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Feather Motif (view source)

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{{trope}}
[[File:images_3_2672images 3 2672.jpg|link=Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|frame|Who needs actual wings, anyway?]]▼
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▲[[File:images_3_2672.jpg|link=Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|frame|Who needs actual wings, anyway?]]
 
 
{{quote|''[[Badass Creed|White feathers for innocence...]]''<br />
''[[Black and White Morality|Black feathers for darkest sin!]]''|'''Tsubaki Yayoi''', ''[[Blaz BlueBlazBlue]]: Continuum Shift''}}
 
If a motif is a recurring element with symbolic significance, then obviously a feather motif is any time feathers appear recurringly in a story. They can be tied to a specific character or they may span an entire work as a whole.
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Characters with a Feather Motif may display [[Perpetual Molt]].
 
Compare [[Cherry Blossoms]], [[Petal Power]], [[Fluffy Fashion Feathers]], [[Good Wings, Evil Wings]].
 
{{examples}}
 
== Anime &and Manga ==
* ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' has this frequently in the anime. First off, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjp5_tGEnKg her transformation sequence] in ''[[Sailor Moon]] R'', in which glowing feathers and wings were just part of the transformation sequence, then later in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPmveBY1eK4 her Eternal Sailor Moon] henshin, in which real wings and feathers are part of the sequence until the wings turn to fake wings. Her [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGfkSDYrOZ0 first] and [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_gmmpNwMns second] attacks in that series involve what can only be described as ''hurricanes'' of feathers. In the manga, Eternal Sailor Moon bears real feathered wings, as does Sailor Cosmos, who also has the feather wing motif on parts of her costume and staff.
** This is pretty common in fan videos on Youtube that show hypothetical upgrades to the rest of the team into "Eternal" forms. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAVe_tu-dUg This] would be one of the higher quality attempts, in which the four guardian Senshi have feather motifs mixed into their traditional elemental transformations.
* In ''[[Tsubasa Chronicle]]'', the whole series is largely about the search for Sakura's memories which take the form of white feathers.In addition, the very last chapter reveals {{spoiler|that Sakura and Syaoran's true names are both Tsubasa, the Japanese word for wings. It's a symbol of both their connection to each other (since wings always come in pairs) and the vast journey that they've undertaken.}}
** The feather motif also briefly shows up in ''[[Tsubasa Chronicle]]'''s [[Crossover|sister series]], ''Xxxholic[[×××HOLiC]]''. After receiving a visit from {{spoiler|Syaoran and company, Watanuki is inspired to take on a wing symbol as his magical signature. The symbol is also exactly the same as the ''[[Tsubasa Chronicle]]'' logo.}}
* Very prevalent in ''[[X 1999]]'', another ''[[CLAMP (Creator)|CLAMP]]'' work. Feathers are shown falling mostly during visions of [[The End of the World Asas We Know It|the end of the world]], especially in the manga.
* Both Miu and Shou Kanou from ''[[Kenichi: theThe Mightiest Disciple]]''. Miu's movements and fighting style often get compared to bird's movements, and her name (美羽) [[Meaningful Name|means "beautiful wings" or "beautiful feathers"]]. Kanou particularly recognizes this in Miu and for that reason falls in love with her. He himself loves birds, has a spread wings motif on the back of his leather jacket, and wears a birdcage-shaped earring. Both of them are sometimes drawn accompanied by symbolic ethereal feathers.
* In ''[[Clover]]'', Suu has a feather motif going on (as do the rest of the Clovers, to a lesser extent) as part of a "caged bird" metaphor.
* [[Naruto|Itachi Uchiha of ''[[Naruto]]'' has the [[Animal Motif]] of crows, leading to this trope. A lesser example is [[Paper Master|Konan]], who is an angel with paper feathers.
* ''[[Black Butler]]'': {{spoiler|Angela}} and {{spoiler|Sebastian}} in their true forms. Especially {{spoiler|Angela}}, since her dress looks like it's made out of feathers, or is at least designed to appear so. Oddly, {{spoiler|Sebastian}} doesn't show any wings, but that doesn't stop his Perpetual Molt.
* In ''[[Bloody Cross (Manga)|Bloody Cross]]'', whenever [[Fallen Angel]] Satsuki shows up, there is a rain of black feathers.
* ''[[Inuyasha]]'': Kagura is represented by a white feather. She is a [[Elemental Powers|wind]]-[[Youkai]] and her power of flight manifests through her feathered hairpins. The feather becomes her symbol of her desire to be as free as the wind. {{spoiler|When she [[I Die Free|dies]], her soul finally finding the freedom to become one with the wind is symbolisedsymbolized by a feather floating away from her [[No Body Left Behind|dissolved]] body and soaring off into the sky on the wind.}}
 
 
== Film ==
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== Literature ==
* ''[[Modern Faerie Tales of Faerie]]'', the love interest Roiben wears armour made of black leather sculpted into the shape of feathers.
 
 
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== Music ==
* The ''Distant Worlds'' ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' albums both have a feather on the cover - a black feather against a white background for ''I'', and a white feather against a black background for ''II''.
* Each of the members of [[Led Zeppelin (Music)|Led Zeppelin]] chose one particular symbol to represent him. Robert Plant chose a feather in a circle.
 
 
== Tabeltop Games ==
* The symbol of The Fairest Seeming from ''[[Changeling: The Lost (Tabletop Game)|Changeling: The Lost]]'' is a peacock feather. Note that in this case, the feather represents neither freedom nor divinity. It represents beauty and vainglory.
* The one image that you're almost guaranteed to see in any ''[[In Nomine]]'' rulebook is the "burning feather", symbolizing the angels that Fell to become demons (and, in their own words, free from Heaven).
 
 
== Video Games ==
* chaos of ''[[Xenosaga (Video Game)|Xenosaga]]'' has attacks that are accompanied by glowing feather-shapes. This is because he was {{spoiler|literally the [[Man Behind the Man]] to Jesus, making him a divine figure.}}
* The ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series is somewhat fond of this trope.
** The ''[[Final Fantasy VII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VII]] Compilation'' makes use of this trope.
*** Sephiroth is given a black feather motif in his appearances in ''[[Advent Children]]''. This was carried over to ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy (Video Game)|Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' and his cameos in ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''.
*** Angeal and Genesis are also given feather motifs in ''[[Crisis Core]]''.
** Rinoa of ''[[Final Fantasy VIII (Video Game)|Final Fantasy VIII]]'' has a feather motif to a degree - her [[Infinity+1 Sword|Infinity Plus One Blaster Edge]] is made up of feathered wings and her [[Limit Break]] Angel Wing begins with her growing glowing [[Exactly What It Says Onon the Tin|angel wings]] which [[Perpetual Molt|shed glowing feathers]]. She also turns a flower petal into a feather in the opening sequence.
*** Wings seem to be a symbol associated with sorceresses in general. Edea has a black feather motif, Ultimecia has black wings, and Adel has a strange winglike structure on her back. Angelic white wings seem to be specific to Rinoa, however.
*** This theme was carried over into ''[[Dissidia Final Fantasy (Video Game)|Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'', with Squall's feather [[MacGuffin]] and with Ultimecia's black feather motif taken up a notch.
*** It was also carried over to the [[Fan Film]] ''[[Dead Fantasy]]'', where Rinoa is given permanent angel wings and a gunblade shaped like and decorated with a feather.
** Although there was only a single use of feathers in ''[[Final Fantasy X (Video Game)|Final Fantasy X]]'' on Yuna's wedding dress, it's worth mentioning because it's a double whammy for symbolism. The obvious symbolism is the connection to the divine, since Yuna is very much a [[Messianic Archetype]]. The second is a symbol of freedom and flight. This is especially appropriate since immediately after the ceremony she {{spoiler|repudiates the marriage, tells the party she can fly, jumps off the roof, and flies away on [[Summon Magic|Valefor]]}}.
** Lightning in ''[[Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Video Game)|Final Fantasy XIII-2]]'' appears to have developed this motif - her armor has a half-skirt made of feathers and feathers appear when she summons her gunblade. This replaces her flower petal motif from the first game. [[Word of God]] has confirmed that this indicates a connection to the divine.
* Balmung of ''[[.hack]]'' sports a feather motif on his armor. This may have to do with his self-appointed name of "Balmung of the Azure ''Sky''".
* In ''[[Devil May Cry]] 3'', small white feathers can be seen floating around Vergil briefly, as well as a type of demon with deceptively angelic form, complete with luminous white wings and a [[Our Monsters Are Weird|face on its stomach]].
* Alphonse Michel from ''[[Pop'n N Musicmusic]]'' has this during his Fever animation. (As his hair turns blond from taking off his glasses, the white, glowing feathers appear while the book in hand opens and starts turning pages..)
* [[Warrior Monk|Kilik]]'s [[Finishing Move|Critical Finish]] in ''[[Soul Series|Soulcalibur IV]]'' has him leap up into the air as the cry of [[The Phoenix|a phoenix]] resounds in the distance. He is briefly surrounded by golden feathers as he slams his [[Simple Staff|bo]] down upon their heads for the final blow.
* Fuuma Kotaro from ''[[Sengoku Basara]]'' is surrounded by black feathers almost everywhere he goes. This is interesting as he's sometimes depicted with wings and rumored to be a demon.
* At least two or three characters from ''[[Blaz BlueBlazBlue]]'' use a [[Feather Motif]] in an unusual way. For [[The Empire|the N.O.L's]] elite Zero Squadron-member Tsubaki Yayoi, a [[Perpetual Molt]] accompanies many of her powers (and is directly [[Invocation|invoked]] for her [[Finishing Move|Astral Finish]]). {{spoiler|Tellingly, her [[Feather Motif]] [[Face Heel Turn|turns black]] by the end of ''Continuum Shift''.}} For [[Person of Mass Destruction|Nu]] and [[Legacy Character|Lambda]], the fact that their "feathers" are [[Feather Flechettes|eight swords floating behind their backs]] should tell the player most of what they need to know about the mecha-angels.
* Balder from ''[[Bayonetta (Video Game)|Bayonetta]]'' wears a dead white peacock stole over his shoulder, with the tail feathers prominently displayed. When he goes [[One-Winged Angel]] for his [[Boss Battle]], the peacock itself disappears but the feathers become a part of Balder himself, acting as enormous wings, along with other assorted feathers attached to the rest of his outfit. Also, at one point during the fight, [[Evil Is Cool|he pulls out a feather to comb back his hair]].
 
{{reflist}}
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[[Category:Motifs]]
[[Category:Feather Motif]]
[[Category:Trope]][[Category:Pages with comment tags]]
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