| “ | After this game... I'm retiring. I promised myself this would be my last tournament. Win or lose, I'm quitting blitzball. But you know, since we're here, we might as well win! | „ |
| ~ Wakka. |
Wakka is a playable character, and one of Yuna's guardians in Final Fantasy X. A skilled Guardian, fighter, and Blitzball player, Wakka grew up on Besaid Island along with Yuna, Lulu, and his brother Chappu.
He was voiced by Kazuya Nakai in the Japanese version, and by John DiMaggio in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 and Dee Bradley Baker in Kingdom Hearts.
Appearance
Wakka is tall and muscled, with tan skin, brown eyes, and long reddish-orange hair styled into a coif and girted with blue headscarf. He wears the uniform of his blitzball team, the Besaid Aurochs, with alterations (presumably as he is the captain): a yellow vest top cut away at the stomach, a yellow shoulder pad on his left shoulder, blue and yellow baggy trousers gathered above the ankle, brown wristbands with a blue and yellow armguard over the left arm, and open sandals. He wears a dolphin necklace and has a silver stud earring on his left ear. In Final Fantasy X HD Remaster, Wakka's model has been updated with detail added to his headscarf and hair. His face has been rounded and his skin, lips, beard, and eyes have been touched-up.
Personality
Wakka is of what would be considered Austronesian descent in our world and is characterized by a Besaid Island accent. He uses speech-mannerisms like "brudda" for "brother" and finishes sentences with "ya?". He begrudges the Al Bhed for what happened to his brother, Chappu, but rationalizes his hatred for Al Bhed not following Yevon.
Wakka's goal as captain to a blitzball team is to have the team do their best without it mattering whether they win or lose. It is not until Tidus arrives the Aurochs begin to focus on achieving victory.
Wakka depends on Yevon's religion and guidance making him socially conservative and thus is intentionally kept in the dark about Yuna's half-Al Bhed heritage. He has a big heart and attempts to cheer the party up, though is not always successful. Traveling Spira with Yuna's party his world-view broadens and he begins to see the hypocrisy behind his previous actions.
In Final Fantasy X-2, Wakka is plagued by insecurity as his new role as leader of Besaid in a quickly changing Spira where old traditions are going out of style, and his impending fatherhood. He tries to deal with his issues alone, but with the help of the Gullwings comes to trust his own judgment.
