Rufus Shinra

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## Biographical information

### Age

Around 25 (during *FFVII* according to *OtWtaS*)
30 (*VII Remake*)

## Gameplay details

* Final Fantasy VII
* Before Crisis
* Dirge of Cerberus

## Behind the scenes information

### English voice actor

Wally WingertJosh Bowman (*VII Remake*)

> I'll control the world with fear. It takes too much to do it like my old man. A little fear will control the minds of the common people. There's no reason to waste money on them.
>
> Rufus Shinra

**Rufus Shinra** is the vice president of the Shinra Electric Power Company through *Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-*, *Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-* and *Final Fantasy VII*, and the president through most of *Final Fantasy VII*. He most likely gained the title for being President Shinra's son. He is a major antagonist during *Final Fantasy VII* and an important supporting character on a majority of its expanded universe.

In Japanese, Rufus's name is usually written ルーファウス (Rūfausu?), however the *Final Fantasy VII Official Establishment File* writes ルーファス (Rūfasu?) on the title of his page, which is more analogous to the real pronunciation of the name "Rufus." The rest of the guide uses the correct name when referring to him. However, there are three instances of dialogue with two men in Kalm who use ルーファス (Rūfasu?). Both of these characters also use the correct name in other dialogue.

## Profile

### Appearance

Original artwork.
Rufus is a young man with short blond hair and blue eyes. He wears a similar outfit in all his appearances: a white business suit with a matching jacket over a black shirt. In *Final Fantasy VII Remake*, many new details are added to his suit: he now wears a tie, and belts adorn his wrists, waist, and several hang loosely over his long skirt.

For the majority of *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children*, Rufus covers himself with a long white sheet.

### Personality

**Spoiler warning: *Plot and/or ending details follow.*** *(Skip section)*

> I've heard that no one's ever seen him bleed or cry.
>
> Aeris Gainsborough

Initially portrayed as an enigmatic schemer with no qualms of killing his enemies, Rufus has no love for his father and plotted to overthrow him. While Rufus shares his father's goals in cementing the Shinra Company's hold on the world, he believes fear is essential to control people and even sets up a public execution to win public favor. He believes that everything that all the fruits of the Shinra Company belong to him, taunting Cloud Strife in the remake by saying that he owns him. Rufus acts fearless even in the face of formidable opponents like Cloud and Kadaj, always having backup should things go wrong.

In *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children* and *Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-*, the damage the planet sustained due to Shinra's actions and his near-death experience have softened Rufus. He speaks in a kinder tone and desires redemption for his deeds, acknowledging Shinra's part in desecrating the planet, wishing to fix the damage. Despite Cloud and Avalanche's part in Shinra's collapse, Rufus shows Cloud no ill-will and tells him about Kadaj and his group despite Cloud rejecting his offer to work together. He retains some manipulative edges by attempting to use Cloud's adopted orphans to get him to cooperate. He displays a sarcastic sense of humor by commenting "a good son would have known" to Kadaj when he reveals what he's been concealing under the white sheet he always cloaks himself with.

Rufus is hinted to be the one funding the World Regenesis Organization, but still wishes for Shinra to have a dominant hand in the world's affairs. When the city of Edge is being built, it is done using Shinra resources, and Rufus has a monument to Meteor placed in the city center to claim the city as Shinra's and secure their ownership of it in the minds of the citizens.

## Story

### Pre-presidency

File:RufusIconFFVIIBC.jpg
File:Bc-rufus.jpg
In *Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-* Rufus is the main financier for the eco-terrorist group Avalanche, and feeds them information to allow for their success. Along with the other Shinra executives, Rufus takes part in meetings and strategy, and has special access to his father, personally discussing key issues as the second-in-command. Rufus has no interest in the the planet or its fate while funding Avalanche, rather, he is using the organization to take power from his father. It becomes clear Shinra has a traitor, but initially the informant's identity is not known.

The Turks capture Rufus during the attack on the Old Corel and use him as leverage with President Shinra so that they can save their commander, Veld, and his daughter, Elfe, the Avalanche's commander. President Shinra saves him while the Turks are out searching for the support materia and attempting to rescue Veld. Before the Turks are ordered executed for insubordination, Rufus has the Turks spared since Tseng "assassinated" Veld and Elfe.

Afterward Rufus is neither killed nor stripped of his title for being a traitor; President Shinra merely orders him placed under house arrest within the Turks' hidden headquarters. His absence is explained by claiming he is on an "extended assignment overseas."

Though Rufus is not seen in person in *Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-*, an email from Kunsel to Zack mentions that Rufus has been promoted to Vice President and Corporate Officer, and had departed on a "long-term business trip," the email claiming the details cannot be disclosed for security reasons.

### Original continuity

#### As Shinra president

 File:Rufus Shinra arrives to the Shinra Building from FFVII Remake.jpg

> Tonight marks a new beginning for Shinra!
>
> Rufus to Cloud in *Final Fantasy VII Remake*

During Sephiroth's attack on the Shinra Building in Midgar, the Shinra executive Palmer contacts Junon for help. Rufus responds by taking a B1-Alpha Helicopter to Midgar, arrives just after Sephiroth has killed President Shinra. Rufus confronts Avalanche atop the Shinra Building and declares himself as Shinra's new president and his intent to control the planet's populace through fear. Cloud, a mercenary hired by Avalanche, remains to hold back Rufus while the others escape. Rufus battles him using a double-barreled sawed-off shotgun and is accompanied by his guard hound. After seeing he cannot win against Cloud, Rufus falls back to the helicopter.

 File:Rufus New Age.jpg
Rufus decides to pursue Sephiroth and Shinra forces follow his trail across the planet, Rufus traveling with an entourage of Shinra executives. A parade is held on his honor in Junon, celebrating him as the new Shinra president. Unknown to Shinra, Cloud and the rest of Avalanche, who had escaped the Shinra Building in Midgar, partake in the festivities with Cloud disguising himself as a Shinra foot soldier, and is among the soldiers who perform a routine for Rufus's send-off on a cargo ship.

The cargo ship travels from Junon to Costa del Sol, and while Rufus stays in the cabin discussing matters with Heidegger, the head of Shinra's military affairs, Avalanche stows away on the ship disguised as crew. Mysterious events transpire when many crew members are slaughtered, and after docking in Costa del Sol, it is determined Sephiroth was onboard alongside Avalanche. Rufus admonishes Heidegger for his failure to catch on to the stowaways before flying off on another helicopter.

Shinra's main airship, the *Highwind*, is not ready for flight, and after receiving intel that Sephiroth is heading for the Temple of the Ancients, Rufus decides to seize Cid Highwind's *Tiny Bronco* airplane for faster travel. Cid eagerly expects Rufus's arrival as he mistakes his visit for an announcement of re-launching Shinra's space program, but when he hears Rufus wants his plane he becomes outraged and refuses. Cloud's crew helps Cid escape in the *Tiny Bronco*, but Rufus has his men shoot it down.

When the *Highwind* is ready to take off Rufus, Scarlet and Professor Hojo fly to the planet's north pole to investigate the North Crater. They run into Avalanche at the Northern Cave inside in a place covered in materia, Shinra deeming it to be the fabled promised land, a land told in Cetra legend to be a land full of Spirit Energy. Rufus and the other Shinra executives are forced to flee when the Weapons emerge from the crater when Sephiroth summons the Meteor, but in the chaos they capture two Avalanche members: Tifa and Barret.

Rufus wants to have the two publicly executed to help calm the panic from the looming Meteor. His plans are foiled when Sapphire Weapon attacks Junon and blasts a hole in the gas chamber, Tifa and Barret escaping on the *Highwind* that has been stolen by Avalanche.

 File:Rufus-ffvii-fmv-death.png
Determined to not give up, Rufus plans to destroy Meteor with the Shinra No. 26 rocket and send in the Shinra Army to the North Crater to kill Sephiroth in the Great Sephiroth Plan. The plan to blow up the Meteor fails, but Rufus has the Sister Ray mako cannon moved from Junon to Midgar to destroy the barrier surrounding North Crater that protects Sephiroth. As he launches the cannon, Diamond Weapon approaches Midgar and fires at the metropolis. The salvo of attacks hits on-level with the president's office from which Rufus was overseeing the operation. Due to the damage no one can reach the office to find a body, so he is presumed dead and Shinra descends into chaos. Scarlet and Heidegger go rogue, but are killed by Avalanche, and the Turks abandon their objectives. The opening of *Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-* reveals that Rufus survived, and was loaded into a helicopter during Meteorfall.

#### Post-crisis

> Tseng, Elena, Reno, Rude. What do you plan on doing from here?
>
> Rufus to the Turks

Rufus and the Turks are the central characters in *On the Way to a Smile* "Episode: Shinra." Rufus escaped death in Diamond Weapon's attack by using a hidden escape tunnel his father had built for when Rufus would need it. Taking refuge in Kalm, Rufus is taken prisoner by Mütten Kylegate while the Turks are absent, and is interrogated, where he reveals his plan to construct the city of Edge in the east of Midgar, using the remains of the fallen buildings and the corrupted roads.

After escaping with the help of Kilmister, Rufus helps him recover Professor Hojo's research from Midgar to discover the origins of Geostigma, a new disease that now plagues the populace, which Kilmister knows is connected to Jenova. Though Kilmister is eventually killed, Rufus still orders the Turks to locate Jenova's remains and keep them safe from being used by others.

#### Geostigma crisis

 File:Rufus.jpg

> A good son would have known.
>
> Rufus to Kadaj

In *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children*, Rufus invites Cloud to see him. He has been under the Turks' protection for two years, living with them in the Healen Lodge. He appears wheelchair-bound, and is covered by a white sheet to supposedly hide his Geostigma, as he appears to be in the disease's final stages. Renouncing his past cruelty, Rufus explains the near-death experience opened his eyes to the truth and that he now desires to undo the chaos his company had brought onto the world. Rufus tells Cloud the search of the North Crater after Sephiroth's defeat yielded Shinra no result, but they were interrupted by Kadaj and his gang. Rufus tells Cloud everything he knows about them, offering Cloud to work with him. Cloud refuses, and despite Rufus nearly persuading him by reminding Cloud of the orphans he now has, Reno's sudden reminder that together they would rebuild Shinra prompts Cloud to leave.

Cloud, his friends, Rufus and the Turks fight the remnants of Sephiroth, Sephiroth's avatars born from the lifestream who want to reunite with Jenova's remains so Sephiroth can be reborn. Rufus meets the remnants' leader, Kadaj, several times as he is looking for Jenova, but feigns ignorance of the being's whereabouts. As Kadaj brings his possessed horde of Geostigma-infected children to Edge to show him the way to Jenova and summons Bahamut SIN to tear down the Meteor monument Shinra had erected, presuming Jenova's remains being hidden there, Rufus and Kadaj watch the showdown from a tall building. Rufus removes the sheet and stands up, revealing the progression of his Geostigma is not nearly as advanced as he had pretended, the sheet having concealed Jenova's remains from Kadaj of which Rufus had been holding onto the whole time.

 File:Final Fantasy 7 AC Rufus shooting.jpg
Rufus throws Jenova's container off the building's ledge. When Kadaj plunges after them to retrieve the box, Rufus follows and pulls out his shotgun. He shoots at the box and is caught in the net thrown by Tseng and Elena, but Kadaj collects Jenova's remains, although he is upset the container was damaged. Kadaj escapes to the ruins of Midgar where he absorbs Jenova's remains to become Sephiroth, but is defeated by Cloud and dissolves back into the lifestream.

Rufus is cured of Geostigma when Aerith Gainsborough calls down healing rain, prolonging the life of the Shinra family and his chance for further redemption.

In *Advent Children Complete*, in a new opening scene, after Kadaj asks Rufus why mankind bothers to constantly rebuild after destroying everything they make, Rufus tells him that people rebuild to "gild the past" and rid themselves of a recent problem. Kadaj assumes Rufus means Geostigma, something he says Shinra brought upon the planet. Kadaj says Rufus fears the past. Rufus objects, and says it is simply because he is forgetful. Rufus also explains to Cloud that Sephiroth's will in the lifestream is the cause of Geostigma, rather than the mako energy, as the populace believes.

#### Deepground conflict

It is hinted in *Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-* that Rufus is secretly funding the World Regenesis Organization headed by Reeve Tuesti, who had a feeling his mysterious benefactor was someone who owed "a debt to the planet" (nearly quoting Rufus Shinra's words to Cloud from *Advent Children* word for word). His signature white jacket is seen in the opening of *Dirge of Cerberus* as Rufus is being loaded into an emergency transport while Yuffie is evacuating a sector of Midgar during Meteorfall.

### Remake continuity

 File:Rufus Shinra arrives to the Shinra Building from FFVII Remake.jpg
During Cloud, Barret and Tifa's infiltration of the Shinra Building to save their friend Aerith, Rufus contacts Tseng of the Turks and Reno and Rude go get him via helicopter. As they approach the Shinra Building, they down the helicopter sent out by Avalanche HQ to extract Barret Wallace's cell from the roof of the building. Cloud, a mercenary working with Avalanche, tells the others to escape while he stays behind to deal with Rufus. Rufus is amused at Cloud's bravado and remarks that Cloud's former affiliation with SOLDIER, Shinra's elite military force, means that he owns him. Cloud overpowers Rufus and his guard hound, disarming Rufus of his guns, and Rufus retreats via helicopter.

Avalanche escapes the Shinra Building and Rufus returns and officially takes over the position of CEO, as his father, President Shinra, has just been killed by Sephiroth. Although unfazed over the murder, the mysterious happenings, Sephiroth's return from the dead and Cloud and his friends' involvement trouble Rufus. The building is swarmed by flying cloaked beings, puzzling Rufus further. When Heidegger addresses him as VP Rufus ignores him, until Tseng calls to him with "President," annoying Heidegger.

***Spoilers end here.***
## Gameplay

Main articles: Rufus (Final Fantasy VII boss) or Rufus (VII Remake boss)
Rufus fights Cloud one-on-one alongside Dark Nation atop the Shinra Building early in *Final Fantasy VII*.

 File:Rufus boss coin toss from FFVII Remake.jpg
In *Final Fantasy VII Remake* Rufus is once more fought by Cloud alongside his pet, now renamed Darkstar. He is faced in Chapter 17. He is a significantly more threatening opponent, performing combo attacks with Darkstar. He parries Cloud's attacks and guns him from behind. He alternates between shooting his gun and reloading, and giving orders to Darkstar, who can buff him.

After some damage is done, Rufus reveals two new tricks: Bright Lights, which has him use coins as railgun projectiles, and Guns Akimbo, where he shoots at Cloud repeatedly. Once Darkstar is defeated, Rufus will perform more evasive maneuvers propelling himself through his guns and use smokescreens to hide his Bright Lights attack.

## Musical themes

"Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony"

File:FFIV PSP Edward Harp Field Sprite.gif
File:Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony.ogg
*Trouble with the audio sample?*

"Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" plays during his initiation ceremony. The theme is also heard in *Final Fantasy IX* being played by a band on the *Prima Vista* after it is shot down by Queen Brahne. This version, called "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony (Millennium Version)," is found on the *Final Fantasy IX Original Soundtrack PLUS* album. A piano arrangement of the theme is included on the *Piano Collections: Final Fantasy VII* album. The theme is also included on the compilation album *Final Fantasy VII Vinyl Limited Edition*.

The original *Final Fantasy VII* version is included in the music player in *Final Fantasy XV*. It is the eleventh track of the Memories of FFVII album that is available by default.

In *Final Fantasy VII Remake*, Rufus's boss theme is titled "Rufus Shinra" and uses traits of "Fight On!" and "Shinra's Theme."

## Other appearances

### *Pictlogica Final Fantasy*

PFF Rufus Illust.pngPortrait.PFF Rufus.pngSprite.
File:FFI PSP Black Mage Map.pngThis section about a character in Pictlogica Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Sandbox Wikia by expanding it.
### *Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade*

Rufus Shinra is an ally and a summonable Legend depicted in his *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children* outfit.

Ability Cards
FFAB Shotgun - Rufus SSR.pngShotgun (SSR).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus SSR+.pngShotgun (SSR+).FFAB Demi - Rufus UR.pngDemi (UR).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus UR.pngShotgun (UR).
Legend Cards
FFAB Shotgun - Rufus Legend SSR.pngShotgun (SSR).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus Legend SSR 2.pngShotgun (SSR).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus Legend SSR+.pngShotgun (SSR+).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus Legend SSR+ 2.pngShotgun (SSR+).FFAB Demi - Rufus Legend UR.pngDemi (UR).FFAB Shotgun - Rufus Legend UR.pngShotgun (UR).
File:FFI PSP Black Mage Map.pngThis section about a character in Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Sandbox Wikia by expanding it.
### *Final Fantasy Record Keeper*

Main article: /Record Keeper
File:FFRK Rufus.png
Rufus Shinra appears as a boss in select FF VII dungeons and as a playable character who could be initially recruited during the Challenge Event Vow Upon a Star as a First Time Reward for completing the event's Junon stage on Classic difficulty.

### *Final Fantasy Brave Exvius*

File:FFI PSP Black Mage Map.pngThis section about a character in Final Fantasy Brave Exvius is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Sandbox Wikia by expanding it.
### *Mobius Final Fantasy*

File:MFF Rufus FFVII.jpg
File:Impresario-ffvi-ios.pngThis section in Mobius Final Fantasy is empty or needs to be expanded. You can help the Final Fantasy Sandbox Wikia by expanding it.

### *Final Fantasy Trading Card Game*

File:Rufus TCG.png
Rufus appears on a card that depicts him from *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete*.

## Behind the scenes

After Meteorfall, many Gaiams began referring to him by the unflattering nickname of "Doofus Shinra."

 File:Rufus advent children.png
In *Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children* Rufus is covered with a sheet so as to hide his face, and his voice was made soft and deceptive to give him a sense of mystery. Toru Okawa, who voices Rufus in the film's Japanese version, stated he got the impression Rufus was the type of person always hiding something, and states that the scene where he rises from his wheelchair and casts off his cloak is one of his favorites, where Rufus reveals his secrets at last.

Okawa noted that Rufus's line "a good son would have known" has become a fan favorite, and Director Tetsuya Nomura has joked the irony is that such a line comes from Rufus. Nomura said that Okawa's voice had an undertone of mystery and elegance, and was perfect for Rufus's part: "Only someone like Rufus, a big shot president, would be able to jump off a building without hesitation and expect his Turks to take care of everything."

As revealed in *Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-*, President Shinra had an illegitimate son named Lazard Deusericus with a woman from the slums, making him Rufus's older half-brother. An infantryman in the director's office tells Zack that he found Lazard to resemble "the V.P." In the novel *Final Fantasy VII The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story*, it is revealed that President Shinra had another illegitimate son, Evan Townshend, the younger half-brother of Rufus and Lazard, with his secretary Annette. It's also implied that Rufus knew about Lazard as he says meeting Evan isn't his first time meeting a half-sibling.

 File:Rufus coins from Final Fantasy VII Remake.jpg
In *On the Way to a Smile* "Episode: Shinra", Rufus discovers that his father's passkey, used to unlock anything in the building, was the date Rufus was born. Yet, the actual code was not presented, therefore, the exact date of his birth is unknown. Also in "Episode: Shinra", Rufus gave the idea of an escape route in the executive office in the Shinra Building when he was five years old when President Shinra showed him the blueprints. Much to the President's hesitation, it was built, and Rufus used it after Diamond Weapon attacked Midgar. In "Episode: Shinra", it is mentioned Rufus had a habit of choosing the farthest part of the room for a bed.

In *Final Fantasy VII Remake*, Rufus employs personalized coins for special attacks during his fight with Cloud. Each side has a meaning that reflects Rufus' personality and his plans to rule the Shinra Corporation and Midgar. One side shows an emblem with a sword, a shield, and a pair of wings, with the words "Shinra Inc., A New Era. Ever Forward. Reign Supreme." surrounding it, which symbolizes the Shinra ideals and Rufus' lust for power. The other side shows Darkstar and mandragora flowers, with the words "Fierce Pride", which symbolize both "enchantment" and "fear".

Rufus is likely the inspiration for the character Dauragon C. Mikado of the early 2000s Square Beat Em' Up RPG *The Bouncer*.

## Gallery

Rufus Shinra from Final Fantasy VII Remake artwork.pngArtwork of Rufus by Roberto Ferrari.BeforeCrisisRufus.jpgRufus in *Before Crisis*.Rufus-ffvii-field.pngRufus's field model in *Final Fantasy VII*.Rufus enemyFFVII.pngRufus's battle model in *Final Fantasy VII*.Rufus-ffvii-fmv.pngRufus in an FMV from *Final Fantasy VII*.Rufus fleeing from Shinra Headquarters.jpgRufus falling back after his fight with Cloud.Rufus from Final Fantasy VII Remake close up render.jpg*Final Fantasy VII Remake* close-up render.FFVIIR Rufus Shinra arrives.pngRufus on the helipad of Shinra Headquarters.Rufus throne from Final Fantasy VII Remake.jpgRufus takes the throne.Rufus-reno-and-rude.jpgCG Render of Rufus with Reno and Rude from *Advent Children*.FF7 AC Rufus Play Arts Kai.jpgPlay Arts Kai figure.
## Etymology

Template:Etymology:Rufus

Template:Etymology:Shinra

Rufus is one of the few *Final Fantasy* characters with a last name written in kanji and a first name in katakana, and, along with his father, the only character in *Final Fantasy VII* (and the series in general) with kanji in the name that isn't a title or a nickname.

## References

1. ↑ *Final Fantasy VII: On the Way to a Smile*, "Episode: Shinra", p.138-139: The monstrous Weapon had struck the building.[...]Then Rufus remembered a conversation with his father from almost twenty years ago.[...]Five-year old Rufus woke up in the middle of the night[...]
2. ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania, p.050
3. ↑ *Final Fantasy VII The Kids Are Alright: A Turks Side Story*
4. ↑ Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania reveals the meaning behind Rufus' coins (Accessed: June 25, 2020) at twitter.com/aitaikimochi

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