Vivi Ornitier of Final Fantasy IX has become a fan favorite character of the entire Final Fantasy franchise, and for a good reason. His self-discovery story and cute, child-like demeanor are equally inspirational and adorable. Vivi's tale and his growing friendships with Zidane, Garnet and the rest of FFIX's cast of eclectic characters have become some of the most iconic in gaming.
While Vivi's design has stood the test of time, it's quickly apparent that he's got some interesting things going on with his body. Vivi is shown throughout the game learning more about himself, eventually discovering he's a rogue clone who gained sentience. As players learn more about those clones, things get weird...and even downright gross at times.
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Vivi Has Chocobo DNA Within Him
Vivi comes from a race of black mages, genetically engineered to be proficient magic users and bred to follow orders. One of the game's main antagonists, Kuja, described the black mages as "puppets," but Vivi is different from other black mages. He's a prototype for the other black mages, which explains how he can feel emotions and think more critically than the other black mages.
But when players of Final Fantasy IX get to the village of Dali in the game, they discover an underground factory where black mages are mass-produced using Chocobo eggs cross-bred with a magical substance called Mist. Considering he was made very similar to the other black mages, Vivi has Chocobo DNA running through him, making him a bizarre homunculus-like creature with giant bird DNA in him.
Vivi is "Anatomically Correct" Despite Appearances
Despite his bizarre appearance and the fact that he is a genetically engineered being from a lab, like an adorable version of Frankenstein's monster, Vivi's body can do some "normal" things. One scene showcases this primarily, albeit in a more subdued and implied way.
In the village of Madain Sari, Vivi has an existential moment where he wonders if he is alive. Zidane, the main hero of Final Fantasy IX, comforts him and then encourages Vivi to join him in a "male bonding" ritual. The two of them stand over a cliff and, even though they are off-screen, the story text on the screen says "tinkle tinkle" with Zidane then saying to Vivi, "doesn't it feel nice to let yourself go under the stars?" It's a touching moment that feels a little out of place in Final Fantasy's bigger picture, but it does appear to confirm that Vivi is anatomically male.
Vivi Can Eat Even Though He Has No Mouth
Even stranger than the fact that a creature created from a mixture of organic and magical material is anatomically correct, it is even more bizarre that Vivi has no mouth. Throughout Final Fantasy IX, Vivi is shown as only a black face with no distinguishing features except two unblinking, glowing yellow eyes.
Yet, when the characters reach the city of Lindblum and are invited to partake in a banquet, Vivi is shown talking about how hungry he is and eating food, commenting on its delicious taste. It's evident in the banquet scene that Vivi is eating food, chowing down, and shoving copious amounts of food towards his face. This begs the question: how does Vivi eat when he does not have a mouth? For that matter, how does he talk? It's never answered in-game, but it's something fans are definitely thinking about.
Vivi is Only Six Months Old
Canonically, Vivi is nine-years-old, and the story clarifies this with his child-like naivete and petite frame. But things get weirder than that, as the fan guide Final Fantasy IX Ultimania reveals Vivi's actual age to be six months old. Vivi appears to age in a hyperactive version of dog years because for someone to be so aware and think deeply about life's existential questions shows rapid growth.
With Vivi being only six months old, Vivi is the youngest playable character in the Final Fantasy franchise. Growing so fast has a huge downside since it is revealed later in the game that black mages do not live very long. The conclusion of Final Fantasy IX confirms this sad case of black mage life expectancy by letting players know that Vivi has passed away.
Vivi is Capable of Reproduction
During the conclusion of Final Fantasy IX, Vivi has a lot of nameless "sons" who walk around and even join the rest of the crew for the post-game cinematic presented as a celebration. As touching as it is for gamers to see Final Fantasy IX have such a happy ending, it raises the question of how Vivi could reproduce in the first place. By the end of the adventure, the Mist in the game is gone, and since that was the primary ingredient to make black mages, it would render making more black mages impossible.
Some fans like to point to Vivi and Quina's faux wedding in the game as an explanation for Vivi's offspring, but that is farfetched. It would be safer to bet that Vivi can reproduce asexually, but how he does so is anyone's guess. Vivi and his offspring will always be a mystery.