Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Cai Actor Was ‘Deeply Afraid’ of the Audience’s Reaction
Voice actor Zeno Robinson said he was surprised to learn that Cai, whom he plays in Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, is one of the game’s four protagonists. He had expected a minor role, and was “deeply afraid” players might find Cai boring, so he aimed to make the young character feel relatable and nuanced.
Cai is a hopeful 15-year-old from a rural village who enters the Heroic Games to try to prevent his father Castor’s execution. Robinson connected with Cai’s design as a young Black protagonist with locs, and said portraying him meant recapturing a teenager’s idealism and curiosity. Family, including bonds Cai forms along the way, is central to his story; Robinson singled out Cai’s confrontation with Castor as his favourite scene to perform.
In short
- Zeno Robinson did not know Cai was a main protagonist when he auditioned.
- He worried players might find Cai boring and focused on making him nuanced.
- Cai’s story centres on hope, family and trying to save his father.
Explained simply
Fire Emblem is a long-running role-playing game series by Nintendo, known for stories about young heroes, political conflict and relationships between characters. Fortune’s Weave is a new entry in the series, with four central characters whose stories unfold around a competition called the Heroic Games.
Cai is a 15-year-old from a rural village who enters the Games in an effort to save his father, Castor, from execution. His story centres on family and the connections he makes, while voice actor Zeno Robinson brings the character to life.