{"id":27820,"date":"2024-02-28T16:52:34","date_gmt":"2024-02-28T07:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/?p=27820"},"modified":"2024-03-11T16:34:51","modified_gmt":"2024-03-11T07:34:51","slug":"20240228-27820","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automaton-media.com\/en\/news\/20240228-27820\/","title":{"rendered":"Fox-eared Sephiroth tempts Cloud with noodles in brilliantly weird Final Fantasy VII tie-in"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Only a day to go until Final Fantasy VII Rebirth<\/strong>\u2019s release and Sephiroth has made a surprising appearance as a beguiling fox. Yes, you read that right. In a bizarre and unexpected collaboration between Square Enix and one of Nissin\u2019s instant noodle brands, the mysterious and popular villain of Final Fantasy VII was seen tempting Cloud with a hot bowl of udon. The ad has already gone viral on X, receiving a range of bemused and delighted reactions from Japanese users.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Final<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To be precise, Nissin Donbei Kitsune Udon is an instant noodle pack often found in Japanese supermarkets. It features thick udon noodles with fish cake slices, chopped green onion, a fish and soy-based soup sauce, and a pack of slightly spicy shichimi powder that you can add as you wish. Crowning the bowl is a piece of kitsune-age, a slightly sweet piece of tofu that has been lightly deep-fried.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Final<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But wait, where does foxy Sephiroth come into all this? Kitsune means fox in Japanese. Kitsune-age is so called either because the brown color resembles a fox\u2019s coat or because fried tofu was the favorite food of a fox in a Japanese folktale. A recurring theme in Donbei Kitsune Udon\u2019s adverts is someone appearing as the brand\u2019s fox character, Dongitsune. However, it seems the makers were stumped as to which FFVII main girl to transform into a fox, so they settled for the third option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\nhttps:\/\/twitter.com\/donbei_jp\/status\/1762658885494845831?s=20\n<\/div>
Post translation: <\/em><\/strong>Aerith, Tifa… which one shall we make into Dongitsune?<\/em> 
After pondering it over, this happened…<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The advert riffs on Cloud\u2019s Sephiroth flashbacks from both Final Fantasy VII Remake and the upcoming sequel. But this time, Sephiroth is dramatically asking and then demanding that Cloud eat Donbei Udon, even though Cloud says he\u2019s \u201cNot interested.\u201d By the end of the short commercial, Cloud is slurping noodles and Sephiroth is calling him a \u201cGood boy.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Final<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The ad was only posted on the udon brand\u2019s official X account this morning, but it has already gained over 2.6 million views and surpassed 1000 comments. Many Final Fantasy VII fans seem to be overjoyed with the advert, praising Sephiroth\u2019s new and unexpected foxy appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
 Post translation:<\/em><\/strong> Everyone, young or old, man or woman, is delighted with fox<\/em>
Sephiroth.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Post translation: <\/em><\/strong>ROFL, Sephiroth of all people! It suits him too well.<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Others joked that this new ad has revealed the truth. Sephiroth\u2019s real aim is no longer to smash a meteor into the Planet but to tempt Cloud with noodles. All while doing it in a sexy way that appeals to shippers, of course. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The brand\u2019s fox-themed ads usually feature real people, such as female models, so this unexpected video game collaboration came as a surprise. The previous person to play the fox in a carnival-themed promotion<\/a> was Japanese model Mika Ahn, with some feeling the whiplash from this sudden change. Some users mourned other former foxes, especially model Riho Yoshioka, who appeared in a whole series<\/a> of romantic and cute commercials for the udon from 2019 to 2021. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\u3053\u308c\u306f\u63a8\u305b\u308b\ud83d\ude0c
\u3051\u3069\u500b\u4eba\u7684\u306b\u3069\u3093\u304e\u3064\u306d\u306f\u5409\u5ca1\u91cc\u5e06\u3061\u3083\u3093\u4e00\u629e\u306a\u306e\u3067\u3059\u5409\u5ca1\u91cc\u5e06\u3061\u3083\u3093\u304b\u308f\u3044\u3044\u30fc\u30fc\u30fc\u30ab\u30e0\u30d0\u30c3\u30af\ud83e\udd7a pic.twitter.com\/7TYhUiXF95<\/a><\/p>— \u91ce\u5d8b\u4e00\u82b1 (@Ichika_Nojima) February 28, 2024<\/a><\/blockquote>