Vivi's name in English was originally Vivi Ornitier in the "Final Fantasy IX" manual, though this changed in the Greatest Hits re-release. Vivi is kind and of pure heart, yet is also obedient, quiet, indecisive, and introverted. He is a Black Mage, a class of magic user who employs fire, ice, lightning, and other elements into their magic. His character design was meant to strike a balance between realism and a comic-like style, while taking inspiration from the style employed for the characters in the film "The Dark Crystal". When designing "Final Fantasy IX", the designers made a point of designing a part of the world around Vivi due to him being a key character of the story. An early scene in "Final Fantasy IX" features various characters posing as members of a play; while he does not participate in the final version, a previous version has him participating after coaxed by Zidane Tribal in order to avoid being arrested.