From the start, it's pretty clear that our little black mage has got some confidence issues. For starters, he's more than a bit of a klutz, more often finding himself on the ground than on his own two feet. Not making matters better is how different he looks from everyone else around him: small, dark, with two flashing, yellow eyes hidden away under a tall steeple hat, there's no one around that looks an iota like him. He stammers when he talks, has trouble speaking up, and gets frightened really easily. In short, you could say he's a painfully shy outcast bordering on a nervous wreck.

It's Puck, Vivi's associate in sneaking into the Tantalus play, who's the first to pick up on this and act on it — though not in an exactly positive way. Puck recruits Vivi as his "slave", forcing him to do all of the menial dirty tasks on their way to sneaking into the play. Vivi lends himself to this sort of role: he's unconfident, meek and submissive. It's no wonder a bully like Puck is willing and able to walk all over him. Later, we discover that Vivi has powers that would have cast fear into someone like Puck, had he known of them. But Vivi keeps his powerful abilities to himself and let's Puck do and say what he will, no matter the cost to the former's self esteem.

Moreso than any other character, Vivi is greatly concerned with the way he appears. As a child just breaking free into the world of awareness, Vivi gradually recognises just how different he looks from everyone else. When Zidane notices this, he gives Vivi some great (albiet slightly naive) advice:

Zidane § To hell with looks. It's what's inside that counts.

Vivi isn't quite so sure, and struggles with the knowledge that he might be, or might have been, exactly like the black mages under Brahne's command. He worries that he's not any different than they are. Things worsen for the little black mage when he visits the Black Mage Village and learns that his fellows don't live very long, most only a year. He becomes increasingly depressed about the suddenly great possibility of death in his near future. With Zidane's advice and support, however, he comes to the conclusion he can either worry about it or not   and, after great thought, he choses not to.

Above all else, it's Vivi's inferiority complex that's both his greatest weakness and most challenging hurdle to overcome. Vivi's issues go far beyong being merely shy: he's perpetually frightened. In some instances, his fear causes him to react defensively, such as when the guards chase him and Puck out of the Tantalus play, and he reacts by using his magical powers against them to protect himself. But more often than not, his fear cripples him, as what later happens when Garnet is kidnapped by a monster in the Evil Forest.

Vivi § B-but...I'm scared. I couldn't even move last time.

Vivi is completely aware of his problem: he just can't seem to do anything about it.

But despite these hurdles, Vivi carries within him a power I don't think he's even quite sure he has, until nearly the end of his tail: bravery. When he comes face-to-face with the black mage clones, who look almost exactly like he does, Vivi is startled and frightened. But instead of turning away, letting fear take him from the truth, Vivi sets out on a journey to discover who they are, and ultimately who he is.

Zidane § Look, Vivi's scared, too. But we have to face reality.

The truth can be a hard thing to discover, and an even harder thing to bear, but Vivi does both gallantly, and is an inspiration to others. When Freya and the group come to a decemated Burmecia, Freya is afraid to go on to the castle, fearing what she might find there. But Vivi refuses to stop there, knowing that to know not know the truth would be far worse. Even when Freya insists he doesn't know what he's talking about, and certainly isn't prepared, Vivi resolves to reach for the truth. His innocence undoes any regard Freya may have had for his words. But when Zidane moves the group onward and Freya is forced to face reality, she discovers Vivi was right.

Eiko § Wow...That crybaby sure has come a long way, don't you think?

Over the course of their journey, the others begin to notice how much stronger Vivi's become. Though he still feels lost and faces many trials that test his strength of heart, Vivi pushes forward relentlessly. He becomes the first to dive headlong into situations, rather than the last. Slowly, he gains strength in his beliefs.

When Vivi discovers that he's likely to die very soon, being a puppet produced like the other black mages by Kuja, he doesn't give in. Unlike the other black mages, who've all but given up hope, Vivi clings to life. He believes he has a right to live, and live freely, and that he isn't just a doll created for humans to use: he has feelings, emotions, like humans and people of the other races do. Vivi is finally believing in himself.

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