The Cactuar, known in Japan as is a fictional species of plant-like beings from the Final Fantasy video game franchise owned by Square Enix. They are usually depicted as anthropomorphic cacti with haniwa-like faces in a running or dashing pose. One of the recurring elements of the series, it initially appeared as an enemy in Final Fantasy VI. By the 2010s, the Cactuar has attained widespread popularity with Final Fantasy fans, and is considered one of the established mascots of the long-running series alongside the Moogle and the Chocobo. While the Cactuar still appear as recurring enemies in modern titles, they are also depicted as summoned allies as well as friendly non-player characters.
Development
According to Japanese video game artist, game designer and director at Square Enix Tetsuya Nomura, the concept of the Cactuar is based on a doodle he drew on a notebook when he was attending high school as a teenager.
Characteristics
Cactuars are typically depicted having stiff arms and legs without hands or feet, three black dots on their faces (representing two eyes and an oblong mouth) and three yellow quills at the top of their heads. The Cactuar's silhouette resembles the Japanese 卍 symbol, pronounced as "manji", which is traditionally a holy and auspicious symbol in Japan.