Tidus’ Voice Actor Tells the Story Behind Final Fantasy X’s Infamous Laughing Scene

James Arnold Taylor, the voice actor behind Tidus in Final Fantasy X, gives fans the story behind the infamous laughing scene from the game.

[PhoenixUp]

So many people misunderstood the meaning of this scene, it's not even funny.

[Vhampir]

They didn't misunderstand it, it just made everyone cringe. Forcing a laugh or a smile wasn't anything new in storytelling or real life.

[Commando_Bro]

The most awkward moment in Final Fantasy.

You got everyone else looking at them: "Yep, they lost their damn minds."

[Harkins1721]

Trust me. Plenty of people thought this scene was just bad Voice Acting.

[Ferrethat22]

I knew exactly what that scene meant to him and yuna. But it didn't make it any less horrible. And people say this mediocre FF was "the last great FF game" GTFO you dumbass people. The game was good but even FFXIII was superior in every single way. IN EVERYTHING. From story, to characters, gamepla, music...

[Bimkoblerutso]

@PhoenixUp

....perhaps if the entire game didn't have generally bad voice acting, this argument would make sense...but this was just the worst of many, many cringe-worthy scenes caused by the bad acting.

[Sy_Wolf]

I think the misunderstanding makes the laugh even better.

[user6666047]

I've had to explain this scene to so many people... I'm just gonna let them live in their ignorance from now on.

[Chapter11]

You can be "awkward, dumb, goofy" without bad acting. Just saying.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

Bad acting haha it was a FAKE laugh. Did you play the game? He was just teaching Yuna to lighten up. And they're just teenagers. How would you teach someone how to laugh, when you're not even laughing at anything, and make it "good acting" at the same time?

[yellowgerbil]

a good actor would know how. You think Leo d'caprio would of made you cringe like that if he was tidus? No.

[Harkins1721]

Watch the video. Another person who did not play the game.

[-Gespenst-]

He wasn't trying to do a convincing, realistic laugh, he was trying to do a fake laugh in character. He does a convincing laugh after that.

It wasn't James Arnold Taylor trying to sound like he was really, genuinely laughing, it was James Arnold Taylor trying to sound like he was pretending to laugh, and the character deliberately does it in a goofy way to cheer Yuna up.

[KwietStorm_BLM]

I never even knew this was a thing. What is there to not understand? Tidus was just trying to get Yuna to let go of some stress, so he let out a stupid laugh. If it sounded fake, that's because they weren't even laughing at anything. Tidus played a very important partner to Yuna's unshakeable focus. His ignorance actually allowed him to be that much more happy go lucky about everything.

[LightofDarkness]

People know what the scene is about. It's not a lack of understanding. The scene is crappy and poorly acted. Let it go. It's grating and cringey.

[MegaRay]

I agree wit you, but then again, I hated Tidus so my opinion could be a little biased xD

[DragonKnight]

If you thought the scene was awkward and cringy, then it wasn't poorly acted because that was the point. Tidus was meant to do something that stuoid. Clearly you don't understand. Not liking it =/= bad acting.

[LightofDarkness]

I didn't think it was "awkward" and cringey, I used "grating." I know what the point is, and don't twist my words. Clearly you don't want to understand others' opinions, but what else is new. And yeah, the game is absolutely riddled with poor acting. I can't believe that's even up for debate.

And no, it's not supposed to be terrible or cringey. His demeanour was supposed to be awkward and hers too, but the scene itself was clearly supposed to be charming and uplifting with some emotional weight. It wasn't. If the intent of the scene is ineffective and lost because the actors failed to convey it correctly, that would be... bad acting.

[Harkins1721]

The game is far from bad acting. Its not the greatest but it is pretty damn good. Obviously a fake forced laugh and smile is going to be awkward. You think it wasnt suppose to be cringe worthy and goofy as well? Jesus get out more. Clearly stuck in your room to much. Yuna even says at the end of the laugh "You should probably stop" and then they laughed. Again you have not played the game it shows.

[Theparanerds]

I never understood the hate for this scene either. It was supposed to be awkward and bad. It was supposed to be uncomfortable I never though it was bad acting.

[yuukiliu]

So weird that this dude is awesome as ratchet but his voice just doesn't match this character whatsoever.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

HAHAHAHAHA! HAAAA!!! HAAHAHAHAHA!

[Number-Nine]

Wait, it's Tee-dis? I always pronounced it Ty-dus. >_>

[TheTwelve]

Sadly, I too just thought the same thing.

[Michiel1989]

I don't care, I will keep pronouncing it as Tydus

[Miss_Vixen]

I've always pronounced it as Tee-dis since the game came out :)

[feraldrgn]

Likewise, I always thought Ty-dus because of the water theme.

[CobraKai]

Teedus? Oh man. I just I lost a bet 15 years in the making.

[Theparanerds]

They pronounce his name in the game don't they?

[CobraKai]

Actually. They never said his name because you can change it to whatever in the beginning.

I'm changing it to Tidus (Ty-dus).

[ZaWarudo]

Sorry but that scene is still horrible and Tidus is still the worst FF protagonist.

[Kryptix]

Then you don't understand what the scene was really about and who Tidus really is.

Tidus was only 17 years old in FF10, growing up without a father in his teen years. It explains the child at heart trait because there wasn't a real father to make him "man up."

He acts childish because he's only 17 and lives carefree, but acts serious when the situation is, too. For example, he cracks no jokes when Yuna gets kidnapped or disappears and tries his best to find her no matter the situation, making him a great guardian.

His personality progresses with the story, from a teen that doesn't understand what's going on, to someone who accepts death in the end...knowing that he might never return, but still thanks everyone for having him there. Pretty much making him into a more mature character, someone who learns. I rather have a character like that than someone who's still the exact same from the beginning.

Definitely on my top 5 characters with Zack from FF7 Crisis Core.

[Dangerous]

that awkward moment when you need to explain something awkward.