{{short description|''Final Fantasy XIV'' character}} {{Infobox character |name = Hildibrand Manderville |image = File:Hildibrand ARR.png |image_upright = |alt = |caption = Hildibrand in ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn|A Realm Reborn]]'' |series = [[Final Fantasy]] |firstgame = ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]'' (2013) |creator = |designer = |voice = }} {{nihongo|'''Hildibrand Helidor Maximilian Manderville'''|ヒルディブランド・ヘリドール・マクシミリアン・マンダヴィル|Hirudiburando Heridōru Makushimirian Mandaviru}} is a character in the 2013 [[video game]] ''[[Final Fantasy XIV]]''. He was featured in the original version of the game as an "inspector extraordinaire" who could be found in inns to help others. He later appears in ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn|A Realm Reborn]]'' with a questline, which lead to him getting a questline in most expansions to ''Final Fantasy XIV'' down the line. The only exception to this was ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers|Shadowbringers]]'', which director [[Naoki Yoshida]] noted was because he was in a rut. He eventually returned in ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker|Endwalker]]'' due to fan demand, being handled by a different staff member.
==Concept and creation== Hildibrand Manderville was created for the 2010 [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game]] ''[[Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)|Final Fantasy XIV]]''. In the original version, he was in charge of quests that players must do in order to get private inn rooms in the game. He was eventually featured in the reboot of the game, ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn]]'', with a new sidequest.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} During development of ''Final Fantasy XIV'' stories, director [[Naoki Yoshida]], known as Yoshi-P, noted that he instructed staff to come up with ideas that "go too far" that they will later dial down, which was also the case with Hildibrand's quests. He recollects a suggestion of Hildibrand battling [[Bahamut (Final Fantasy)|Bahamut]], which he rejected for going too far.<ref name="Kotaku">{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/how-final-fantasy-xiv-stays-weird-1782829093 |title=How Final Fantasy XIV Stays Weird |work=[[Kotaku]] |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=June 29, 2016 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> When designing his quests, there were certain stipulations. Namely, the that it had to have gags and be funny, among others.<ref name="DO"/>
Square Enix ultimately decided to include Hildibrand more in ''Final Fantasy XIV'' due to his popularity among players of the game.<ref name="DToid">{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/hildibrand-will-return-in-final-fantasy-xivs-latest-patch-as-fans-anxiously-await-eureka/ |title=Hildibrand will return in Final Fantasy XIV's latest patch as fans anxiously await Eureka |work=[[Destructoid]] |last=Carter |first=Chris |date=March 1, 2018 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> Despite appearing in ''A Realm Reborn'', ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward|Heavensward]]'', and ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood|Stormblood]]'', he was left out of ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers|Shadowbringers]]'' due to Yoshi-P being in a rut and taking a break from writing him.<ref name="IG"/> He discussed how it felt like it had been going on too long, and about how things had to be done a certain way instead of being done because it's funny, worrying that players were also feeling in a rut over Hildibrand's quests. He also noted that it was becoming too costly to work on the cutscenes for Hildibrand's quests at the same time as the "Return to Ivalice" quest.<ref name="DO">{{cite web |url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/125502/ |title=『FF14』パッチ6.1インタビュー! メインストーリーからDCトラベルまで、その全容を吉田P/Dに聞く！ |work=[[Dengeki|Dengeki Online]] |date=April 26, 2022 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> However, fan demand for his return eventually lead to his inclusion in ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker|Endwalker]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}<ref name="IG">{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2021/02/06/130855.html |title=「FF14 新情報発表会」吉田直樹氏へ合同インタビュー！配信されなかった「暁月の終焉」の���報が満載ー「月にも空気はあります！（笑）」 |work=Inside Games |date=February 6, 2021 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> Yoshi-P stated that a new person was in charge of Hildibrand's quests for the first time in a long time, which helped make him more motivated.<ref name="DO2"/> A low-poly version of Hildibrand was featured in ''Endwalker'', which Yoshi-P noted was inspired by the low-polygon grapes that became a meme.<ref name="DO2">{{cite web |url=https://dengekionline.com/articles/202762/ |title=【FF14】パッチ6.5メインストーリーから新アライアンスレイド、『Fall Guys』コラボまで吉田直樹氏にインタビュー |work=[[Dengeki|Dengeki Online]] |date=September 19, 2023 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
==Appearances== In ''Final Fantasy XIV'', Hildbrand travels around Eorzea as an "inspector extraordinaire," accompanied by an assistant named Nashu Mhakaracca. In the original version of ''Final Fantasy XIV'', Hildibrand can be found at various [[inn]]s, hoping to solve problems for people, including the protagonist. Through a misunderstanding, Hildibrand later decides that he is the hero in prophecy meant to confront the threat of a moon called Dalamud. After being blown toward Dalamud due to an explosion, he becomes trapped in a device that freezes him in time for five years. In the relaunched release of ''Final Fantasy XIV'', He is discovered and buried, having been assumed dead. He emerges with no memory of his identity, and is embraced by zombies who believe him to be undead. Nashu later finds him, restoring his memory by blowing him up. Along the way, he meets a cast of characters who help and impede his investigation in the theft of a sword, among them recurring character [[Characters of Final Fantasy V#Gilgamesh|Gilgamesh]]. The investigation causes him to uncover a plot engineered by the last living members of the Sil'dihn royal bloodline to destroy Ul'dah by zombifying the population, the same method used to destroy their civilization. After averting the crisis, Hildibrand recovers the sword and is sent flying into the air by it.
In the expansion ''Heavensward'', he is found by his father Godbert and adopts an automaton whom he names Gigi. Hildibrand thwarts a plot to use Gigi's time-manipulation powers to kill a creature called Hraesvelgr. The expansion ''Stormblood'' has him sent through a portal by a brainwashed Gilgamesh while investigating a conspiracy, ultimately returning once Gilgamesh regains his senses. He has only a cameo appearance in ''Shadowbringers'', having amnesia, which is explained in the following expansion ''Endwalker'' as being due to being summoned by the Ascian Emissary Elidibus as a corporeal spirit while his physical body fell comatose. After the player returns Hildibrand's soul to his body, he comes into conflict with the Garlean scientist Doctor Lugae while also being abducted by a flying saucer that creates a low-polygon clone of himself named Brandihild, who assists the group in their investigation.
Prior to the release of ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail|Dawntrail]]'', an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] in the graphics benchmark for the expansion can be triggered by setting the operating system's date to April 1st, replacing the default male Midlander Hyur used in promotional material with Hildibrand; if the clock is also set to a certain time, then Brandihild will take his place instead. During the expansion proper, Hildibrand crash-lands in northern Xak Tural in the Yuweyawata region, only to be trapped after Zoraal Ja initiated the interdimentional fusion that fused part of the Ninth shard with Yyasulani. The crash site was discovered by scientists from a nearby research station, who took him back with them after taking interest in his superhuman durability, only to place him in stasis after failing to wake him with a variety of methods. Hildibrand remained in the station for the next three decades, unaffected by the passage of time even after the facility was abandoned. After being freed, he works with his Ninth shard counterpart Hardiboiled to foil a plot involving the experiments from the same facility that he was trapped in.
==Reception== [[File:Hildibrand fall.gif|right|thumb|256px|The cutscenes in Hildibrand's quests have received commentary for their camerawork and animations, compared to ''[[Looney Tunes]]'']] Hildibrand has received generally positive reception, identified as a fan favorite by ''[[Destructoid]]'' and ''[[Kotaku]]'', with ''Final Fantasy XIV'' director noting that despite being popular in Japan, he was particularly so in the United States and Europe.<ref name="DToid"/><ref name="Kotaku"/><ref name="DO2"/> Commenting on his absence in the ''[[Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers|Shadowbringers]]'' expansion, ''Screen Rant'' writer John Tibbetts speculated that he was kept out because the developers were worried about him "overstay[ing] his welcome," feeling that a longer gap between appearances would help make him fresh for both fans and writers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://screenrant.com/ffxiv-endwalker-patch-6-1-hildibrand-return-final-fantasy/ |title=FFXIV: Why Hildibrand Is Returning For Endwalker |work=Screen Rant |last=Tibbetts |first=John |date=April 4, 2022 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> ''Inside Games'' writer Kosuke Yamaguchi discussed how they appreciated that Hildibrand is able to make people laugh through more than just his own self, but also through his interactions with other characters, such as making more serious characters seem like a joke or causing those around him to make strange faces.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inside-games.jp/article/2015/05/15/87643_3.html |title=【特集】『ファイナルファンタジーXIV』個性的なNPC20選…"通りすがりのイケメン"から"生首でも愛する狂気の女"まで |work=Inside Games |last=Yamaguchi |first=Kosuke |date=May 15, 2015 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
''Comic Book Resources'' writer Gina discussed how Hildibrand's quests are a good way to take a break from the more serious story of ''Final Fantasy XIV''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/ffxiv-hildibrand-quests/ |title=Why The Hildibrand Quests In Final Fantasy XIV Are a Must Complete |work=Comic Book Resources |author=Gina |date=November 16, 2021 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> ''The Gamer'' writer Andrea Shearon was similarly appreciative of Hildibrand's quests, saying that they represent the best part of the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series. She felt that the camera work, animation, and sound effects gave it a ''[[Looney Tunes]]'' feel, while Hildigard's "takes the spirit of all of your favorite absurdities [in ''Final Fantasy''] and embraces them."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegamer.com/ffxiv-hildibrand-quest-stormblood-arr-heavensward/ |title=Final Fantasy 14's Hildibrand Quests Represent The Best Parts Of The Series |work=The Gamer |last=Shearon |first=Andrea |date=July 17, 2021 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref> ''[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]]'' writer Hayes Madsen expressed a desire to see a hypothetical ''Final Fantasy XVII'' have more "goofs and gags," arguing that Hildibrand's quests fit this idea well. They felt that one of the best strengths of Hildibrand and his quests are how it utilizes the "stilted, janky animations" of ''Final Fantasy XIV'' for comedic effect, citing scenes they compare to ''Looney Tunes'' and ''[[Tom and Jerry]]''. They felt that this absurd humor helped make Hildibrand a fan-favorite character.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/final-fantasy-17-comedy |title=Final Fantasy 17 Needs to Buck the Series' Biggest Trend |work=[[Inverse (website)|Inverse]] |last=Madsen |first=Hayden |date=April 13, 2024 |accessdate=April 15, 2024}}</ref>
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==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{Final Fantasy}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Manderville, Hildibrand}} [[Category:Cryonically preserved characters in video games]] [[Category:Fictional characters incorrectly presumed dead]] [[Category:Fictional characters with amnesia]] [[Category:Fictional cross-dressers]] [[Category:Fictional private investigators]] [[Category:Final Fantasy characters]] [[Category:Final Fantasy XIV]] [[Category:Male characters in video games]] [[Category:Video game characters introduced in 2013]]