{{Short description|Fictional character in Final Fantasy}} {{Italic disambiguation}} {{good article}} {{Infobox character | name = Vaan | image = Vaan.png | caption = Vaan in ''[[Dissidia: Final Fantasy]]'' (2008) | series = [[Final Fantasy]] | lbl1 = First<br>appearance | data1 = ''[[Itadaki Street#Itadaki Street Special|Itadaki Street Special]]'' (2004) | lbl2 = First major appearance | data2 = ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]'' (2006) | lbl3 = Created by | data3 = [[Yasumi Matsuno]] | lbl4 = Designed by | data4 = [[Akihiko Yoshida]] | lbl5 = Voiced by | data5 = {{Collapsible list|title=[[English language|English]]|[[Bobby Edner]]}}{{Collapsible list|title=[[Japanese language|Japanese]]|[[Kouhei Takeda]]<br/>[[Kenshō Ono]] (''Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy'' – present)}} |home = Rabanastre }} {{Nihongo|'''Vaan'''|ヴァン|Van|lead=yes}} is a character in the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series from [[Square Enix]]. Created by [[Yasumi Matsuno]] and designed by [[Akihiko Yoshida]], he is the main protagonist of ''[[Final Fantasy XII]]''. ''Final Fantasy XII'' establishes Vaan as an orphaned teenager from Rabanastre who dreams of becoming a [[sky pirate]]. He and his best friend [[Characters of Final Fantasy XII#Penelo|Penelo]] join Dalmasca Princess [[Characters of Final Fantasy XII#Ashe|Ashe]] in her fight against the tyranny of the Archadian Empire. Vaan also takes a more active role in the sequel ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]'' and has also been featured in few ''Final Fantasy'' crossover games.
Vaan was conceptualized as the main character for ''Final Fantasy XII'' in order to contrast the older hero from Square's previous title ''[[Vagrant Story]]'' as a result of negative feedback received by fans. Critical reception to Vaan's character has been mixed as a result of his lack of involvement with ''Final Fantasy XII''{{'}}s plot, although various video game publications still found him likable.
==Appearances== Vaan was first introduced in the 2004 crossover board game ''[[Itadaki Street#Itadaki Street Special|Itadaki Street Special]]'' for the [[PlayStation 2]].<ref name="ISSpecialchars"/> He also appears in ''[[Itadaki Street Portable]]'' for the [[PlayStation Portable]].<ref name="ISPortableChars"/>
The protagonist of ''Final Fantasy XII'', Vaan is a 17-year-old orphaned street urchin who lost his parents in a plague when he was 12 years old.<ref name="VAANPARENTSquote">{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy XII |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=October 3, 2006|platform=PlayStation 2|quote='''Vaan''': A lot of kids lost their parents in the war. Mine- mine had already died before that. The Plague took them both. / '''Basch''': I'm sorry. I didn't know. / '''Vaan''': It's okay. It's been five years now. After that, I lived with my friend Penelo and her family.}}</ref> His only brother, Reks, died two years prior to the start of the game, during the Archadian invasion of Dalmasca. He makes a living as Migelo's assistant, running various errands for him, while at the same time pickpocketing from Archadian soldiers while claiming to take back what is Dalmasca's.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy XII |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=October 3, 2006 |platform=PlayStation 2|quote='''Penelo''': I thought that this money was the people of Dalmasca's property. The Imperials stole it from us, so it's only fair that we take it back. It's our duty as Dalmascans. Well, wasn't that what you said?}}</ref> He is a cheerful and energetic boy. Vaan dreams of someday becoming a sky pirate in command of his own airship.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy XII |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=2006-10-31 |platform=PlayStation 2|quote='''Vaan''': One of these days I'll fly an airship of my own. I'll be a sky pirate, free to go where I will.}}</ref> He trains to meet this goal by killing dire rats in the sewers of Rabanastre on a daily basis, for which Dalan gave him the nickname "Vaan Ratsbane".<ref>{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy XII |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=October 31, 2006 |platform=PlayStation 2|quote='''Old Dalan''': Now the right takes Vaan Ratsbane to his territorial hunting grounds in the sewerbottom.}}</ref> Despite nominally being the protagonist, the majority of the game focuses on the events and conflicts of the world as a whole and of Ashe, rather than Vaan's individual problems, with his character instead used as a narrative device to allow the player to follow the events as an outside observer.<ref name="wp"/> During the course of the game, Vaan comes to understand that he has spent his time running from his problems and blaming the Archadian empire for them, rather than moving on with his life after his brother and parents' deaths.<ref>{{cite video game|title=Final Fantasy XII |developer=Square Enix |publisher=Square Enix |date=October 31, 2006|platform=PlayStation 2|quote='''Vaan''': Hating the Empire, getting revenge. It's all I ever thought about. But I never did anything about it. I mean, I realized there was nothing I could do. It made me feel hollow, alone. And then I'd miss my brother. I'd say stuff like "I'm gonna be a Sky Pirate" ... or some other stupid thing. Just anything to keep my mind off it. I was just—I was running away. I needed to get away from his death. That's why I followed you. Know what? I'm through with it. I'm through running. I'm ready to find my purpose. To find some real answers—some reasons. If I stick with you, I think I will.}}</ref> Vaan ends the game as a sky pirate, traveling the world along with Penelo. He also reprises his role from ''Final Fantasy XII'' in the manga adaptation by Gin Amou.<ref>{{cite book|title=Final Fantasy XII 1|author=Amou, Gin|isbn=978-4-7575-1830-8|publisher=Square Enix|year=2006}}</ref>
During the events of ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]'', Vaan becomes captain of the Airship Galbana and uses it to travel to Lemurés, meeting old friends while making new ones. By ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift]]'' Vaan's and Penelo's adventures take them to the Jylland region of Ivalice, where they get caught up in events surrounding Clan Gully and a boy from another world named [[Luso Clemens]], eventually joining up with the clan for a time.<ref name="VaanPeneloFFTA2">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamekyo.com/news21374_final-fantasy-tactics-a2-vaan-et-penelo.html|title=Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Vaan et Penelo|publisher=Gamekyo|first=Stéphane|last=Calonne|date=August 19, 2007|access-date=October 1, 2008|archive-date=July 11, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080711200420/http://www.gamekyo.com/news21374_final-fantasy-tactics-a2-vaan-et-penelo.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Vaan also appears in the [[PlayStation Portable]] fighting game, ''[[Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy]]'', as one of Cosmos' warriors who seek to eliminate creatures known as Maninkins. He returns in the game's sequel, ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|Dissidia NT]]'', as one of Materia's champions. He is also featured in the rhythm game ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy]]'' and its sequels, ''[[Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call|Curtain Call]]'' and ''[[Theatrhythm Final Bar Line|Final Bar Line]]'', as the main character representing ''Final Fantasy XII''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/21/ifrit-moogles-and-chocobos-in-new-theatrhythm-final-fantasy-screenshots/|title=Ifrit, Moogles, And Chocobos In New Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy Screenshots|publisher=Siliconera|date=December 26, 2011|access-date=June 30, 2012|archive-date=June 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618113351/http://www.siliconera.com/2011/09/21/ifrit-moogles-and-chocobos-in-new-theatrhythm-final-fantasy-screenshots/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Concept and creation== [[File:Takeda Kouhei from "The Brand New Legend Of The Stardust Brothers" at Opening Ceremony of the Tokyo International Film Festival 2016 (33513717511).jpg|thumb|left|Kouhei Takeda's work as Vaan's voice actor and motion capture affected his characterization.]] [[Yasumi Matsuno]] added Vaan and Penelo to be male and female avatar characters for the player in ''Final Fantasy XII''. They would see and learn about Ivalice in sync with the player over the course of the game but would not be deeply connected to the story.<ref name=ff12_scenario_ultimania/> The development team explained that their previous game, ''[[Vagrant Story]]'', which featured a "strong man in his prime" as the protagonist had been unsuccessful and unpopular; the change regarding ''Final Fantasy XII'' from a "big and tough" protagonist to a more effeminate one was thus decided after targeting demographics were considered.<ref name="FrenchInterview"/> Although originally conceived as more "rugged", Vaan was changed during development of the game to be more effeminate after "taking into consideration the target demographic". He was designed by character designer [[Akihiko Yoshida]] to look Asian.<ref name="GamespotQA"/> In response to criticism from Western fans regarding Vaan's design executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu noted that while several members from the development team were not feeling Vaan was the right main character owing to his young age, it was common for Japanese RPG to start with an inexperienced characters who grow across the game.<ref>{{cite web | date=October 26, 2006 | title=Square Talks Firsts for Final Fantasy XII | publisher=[[GameSpot]] | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/26/square-talks-firsts-for-final-fantasy-xii | access-date=April 12, 2007 | author=Wales, Matt | archive-date=January 17, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117071839/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/26/square-talks-firsts-for-final-fantasy-xii | url-status=live }}</ref>
[[Motomu Toriyama]], the writer and director of ''[[Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings]]'', picked Vaan as his favourite character in the game.<ref name="kikizo"/> In the making of the high-definition of ''XII'', the staff reflected on how "weak" and unreliable he was in the original game. However, they jokingly discussed together that ten years later, he could become more appealing than [[Balthier]], a character Square found appealing.<ref>{{cite web | date=April 5, 2017 | title=Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Developers Talk About Their Return To Familiar Grounds | publisher=Siliconera | url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/05/final-fantasy-xii-zodiac-age-developers-talk-return-familiar-grounds/ | access-date=April 5, 2017 | archive-date=April 6, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406111418/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/05/final-fantasy-xii-zodiac-age-developers-talk-return-familiar-grounds/ | url-status=live }}</ref> Wanting characters who could appeal to long-term fans and new fans, the team incorporated Vaan and Penelo in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift]]''.<ref name="SQEXinter2">{{cite web|url=http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/ffta2/02/02.php|title=Final Fantasy Tactics A2 Interview - Part 2: Music of Ivalice|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|date=2008|access-date=2018-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205185436/http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/ffta2/02/02.php|archive-date=2009-02-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> Vaan's appearance, which was supposed to mirror that of Balthier, was suggested by Hiroaki Kato.<ref name="ItoInterview1">{{cite web|url=http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/ffta2/03/|title=Ryoma Ito Interview - Part 1: Beginning the Project and Character Inspirations|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|date=2008|access-date=2018-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205185441/http://member.square-enix.com/na/features/ffta2/03/|archive-date=2009-02-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> In ''Dissidia'', he is featured in his ''Final Fantasy XII'' design, while alternative ones depict him as in ''Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift'', a new one by Yoshitaka Amano and another one featuring him as sea pirate by Akihiko Yoshida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/comru8/dissidia_official_site_vaan/|title=Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Site Updated With Vaan|publisher=Andriasang|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060018/http://andriasang.com/comru8/dissidia_official_site_vaan/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/comttx/dissidia_012_dungeon_play/|title=First Look: Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy's Dungeon Play|publisher=Andriasang|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002315/http://andriasang.com/comttx/dissidia_012_dungeon_play/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/comuzm/dissidia_vaan_yuna/|title=Pirate Vaan and Gunner Yuna Hit Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy Next Week|publisher=Andriasang|access-date=June 16, 2012|archive-date=December 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225043921/http://andriasang.com/comuzm/dissidia_vaan_yuna/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Another ''Final Fantasy XII'' centered-title, only known as [[Fortress (cancelled video game)|''Fortress'']], was in plans by Square Enix but was cancelled; in this video game, Vaan would remain with Penelo and live quiet lives due to the plot being more focused on other characters from the previous games, most notably Ashe, Larsa and Basch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-canceled-final-fantasy-xii-sequel-narrative-an/1100-6431040/|title=The Canceled Final Fantasy XII Sequel: Narrative and Gameplay Revealed|publisher=GameSpot|access-date=February 28, 2018|date=October 6, 2015|archive-date=March 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301044303/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-canceled-final-fantasy-xii-sequel-narrative-an/1100-6431040/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Vaan was voiced in ''Final Fantasy XII'' by [[Bobby Edner]] in English and by [[Kouhei Takeda]] in Japanese. With the casting of Takeda for the voice acting and motion capture, Vaan became a little less feminine and more "active, upbeat bright and positive" than planned.<ref name="FrenchInterview"/><ref name="Q&A"/> In the making of the English version, some lines involving Vaan had to be changed for its release but without the loss of the real information.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/a-voice-for-ivalice-the-localization-and-voice-acting-of-final-fantasy-xii|title=A Voice for Ivalice: The Localization and Voice Acting of Final Fantasy XII|date=12 October 2015|publisher=US Gamer|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=21 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021212452/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/a-voice-for-ivalice-the-localization-and-voice-acting-of-final-fantasy-xii|url-status=dead}}</ref> When asked how he compares to other ''Final Fantasy'' protagonists, Hideo Minaba said that due in part to being designed by a different character designer than before, he did not feel he could be compared to any other ''Final Fantasy'' character.<ref name="Q&A"/> Vaan's inclusion in ''Dissidia 012'' met difficulties due to the fact Takeda was busy with other works to voice him. However, following a Japanese popularity survey, the staff in charge hired [[Kenshō Ono]] to replace Takeda as fans wanted him to appear in ''Dissidia 012''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/comri8/vaan_voice_change/|title=Vaan Sees a Voice Change in Japanese Dissidia Final Fantasy|publisher=Andriasang|first=Anoop|last=Gantayat|date=November 15, 2010|access-date=November 16, 2010|archive-date=March 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303235352/http://andriasang.com/comri8/vaan_voice_change/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Reception== The similarities between Vaan's design and that of [[Tetsuya Nomura]]'s characters have been criticized, which artist Akihiko Yoshida noted was likely due to the similar colours used.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/ff12.html|title=RPGFan Previews - Final Fantasy XII|at=Preview First Look|publisher=RPGFan|first=Chris|last=Winkler|date=2003-12-04|access-date=2009-10-20|quote=Critics argue the designs of main characters Ashe and Vaan were mere copies of Tetsuya Nomura's popular style. In an interview, Yoshida refuted the criticism, pointing to his use of new colors as the possible reason for the comparisons. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070436/https://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/ff12.html|archive-date=2018-01-17|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the book ''Final Fantasy and Philosophy: The Ultimate Walkthrough'', he is described by Greg Littmann as a pick pocket and, unlike many of ''Final Fantasy''{{'}}s protagonists, lacking in a "sense of honesty and justice".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qmDT1MFLD78C&q=Vaan+%22Final+Fantasy+XII%22&pg=PA105|author1=Blahuta, Jason P.|author2=S. Beaulieu, Michael|title=Final Fantasy and Philosophy: The Ultimate Walkthrough)|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0-470-73040-9|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2020-12-05|archive-date=2024-03-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308233650/https://books.google.com/books?id=qmDT1MFLD78C&q=Vaan+%22Final+Fantasy+XII%22&pg=PA105|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' editor [[Greg Kasavin]] described Vaan as the "token androgynous male lead", also describing him as an "[[Aladdin]]-type".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-xii/reviews/final-fantasy-xii-review-6160816/|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|publisher=GameSpot|first=Greg|last=Kasavin|author-link=Greg Kasavin|date=October 31, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=December 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111206030809/http://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-xii/reviews/final-fantasy-xii-review-6160816|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4 TV]]'' editor Greg Orlando described him as "eminently likable" due to the game's focus on "political intrigue" and Vaan trying to understand it all.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/games/ps2/16259/final-fantasy-xii/|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|publisher=G4|first=Greg|last=Orlando|date=November 1, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=March 11, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130311065108/http://www.g4tv.com/games/ps2/16259/final-fantasy-xii/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Cyril Lachel of ''GamingNexus'' said that while he was not a fan of Vaan, he was surprised by how his story turned out.<ref name=nexus/> ''[[1UP.com]]'' editor Andrew Pfister stated that while everyone was expecting to hate what he describes as an "angsty teen", this is "tempered by the presence of Balthier and Basch", two fellow characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-xii_4|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|publisher=1UP.com|first=Andrew|last=Pfister|date=October 27, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=May 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523203646/http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-xii_4|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Kotaku]]''{{'}}s [[Jason Schreier]] considered Vaan and Penelo the game's weak points as they compared them with other characters such as Balthier and Asche whose actions were "interesting".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-xii-the-zodiac-age-the-kotaku-review-1796816046|title=Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age: The Kotaku Review|publisher=Kotaku|first=Jason|last=Schreier|author-link=Jason Schreier|date=October 27, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118010740/https://kotaku.com/final-fantasy-xii-the-zodiac-age-the-kotaku-review-1796816046|url-status=live}}</ref> Christian Nutt of ''[[GamesRadar]]'' made fun of the character in an article about the best ''Final Fantasy'' heroes stating that Vaan would definitely not be included.<ref name="gamesradar">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-five-best-final-fantasy-heroes/a-2010030211523859031|title=The five best Final Fantasy heroes|access-date=7 March 2010|author=Christian Nutt|work=[[GamesRadar]]|date=3 March 2010 |publisher=Future US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615190434/http://www.gamesradar.com/f/the-five-best-final-fantasy-heroes/a-2010030211523859031|archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> Meanwhile, ''[[USGamer]]'' simply described him as a stereotypical character often seen in [[anime]] series aimed at young people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-new-final-fantasy-xii-the-zodiac-age-story-trailer-is-game-of-thrones-as-heck|title=The New Final Fantasy XII Zodiac Age Story Trailer is Very Game of Thrones-esque|date=9 June 2017|publisher=US Gamer|access-date=February 22, 2018|archive-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110929/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/the-new-final-fantasy-xii-the-zodiac-age-story-trailer-is-game-of-thrones-as-heck|url-status=dead}}</ref> Schreier went harsher, to the point of making a podcast titled "Vaan Really Sucks" as he and his partner interacted about video games.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2017/07/13/podcast-vaan-really-sucks|title=Podcast: Vaan Really Sucks|date=13 July 2017|publisher=Kotaku|access-date=February 28, 2018|archive-date=28 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228224133/http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2017/07/13/podcast-vaan-really-sucks|url-status=live}}</ref>
His lessened involvement with the plot compared to protagonists from preceding ''Final Fantasy'' titles was met with mixed reception. ''[[Destructoid]]'' editor Aaron Linde described him as "arguably the most uninspiring character in the game".<ref name=destructoid/> ''Play.tm'' editor Andrew Macarthy described Vaan as an "undescribing figure".<ref name=playtm/> ''[[Eurogamer]]'' editor Rob Fahey opined that while "players may initially be somewhat dismayed to find themselves largely following around the cheerful prettyboy Vaan", the game introduces new characters who "fill out the cast superbly".<ref name=eurogamer/> ''PSX Extreme'' editor Cavin Smith commented that due to the game not focusing on just one character, Vaan "spends the entire game as an observer of the events unfolding in front of him", adding that it is a "far different take on the protagonist compared to Nomura's egocentric tendencies".<ref name="psxe"/> ''Daily Collegian'' was harsher to the point of listing him as one of the most useless characters in the franchise due to his lack of appeal most notably in comparison to the party members from his game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailycollegian.com/2012/02/the-top-useless-final-fantasy-characters/|title=The top useless Final Fantasy characters|publisher=Daily Collegian|access-date=June 10, 2019|archive-date=May 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529221100/https://dailycollegian.com/2012/02/the-top-useless-final-fantasy-characters/|url-status=live}}</ref> ''PALGN'' editor Phil Larsen called him a "rogue-ish bad boy with a heart of gold", adding that "while this may seem clichéd at first, Vaan is always presented as extremely young and never tries to control every situation", citing Tidus as an example of someone who does.<ref name=palgn/> Worthplaying editor Agustin described the set-up as being "''Dragon Quest''-like", and that while he acts as a vehicle for players to view the plot through, he compared him to critically acclaimed characters [[Crono (Chrono Trigger)|Crono]] and [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]] from the ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series respectively.<ref name="wp"/>
[[Bobby Edner]]'s portrayal of Vaan has been met with mostly positive reception. Cavin Smith praised his acting, stating that he sounds like an actual teenager without sounding whiny.<ref name="psxe"/> Agustin praised the developers for giving Vaan a voice actor, commenting that it prevents any awkward silences from a silent protagonist. He added however that Vaan is "decidedly quiet", owing to many of the conversations not requiring his input, which Agustin called a "brilliant interactive storytelling device".<ref name="wp"/> His design change from ''Final Fantasy XII'' to ''Revenant Wings'' was criticized by RPGFan editor Patrick Gann, for going from a teenage design to what appears to be the design of a 10-year-old Vaan.<ref name=rpgfan/> Rémi Lopez in the book ''La Légende Final Fantasy XII et Ivalice'' noted that Vaan is a character who has a chaotic creation that brought him chance to the throne as hero of the main protagonist without affecting his attributes. He further said that despite the cheerful and naivety specific to many of the main characters of the Japanese RPG, Vaan doesn't lack certain characteristics because even if Vaan is 15 years old that knows nothing of the outside world and a philosophy to boil down friendships, he will still be able ti gather around characters on different ages and seeing in him the makings of the leader born despite his youth.<ref>{{cite book |title=La Légende Final Fantasy XII et Ivalice |publisher=Third Edition |date=August 2015 |first=Rémi |last=Lopez |language=French |pages=676–677 |isbn=9791094723142}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name=destructoid>{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-final-fantasy-xii-revenant-wings-55241.phtml|title=Destructoid review: Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings|publisher=Destructoid|first=Aaron|last=Linde|date=November 23, 2007|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=September 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919074143/http://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-review-final-fantasy-xii-revenant-wings-55241.phtml|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name=ff12_scenario_ultimania>{{cite book|title=Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania|publisher=[[Square Enix]]|url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ff/12_scenario_ult/index.html|author=Studio BentStuff|language=ja|access-date=2012-06-01|archive-date=2012-10-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029010540/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ff/12_scenario_ult/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="FrenchInterview">{{cite web | date=February 28, 2007 | title=Sortie française de ''Final Fantasy XII'': le Compte rendu | publisher=Final Fantasy Ring | url=http://www.ffring.com/articles/divers-sortie-francaise-de-Final-Fantasy-XII.html | language=fr | access-date=April 17, 2007 | archive-date=May 2, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502090537/http://www.ffring.com/articles/divers-sortie-francaise-de-Final-Fantasy-XII.html | url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name=eurogamer>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_finalfantasyxii_ps2|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|publisher=Eurogame]|first=Rob|last=Fahey|date=October 31, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=December 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218125237/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_finalfantasyxii_ps2|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="GamespotQA">{{cite web | date=November 20, 2003 | title=Q&A: Final Fantasy XII developers | publisher=[[GameSpot]] | url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/qanda-final-fantasy-xii-developers-6084068 | access-date=April 12, 2007 | archive-date=October 25, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025114521/http://www.gamespot.com/news/qanda-final-fantasy-xii-developers-6084068 | url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name="ISPortableChars">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamekyo.com/news15053.html|title=Itadaki Street surf sur la vague FFXII|last=Calonne|first=Stéphane|date=March 24, 2006|publisher=Gamekyo|language=fr|access-date=September 24, 2009|archive-date=October 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004130115/http://www.gamekyo.com/news15053.html|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="ISSpecialchars">{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/games/ps2/itastsp/|title=ドラゴンクエスト＆ファイナルファンタジー in いただきストリート Special|publisher=Square Enix|language=ja|access-date=2009-09-24|archive-date=2017-02-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202223053/http://www.jp.square-enix.com/archive/itastsp/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name="kikizo">{{cite web|url=http://archive.videogamesdaily.com/news/200803/046_p1.asp|title=Square Enix Final Fantasy DS Interview|publisher=[[Kikizo]]|date=March 17, 2008|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=August 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160825232718/http://archive.videogamesdaily.com/news/200803/046_p1.asp|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name=nexus>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamingnexus.com/Default.aspx?Section=Article&I=1267|title=Final Fantasy XII - Review|publisher=GamingNexus.com|first=Cyril|last=Lachel|date=October 31, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709225803/http://www.gamingnexus.com/Default.aspx?Section=Article&I=1267|archive-date=July 9, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> <ref name=palgn>{{cite web|url=http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/6343/final-fantasy-xii-review/|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|website=PALGN|first=Phil|last=Larsen|date=February 22, 2007|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307085549/http://palgn.com.au/playstation-2/6343/final-fantasy-xii-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> <ref name=playtm>{{cite web|url=http://play.tm/review/9828/final-fantasy-xii/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316053348/http://play.tm/review/9828/final-fantasy-xii/|archive-date=March 16, 2009|title=Final Fantasy XII - Review|publisher=play.tm|first=Andrew|last=Macarthy|date=March 31, 2007|access-date=October 20, 2009}}</ref> <ref name="psxe">{{cite web|url=http://www.psxextreme.com/scripts/reviews2/review.asp?revID=508|title=Final Fantasy XII Review|publisher=PSX Extreme|first=Cavin|last=Smith|date=November 27, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=May 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514062837/http://www.psxextreme.com/scripts/reviews2/review.asp?revID=508|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="Q&A">{{cite web | date=November 20, 2003 | title=Final Fantasy XII Q&A | publisher=IGN | url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/20/final-fantasy-xii-qa | access-date=September 2, 2006 | archive-date=February 7, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207125035/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/11/20/final-fantasy-xii-qa | url-status=live }}</ref> <ref name=rpgfan>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/ff12-rw/index.html|title=Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings|publisher=RPGFan|first=Patrick|last=Gann|date=January 29, 2008|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117070447/http://www.rpgfan.com/reviews/ff12-rw/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> <ref name="wp">{{cite web|url=http://worthplaying.com/article/2006/11/21/reviews/37911/|title=PS2 Review - 'Final Fantasy XII'|publisher=Worthplaying|author=Agustin|date=November 21, 2006|access-date=October 20, 2009|archive-date=July 23, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723134038/http://worthplaying.com/article/2006/11/21/reviews/37911/|url-status=live}}</ref> }}
{{Ivalice}} {{Final Fantasy}}
[[Category:Air pirates]] [[Category:Characters designed by Akihiko Yoshida]] [[Category:Fictional pirates in video games]] [[Category:Fictional thieves]] [[Category:Final Fantasy XII characters]] [[Category:Male characters in video games]] [[Category:Orphan characters in video games]] [[Category:Video game characters introduced in 2004]]