Empire, Celes retains a degree of pride in her rank and skills in battle. Her time with the Returners gives her a different perspective and outlook on life, and she forms a strong bond to the group becoming a driving force to bring them together. Celes finds genuine companionship preferable to the power and status the Empire gave her.
  
   
 
==Story==
  
==Story==
 
{{spoiler}}
  
{{spoiler}}
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[[File:FFVI Android Celes Talking to Terra.png|right|thumb|180px|Celes discusses magic with Terra.]]
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{{Q|I'm a general, not some opera floozy!|Celes}}
  
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Celes was close with [[Cid Del Norte Marguez|Cid]] growing up, who doted on her like a daughter. It is not known when Celes received her magic infusion and became a Magitek Knight, just that she was "very young", and Cid claims he forced her to undergo the procedure. Celes became a general of the Empire, and infamous for a "decimation" of [[Maranda]]. At some point in her service to the Empire she met Terra.
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[[File:FFVI Android Celes Talking to Terra.png|right|thumb|180px|Celes talks about how she can use magic with Terra.]]
  
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[[Cid Del Norte Marquez|Cid]] has known Celes since she was a child and doted on her like a daughter, but she was forced to become a Magitek Knight. Celes became one of the Empire's top generals, but retained a good and honorable spirit. As a general Celes led an Imperial attack on [[Maranda]], subjugating the town to Imperial rule, and met Terra but their first meeting is not elaborated on.
  
   
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During the Empire's campaign in the north, Celes was branded a traitor—the exact reasons for her betrayal are not made explicit, but it is implied she discovered Kefka was [[Siege of Doma|planning to poison]] the people of [[Doma Castle]] and spoke against him. She was imprisoned in [[South Figaro]] and scheduled to be executed shortly before the Empire marched on [[Narshe]]. Locke was infiltrating the town to sabotage the Empire's advance and found Celes being held in a secret passage under the town. He freed her and convinced her to escape with him, and the two fled into the [[South Figaro Cave]]. An Imperial [[Magitek]] weapon, [[Tunnel Armor (Final Fantasy VI)|Tunnel Armor]], attacked them in the cave, and Celes demonstrated her Runic blade to Locke by absorbing the machine's magic attacks. The Tunnel Armor was destroyed and the two continued to Narshe.
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Two years into the [[Third Gestahlian Campaign]] Celes became disillusioned with the Empire's conquest and was imprisoned in [[South Figaro]] to be executed while the Empire occupied the town to push north into [[Narshe]]. The specific reason for her arrest is never mentioned, although it is implied she spoke out against [[Kefka Palazzo|Kefka's]] plan of [[Siege of Doma|poisoning]] [[Doma Castle (Final Fantasy VI)|Doma]]. During Locke's campaign to stall the Empire's advance he finds Celes in chains and releases her, helping her to safety. Celes accompanies Locke to Narshe and joins the Returners to [[Battle for the Frozen Esper|defend the town]] from Kefka and his troops. Celes meets Terra, and recognizes her as a former imperial.
  
   
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On the way, Celes explained she had overheard during her captivity that Kefka was planning to lead an attack on the town, and the two later relayed this to the assembled Returners. [[Cyan Garamonde|Cyan]], another new ally of the Returners, recognized Celes and moved to attack her, but Locke defended her and Cyan backed down. With Kefka approaching the group headed into the [[Narshe Cliffs|cliffs above Narshe]] to defend a frozen [[Esper (Final Fantasy VI)|esper]] that was Kefka's target. Cyan was still dubious of Celes who told him he could decide with his own eyes in the coming battle. The [[Battle for the Frozen Esper]] ended with the Returners defeating the Empire and Kefka retreating. In the aftermath, Terra approached [[Valigarmanda (Final Fantasy VI)|the frozen esper]] and was transformed into a fiery esper-like being, and flew away.
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In the battle's aftermath Terra transforms into an [[Esper (Final Fantasy VI)|esper]] and flies to the southwest. Finding her in [[Zozo]], [[Ramuh (Final Fantasy VI)|Ramuh]] advises the Returners to infiltrate the [[Magitek Research Facility]] and free the espers there in the hopes one of them can help her.
  
   
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The Returners found Terra in [[Zozo]] under the care of [[Ramuh (Final Fantasy VI)|Ramuh]], another esper. Terra was unable to control her powers due to her unstable emotional state, so Ramuh suggested the party infiltrate the Imperial capital [[Vector]] and free the espers being held in the Magitek Research Facility, as one of them could explain Terra's past to her and calm her. Celes volunteered to lead the mission since she knew the Empire well, and Locke insisted on accompanying her. The party headed to [[Jidoor]] to investigate leads on a means of reaching the southern continent, and met the [[Impresario]] who oversees the [[Opera House]]. The Impresario mistook Celes for someone named "Maria" and ran off in a panic, dropping a letter.
 
[[File:FFVI Celes Opera Flowers.png|left|thumb|Celes performing the [[Opera "Maria and Draco"|Opera]], while impersonating Maria.]]
  
[[File:FFVI Celes Opera Flowers.png|left|thumb|Celes performing the [[Opera "Maria and Draco"|Opera]], while impersonating Maria.]]
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Celes volunteers to lead a team to [[Vector]] to infiltrate the facility, and Locke accompanies her. In [[Jidoor]], the group discovers Celes bears an uncanny resemblance to a famous opera star Maria. With the knowledge that the owner of the [[Airship (term)|airship]] ''[[Blackjack (Final Fantasy VI)|Blackjack]]'', [[Setzer Gabbiani]], intends to kidnap and marry Maria, the Returners set a trap for him at the [[Opera House]]. Though initially hesitant, Celes impersonates Maria and takes her place in the opera, the plan being that Setzer will kidnap her and Celes can sneak Locke and the others aboard his airship.
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The party learned from the letter that [[Setzer Gabbiani|Setzer]], a wandering gambler, was planning to abduct Maria, the star of the opera. Setzer owned the world's only private [[Airship (term)|airship]], the ''[[Blackjack (Final Fantasy VI)|Blackjack]]'', and the party decided to make contact with him to convince him to take them to the southern continent. Celes happened to bear an uncanny resemblance to Maria, so Locke suggested to the Impresario they have Celes take her place in the opera and allow Setzer to kidnap her, then she can sneak the party onto the airship. Celes was indignant at the idea of performing in the opera, but accepted and began rehearsing. Meanwhile the octopus [[Ultros (Final Fantasy VI)|Ultros]], angry at the party for snubbing him earlier, plotted to sabotage the opera and ruin their plan.
   
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During the show Locke went to see Celes in her dressing room and was flustered by her beauty in her opera dress. Celes asked why he stuck up for her earlier, and Locke alluded to his deceased lover [[Rachel]] whom Celes reminded him of. Celes went on-stage and performed "[[Aria di Mezzo Carattere]]", stunning Locke. She continued with the opera by attending a ball hosted by Prince Ralse, which was interrupted by forces led by Maria's lover Draco. As Celes watched Draco and Ralse duel for her hand, Locke and the other party members discovered Ultros's plan to drop a massive weight above the stage and crush Celes. They raced to the rafters to confront him and both groups fell onto the stage, knocking out Draco and Ralse. The party engaged Ultros, and in the chaos Setzer arrived and made off with Celes.
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Despite interference from [[Ultros (Final Fantasy VI)|Ultros]] at the climax of Act I, the plan succeeds and the group boards the ''Blackjack''. Using a [[two-headed coin]] borrowed from [[Edgar Roni Figaro|Edgar]], Celes bets her hand in marriage against Setzer's airship and wins, earning his allegiance. Though aware he was cheated, Setzer is delighted by the trickery and agrees to her terms, ferrying them to [[Albrook]] on the southern continent.
  
   
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Setzer threw Celes into the guest room of the ''Blackjack'' and left. Celes dropped a rope down and Locke and the party climbed on-board. When Setzer returned he was confronted by the group, and realized Celes was not Maria. They asked Setzer for help and he decided he preferred Celes to Maria, and so offered a deal to aid the party if Celes agreed to marry him. Celes accepted over Locke's protests but added a stipulation—they would settle the wager with a coin toss. If it was heads, Setzer would help them regardless, but if it was tails, she'd marry him. Setzer agreed, not knowing that Celes had taken a [[two-headed coin]] from Edgar. Setzer realized the trick but laughed at falling for it and agreed to the terms anyway.
 
[[File:FFVI IOS Kefka Magitek Factory 2.png|thumb|Kefka accuses Celes of being a spy.]]
  
[[File:FFVI IOS Kefka Magitek Factory 2.png|thumb|Kefka accuses Celes of being a spy.]]
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Infiltrating the Magitek Research Facility, the group frees several espers from captivity but the espers are too weak and transform into [[Magicite (Final Fantasy VI)|magicite]], entrusting their power to the Returners. Cid approaches Celes and asks her about the rumors that she had feigned treachery to infiltrate the Returners as a spy. Kefka appears and taunts the group, claiming Celes had deceived them and was loyal to the Empire. Locke grows hesitant and Kefka has his soldiers attack them. Celes spirits Kefka and his soldiers away along with herself, buying the others time to escape the facility to the ''Blackjack'' and flee Vector.
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When the group reached Vector, a Returner sympathizer helped the group sneak into the Magitek Research Facility. They reached the lab containing the bulk of the captive espers and deactivated the machinery, but the espers had been drained off too much magic and died, turning into [[Magicite (Final Fantasy VI)|magicite]] that gravitated to the party. Cid arrived and approached Celes, asking about rumors she had infiltrated the Returners as a spy. Locke was surprised at this and Kefka entered the room, claiming it was true. He demanded Celes bring the magicite to him, and Celes asked Locke if he trusted her. Kefka had Imperial soldiers attack the group, knocking Celes aside. Celes vowed she would be the one to protect Locke this time, and teleported Kefka and his men away, along with herself. Locke and the others left the labs with Cid and escaped the facility.
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With their new magicite powers and Terra's true heritage as a half-esper revealed, the Returners open the [[Cave to the Sealed Gate|sealed gate]] to the [[Esper World]]. The espers decimate the Empire and Emperor [[Gestahl]] calls a truce, asking the Returners to join him in locating the espers before they cause further chaos. Terra and Locke are dispatched to [[Thamasa]] under the command of General [[Leo Christophe]]. The ninja mercenary [[Shadow (Final Fantasy VI)|Shadow]] and Celes are part of the Imperial force accompanying them, Celes retaking her rank as general.
  
   
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The Returners used the power and information gained from the magicite to attempt to open the [[Cave to the Sealed Gate|sealed gate]] to the [[Esper World]] and enlist their aid in attacking the Empire, but the espers [[Battle of Vector|devastated]] Vector beyond what the party envisioned. With the city in flames Emperor Gestahl called a truce and asked the Returners to allow Terra to accompany an expedition to find the espers and negotiate with them, that would be headed by [[Leo Christophe|General Leo]]. They agreed and Locke also volunteered to accompany Terra. In [[Albrook]], Leo introduced the two to two others that would be coming with them: the mercenary assassin [[Shadow (Final Fantasy VI)|Shadow]], and Celes, who had apparently rejoined the Empire and reclaimed her rank. Locke and Terra were surprised to see her, but she said nothing and ran when they approached her.
 
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Locke Albrook.png|thumb|left|Celes gives a cold shoulder to Locke.]]
  
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Locke Albrook.png|thumb|left|Celes gives a cold shoulder to Locke.]]
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The group stayed the night in the inn before leaving, and in the middle of the night Locke awoke and went outside to find Celes staring at the water. Locke tried to talk to her, but she turned away, and when he admitted he had doubted her she left. During the expedition as they prepared to make land at [[Thamasa]], Celes finally tried to speak to Locke, but he turned from her and left.
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Locke attempts to approach her but she refuses to speak to him. The Empire-Returner alliance turns out to be a trap — when Terra and Locke locate the espers with [[Strago Magus|Strago]]'s help, Kefka arrives with a force of Imperial soldiers and kills the espers, claiming their magicite, and incapacitates the Returners and Leo's men alike. When Leo attempts to stop Kefka, Kefka slays him. Leo is laid to rest in Thamasa and Celes rejoins the Returners.
  
   
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With help from the Thamasan residents [[Strago Magus|Strago]] and [[Relm Arrowny|Relm]], Terra and Locke found the espers and brought them to Thamasa to negotiate with General Leo. With the war seemingly ending, Celes wanted to return to Vector. Locke approached her, but Celes rebuffed him, and Relm mocked the romantic tension between them, causing everyone but them to laugh. At that moment Kefka arrived and revealed the entire plot had been a ruse to lure the espers out. Kefka and an escort of Imperials subdued the Returners and Leo's forces, and Kefka killed the espers and Leo. The party buried Leo and pondered the fate of their other allies, and they arrived shortly in the ''Blackjack'', having learned of Gestahl's intentions before he could act against them.
 
[[File:FFVI Android Celes stabs Kefka.png|thumb|Celes stabs Kefka.]]
  
[[File:FFVI Android Celes stabs Kefka.png|thumb|Celes stabs Kefka.]]
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Gestahl and Kefka enter the Esper World and raise the [[Floating Continent (Final Fantasy VI)|Floating Continent]], the [[Warring Triad]] at its summit. The Returners storm the continent to confront the pair and Celes attempts to reason with the emperor. Gestahl paralyzes Celes's allies and offers her the chance to rule the world with him and Kefka. Kefka hands Celes a sword and tells her to kill them, but Celes stabs Kefka instead. He flies into a rage, and demands the Triad give him their power.
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Kefka and Gestahl entered the esper world and raised the [[Floating Continent (Final Fantasy VI)|Floating Continent]], at its summit the Warring Triad, the [[Divinity in Final Fantasy|gods]] of magic. The party stormed the continent and confronted the two, and Celes arrived and tried to reason with Gestahl. Gestahl used the power of the Triad to paralyze the party and offered Celes the chance to rejoin him and rule the world with him and Kefka. Kefka handed her a sword and ordered her to kill her comrades as a show of loyalty. Celes took the weapon and approached the party, but then spun around and stabbed Kefka. Kefka flew into a rage and seized the power of the Triad for himself, killing Gestahl.
   
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Kefka knocked Celes aside and moved the Triad out of alignment, causing their power to run amok. Shadow arrived and started to push the Triad back into position, and the party freed themselves from their bindings. A surge of magic forced them and Celes back and they had no choice but to flee. The party escaped the Floating Continent with Shadow on the ''Blackjack'', but it was too late: the disruption of the Triad's formation wreaked destruction across the planet. The ''Blackjack'' was torn apart in the outpouring of magic and the party was scattered.
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Kefka kills Gestahl when he intervenes and knocks Celes aside, moving the Warring Triad out of alignment. Shadow buys time for Celes and the others to escape, but the damage is done: Kefka has disrupted the balance of power between the [[Divinity in Final Fantasy|gods]] and [[End of the world|drastically shifted the face of the planet]].
  
  ⚫
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Suicide.png|thumb|left|Celes attempts suicide.]]
  +
Celes woke up in a cabin being cared for by Cid. Cid told her they were on [[Solitary Island|a small island]] and it had been a full year since the cataclysm. Others who had lived on the island had leapt off the northern cliffs in despair, and they were the only two left. The two decided to live out their lives and Celes suggested she refer to Cid as "grandfather", which he laughed at. Cid began to cough and explained he took ill a few days ago, and Celes usherded him to bed and promised to take care of him, venturing to the beach to catch fish to feed him.
   
  +
Depending on the player's actions, Cid either recovered or perished. If he perished, Celes was distraught and leapt off the northern cliffs to attempt suicide. She washed up on shore and was awakened by a seagull with a wing bandaged by a bandana, giving Celes the hope Locke was alive. She returned to the house and discovered a letter from Cid directing her to a hidden basement where he had been building a raft to escape the island. If Cid was saved, he showed Celes the raft himself. Either way, Celes used the raft to sail to the mainland.
⚫
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Suicide.png|thumb|left|Celes attempts suicide.]]
  
−
A year later Celes awakes from a coma on a [[Solitary Island]] in Cid's care who tells her the world has been sliding further into ruin and whatever survivors remained on the island with them have perished or killed themselves. Celes repays his kindness by caring for him while he is ill and depending on the quality of food she feeds him Cid will either live or die.
  
   
  +
The raft landed near [[Albrook]] and Celes gathered information on the current state of the world. She went north to [[Tzen]] just as the town was attacked by Kefka's "[[Light of Judgment]]", causing [[Crumbling House|a house to start to collapse]], only supported by [[Sabin Rene Figaro|Sabin]], Edgar's brother. Sabin held the house up while Celes rescued the son of the owner trapped inside, and Sabin leapt away as Celes emerged and the house collapsed. Sabin joined Celes and the two traveled east to [[Mobliz]]. The village's adults had been killed by Kefka's Light of Judgment and Terra was taking care of the orphaned children. Celes and Sabin asked her to come with them but she refused, as she had grown attached to the children and was defending them from [[Humbaba (Final Fantasy VI)|Humbaba]], a demon that prowled the region.
−
If he dies, Celes travels to the northern part of the island and leaps into the sea to kill herself. She survives and washes ashore where she finds a wounded bird, its wound wrapped in a bandana. Celes takes this as a sign Locke is alive and finds a letter from Cid, directing her to a raft hidden in the basement of their home. If Cid is saved he shows Celes the raft himself. Celes leaves the island to return to the mainland and find her friends.
  
   
  +
Celes and Sabin went to [[Nikeah]] and met a group of bandits called the [[Crimson Robbers]] who were planning to raid [[Figaro Castle]]; the castle had been lost in the cataclysm when its burrowing mechanisms malfunctioned and only they knew how to find it. The leader of the bandits was a man named "Gerad" with a suspicious resemblance to Edgar. Celes called out to him and Gerad claimed he had no idea what she was talking about, but his flirtatious mannerisms heightened Celes's suspicions. She and Sabin snuck aboard the ship the robbers were using to travel to South Figaro and pursued them into the South Figaro Cave, where they used a new tunnel dug by sandworms to enter the dungeon of Figaro Castle.
−
Celes lands near Albrook and continues north to [[Tzen]], reuniting with [[Sabin Rene Figaro|Sabin]]. His safety convinces Celes the other Returners are still alive. The two travel east to [[Mobliz]] and find Terra caring for its orphaned children since Kefka's [[Light of Judgment]] destroyed the town. Though they help defend the village from the demon [[Humbaba (Final Fantasy VI)|Humbaba]], Terra is struggling to understand her budding love for the children and remains in the village. In [[Nikeah]], the leader of the [[Crimson Robbers]] bears a suspicious resemblance to Edgar. Following the robbers on their ferry to South Figaro and through a cave into [[Figaro Castle]]'s engine room, Edgar drops the charade and rejoins the two.
  
   
  +
In the engine room Gerad and the robbers found the castle's engines entangled by [[Tentacle (Final Fantasy VI boss)|tentacles]] preventing them from working. Gerad sent his men ahead to loot the treasure room while he fought the tentacles, and Celes called to him again. Edgar gave up the charade and told Celes to lend him a hand, and the three defeated the monsters. Edgar explained he wanted to help save Figaro but had no idea where to look, so when he heard the bandits had escaped from the castle he posed as their new boss and had them lead him inside. The three hid as the bandits emerged and left, presuming "Gerad" was eaten by the monster. With the engines repaired the castle arose from the desert and traveled to [[Kohlingen]].
 
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Setzer.png|thumb|Celes encourages Setzer to fight again.]]
  
[[File:FFVI PC Celes Setzer.png|thumb|Celes encourages Setzer to fight again.]]
−
The three use Figaro Castle to burrow east to [[Kohlingen]] where they find Setzer in a drunken stupor since losing the ''Blackjack'' in the apocalypse. Celes convinces him to rejoin the fight, and Setzer proclaims they'll retrieve another airship, the ''[[Falcon (Final Fantasy VI)|Falcon]]'', formerly belonging to his friend [[Darill]]. At the depths of [[Darill's Tomb]] Setzer raises the ''Falcon'' and the four take to the skies, the new airship filling them with hope that they have a chance to set things right. The former Returners are reunited, and the group land atop [[Kefka's Tower]] and confront him as the God of Magic since he has drained the Warring Triad on their strength.
 +
At Kohlingen the group found Setzer in the bar, depressed over the state of the world and the loss of his airship, claiming to have given up on his dreams of freedom. Celes convinced him to chase a new dream—a better world—and Setzer was motivated to help. He took the group to [[Darill's Tomb]] and raised an airship formerly owned by his friend [[Darill]], the ''[[Falcon (Final Fantasy VI)|Falcon]]''. With the ''Falcon'', the group could enter [[Kefka's Tower]] from the air, but first they resolve to find their friends. A carrier pigeon flew by and Celes felt an urge to follow it. They followed it to Maranda, where a girl named [[Lola]] had been receiving letters from a man the group believed to be Cyan, giving them their first lead on another ally to find.
−  
−
At the tower's summit the group finds Kefka basking in his power, declaring the lives of mortals meaningless and insignificant. The group rejects Kefka's claims, telling him they've each found meaning in their lives even in the ruined world—Celes cites her ability to find acceptance from Locke. The group engages Kefka and his servants in a final battle. With Kefka's death the tower begins to collapse and [[Magic (term)|magic]] vanishes from the world. Terra uses the last of her powers to lead the group to safety.
  
   
  +
Eventually the growing party explored the [[Phoenix Cave]], where Emperor Gestahl was rumored to have hidden a "legendary treasure". They found Locke there who had already found the legendary treasure—the [[Phoenix (Final Fantasy VI)|phoenix]] magicite. Celes deduced he intended to use it to revive Rachel and the party took Locke to Kohlingen. The Phoenix revived Rachel for only a moment, but long enough to absolve Locke of his guilt in failing to save her and give him her blessing to be with Celes. When Locke emerged from the basement Celes approached him, and Locke said he felt at ease and rejoined the party to fight Kefka.
 
[[File:FFVI Android Terra and Celes in the Ending.png|thumb|left|Celes and Terra in the ending.]]
  
[[File:FFVI Android Terra and Celes in the Ending.png|thumb|left|Celes and Terra in the ending.]]
  +
The party entered Kefka's Tower and destroyed him, and with the source of magic in the world gone the tower began to collapse and the party's magicites began to vanish. Terra transformed into her esper form and the group rushed back to the ''Falcon''. Along the way Celes dropped the bandana she had kept from the solitary island and rushed to get it, but the floor collapsed under her, a parallel to when Rachel had fallen. Locke dove and caught her, refusing to let go, and pulled her to safety. At another point, Edgar and Setzer were trapped when a path collapsed. A series of paired switches had to be pressed in unison to free them, so the [[Mime (job)|mime]] [[Gogo (Final Fantasy VI)|Gogo]] mimicked Celes's movements perfectly and together they saved the two.
−
[[File:FFVI Celes' Bandana.png|right|The bandana in the ending.]]
  
−
On the way out, Celes drops the bandana she found on the Solitary Island and rushes back for it. The floor collapses under her but Locke dives to take her hand and pulls her to safety, berating her for risking her life for it. If Locke has not joined the Returners for the final battle, Setzer instead dives to save Celes, reminding her she promised to perform the Maria scene from the opera for him. Celes comments how the bandana is her good-luck-charm and mentions how she hopes Locke will be there to look out for her in the future.
  
   
  +
The group reached the ''Falcon'' and took off with Terra flying ahead of them. Celes noticed Terra's strength was fading, and when she fell from the sky he had Setzer dove to catch her. The party momentarily passed out from the high-speed descent, and when Celes awoke she found the collapsed Terra; she stood and thanked Setzer for the save. As the party flied around witnessing the world rebuilding, Terra stepped to the bow of the ship and let her ponytail go to savor her freedom, Celes watching a few steps behind her.
−
As the group escapes in the ''Falcon'' Terra's powers give out and she falls through the air. Setzer dives forward to catch her, Celes pulling her to safety.
  
−
{{-}}
 +
{{clear}}
 
{{Endspoiler}}
  
{{Endspoiler}}
   
 
==Gameplay==
  
==Gameplay==
  ⚫
{{main|Celes (Final Fantasy VI party member)|t1=Celes Chere gameplay}}
−
[[File:FF6 iOS Celes Sprites.png|right]]
  
  +
Celes is a [[Rune Knight]] with balanced [[Final Fantasy VI stats|stats]] and a wide range of equipment, making her useful in both physical damage roles and magical damage roles. Her ability is [[Runic]], which allows her to absorb magical attacks to restore her MP. She is one of two characters to naturally learn [[Magic (Final Fantasy VI command)|magic]] as she [[level]]s up. Her [[Desperation Attack]] is Spinning Edge, which deals magical damage to one enemy.
⚫
{{main|Celes Chere/Gameplay|t1=Celes Chere gameplay}}
  
−
Celes is a [[Rune Knight]], has very balanced [[Final Fantasy VI stats|stats]] and a wide range of equipment, making her useful in both physical damage roles and magical damage roles. Her equipment includes all [[female-exclusive equipment]], [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Swords|swords]] (including [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Ultima Weapon|Ultima Weapon]] and [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Lightbringer|Lightbringer]]), [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Maces|maces]], some [[Final Fantasy VI weapons#Daggers|daggers]], [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Heavy armor|heavy armor]], some [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Hat|hats]] and [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Robes|robes]], and all [[Final Fantasy VI armor#Shields|shields]]. She is one of the two characters to learn [[Magic (Final Fantasy VI command)|Magic]] abilities naturally by levelling up. Her ability is [[Runic]], which negates the next magical ability used and heals Celes an [[Final Fantasy VI stats#MP|MP]] amount equal to the MP cost of the ability. Her [[Desperation Attack]] is Spinning Edge, which deals magical damage to one enemy.
  
−  
−
==Creation and development==
  
−
[[File:ChibiCeles2.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Chibi artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.]]
  
⚫
After it was decided ''Final Fantasy VI'' would feature an ensemble cast with no clear main protagonist, everyone in the development team was encouraged to provide ideas for characters and their episodes. Celes's character and story were colored by influence from [[Yoshinori Kitase]].<ref name=edge>{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150221123240/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-final-fantasy-vi/| page name = The Making Of: Final Fantasy VI| site url = http://www.edge-online.com/| site name = Edge Online| access time = February 21, 2015 (UTC)}}</ref>
  
−  
⚫
Celes was originally meant to be a "conflicted spy" archetype—a spy working for the antagonists, but swayed by the benevolence of the people she was supposed to be spying on and how nice Locke was to her. She was to be psychologically unstable, like Kefka, due to a similar magic infusion process..<ref name="vjamp">{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm| page name = V Jump issue (in Japanese)| site url = http://www.infoseek.co.jp/| site name = Infoseek| access time = 20090925022956}}</ref><ref name="interviews">{{Refwebsite| page url = http://shmuplations.com/ff6/| page name = Final Fantasy VI – 1994 Developer Interview| site url = http://shmuplations.com| site name = shmuplations| access time = 17:05, December 09, 2018 (UTC)}}</ref> Although the "conflicted spy" idea was not used in the final game, the archetype was used for [[Cait Sith (Final Fantasy VII)|Cait Sith]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. Celes was Yoshinori Kitase's favorite ''Final Fantasy VI'' character from a developer's point of view. Kitase has stated that Celes did not have as much of a role at first, but this changed later in development.<ref>{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121013143822/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3178085| page name = Final Fantasy: Kitase's Inside Story| site url = http://www.1up.com| site name = 1Up| access time = 20121013143822}}</ref> The player starts the World of Ruin storyline with Celes because it "made sense in the overall flow of the story" and because the developers were concerned that starting it with Terra would place too much importance on her story.<ref name=interviews/>
  
−  
⚫
Kitase has later commented him having taken a liking to Celes ended up making her a more important character in the game than originally envisioned:
  
⚫
{{Q|I ended up so involved with each personality while scripting the scenarios that there were points where, looking back at the game today, it's clear that I somewhat lost this balance. For example, as the scenes featuring Celes and Kefka progress, these characters (while not directly playable in the game) became far greater and more influential than originally intended when development began.|Yoshinori Kitase in an interview with ''Edge'' magazine in 2013.}}<ref name=edge/>
  
⚫
[[File:FF6 - Celes FMV Concept.jpg|thumb|left|FMV concept art for imprisoned Celes.]]
  
⚫
The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Empire [[Censorship|was removed]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]] release of ''Final Fantasy VI''. This is because the original ''Final Fantasy VI'' was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. Violence is rated strictly in Japan, and Square wanted a CERO A rating for the Game Boy Advance version, which would have been impossible if a game depicts violence against a restrained human.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://archive.rpgamer.com/features/insidegaming/tslatteryint.html| page name = Inside Gaming - Interview with Former Square Enix Translator Tom Slattery| site url = https://archive.rpgamer.com| site name = RPGamer Archive| access time = 17:05, December 09, 2018 (UTC)}}</ref>
  
⚫
{{-}}
  
   
 
==Musical themes==
  
==Musical themes==
 
{{Main|Celes's Theme}}
  
{{Main|Celes's Theme}}
−
Celes is the only character other than Terra introduced without her theme music; instead, the song "Under Martial Law" is playing. It is not until after her performance in the opera that Celes's theme makes an appearance.
 +
Celes is the only character, other than Terra, introduced without her theme music; instead, the track "Under Martial Law" is playing. It is not until after her performance in the opera that Celes's theme makes an appearance.
   
−
On the ''[[Original soundtrack of Final Fantasy VI|Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version]]'', Celes's theme is simply called "Celes"—disc 1, track 22. The theme shares the central melody with the [[Aria di Mezzo Carattere]].
 +
On the ''[[Original soundtrack of Final Fantasy VI|Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version]]'', Celes's theme is simply called "Celes"—disc 1, track 22. The theme shares the central melody with the "[[Aria di Mezzo Carattere]]".
   
−
A piano arrangement of her theme is found on the ''[[Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI]]'' album. This version is also included on the ''[[Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy]]'' album.
 +
A piano arrangement of her theme appears on the ''[[Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI]]'' album. This version is also included on the ''[[Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy]]'' album.
   
 
The original version of "Celes" is included on the fourth disc of the ''[[Final Fantasy Vinyls]]'' collector's edition set, and appears as a [[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival songs|song]] in ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival]]''. The original SNES version of "Celes's Theme" is obtainable as a [[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT battle music|battle music]] from a ''Theatrhythm Final Fantasy'' event (2018/01) in the arcade version of ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT]]''.
  
The original version of "Celes" is included on the fourth disc of the ''[[Final Fantasy Vinyls]]'' collector's edition set, and appears as a [[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival songs|song]] in ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival]]''. The original SNES version of "Celes's Theme" is obtainable as a [[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT battle music|battle music]] from a ''Theatrhythm Final Fantasy'' event (2018/01) in the arcade version of ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT]]''.
−
{{-}}
 +
{{clear}}
   
 
==Other appearances==
  
==Other appearances==
Line 160: Line 161:
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards|cards]].
  
*''[[/Other appearances#Final Fantasy Trading Card Game|Final Fantasy Trading Card Game]]'' as a series of [[Final Fantasy Trading Card Game cards|cards]].
 
*''[[/Other appearances#Triple Triad|Triple Triad]]'' as a card.
  
*''[[/Other appearances#Triple Triad|Triple Triad]]'' as a card.
  +
  +
==Behind the scenes==
  ⚫
[[File:ChibiCeles2.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Chibi artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.]]
  ⚫
After it was decided ''Final Fantasy VI'' would feature an ensemble cast with no clear main protagonist, everyone in the development team was encouraged to provide ideas for characters and their episodes. Celes's character and story were colored by influence from [[Yoshinori Kitase]].<ref name=edge>{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150221123240/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-final-fantasy-vi/| page name = The Making Of: Final Fantasy VI| site url = http://www.edge-online.com/| site name = Edge Online| access time = February 21, 2015 (UTC)}}</ref>
  +
  ⚫
Celes was originally meant to be a "conflicted spy" archetype—a spy working for the antagonists, but swayed by the benevolence of the people she was supposed to be spying on and how nice Locke was to her. She was to be psychologically unstable, like Kefka, due to a similar magic infusion process.<ref name="vjamp">{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm| page name = V Jump issue (in Japanese)| site url = http://www.infoseek.co.jp/| site name = Infoseek| access time = 20090925022956}}</ref><ref name="interviews">{{Refwebsite| page url = http://shmuplations.com/ff6/| page name = Final Fantasy VI – 1994 Developer Interview| site url = http://shmuplations.com| site name = shmuplations| access time = 17:05, December 09, 2018 (UTC)}}</ref> Although the "conflicted spy" idea was not used in ''Final Fantasy VI'' itself, the archetype was later used for [[Cait Sith (Final Fantasy VII)|Cait Sith]] in ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''.
  +
  +
Celes was Yoshinori Kitase's favorite ''Final Fantasy VI'' character from a developer's point of view. Kitase has stated that Celes did not have as much of a role at first, but this changed later in development.<ref>{{Refwebsitedead| page url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121013143822/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=2&cId=3178085| page name = Final Fantasy: Kitase's Inside Story| site url = http://www.1up.com| site name = 1Up| access time = 20121013143822}}</ref> The player starts the World of Ruin storyline with Celes because it "made sense in the overall flow of the story" and because the developers were concerned that starting it with Terra would place too much importance on her story.<ref name=interviews/> The developers did not initially intend to create a "world of ruin". Rather, the plan was for the party to save the world and defeat Kefka just as the world was about to be destroyed. However, because the game was coming along more smoothly than expected, the developers could free up time to implement another version of the world after its "end". Yoshinori Kitase had an emotional attachment to Celes ever since he started event planning for the second chapter where they would try to make her the main character.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = http://www.onemillionpower.com/25-years-since-the-release-of-final-fantasy-vi-looking-back-at-the-passion/| page name = 25 Years Since The Release Of Final Fantasy VI – Looking Back At The Passion| site url = http://www.onemillionpower.com| site name = One Million Power| access time = 01:22, April 09, 2019 (UTC)}}</ref>
  +
  ⚫
Kitase has later commented him having taken a liking to Celes ended up making her a more important character in the game than originally envisioned:
  ⚫
{{Quote|I ended up so involved with each personality while scripting the scenarios that there were points where, looking back at the game today, it's clear that I somewhat lost this balance. For example, as the scenes featuring Celes and Kefka progress, these characters (while not directly playable in the game) became far greater and more influential than originally intended when development began.|Yoshinori Kitase in an interview with ''Edge'' magazine in 2013}}<ref name=edge/>
  ⚫
[[File:FF6 - Celes FMV Concept.jpg|thumb|left|FMV concept art for imprisoned Celes.]]
  ⚫
The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Empire [[Censorship|was removed]] for the [[Game Boy Advance]] release of ''Final Fantasy VI''. This is because the original ''Final Fantasy VI'' was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. Violence is rated strictly in Japan, and Square wanted a CERO A rating for the Game Boy Advance version, which would have been impossible if a game depicts violence against a restrained human.<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://archive.rpgamer.com/features/insidegaming/tslatteryint.html| page name = Inside Gaming - Interview with Former Square Enix Translator Tom Slattery| site url = https://archive.rpgamer.com| site name = RPGamer Archive| access time = 17:05, December 09, 2018 (UTC)}}</ref>
  +
  +
Celes' last name has been spelled "Chère" with a [[wikipedia:grave accent|grave accent]] over the "e" in some versions of the end credits of ''Final Fantasy VI''.<ref name="Chère credits"/>
  +
  ⚫
{{clear}}
   
 
==Merchandise==
  
==Merchandise==
Line 167: Line 185:
 
[[File:FFColdCast6.jpg|right|100px]]
  
[[File:FFColdCast6.jpg|right|100px]]
 
The ''[[Final Fantasy Cold Cast Collection]]'' is a limited edition collectible series featuring cold cast statues that display notable scenes from ''Final Fantasy'' series. Only 3,000 Celes and opera house cold casts were made, each coming with a card and card stand that had the statue's limited number and description. The series has been out of production since 1999.
  
The ''[[Final Fantasy Cold Cast Collection]]'' is a limited edition collectible series featuring cold cast statues that display notable scenes from ''Final Fantasy'' series. Only 3,000 Celes and opera house cold casts were made, each coming with a card and card stand that had the statue's limited number and description. The series has been out of production since 1999.
−
{{-}}
 +
{{clear}}
   
 
==Gallery==
  
==Gallery==
Line 173: Line 191:
   
 
==Etymology==
  
==Etymology==
−
Celes is possibly derived from Latin ''caeles'', which means "celestial" or "heavenly". It could be related to Celeste, a female given name in Italian, French and Spanish that also means "celestial" or "heavenly" (or, additionally, "sky-blue" in Spanish and Italian). This would provide a contrast to the English name of her foil protagonist Terra, ''terra'' being the Latin word for "land" or "earth". However, Terra was chosen for Tina's localization name by [[Ted Woolsey]],<ref>[http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html Bob Rork Woolsey Interview]</ref> meaning Celes's name wasn't originally meant to parallel Terra's. An alternative theory is that her name is [[wikipedia:Ceres (Roman_mythology)|Ceres]], after the Roman goddess of fertility.
 +
Celes is possibly derived from Latin ''caeles'', which means "celestial" or "heavenly". It could be related to Celeste, a female given name in Italian, French and Spanish that also means "celestial" or "heavenly" (or, additionally, "sky-blue" in Spanish and Italian). This would provide a contrast to the English name of her foil protagonist Terra, ''terra'' being the Latin word for "land" or "earth". However, Terra was chosen for Tina's localization name by [[Ted Woolsey]],<ref>{{Refwebsite| page url = https://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html| page name = Bob Rork Woolsey Interview| site url = https://www.chronocompendium.com| site name = Chrono Compendium| access time = 09:48, June 25, 2020 (UTC)}}</ref> meaning Celes's name wasn't originally meant to parallel Terra's. An alternative theory is that her name is [[wikipedia:Ceres (Roman mythology)|Ceres]], after the Roman goddess of fertility.
   
 
Both of these etymologies are problematic because Celes's Japanese name is {{J|セリス|Serisu|fmt=j(r)}}, and Japanese tends to adapt Classical Latin ''c'' as a {{IPA|/k/}} sound in all positions; for instance, the usual Japanese name for Ceres is {{J|ケレース|Kerēsu|fmt=j(r)}} or {{J|ケレス|Keresu|fmt=j(r)}}. But Japanese {{J|セリス|Serisu|fmt=j(r)}} has also been used to adapt other names like Celice, Celis and Cerise, none of which are from Classical Latin. Celes was the romanization prescribed for the name upon the original release of ''Final Fantasy VI'' in Japan.
  
Both of these etymologies are problematic because Celes's Japanese name is {{J|セリス|Serisu|fmt=j(r)}}, and Japanese tends to adapt Classical Latin ''c'' as a {{IPA|/k/}} sound in all positions; for instance, the usual Japanese name for Ceres is {{J|ケレース|Kerēsu|fmt=j(r)}} or {{J|ケレス|Keresu|fmt=j(r)}}. But Japanese {{J|セリス|Serisu|fmt=j(r)}} has also been used to adapt other names like Celice, Celis and Cerise, none of which are from Classical Latin. Celes was the romanization prescribed for the name upon the original release of ''Final Fantasy VI'' in Japan.
   
 
{{etym|Chere}}
  
{{etym|Chere}}
−  
−
==Trivia==
  
−
*The original English description of Celes, translated by Ted Woolsey for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game released in 1994, read:
  
−
"Battle-hardened magitek knight, product of genetic engineering, with a spirit as pure as snow."
  
−
*Due to the [[Bypass event glitch|bypass event glitch]] it is possible to sneak out of South Figaro without recruiting Celes. This leads to Celes being replaced by Moghan, one of the [[Ten Moogles]].
  
−
*It is possible to tackle [[Kefka's Tower]] before retrieving all the characters in the [[World of Ruin (Final Fantasy VI)|World of Ruin]], but Celes is one of three playable characters always available before it becomes accessible; the other two are [[Edgar Roni Figaro|Edgar]] and [[Setzer Gabbiani|Setzer]]. It is technically possible to complete Kefka's Tower and finish the game with only these three characters, but since the game forces a split into three separate [[Party|parties]] for the three paths, each of the three characters must finish one of the paths by themselves.
  
−
*Celes is the only [[Rune Knight]] in the main series ''Final Fantasy'' games and the only Rune Knight able to learn Meteor.
  
−
*Celes invites comparison to Medieval French heroine [[wikipedia:Joan of Arc|Joan of Arc]], who is popular in Japan and may even have been the inspiration for Celes being given a French name. Joan, who has been the subject of a number of operas, was a general at the young age of 18 and was opposed to morally-lacking tactics in warfare (including the poisoning of the water supply of a city under siege) and was captured as a result of her defiance of her kingdom's military policies (albeit more indirectly than Celes). Joan of Arc is a Saint of the Roman Catholic Church, but secular sources have often claimed that—like Celes—she was psychologically unstable (a famous example being Luc Besson's 1999 film ''The Messenger''), and she, too, threw herself from a great height purportedly in a suicide attempt. Finally, Celes's affinity for ice would suggest fire to be her nemesis; Joan of Arc was burned to death.
  
   
 
==References==
  
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Revision as of 05:25, 25 October 2020

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A Magitek knight forged by the Empire and tempered in battle. None have ever truly known the woman beneath the general's guise...

Game description

Celes Chere is a playable character in Final Fantasy VI. She was raised in the Gestahlian Empire and received a magic infusion to turn her into a Magitek Knight, and rose through the ranks to become a general. However, she becomes disillusioned with the Empire and turns traitor, joining the Returners and forming a friendship with Locke.

In the World of Ruin Celes becomes the game's viewpoint character for the first several dungeons and is the first character the player controls. She travels across the new world seeking information on what has become of her friends since the cataclysm and brings them together again to strike back at Kefka and free the world from his rule.

Profile

Appearance

Celes SD Art

Celes's SD artwork by Tetsuya Nomura.

Celes has long blonde hair and blue eyes. Her outfit varies considerably between her concept arts and game sprites. In her artworks, Celes wears a rich gold-yellow vest with detached sleeves that run up to her biceps and pants of the same color. She wears white boots and a top under her vest that comes up to her collarbone—the top is colored black, blue, purple, or pink in different concept art, but in spin-offs is consistently a shade of blue-indigo. Her sleeves and pants are laced on her thigh and upper arm. In her game sprites, Celes wears a low-cut green leotard with a belt around her waist, armored shoulderpads connected to a white cape, and blue boots and wrist bangles. Spin-offs have used either of these two designs.

Celes is also strongly associated with the dress she wore when performing in the Opera "Maria and Draco", an elaborate white gown with blue details, puffed shoulders, and a flared floor-length skirt with a blue ribbon around her waist. In this outfit Celes wears her hair tied with a blue ribbon.

Celes's signature weapon is a curved sword with a blue handle with a tassel and a golden crossguard with a swirl shape, one side curving up and the other down. Some spin-offs give this sword a more ornate blade with details carved into the metal, based on a piece of concept art where beads and other accessories are wound over the blade. Celes This sword has never been named and Final Fantasy Record Keeper simply calls it "Celes' Sword".

Personality

I'm a former general, not some opera floozy!

Celes is indignant at the idea of performing.

Initially Celes is a independent and harsh woman. She refuses Locke's offer to escape with him, preferring to remain imprisoned to face her execution with pride. She fiercely rejects Edgar's suggestion that Locke is smitten with her, and when Terra asks her "is it possible for you to love other people", Celes thinks she is mocking her and walks away. Despite her defection from the Empire Celes continues to identify with her former rank and brings it up to assert her dignity and pride. As time goes on Celes opens up more to the other party members and refers to them as her friends and comrades, and she is the driving force in the World of Ruin that begins reuniting the scattered party.

Despite serving in the Empire Celes has a strong sense of morals and self-sacrifice. She volunteers to lead the expedition to the southern continent to infiltrate the Empire, and stays behind in the Magitek Research Facility to distract Kefka and give the others time to escape. When Emperor Gestahl offers her the chance to ruin the world with him and Kefka, Celes declares "Power only breeds war... It's something we'd all be better off without" and then turns on them.

Her friendship with Locke is implied to be mutually romantic, though the two never openly express such feelings. She is hurt when Locke believes Kefka's lie that she was faking betraying the Empire to infiltrate the Returners, and for a time after when they reunite she refuses to speak to him. In the World of Ruin when Celes attempts suicide in an optional story scene, she discovers a bird bandaged with Locke's bandana, restoring her hope that he is alive somewhere in the world and giving her the strength to continue.

Celes cares deeply for Terra, acting as a sort of surrogate sister to her. When the party invades Kefka's Tower she questions what will happen to Terra if the party destroys the Warring Triad, the source of magic in the world. During the ending Celes is increasingly concerned for Terra's well-being as her powers begin to fade, and she is the party member who awakens on the Falcon after Terra falls and hurriedly searches the deck for her. In the game's final scenes where Terra steps to the bow of the ship and lets loose her ponytail, Celes steps up behind her and watches as she does so.

Abilities

Celes's ability is Runic, which allows her to absorb the magical attacks of enemies to negate them and restore her MP. She is closely associated with ice and naturally learns Blizzard magic and its upgraded forms, and is also associated with holy light through the Holy spell. Spin-off appearances adopt Celes' Runic with a more general theme of redirecting, absorbing, and nullifying enemy attacks, and her abilities are often expanded into a Spellblade-like theme with Celes using her sword as a medium to channel magic through.

In Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Celes specializes in Spellblade and Knight abilities to attack with ice and holy skills. Her early Soul Breaks grant her Runic status, which negates certain magical attacks used against her and restores her ability charges. When using higher-tier Soul Breaks that give infinite ability charges while in effect, Celes' instead gives herself the "Magic Blink" status to avoid enemy spells, and she is able to grant this status to her allies as well. Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia gives Celes a theme of tanking magic damage, with abilities that force enemies to attack her, allow her to absorb magical BRV attacks to increase her BRV, and grant her HP Regen and BRV Regen. Final Fantasy Brave Exvius more simply focuses Celes on using ice magic to attack enemies and buffing and healing allies.

Celes's Desperation Attack is Spinning Edge and it is treated as her Limit Break or equivalent mechanic in spin-off titles.

Story

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow. (Skip section)
FFVI Android Celes Talking to Terra

Celes discusses magic with Terra.

Celes was close with Cid growing up, who doted on her like a daughter. It is not known when Celes received her magic infusion and became a Magitek Knight, just that she was "very young", and Cid claims he forced her to undergo the procedure. Celes became a general of the Empire, and infamous for a "decimation" of Maranda. At some point in her service to the Empire she met Terra.

During the Empire's campaign in the north, Celes was branded a traitor—the exact reasons for her betrayal are not made explicit, but it is implied she discovered Kefka was planning to poison the people of Doma Castle and spoke against him. She was imprisoned in South Figaro and scheduled to be executed shortly before the Empire marched on Narshe. Locke was infiltrating the town to sabotage the Empire's advance and found Celes being held in a secret passage under the town. He freed her and convinced her to escape with him, and the two fled into the South Figaro Cave. An Imperial Magitek weapon, Tunnel Armor, attacked them in the cave, and Celes demonstrated her Runic blade to Locke by absorbing the machine's magic attacks. The Tunnel Armor was destroyed and the two continued to Narshe.

On the way, Celes explained she had overheard during her captivity that Kefka was planning to lead an attack on the town, and the two later relayed this to the assembled Returners. Cyan, another new ally of the Returners, recognized Celes and moved to attack her, but Locke defended her and Cyan backed down. With Kefka approaching the group headed into the cliffs above Narshe to defend a frozen esper that was Kefka's target. Cyan was still dubious of Celes who told him he could decide with his own eyes in the coming battle. The Battle for the Frozen Esper ended with the Returners defeating the Empire and Kefka retreating. In the aftermath, Terra approached the frozen esper and was transformed into a fiery esper-like being, and flew away.

The Returners found Terra in Zozo under the care of Ramuh, another esper. Terra was unable to control her powers due to her unstable emotional state, so Ramuh suggested the party infiltrate the Imperial capital Vector and free the espers being held in the Magitek Research Facility, as one of them could explain Terra's past to her and calm her. Celes volunteered to lead the mission since she knew the Empire well, and Locke insisted on accompanying her. The party headed to Jidoor to investigate leads on a means of reaching the southern continent, and met the Impresario who oversees the Opera House. The Impresario mistook Celes for someone named "Maria" and ran off in a panic, dropping a letter.

FFVI Celes Opera Flowers

Celes performing the Opera, while impersonating Maria.

The party learned from the letter that Setzer, a wandering gambler, was planning to abduct Maria, the star of the opera. Setzer owned the world's only private airship, the Blackjack, and the party decided to make contact with him to convince him to take them to the southern continent. Celes happened to bear an uncanny resemblance to Maria, so Locke suggested to the Impresario they have Celes take her place in the opera and allow Setzer to kidnap her, then she can sneak the party onto the airship. Celes was indignant at the idea of performing in the opera, but accepted and began rehearsing. Meanwhile the octopus Ultros, angry at the party for snubbing him earlier, plotted to sabotage the opera and ruin their plan.

During the show Locke went to see Celes in her dressing room and was flustered by her beauty in her opera dress. Celes asked why he stuck up for her earlier, and Locke alluded to his deceased lover Rachel whom Celes reminded him of. Celes went on-stage and performed "Aria di Mezzo Carattere", stunning Locke. She continued with the opera by attending a ball hosted by Prince Ralse, which was interrupted by forces led by Maria's lover Draco. As Celes watched Draco and Ralse duel for her hand, Locke and the other party members discovered Ultros's plan to drop a massive weight above the stage and crush Celes. They raced to the rafters to confront him and both groups fell onto the stage, knocking out Draco and Ralse. The party engaged Ultros, and in the chaos Setzer arrived and made off with Celes.

Setzer threw Celes into the guest room of the Blackjack and left. Celes dropped a rope down and Locke and the party climbed on-board. When Setzer returned he was confronted by the group, and realized Celes was not Maria. They asked Setzer for help and he decided he preferred Celes to Maria, and so offered a deal to aid the party if Celes agreed to marry him. Celes accepted over Locke's protests but added a stipulation—they would settle the wager with a coin toss. If it was heads, Setzer would help them regardless, but if it was tails, she'd marry him. Setzer agreed, not knowing that Celes had taken a two-headed coin from Edgar. Setzer realized the trick but laughed at falling for it and agreed to the terms anyway.

FFVI IOS Kefka Magitek Factory 2

Kefka accuses Celes of being a spy.

When the group reached Vector, a Returner sympathizer helped the group sneak into the Magitek Research Facility. They reached the lab containing the bulk of the captive espers and deactivated the machinery, but the espers had been drained off too much magic and died, turning into magicite that gravitated to the party. Cid arrived and approached Celes, asking about rumors she had infiltrated the Returners as a spy. Locke was surprised at this and Kefka entered the room, claiming it was true. He demanded Celes bring the magicite to him, and Celes asked Locke if he trusted her. Kefka had Imperial soldiers attack the group, knocking Celes aside. Celes vowed she would be the one to protect Locke this time, and teleported Kefka and his men away, along with herself. Locke and the others left the labs with Cid and escaped the facility.

The Returners used the power and information gained from the magicite to attempt to open the sealed gate to the Esper World and enlist their aid in attacking the Empire, but the espers devastated Vector beyond what the party envisioned. With the city in flames Emperor Gestahl called a truce and asked the Returners to allow Terra to accompany an expedition to find the espers and negotiate with them, that would be headed by General Leo. They agreed and Locke also volunteered to accompany Terra. In Albrook, Leo introduced the two to two others that would be coming with them: the mercenary assassin Shadow, and Celes, who had apparently rejoined the Empire and reclaimed her rank. Locke and Terra were surprised to see her, but she said nothing and ran when they approached her.

File:FFVI PC Celes Locke Albrook.png

Celes gives a cold shoulder to Locke.

The group stayed the night in the inn before leaving, and in the middle of the night Locke awoke and went outside to find Celes staring at the water. Locke tried to talk to her, but she turned away, and when he admitted he had doubted her she left. During the expedition as they prepared to make land at Thamasa, Celes finally tried to speak to Locke, but he turned from her and left.

With help from the Thamasan residents Strago and Relm, Terra and Locke found the espers and brought them to Thamasa to negotiate with General Leo. With the war seemingly ending, Celes wanted to return to Vector. Locke approached her, but Celes rebuffed him, and Relm mocked the romantic tension between them, causing everyone but them to laugh. At that moment Kefka arrived and revealed the entire plot had been a ruse to lure the espers out. Kefka and an escort of Imperials subdued the Returners and Leo's forces, and Kefka killed the espers and Leo. The party buried Leo and pondered the fate of their other allies, and they arrived shortly in the Blackjack, having learned of Gestahl's intentions before he could act against them.

FFVI Android Celes stabs Kefka

Celes stabs Kefka.

Kefka and Gestahl entered the esper world and raised the Floating Continent, at its summit the Warring Triad, the gods of magic. The party stormed the continent and confronted the two, and Celes arrived and tried to reason with Gestahl. Gestahl used the power of the Triad to paralyze the party and offered Celes the chance to rejoin him and rule the world with him and Kefka. Kefka handed her a sword and ordered her to kill her comrades as a show of loyalty. Celes took the weapon and approached the party, but then spun around and stabbed Kefka. Kefka flew into a rage and seized the power of the Triad for himself, killing Gestahl.

Kefka knocked Celes aside and moved the Triad out of alignment, causing their power to run amok. Shadow arrived and started to push the Triad back into position, and the party freed themselves from their bindings. A surge of magic forced them and Celes back and they had no choice but to flee. The party escaped the Floating Continent with Shadow on the Blackjack, but it was too late: the disruption of the Triad's formation wreaked destruction across the planet. The Blackjack was torn apart in the outpouring of magic and the party was scattered.

File:FFVI PC Celes Suicide.png

Celes attempts suicide.

Celes woke up in a cabin being cared for by Cid. Cid told her they were on a small island and it had been a full year since the cataclysm. Others who had lived on the island had leapt off the northern cliffs in despair, and they were the only two left. The two decided to live out their lives and Celes suggested she refer to Cid as "grandfather", which he laughed at. Cid began to cough and explained he took ill a few days ago, and Celes usherded him to bed and promised to take care of him, venturing to the beach to catch fish to feed him.

Depending on the player's actions, Cid either recovered or perished. If he perished, Celes was distraught and leapt off the northern cliffs to attempt suicide. She washed up on shore and was awakened by a seagull with a wing bandaged by a bandana, giving Celes the hope Locke was alive. She returned to the house and discovered a letter from Cid directing her to a hidden basement where he had been building a raft to escape the island. If Cid was saved, he showed Celes the raft himself. Either way, Celes used the raft to sail to the mainland.

The raft landed near Albrook and Celes gathered information on the current state of the world. She went north to Tzen just as the town was attacked by Kefka's "Light of Judgment", causing a house to start to collapse, only supported by Sabin, Edgar's brother. Sabin held the house up while Celes rescued the son of the owner trapped inside, and Sabin leapt away as Celes emerged and the house collapsed. Sabin joined Celes and the two traveled east to Mobliz. The village's adults had been killed by Kefka's Light of Judgment and Terra was taking care of the orphaned children. Celes and Sabin asked her to come with them but she refused, as she had grown attached to the children and was defending them from Humbaba, a demon that prowled the region.

Celes and Sabin went to Nikeah and met a group of bandits called the Crimson Robbers who were planning to raid Figaro Castle; the castle had been lost in the cataclysm when its burrowing mechanisms malfunctioned and only they knew how to find it. The leader of the bandits was a man named "Gerad" with a suspicious resemblance to Edgar. Celes called out to him and Gerad claimed he had no idea what she was talking about, but his flirtatious mannerisms heightened Celes's suspicions. She and Sabin snuck aboard the ship the robbers were using to travel to South Figaro and pursued them into the South Figaro Cave, where they used a new tunnel dug by sandworms to enter the dungeon of Figaro Castle.

In the engine room Gerad and the robbers found the castle's engines entangled by tentacles preventing them from working. Gerad sent his men ahead to loot the treasure room while he fought the tentacles, and Celes called to him again. Edgar gave up the charade and told Celes to lend him a hand, and the three defeated the monsters. Edgar explained he wanted to help save Figaro but had no idea where to look, so when he heard the bandits had escaped from the castle he posed as their new boss and had them lead him inside. The three hid as the bandits emerged and left, presuming "Gerad" was eaten by the monster. With the engines repaired the castle arose from the desert and traveled to Kohlingen.

FFVI PC Celes Setzer

Celes encourages Setzer to fight again.

At Kohlingen the group found Setzer in the bar, depressed over the state of the world and the loss of his airship, claiming to have given up on his dreams of freedom. Celes convinced him to chase a new dream—a better world—and Setzer was motivated to help. He took the group to Darill's Tomb and raised an airship formerly owned by his friend Darill, the Falcon. With the Falcon, the group could enter Kefka's Tower from the air, but first they resolve to find their friends. A carrier pigeon flew by and Celes felt an urge to follow it. They followed it to Maranda, where a girl named Lola had been receiving letters from a man the group believed to be Cyan, giving them their first lead on another ally to find.

Eventually the growing party explored the Phoenix Cave, where Emperor Gestahl was rumored to have hidden a "legendary treasure". They found Locke there who had already found the legendary treasure—the phoenix magicite. Celes deduced he intended to use it to revive Rachel and the party took Locke to Kohlingen. The Phoenix revived Rachel for only a moment, but long enough to absolve Locke of his guilt in failing to save her and give him her blessing to be with Celes. When Locke emerged from the basement Celes approached him, and Locke said he felt at ease and rejoined the party to fight Kefka.

FFVI Android Terra and Celes in the Ending

Celes and Terra in the ending.

The party entered Kefka's Tower and destroyed him, and with the source of magic in the world gone the tower began to collapse and the party's magicites began to vanish. Terra transformed into her esper form and the group rushed back to the Falcon. Along the way Celes dropped the bandana she had kept from the solitary island and rushed to get it, but the floor collapsed under her, a parallel to when Rachel had fallen. Locke dove and caught her, refusing to let go, and pulled her to safety. At another point, Edgar and Setzer were trapped when a path collapsed. A series of paired switches had to be pressed in unison to free them, so the mime Gogo mimicked Celes's movements perfectly and together they saved the two.

The group reached the Falcon and took off with Terra flying ahead of them. Celes noticed Terra's strength was fading, and when she fell from the sky he had Setzer dove to catch her. The party momentarily passed out from the high-speed descent, and when Celes awoke she found the collapsed Terra; she stood and thanked Setzer for the save. As the party flied around witnessing the world rebuilding, Terra stepped to the bow of the ship and let her ponytail go to savor her freedom, Celes watching a few steps behind her.

Spoilers end here.

Gameplay

Main article: Celes Chere gameplay

Celes is a Rune Knight with balanced stats and a wide range of equipment, making her useful in both physical damage roles and magical damage roles. Her ability is Runic, which allows her to absorb magical attacks to restore her MP. She is one of two characters to naturally learn magic as she levels up. Her Desperation Attack is Spinning Edge, which deals magical damage to one enemy.

Musical themes

Main article: Celes's Theme

Celes is the only character, other than Terra, introduced without her theme music; instead, the track "Under Martial Law" is playing. It is not until after her performance in the opera that Celes's theme makes an appearance.

On the Final Fantasy VI Original Sound Version, Celes's theme is simply called "Celes"—disc 1, track 22. The theme shares the central melody with the "Aria di Mezzo Carattere".

A piano arrangement of her theme appears on the Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VI album. This version is also included on the Potion 2: Relaxin' with Final Fantasy album.

The original version of "Celes" is included on the fourth disc of the Final Fantasy Vinyls collector's edition set, and appears as a song in Theatrhythm Final Fantasy All-Star Carnival. The original SNES version of "Celes's Theme" is obtainable as a battle music from a Theatrhythm Final Fantasy event (2018/01) in the arcade version of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.

Other appearances

Main article: Celes Chere other appearances

Celes has made appearances in the following games in the Final Fantasy series:

Behind the scenes

ChibiCeles2

Chibi artwork by Yoshitaka Amano.

After it was decided Final Fantasy VI would feature an ensemble cast with no clear main protagonist, everyone in the development team was encouraged to provide ideas for characters and their episodes. Celes's character and story were colored by influence from Yoshinori Kitase.[4]

Celes was originally meant to be a "conflicted spy" archetype—a spy working for the antagonists, but swayed by the benevolence of the people she was supposed to be spying on and how nice Locke was to her. She was to be psychologically unstable, like Kefka, due to a similar magic infusion process.[5][6] Although the "conflicted spy" idea was not used in Final Fantasy VI itself, the archetype was later used for Cait Sith in Final Fantasy VII.

Celes was Yoshinori Kitase's favorite Final Fantasy VI character from a developer's point of view. Kitase has stated that Celes did not have as much of a role at first, but this changed later in development.[7] The player starts the World of Ruin storyline with Celes because it "made sense in the overall flow of the story" and because the developers were concerned that starting it with Terra would place too much importance on her story.[6] The developers did not initially intend to create a "world of ruin". Rather, the plan was for the party to save the world and defeat Kefka just as the world was about to be destroyed. However, because the game was coming along more smoothly than expected, the developers could free up time to implement another version of the world after its "end". Yoshinori Kitase had an emotional attachment to Celes ever since he started event planning for the second chapter where they would try to make her the main character.[8]

Kitase has later commented him having taken a liking to Celes ended up making her a more important character in the game than originally envisioned:

I ended up so involved with each personality while scripting the scenarios that there were points where, looking back at the game today, it's clear that I somewhat lost this balance. For example, as the scenes featuring Celes and Kefka progress, these characters (while not directly playable in the game) became far greater and more influential than originally intended when development began.

Yoshinori Kitase in an interview with Edge magazine in 2013

[4]

FF6 - Celes FMV Concept

FMV concept art for imprisoned Celes.

The scene where Celes is being tortured by the Empire was removed for the Game Boy Advance release of Final Fantasy VI. This is because the original Final Fantasy VI was created before the Japanese ratings board, CERO, existed. Violence is rated strictly in Japan, and Square wanted a CERO A rating for the Game Boy Advance version, which would have been impossible if a game depicts violence against a restrained human.[9]

Celes' last name has been spelled "Chère" with a grave accent over the "e" in some versions of the end credits of Final Fantasy VI.[1]


Merchandise

Celes-keychains-ffvi

Key chains.

In 1994, Square released pencil toppers and key chains featuring the cast from Final Fantasy VI in their super-deformed forms, Celes included. The pencil toppers and key chains were available in vending machines. At least two different versions of the Celes key chain exist: one in her in-game sprite outfit and one dressed as Maria.

FFColdCast6

The Final Fantasy Cold Cast Collection is a limited edition collectible series featuring cold cast statues that display notable scenes from Final Fantasy series. Only 3,000 Celes and opera house cold casts were made, each coming with a card and card stand that had the statue's limited number and description. The series has been out of production since 1999.

Gallery

Main article: Celes Chere gallery

Etymology

Celes is possibly derived from Latin caeles, which means "celestial" or "heavenly". It could be related to Celeste, a female given name in Italian, French and Spanish that also means "celestial" or "heavenly" (or, additionally, "sky-blue" in Spanish and Italian). This would provide a contrast to the English name of her foil protagonist Terra, terra being the Latin word for "land" or "earth". However, Terra was chosen for Tina's localization name by Ted Woolsey,[10] meaning Celes's name wasn't originally meant to parallel Terra's. An alternative theory is that her name is Ceres, after the Roman goddess of fertility.

Both of these etymologies are problematic because Celes's Japanese name is セリス (Serisu?), and Japanese tends to adapt Classical Latin c as a [/k/] sound in all positions; for instance, the usual Japanese name for Ceres is ケレース (Kerēsu?) or ケレス (Keresu?). But Japanese セリス (Serisu?) has also been used to adapt other names like Celice, Celis and Cerise, none of which are from Classical Latin. Celes was the romanization prescribed for the name upon the original release of Final Fantasy VI in Japan.

The French Chère is the feminine form of cher, meaning "dear", "precious", "treasured" or "expensive".

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://youtu.be/jbb8zDmzXZc?t=500
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Final Fantasy VI Settei Shiryō-hen, p.36
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 1, p.272
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Making Of: Final Fantasy VI (dead) (Accessed: February 21, 2015) at Edge Online
  5. ↑ V Jump issue (in Japanese) (dead) (Accessed: September 25, 2009) at Infoseek
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Final Fantasy VI – 1994 Developer Interview (Accessed: December 09, 2018) at shmuplations
  7. ↑ Final Fantasy: Kitase's Inside Story (dead) (Accessed: October 13, 2012) at 1Up
  8. ↑ 25 Years Since The Release Of Final Fantasy VI – Looking Back At The Passion (Accessed: April 09, 2019) at One Million Power
  9. ↑ Inside Gaming - Interview with Former Square Enix Translator Tom Slattery (Accessed: December 09, 2018) at RPGamer Archive
  10. ↑ Bob Rork Woolsey Interview (Accessed: June 25, 2020) at Chrono Compendium
Final Fantasy VI characters
Abilities - Allusions - Artwork - Dummied content - Enemies - Locations - Menu - Script - Timeline - Translations - Walkthroughs
Playable Terra Branford - Locke Cole - Edgar Roni Figaro - Sabin Rene Figaro - Shadow - Cyan Garamonde - Gau - Celes Chere - Setzer Gabbiani - Mog - Strago Magus - Relm Arrowny - Gogo - Umaro
Temporary Biggs and Wedge - Ten Moogles - Banon - ?????? - General Leo Cristophe - Maduin
Gestahlian Empire Emperor Gestahl - Kefka Palazzo - Cid Del Norte Marguez
Espers Alexander - Bahamut - Bismarck - Cactuar - Cait Sith - Carbuncle - Catoblepas - Crusader - Diabolos - Esper Elder - Fenrir - Gilgamesh - Golem - Ifrit - Kirin - Lakshmi - Leviathan - Maduin - Midgardsormr - Odin - Phantom - Phoenix - Quetzalli - Ragnarok - Raiden - Ramuh - Seraph - Shiva - Siren - Unicorn - Valigarmanda - Yura - Zona Seeker
Others Aisha - Arvis - Baram - Chancellor - Crimson Robbers - Dancing Girl - Darill - Dream Stooges - Duane and Katarin - Duncan Harcourt - Elayne and Owain - Elder of Narshe - Gau's father - Gungho - Impresario - Interceptor - Kappa - Lola - Lone Wolf - Madeline - Maria - Mayor of Thamasa - Owzer - Queen - Rachel - Siegfried - Typhon - Ultros - Vargas - Wrexsoul
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