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The Brilliant Psychology of Final Fantasy 7

SteeD

13,026 views

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth's dream worlds are yet to make sense, and I don't think they are supposed to be understood literally.

In 2024, FF7 Rebirth writer Kazushige Nojima revealed that he studied Carl Jung's collective unconscious while writing the scenario, and hinted it might point toward the trilogy's ending. This video takes that seriously: a full walkthrough of Jungian psychology, individuation, the ego and the self, the persona, the shadow, the anima, and dream interpretation, and then applies it to Cloud Strife.

Note that this is not an answer to the mysteries, or a description of the mechanics behind the FFVII Remake trilogy. Rather, this is an interpretation that has changed how I personally see the entire Final Fantasy 7 story.

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The FFVII Piano covers in this video are by the amazing TPR, please support them below!:
TPR's Spotify: https://tr.ee/nLJ9Jz3tHH

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Link to the diagram used to explain Jung's theory of the psyche: https://thepathfinder.org/jungs-model...

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Chapters:

00:00:00 - What FF7 Remake Feels Like
00:03:56 - Nojima, Carl Jung, and the Ultimania Hint
00:08:36 - Carl Jung: Individuation (Becoming Whole)
00:18:00 - Carl Jung: Dreams, Symbols & the Shadow
00:26:00 - Why Is Cloud Special (To Us)?
00:34:00 - Fate and Looking Inward in FFVII Remake
00:42:55 - Guided By Fate
00:52:36 - Fragments of Memories
00:59:54 - Decoding the Dream Worlds
01:19:27 - Cloud's Individuation: The Lifestream Sequence
01:28:53 - I've Changed My Mind About FFVII Revelation

20 Comments

@Steed27 Creator 2 months ago (edited) Pinned

We've been talking about Carl Jung's influence in the trilogy for a long time, but this is my ultimate attempt to read the story and its symbolism, through Jungian psychology.

This video is the result of a lot of research and education that I had to do on the Jung and Psychology in general. Please remember that I am not a scholar, and this is an attempt to the best of my abilities. If someone knowledgeable can help correct or give more context to certain elements in the video, I'm all ears!

Cloud's story is the biggest narrative element of FFVII, and it is very special to me. I hope that I was able to convey at least some of that!

On a side note. This is not really a theory. My intention here is to understand why some of the mysteries are presented the way they are, and more importantly, the symbolism they could carry. A lot of this could be false, or correct, but the beauty of interpretation is that it is not necessarily confined to what the author intended.

I hope you guys enjoy it, and I can't wait to hear from you all in the comments!

@materiahunter8443 2 months ago

Sometimes it feels like Cloud was made specifically for me

@TheDigitalDecade 2 months ago

My existence seems to be obsessing over social behaviors, psychology, philosophy, etc. - and I honestly think you’ve made one of the best prep videos to watch for the longtime followers of the franchise before Revelation.
Love or hate the Remake series, it’s been an experience. I’ve loved the ups and downs and seeing the community come together to celebrate at big moments, regardless.

@Zaamboo 2 weeks ago

This is such an excellent video, it's easily the best explanation of what the "multiple worlds" could be. Cant wait to see how this all pans out in Revelations.

@Orly012 2 months ago

I often don't agree with your theories but man was this a banger video. Subbed just for this.

@skips_17 2 months ago

Cloud is an amazing protagonist because he is weak, as Nomura has called him in interviews. He’s soft, sensitive, but unbreakable. That’s what’s so powerful about him and makes him special.

@TheDigitalDecade 2 months ago

37:13 dude, I have been playing Rebirth on Normal with no side quests, no camera auto-adjust, no maps, etc… it’s been crazy cause I’ll just walk around and listen to NPCs and I’ve noticed SEVERAL lines of dialogue that are obviously hinting at things like this subject and teases of what’s to come…
Even seemingly obvious things (that maybe everyone else already noticed) like… when right before the tiny bronco malfunctions in the air - Cid says that its maintained by an top engineer and an expert pilot or something to that affect. I never caught that he references Shera right there.

@LegacyofKainisBack 8 days ago

Amazing analysis! I'm totally hooked. I would love to add the scene between Zack and Marlene in which she stated Aerith's feelings for Cloud. It's in the OG, but it was between Cloud and Marlene. She even added, "I will not tell Tifa."

@PetarBladeStrok 2 months ago

Absolutely GREAT video!

@RichardBlack1599 2 months ago (edited)

Great video! Thanks for sharing and all the hard work! As someone that appreciates open thought and exploration of ideas, this was fantastic! We share lots of similar theories and I’ve been thinking about these exact same topics regarding FF7 and the Re-Trilogy.

@daaknait 2 months ago

Great stuff! I enjoyed this very much. One of the best videos I've seen on the subject. I think you made me like the remake games.

@BladeJaxx 2 months ago

Thanks, was a great watch

@st4wik 2 months ago

I was really looking forward to this one! Still watching, but so far this is the most comprehensive look at how Jung’s ideas are applied in Remake. Amazing work dude!

@williamjames3313 2 months ago

Good sir, you deserve all the views!

@GreatBrenton 2 months ago

Wow. Incredible video.

@ozjanito 1 month ago

Absolutely beautiful material. Different dream worlds as a planet's manifestation of shadows of repressed memories is a interesting and very compelling idea, and it works in a world with living consciousness. As we experience them from Cloud's perspective, we might be being fooled by Sepiroth that they're actual realities (Sepiroth lying by showing some parts of the truth is actually the case in the OG as well). The end of this video reminded me of Aerith's words about boundless, terrifying freedom, and has given them a new metaperspective of what this remake project might be in relation to the OG.

@kurostern2527 2 months ago

Great video, i really like this interpreation of the dream worlds of Aerith date and zack worlds. Thinking of these events as a continous sequence instead of completely separate events does make them fits nicely together.

Seeing Sephiroth goes from Zack's dream world to Cloud and Aerith makes a lot more sense to me now.

@Peace.Within-Peace.Without 2 months ago

One of the best video essays on one of the best pieces of media. Brilliant. And so vitally important for each individual's journey of personal development, psychological integration, and spiritual growth. Thank you and bravo.

@highradicals 1 month ago

Cloud like a lot of characters are relatable but man Cloud is very different and special in a way that you can see yourself in him, even if it’s just bits and pieces

@m0usju1c3 2 months ago

Once again you deliver on a great treatise of FF7 lore, by far you're my favourite contributor as well as @Sleepezi.

Your videos have progressively helped me restore faith in what Remake is doing! I had no idea about the devs insisting the theme of truth in Revelation, BIG relief!