Of the series, Final Fantasy IX is most recognised for its return to the more traditional Final Fantasy look last seen in Final Fantasy VI. The characters retain the chibified look last seen in the SNES classic, at least in-game, but their design is once again the responsibility of Yoshitaka Amano.

Zidane Tribal

Orphan

Thief.

Charmer.

Zidane is all of these, approaching each day with boundless optimism, and living life to the fullest, as the leader of the Tantalus group of thiefs, He has no burdens from his past, because he does not remember any of it. Though as he begins to learn more, he begins to wish he had never found out...

Garnet Til Alexandros XVII / Dagger

Garnet Til Alexandros XVII is the princess and heir to the throne of Alexandria, and something of a stubborn lady at the best of times, though she is not without consideration for the feelings of others.

When her mother, Queen Brahme, whom Garnet had always known to be a kind and gentle woman, starts to act in cruel and uncharacteristic ways, Garnet fears for herself.

As the Queen's actions become more outrageous, in her insatiable lust for power, the princess Garnet decides to flee the castle and travel to Limdblum, to track down her uncle, Regent Cid Fabool IX, who may be able to help.

Conveniently for her, a band of "noble" thieves, led by the whimsical womaniser Zidane, are intent on whisking her away from the castle on the very same day she plans to make her escape...

Adelbert Steiner

The noble and commited captain of the Alexandrian Knights of Pluto isn't a stupid man, but he is surprisingly naive one, more so even than the princess he has sworn his life to protect.

At the outset of the adventure, we see Adelbert standing guard alongside the dearly trusted lady knight Beatrix, watching over Queen Brahme during the night's showing of the play "I Want To Be Your Canary".

His naiveity is his shortfall. When Princess Garnet decides to make her willing escape from Alexandria, Steiner is the first to her rescue... completely ignoring the fact that she doesn't want to be rescued, a fact pointed out to him many times, which always fails to sink in.

His dedication and loyalty are his greatest weaknesses, but in the face of adversity and trouble, when they are needed most, they turn out to be two of his most admirable qualities.

Vivi Ornitier

Possessing power far beyond his understanding, but ultimately pure of heart, Vivi finds himself living without any true purpose, and destined to feel isolated from a world he cannot cypher.

The young black mage Vivi travels to the Kingdom of Alexandria on a whim, ticket in hand, hoping to witness the famously renowned play, "I Want To Be Your Canary".

One fake ticket, a new rat-friend, a rooftop journey, and a chance encounter with a band of thiefs later, and Vivi finds himself being whisked off on the airship Prima Vista, and in the direction of some unexpected answers to his long sought questions. The answers he finds though, are ones he may end up wishing had been left unknown.

Freya Cresent / [Freija Cresent]

The forlorn Freya Crescent hails from Burmecia, a kingdom home to a race of anthropomorphic rats.

Freya is forced by circumstance into situations that have tested and eroded her emotional resolve over the years, but she has persisted through this suffering and continues to be a strong willed and desperately independent women, though a strong cynicism towards life has taken the place of her once jubilant nature.

As she journeys the world in search of her lost lover, Sir Iron-Tail Fratley, she comes across Zidane and company on a return visit to Lindblum, her current home, just in time to compete in the local "Festival of the Hunt".

She would find her resolve once again being tested to it's limits, as a number of circumstances lead back to the ruins of her recently devastated homeland, Burmecia. Her indomitable will proves her strongest companion in overcoming the challenges she is forced to face.

Eiko Carol

A precocious brat when she wants to be, Eiko Carol possesses all the qualities expected of any six year old girl, but holds a responsiblity on her shoulders that she is far too young to bear.

Eiko has lived in the abandoned ruins of Madain Sari for most of her life, a band of moogles her own companions since the passing away of her parents and grandfather. She gets by with the help of her furry friends, and by stealing food from the nearby dwarven village, Conde Petie.

A single white horn potruding from her mass of purple curls in the only indication of her descent from a long line of summoners, of which she is the last.

She comes across the party during her most recent visit to Conde Petie. Chased to the nearby forest by the crowd, she finds herself caught on a branch, reluctantly accepting Zidane's aid in getting her down... and quickly falls for him!