Terra Branford: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Protagonist in Final Fantasy VI}}

{{General CVG character

{{Good article}}

|name=Terra Branford

{{Infobox character

|image=[[Image:ff6 amano tina.jpg|160px|{{{name|}}}]]

| image = Terra Branford N.png

|caption=

| image_upright = 0.9

|series=''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series

|firstgame caption = Terra, as seen in ''[[Dissidia: Final Fantasy VI]]''

|artist series = [[YoshitakaFinal AmanoFantasy]]

|inuniverse first ={{ ''[[Final Fantasy characterVI]]'' (1994)

| creator = [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]]<ref>{{cite web

|class=Magic Fighter

|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-final-fantasy-vi

|skill=Morph

|title=The Making Of… Final Fantasy VI

|specialattack=Riot Blade

|website=Edge Online (archived)

|specialattacktype=[[Limit Break#Limit Breaks in Final Fantasy VI|Desperation Attack]]

|publisher=Future Publishing

|race=Half-Esper, half-human

|date=August 5, 2013

|age=18

|access-date=9 August 2025

|height=5'7" (1.70 m)

|archive-date=8 August 2013

|weight=105 lb (48 kg)

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808145228/http://www.edge-online.com/features/the-making-of-final-fantasy-vi

}} }}

|url-status=bot: unknown

'''Terra Branford''' is a fictional character in [[Square Co., Ltd.]]'s [[computer role-playing game]] ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. She is a girl of mysterious origins born with the power of magic, long thought lost. Although ''Final Fantasy VI'' has no definite main character, many players consider Terra as such since she is the first character to be introduced, her theme is used as the music for the overwold in the first half of the game, and she is featured in the game's original Japanese logo and box art. (The original American release features Mog as the box art.) Although her background can be said to be the driving force in the first half of the game, she is optional in the second half of the game, sharing importance with many other characters.

}}</ref>

| designer = [[Kazuko Shibuya]]<ref name=famitsu/><br>[[Yoshitaka Amano]]<ref name="cutscenes"/>

| voice = {{Vgrelease|'''[[English language|EN]]'''|Natalie Lander|'''[[Japanese language|JA]]'''|[[Yukari Fukui]]}}

| motion_actor =

| portrayer =

| data21 =

}}

'''Terra Branford''', known as {{nihongo|'''Tina Branford'''|ティナ・ブランフォード|Tina Buranfōdo|lead=yes}} in Japanese media, is a character in the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series and the main [[protagonist]] of ''[[Final Fantasy VI]]''. [[Kazuko Shibuya]] designed her and made her in-game sprites while the promotional artwork was made by [[Yoshitaka Amano]]. She also appears in the spin-off fighting game series ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' and the rhythm series ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]''. She has made small appearances in several other games in and outside the ''Final Fantasy'' series.

Terra is the 18-year-old daughter of a human mother and a father who is an Esper, a magical creature with the natural ability to use powerful magic. She was mentally enslaved by the evil Gestahlian Empire, who used her gifted powers to wage war on the empire's neighboring countries. Several rebels rescue her at the beginning of ''Final Fantasy VI'', and she decides to aid their campaign and protect those whose lives were affected by the Empire.

==Biography==

Terra is the daughter of the [[Summon magic (Final Fantasy)|Esper]] Maduin and a human mother, Madonna, who, disgusted with the world of humans, wandered to the Esper world. Her heritage as a magical being is the source of her powers. She has natural fire- and curative-magic alignment. Much of the turmoil involved with her stems from the dichotomy of her origins. She is neither fully human nor fully esper and therefore, though she can identify with both groups, she does not "belong" in either. Later in the story Terra finds purpose in the innocence of a group of children who are indifferent to her dual origin<ref name="katarin">'''Katarin:''' "Terra's been our only hope for survival."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. She serves as the portal between the esper and human worlds<ref name="espers">'''Terra:''' "I am the product of an Esper and a human. I am proof that such a bond can exist."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>.

Developers, who initially planned Branford to be a young man, designed her character to start as a passive person in the first half of the game to show her growth throughout the story. Terra's character has received widespread critical acclaim, with game journalists and fans alike praising her complexity and unique backstory. She has been on many lists of gamers' favorite ''Final Fantasy'' characters and is one of the most well-known video game characters to date.

Terra was reared by the [[List of Final Fantasy VI locations#The Empire|Empire]] as a soldier after the Empire, including [[List of Final Fantasy VI characters#Gestahl|Emperor Gestahl]] himself, attacked the Espers' home and captured several, including Maduin. Her potential was quickly realized and she's said to have once destroyed fifty Magitek-equipped Imperial soldiers in an exercise<ref name="vicks">'''Vicks:''' "And this woman...this...sorceress...why is she here? I heard she fried fifty of our Magitek Armored soldiers in under three minutes!"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. When the game begins, Terra is wearing a Slave Crown, suppressing her free will and giving the Empire complete control over her<ref name="arvis">'''Arvis:''' "Easy, it was a Slave Crown. The others had complete control over you while you were wearing it."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. An encounter with a frozen Esper later identified as Tritoch in the mines of Narshe freed her of the Slave Crown, causing amnesia. Terra was left a confused young woman, a much-desired asset for wars she knew nothing about who bears inhuman powers of unknown origin.<ref name="edgar">'''Edgar:''' "Banon! She doesn't remember ANYTHING!"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>

==Conception and creation==

Terra was rescued by the [[List of Final Fantasy VI characters|Returners]], an underground anti-Empire resistance movement, and eventually made her way to join it. Agreeing to help the Returners in the hopes she might begin to understand her own powers more, this eventually brought a confrontation with the Esper Tritoch (see below for more information), and first awakened Terra's dormant Esper-half, but her transformation frightened her so badly, she screamed and flew away out of terror. She is tracked to the town of Zozo, where an Esper named Ramuh says she is neither Esper nor human<ref name="ramuh">'''Ramuh:''' "No, actually, Terra is quite different."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. After a trip to Vector to rescuse more Espers, it is revealed that Terra is half-human, half-Esper. At this point, Terra is trusted with opening the Sealed Gate to the Esper World, and bringing peace with the Espers that came from within.

''[[Final Fantasy VI]]'' was developed with the mindset that none of the playable cast was the protagonist, and that each of them were equally the "main character". The cast of characters were selected from submissions from across the development team.<ref name="YT"/> Once the characters were selected, each individual would write their character's story, with [[Yoshinori Kitase]] balancing the plot as things developed.<ref name="YT">{{cite AV media |via=[[YouTube]] |title=Final Fantasy 35th Anniversary Special Interview <nowiki>|</nowiki> Part 2 of 2 |date=July 26, 2023 |accessdate=March 30, 2024 |author=[[Square Enix]] |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7B-iw8qhZbQ |time=21:43}} [https://archive.org/details/y-2mate.is-final-fantasy-35th-anniversary-special-interview-part-2-of-2-7-b-iw-8 Alt URL]{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="legend1">{{cite book |title=The Legend of Final Fantasy VI |date=2018 |first=Pierre |last=Maugein |publisher=Third Editions |isbn=9782377840472 |pages=161–162}}</ref> The character was initially conceived as a half-esper young man in his early 20s.<ref name="ffcolosseum199409">{{cite magazine | magazine=[[V Jump]] | date=September 1994 | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=186–189 | script-title= ja:FFコロシアム | trans-title=FF Colosseum | url=http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> He was to be a partner and rival of the dark, mysterious [[Locke Cole]].<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[V Jump]] | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=190–193 | script-title= ja:FFコロシアム | trans-title=FF Colosseum | url=http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> Named "Tina Branford" in Japanese media, American playtesters "hated the name Tina, almost to a person!", according to the game's translator [[Ted Woolsey]]. For this reason, Woolsey renamed the character "Terra" in the North American English version of the game. While acknowledging that some might dislike the name change, he noted that the games he worked on "were meant for a broader audience than the one which buys and plays Japanese imports", and those who know Japanese should play the original versions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html |title=Bob Rork Woolsey Interview |first=Bob |last=Rork |date=May 7, 1997 |publisher=Chrono Compendium |access-date=August 9, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060713020606/http://chronocompendium.com/Term/Bob_Rork_Woolsey_Interview.html |archive-date=July 13, 2006}}</ref>

Artist [[Yoshitaka Amano]] was commissioned to design the game's cast from the brief outlines provided. Given full creative freedom, Amano wanted to make "real" and "alive" characters, though with consideration for their representation in-game as small computer [[sprite (graphics)|sprites]].<ref name="creation">{{cite book |title=Japan: Final Fantasy |date=August 11, 1994 |publisher=[[NTT Publishing]] |language=ja|isbn=4-87188-338-8 |chapter=Interview |pages=108–109}}</ref> However, according to series creator [[Hironobu Sakaguchi]] and pixel artist [[Kazuko Shibuya]], most of the characters were designed by Shibuya first as sprites.<ref name=famitsu>{{cite web |website=[[Famitsu]] |script-title=ja:【『FFVI』25周年】『FF』が成長できたのは、『ドラゴンクエスト』へのライバル心があったから。坂口博信氏、北瀬佳範氏ら開発スタッフに当時の思い出を聞く |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201904/27175201.html |date=2019-04-27 |accessdate=2025-08-09 |language=ja}}</ref> Though Shibuya acted as an intermediary between Amano and the development team, this resulted in discrepancies between Amano's concepts and the game itself.<ref name=cutscenes>{{cite AV media |via=[[YouTube]] |language=Japanese |title=Yoshitaka Amano, Kazuko Shibuya - from paper to pixel <nowiki>|</nowiki> 天野喜孝、渋谷員子 - 紙からドットへ |date=August 16, 2021 |accessdate=March 30, 2024 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZT9uca2b2E |author=Cutscenes |time=8:27 }} [https://archive.org/details/yoshitaka-amano-kazuko-shibuya-from-paper-to-pixel-fzt-9uca-2b-2-e-1080pp-1711813943 Alt URL]{{cbignore}}</ref> Shibuya initially designed Terra with short, blond hair, though it was later lengthened. She later insisted it be changed to emerald green, worrying that blonde hair would make it harder to distinguish the characters due to how often it was used in Amano's art.<ref name=cutscenes/><ref name=famitsu/> Amano considered Terra his favorite character to design,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152237 |title=A Day in the Life of Final Fantasy's Yoshitaka Amano |first1=James |last1=Mielke |first2=Hiroko |last2=Minamoto |date=July 20, 2006 |publisher=[[1UP.com]] |page=5 |access-date=August 9, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816070836/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3152237 |archive-date=August 16, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and opted to keep the original blonde hair for all of his illustrations, and his version of the character design has been used to represent Terra in some instances, such as the [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] cutscenes added to ''[[Final Fantasy Anthology]]''{{'}}s release of ''VI''.<ref name="RPGFFFAreview">{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasyanthology/Final_Fantasy_Anthology.html |title=RPGFan Reviews – Final Fantasy Anthology |last=Musashi |publisher=RPGFan |access-date=2009-10-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801105916/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/finalfantasyanthology/Final_Fantasy_Anthology.html |archive-date=2009-08-01}}</ref> Despite the lack of a main protagonist in ''Final Fantasy VI'', Shibuya felt that Terra was in her eyes such, due to the heavy amount of art Amano drew of her.<ref name="cutscenes"/>

Terra succeeds in opening the Sealed Gate, however, in doing so, she released a group of Espers who went on a rampage and destroyed the Imperial capital of Vector. The Returners have a banquet with Gestahl, who at this point seems to have given up on his war. Gestahl asks Terra to deliver his offering of peace to the Espers, and she agrees. However, she eventually finds out that the peace was a scheme by [[List of Final Fantasy VI characters#Kefka Palazzo|Kefka]] and Gestahl to obtain ''Magicite'', the remains of dead Espers, which are very useful for obtaining vast magical power<ref name="gestahl">'''Gestahl:''' "My only purpose was to acquire Magicite, and grow powerful."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>.

Due to ''Final Fantasy VI''{{'}}s ensemble cast approach, the second half of the game opens with another character, [[Celes Chere]], instead of Terra, who opened the first. Another reason for this shift is that the team wanted Terra's story arc to progress in a new direction after the first half.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[V Jump]] | date=January 1995 | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=208–211 | script-title= ja:FFコロシアム | trans-title=FF Colosseum | website= | url=http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> The game story made Terra a very passive character in the first half of the game to show her personal growth and strength as the story progressed. At the end of the game, Terra was initially going to die when magic left the world, but the development team decided that this would be "excessive" as she had finally discovered her humanity and let her live without her magic powers.<ref name="ffcolosseum199409" /> In the game ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', producer [[Tetsuya Nomura]] chose Terra as the representative hero for ''Final Fantasy VI''. He reasoned that without her, there would be no female hero character in the game's roster. Nomura stated that "based on [his] feelings" from ''Final Fantasy VI''{{'}}s production, he "thought it had to be Terra" as she appeared on the game's cover art and advertisements. Gameplay-wise, Terra is Nomura's favorite character in ''Dissidia Final Fantasy''.<ref name="dissidiaultimania">{{cite book |title=Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania |date=January 29, 2009 |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |isbn=978-4-7575-2488-0 |editor=Studio BentStuff |series=[[List of Square Enix companion books|Ultimania]] |pages=696–699 |language=ja |chapter=Chapter EX Director Section II Part 6}}</ref>

Terra, after falling from the destroyed Enterprise, is found in the World of Ruin in the ruins of Mobliz. The adults of the town died protecting their children, and Terra now cares for them. Earlier in the game, Terra has a long talk with General Leo about her desire to be loved<ref name="leo">'''Terra:''' "But, I want to know what love is, NOW!"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>, and it is speculated (and later proved)<ref name="love">'''Terra:''' "Finally, I understand that feeling, even though I kept it buried for so long. I'm sure it's called... 'Love!'"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref> that she finds this unconditional love with the children. Due to this love, she defends them from the occasional attack by Phunbaba, but her fighting skills have begun to slip, and thus, she refuses to join the party on the grounds she can no longer fight<ref name="mobliz">'''Terra:''' "Ever since I arrived here, I discovered a new part of me that I cannot understand. And the more I try to understand it, the less inclined I am to fight."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. Later, Phunbaba attacks again, and Terra begs the party to fight in her place. After Phunbaba uses an attack called BabaBreath to chase away two party members, Terra rushes to the scene, transforming into her Esper form. With Terra's help, Phunbaba is vanquished once and for all. In the aftermath, the children of Mobliz are terrified of Terra, but after a moment, recognize her as their 'Mama'<ref name="mama">'''Girl in Mobliz:''' "Mama, it's you isn't it. I can tell!"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. Terra decides to join the fight against Kekfa to ensure the children can grow up in a peaceful world<ref name="future">'''Terra:''' "I'm sorry, children, but your "Mama" has to go away for a while. I'll return when I feel your future's guaranteed!"<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>.

== Appearances ==

In the final credits, the destruction of the Three Goddesses and Kefka causes espers and magic to disappear from the world. Consequently, Terra also begins to lose her esper powers. However, the Magicite of her father Maduin says that if her human side has a strong connection to some part of the human world, Terra will be able to survive as a human<ref name="maduin">'''Maduin:''' "Terra...We must part now. We espers will disappear from this world...forever. But if the human part of you is very strongly attached to something or someone...You will probably be able to remain in this world as a human being..."<span style="font-size: 90%;">(''Final Fantasy VI'')</span></ref>. Terra uses the last of her strength to lead the party to safety in the airship, then flies out of the tower. As her power finally fades, she falls from the sky, but Setzer dives the ship and catches her. Terra awakens aboard the airship, alive and fully human, due to her love for the children of Mobliz and her care for Katarin, who went into labor while Terra was fading. It should be noted that, even if the player decided not to recruit Terra, she flies to Kefka's Tower to help the party escape anyway.

=== ''Final Fantasy VI'' ===

Terra is the first introduced character, a mentally-enslaved Imperial super-soldier who possesses destructive magic. She is made to participate in an armored assault on the town of Narshe, exterminating most of the town's militia in pursuit of a recently unearthed magical creature which are known as Espers. Upon encountering the creature, her fellow soldiers are killed and her armor destroyed. She wakes up in the home of a man named Arvis, now free of her slave crown and suffering amnesia.<ref>'''Arvis:''' Easy, there! This is a slave crown. The others were using it to control you. It was robbing you of your thoughts – making it so you'd do whatever they told you. '''Girl:''' I can't remember a thing... '''Arvis''': Don't worry. It'll all come back to you... In time, that is. [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> Pursued into the depths of Narshe's mines by Imperial forces, the thief Locke and a horde of [[moogle]]s eventually rescue her.<ref>'''Arvis:''' The city guard is pursuing her as we speak. This city has the strength to stand up to the Empire, but it won't use it. The people are just too stubbornly independent to join an underground resistance group like the Returners. I tried to explain that the Empire was controlling the girl, but they wouldn't even listen... [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> After events in Figaro kingdom and another Imperial invasion on Narshe to claim the Esper, she learns she is the daughter of an Esper father and human mother, explaining her magical abilities. Having been previously brain-washed and extensively trained, Terra realizes she was instrumental in the Empire's conquest of the other city-states on the southern continent. She discovers that her power had caused the deaths of fifty Imperial troops in moments.<ref>'''Banon:''' Carrier pigeons have kept me informed. I also heard that she wiped out fifty Imperial soldiers in mere minutes... '''Terra:''' No, that's not...! '''Locke:''' Terra! '''Edgar:''' For heaven's sake, Banon! This girl doesn't remember anything! [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> Terra became a vital part of the revolutionary movement known as the "Returners", whose strategy was to try and ally with the Espers, who live beyond the sealed gate, against the Empire. Terra succeeded in opening the barrier between worlds and unleashed the Espers' upon the Empire, leaving its capital in ruins.

In the game's post-apocalyptic second half, Terra is found no longer wishing to fight. For the orphans of the town of Mobliz, she has become a mother figure.<ref>'''Terra:''' I don't know why these kids need me... And it's not like there's anything forcing me to protect them. It's the strangest feeling... But once that feeling took root inside of me, I lost the strength to keep on fighting. [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> She fails to stop an attack on the town by a legendary demon known as Humbaba, requiring the players' party's intervention to drive it away.<ref>'''Terra:''' Humbaba...the ancient monster released from the depths of the earth by the cataclysm... I have to protect the village! [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> Returning to the village later, the player finds her ready to stand up against Humbaba. She joins the player to defeat it and vows to make the world safe for children.<ref>'''Terra:''' Thank you... You all helped me understand what it means...to love. I'll fight! I'll make this world a place where life can flourish, and children can grow up in peace! [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref> At the game's conclusion, Terra expects to fade from existence with the remaining Espers as magic leaves the world. Her fathers' spirit, however, tells her that she will not die because she is half-human.<ref>'''Terra:''' Father...? '''Maduin:''' Terra...we must part now. We espers will disappear from this world. You may fade away as well... But, perhaps if the human part of you feels something strong enough, then maybe...just maybe you will be able to remain here as a human. [[Square Enix]] ''Final Fantasy VI Advance'' (in English) February 5, 2007</ref>

==Abilities==

[[Image:Terra_--_Crown,_Far.jpg|thumb|A CG rendered image of Terra from ''[[Final Fantasy Anthology]]'']]

===Morph===

Later contact with the esper Tritoch brought Terra's quest for identity to an abrupt end as she turned into her hitherto unknown half-Esper form: a flying, glowing pink figure with wild hair. The experience also temporarily sent her into shock, but after recovering her senses, she discovered she had the power to alternate between her human and Esper forms. The player is henceforth able to access her ''Morph'' command in battle. When in Esper form, Terra's physical and magical power and magic defense all double; she can only retain this form for a short period of time, however (determined by the number of "Magic Points" accumulated so far by the party), and is subsequently unable to utilize her ''Morph'' ability again for a substantial interim. Hence, this command is best used only in dire circumstances.

===Magitek Other appearances ===

Terra is the heroine representing ''Final Fantasy VI'' in ''[[Dissidia: Final Fantasy]]'', a [[Fictional crossovers in video games|crossover]] fighting game featuring different characters from the ''Final Fantasy'' series.<ref name=decidia>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008-10-09-tgs-08-terra-and-cloud-confirmed-for-dissidia-roster-now-compl.html|access-date=June 16, 2020|title=TGS 08: Terra and Cloud confirmed for Dissidia, roster now complete|author=Athab, Majed|publisher=Engadget|date=October 9, 2008|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616180123/https://www.engadget.com/2008-10-09-tgs-08-terra-and-cloud-confirmed-for-dissidia-roster-now-compl.html|url-status=live}}</ref> She returns in ''[[Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy|Dissidia 012]]'' as a member of the evil Chaos army, and also appears in the next game, ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|Dissidia NT]]'' with an alternate appearance featuring her green hair from ''Final Fantasy VI''.<ref name=evil>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/cloud-terra-and-tidus-align-with-chaos-in-dissidia-012duodecim/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=February 7, 2011|title=Cloud, Terra And Tidus Align With Chaos In Dissidia 012[duodecim]|author=Sahdev, Ishaan|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616193552/https://www.siliconera.com/cloud-terra-and-tidus-align-with-chaos-in-dissidia-012duodecim/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=NT>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-nt-trailers-introduce-onion-knight-cecil-bartz-terra/|publisher=Siliconera|title=Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Trailers Introduce Onion Knight, Cecil, Bartz, And Terra|author=Sato|date=December 13, 2017|access-date=June 16, 2020|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616193531/https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-nt-trailers-introduce-onion-knight-cecil-bartz-terra/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=alternate>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-adds-2nd-form-outfits-character-august-18/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=August 11, 2016|title=Dissidia Final Fantasy Adds "2nd Form" Outfits For Each Character And More On August 18|author=Sato|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616194336/https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-adds-2nd-form-outfits-character-august-18/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her character appears in the mobile title ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia|Dissidia Opera Omnia]]''.<ref name=omnia>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-opera-omnia-crystal-awakenings-and-updates-make-a-good-game-better/|publisher=Siliconera|title=Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia Crystal Awakenings And Updates Make A Good Game Better|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=January 11, 2019|author=Lada, Jenni|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616202733/https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-opera-omnia-crystal-awakenings-and-updates-make-a-good-game-better/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Terra's ''Magitek'' command, which is only available during the game's introduction and Cyan's dream when Terra is piloting ''Magitek Armor'', gives her access to several additional actions: the generic Magitek Bolt Beam, Fire Beam, Heal Force, and Ice Beam, and her own unique attacks Bio Blast, Confuser, TekMissile, and X-Fer.

Terra is a playable character in ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy Explorers]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade|Airborne Brigade]]'', and ''[[World of Final Fantasy]]'', where she is voiced by Yukari Fukui.<ref>{{cite web|author=Narcisse, Evan|url=http://kotaku.com/5926719/why-stressed+out-final-fantasy-characters-probably-love-theatrhythm|title= Why Stressed-Out Final Fantasy Characters Probably Love Theatrhythm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220054447/http://kotaku.com/5926719/why-stressed%20out-final-fantasy-characters-probably-love-theatrhythm |archive-date=December 20, 2013|publisher=Kotaku|date=July 17, 2012}}</ref><ref name=explorers>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-explorers-adds-geomancer-job-shows-terra-ffvi/|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=September 25, 2014|title=Final Fantasy Explorers Adds Geomancer Job, Shows Terra From FFVI|author=Sato|publisher=Siliconera|archive-date=January 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116165845/https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-explorers-adds-geomancer-job-shows-terra-ffvi/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=brigade>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/sin-has-been-resurrected-for-final-fantasy-airborne-brigade/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|title=Sin Has Been Resurrected For Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade|date=February 15, 2013|author=Siliconera Staff|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616215835/https://www.siliconera.com/sin-has-been-resurrected-for-final-fantasy-airborne-brigade/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=world>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/terra-branford-bartz-klauser-boco-join-world-final-fantasy/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=August 16, 2016|author=Sato|title=Terra Branford, Bartz Klauser, and Boco Join World of Final Fantasy|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616213529/https://www.siliconera.com/terra-branford-bartz-klauser-boco-join-world-final-fantasy/|url-status=live}}</ref> She is also one of the randomly purchasable "Premium" characters in ''[[Final Fantasy: All the Bravest]]'' and a collectible character in ''[[Final Fantasy Record Keeper|Record Keeper]]'' and ''[[Final Fantasy Brave Exvius|Brave Exvius]]''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gilmour, James|url=http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Final+Fantasy%3A+All+The+Bravest/news.asp?c=47838|title= Cloud and Terra together at last in Final Fantasy: All The Bravest|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404163014/http://www.pocketgamer.co.uk/r/iPhone/Final%20Fantasy%3A%20All%20The%20Bravest/news.asp?c=47838 |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |publisher=Pocket Gamer|date=January 16, 2013}}.</ref><ref name=keeper>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-vis-terra-returns-in-final-fantasy-record-keeper/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=October 15, 2015|title=Final Fantasy VI's Terra Returns In Final Fantasy Record Keeper|author=Priestman, Chris|archive-date=September 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928223226/https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-vis-terra-returns-in-final-fantasy-record-keeper/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ex>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-brave-exvius-release-westward-smartphone/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=May 10, 2016|title=Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius To Release Westward For Smartphone Soon|author=Sato|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616194329/https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-brave-exvius-release-westward-smartphone/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy Tactics S'' briefly allowed Terra and other ''Final Fantasy'' characters to join their parties.<ref name=tactics>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-vi-heroes-summoned-like-espers-final-fantasy-tactics-s/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|date=April 1, 2014|title=Final Fantasy VI Heroes Summoned Like Espers For Final Fantasy Tactics S|author=Siliconera Staff|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616223253/https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-vi-heroes-summoned-like-espers-final-fantasy-tactics-s/|url-status=live}}</ref> Players can outfit their characters in Terra's outfit in ''[[Gunslinger Stratos 2]]''.<ref name=gun>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-costumes-pop-square-enixs-light-gun-game/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|title=Final Fantasy Costumes Pop Into Square Enix's Light Gun Game|author=Siliconera Staff|date=November 6, 2014|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616210152/https://www.siliconera.com/final-fantasy-costumes-pop-square-enixs-light-gun-game/|url-status=live}}</ref> Her character was included in the [[technical demo]] ''Final Fantasy VI: The Interactive CG Game''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/everyone-fantasies|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103183137/http://www.1up.com/features/everyone-fantasies|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2011|title=Everyone's Fantasies: Final Fantasy's Journey from Niche to Megahit|author=Oxford, Nadia|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|date=May 12, 2007}}</ref> Merchandise items featuring the character such as [[gashapon]] figurines and full models have been produced.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Final Fantasy 3 Figurines! |magazine=EGM2 |volume=1 |issue= 5 |date=November 1994 |page=96}}</ref><ref name=figurine>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/advent-cloud-cid-cait-sith-dirge-cerberus-vincent-dissidia-terra-play-arts-kai-figures-revealed/|publisher=Siliconera|access-date=June 16, 2020|title=Advent Cloud, Cid & Cait Sith, Dirge of Cerberus Vincent, Dissidia Terra Play Arts Kai Figures Revealed|author=Sato|date=September 21, 2017|archive-date=June 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616204359/https://www.siliconera.com/advent-cloud-cid-cait-sith-dirge-cerberus-vincent-dissidia-terra-play-arts-kai-figures-revealed/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Natural magic===

Like [[Celes Chère|Celes]], Terra learns some magic automatically without the aid of Espers; Terra's natural spells are predominantly fire-based.

==Trivia Reception ==

The character was very well received, especially among the Japanese fans of ''Final Fantasy''. Though she does not form a couple with anyone in ''Final Fantasy VI'', "Terra and Edgar" and "Terra and Locke" were popular fan wishes in polls of Japanese fans.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[V Jump]] | date=November 1995 | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=186–189 | script-title=ja:人気投票 |trans-title=Popularity Poll | url=http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> That same year, she was ranked sixth in ''[[V Jump]]''{{'}}s poll for the most popular characters in the ''Final Fantasy'' series.<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[V Jump]] | date=December 1995 | publisher=[[Shueisha]] | language=ja | pages=184–187 | script-title=ja:人気投票 | trans-title=Popularity Poll | url=http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121344/http://totscqcc.hp.infoseek.co.jp/vjamp.htm | archive-date=February 15, 2009}}</ref> A 2013 poll by Square Enix saw that Terra was the sixth most popular ''Final Fantasy'' female character in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-17/square-enix-poll/favorite-female-final-fantasy-character |title=Square Enix Poll: Favorite Female Final Fantasy Character |publisher=Anime News Network |date=January 17, 2013|author= Hodgkins, Crystalyn |access-date=January 21, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121014816/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-01-17/square-enix-poll/favorite-female-final-fantasy-character |archive-date=January 21, 2013}}</ref> In an article about ''Dissidia Final Fantasy'', ''IGN'' editor Ryan Clements called her one of the most recognizable and well-loved characters to fight against evil alongside other ''Final Fantasy'' protagonists.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2009/07/30/dissidia-final-fantasy-terra | title=Dissidia Final Fantasy: Terra | first=Ryan | last=Clements | date=July 30, 2009 | publisher=IGN | access-date=August 6, 2009 | archive-date=December 26, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226200727/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2009/07/30/dissidia-final-fantasy-terra | url-status=live }}</ref>

*Terra is named after the [[Terra (mythology)|Roman goddess]] of the [[earth]].

*Terra's birthday is [[October 18]].

In 1996, ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' chose the scene of Terra learning to love again by taking care of orphaned children as the most memorable moment in the ''Final Fantasy'' series: "It's safe to say that no other game series has tackled such big issues, or reached such a level of emotional complexity. It truly is beautiful".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 100 Games of All-Time: Final Fantasy (series)|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |issue=21 |date=September 1996 |page=64 |url=https://archive.org/details/nextgen-issue-021/page/n67/mode/2up |access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> In 2013, Gus Turner of ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' called her "a physical embodiment of the clash of man and magic that has defined much of the [''Final Fantasy''] franchise", praising the multi-dimensional aspects of her character and personality, and noted that as the game progressed, "we can't help ourselves from attaching to her on an emotional level".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/video-games/2013/10/greatest-final-fantasy-characters-all-time/terra-branford |title=Terra Branford — The 20 Greatest Final Fantasy Characters of All Time |publisher=Complex |date=October 8, 2013 |access-date=December 18, 2013|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012134829/http://www.complex.com/video-games/2013/10/greatest-final-fantasy-characters-all-time/terra-branford|author=Complex Editorial Staff |archive-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> That same year, [[Tom's Guide]]'s Marshall Honorof described her as "exactly what a maturing ''Final Fantasy'' series needed: a three-dimensional protagonist who is not a natural-born leader, but rather acquires compassion, focus and a genuine desire to make the world a better place", further arguing that she set a high standard for female protagonists that came afterward.<ref name=tomg>{{cite web|author=Honorof, Marshall|url=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/530-7-top-10-female-protagonists.html|title= Top 10 Video Game Female Protagonists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823024127/http://www.tomsguide.com/us/pictures-story/530-7-top-10-female-protagonists.html |archive-date=August 23, 2013|publisher=Tom's Guide|date= August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==References==

<div class="references-small">

<references />

</div>

Terra has also been the subject of academic study. The book ''Japanese Culture Through Videogames'' praised the representation of her identity crisis as a character through the "Morph" ability in her gameplay, but noted that while she represented many of the game's thematic elements it was harder to see her as the protagonist of the game, due to the presence of so many other characters. It further called her care for the children in Mobilz a turning point for her, in relation to her own experiences, and further used her as a baseline for comparison to characters with similar states in other franchises such as ''[[Tekken]]''{{'}}s [[Jin Kazama]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Japanese Culture Through Videogames|year=2019|author=Hutchinson, Rachael|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-0367111380}}</ref> In the book ''The Legend of Final Fantasy VI'', Pierre Maugein described Terra as initially portraying the archetypal "frail, protected heroine who is led to her truth by men", citing a belief that Japanese ethos and culture played a big part in this aspect. He noted however that she was an analogue to Kefka's reaction to societal rejection: where he sought to destroy, she utilized love and reconciliation. He further emphasized the importance of her being the character to force Kefka to justify his actions, adding that while some would not see her as the true protagonist of the game, she is just as essential for setting events in motion and the embodiment of transition from one era to another.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Legend of Final Fantasy VI |date=2018 |first=Pierre |last=Maugein |publisher=Third Editions |isbn=9782377840472 |pages=70–71}}</ref>

==External links==

{{FFVI character external links

Dr. Kathryn Hemmann in an article for ''[[Kill Screen]]'' described her as a variation of the 'magical girl' archetype of late-20th century Japanese pop culture through her "Morph" ability, and further argued that alongside Celes she represented the game exploring posthumanism themes. She further described them as the protagonists of the game, and in the context of so many works of science fiction focusing on male protagonists, "the game's narrative emphasis on Terra and Celes is striking". She lastly added that "Terra and Celes are not characters to be consumed, but identities to be embraced and managed", feeling they represented in many ways the discussions of bioethics prominent in the 1990's, and that "humanity, in all its forms, can bravely continue on into an optimistic future".<ref>{{cite web |website=Kill Screen |last=Hemmann |first=Kathryn |url=https://killscreen.com/previously/articles/magic-gender-final-fantasy-vi/ |title=Magic and Gender in Final Fantasy VI |date=August 16, 2016 |accessdate=June 15, 2023 |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708082016/https://killscreen.com/previously/articles/magic-gender-final-fantasy-vi/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

| name = Terra

| ffwiki = Terra Branford

== References ==

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{{reflist}}

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{{FFVI}}

== External links ==

* {{Commons category-inline|}}

{{Final Fantasy series|FF=FFVI}}

[[Category{{DEFAULTSORT:Final Fantasy VI characters|Branford, Terra]]}}

[[Category:FictionalCharacters hybrids|Branford,designed Terraby Tetsuya Nomura]]

[[Category:FictionalFemale magicians|Branford,characters Terrain video games]]

[[Category:Fictional messiahs|Branford,characters Terrawith amnesia]]

[[Category:Fictional orphans|Branford, Terrarevolutionaries]]

[[Category:Fictional amnesiacs|Branford,slaves Terrain video games]]

[[Category:Fictional supersoldiers|Branford,spiritual Terramediums]]

[[Category:Fictional characters with post-traumatic stress disorder]]

[[fr:Terra Branford]]

[[Category:Fictional mecha pilots]]

[[Category:Fictional swordfighters in video games]]

[[Category:Fictional characters who use magic]]

[[Category:Final Fantasy VI characters]]

[[Category:Hybrid characters in video games]]

[[Category:Orphan characters in video games]]

[[Category:Shapeshifter characters in video games]]

[[Category:Teenage characters in video games]]

[[Category:Video game characters introduced in 1994]]

[[Category:Video game characters who use magic]]