Birthdays are a way of remembering a person while they are still currently alive or honoring them after they've passed. Novels rarely, if ever, flat-out state when a character's birthday is. It would interrupt the flow of the story. With the introduction of video games, more and more writers are taking care to include when someone was born so that their lives are taking place during an active world, not a metaphysically timeless one. While some people might not hear it during a play session, functions like character bios usually make it clear.
It's entirely possible that these birth dates correspond to someone born in history. A vast majority of times, they're unlikely pairs, but there's always a hint of similarity lying in wait.
Later in this piece, there will be a Danganronpa 2 spoiler, so please keep that in mind.
10 Lara Croft And Jimmy Hoffa — February 14
Whenever there’s a mystery involved, Lara Croft is on the case. Jimmy Hoffa mysteriously disappeared in 1975 and was declared dead in 1982. The pandemonium to where his remains are located continues to this very day, and it is generally believed that they are somewhere in a Jersey landfill.
Lara has been shown not to stay within borders as well. Traveling to Paris, Bolivia, the South Pacific, and more, she would not turn her nose to an opportunity like this. Anyway, the scenario writers could always take a fictive license that Hoffa was the holder of some incredible Italian artifact. Hasn’t stopped them in other Tomb Raider games.
9 JC Denton And Kurt Russell — March 17
The axiom spouting protagonist of Deus Ex has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. His mug has featured on almost every social media app, along with singing praises for the actual story of the game. As well, most people have probably seen at least one Kurt Russell movie in their lifetime, be it Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Escape from New York, or The Thing.
A rather small coincidence is that they are both 5’11.” And yes: “We thought they’d be taller.”
8 Aloy And Dorothea Dix — April 4
Both Aloy and Dorothea Dix showed appreciation for the humanity that resides in every person. In Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy was forced to learn that, without a biological mother, her circumstances were less favorable than others. Dix observed that people with mental health issues were not being treated properly and wanted to change that. These challenges propelled them into fighting for what they believe in, not on empty platitudes, but because it saved lives.
In a way, their religious upbringing influenced these beliefs. Because The Matriarchs contested Aloy’s unnatural birth, she wanted to do things on her own terms. Dix’s fundamentalist father abused her while her mother suffered from an illness, which caused her to run away at a young age.
7 Nagito Komaeda And Ferruccio Lamborghini — April 28
Sort of the reversal of each other, Dangonronpa 2's Nagito was born rich while Lamborghini was born under modest circumstances. Intellect got Lamborghini far, as he was fascinated with machines and saw immediate effect through his business ventures. Nagito had many up and down moments that defined the trajectory of his entire life. Lamborghini died a rich man with many accomplishments. Nagito died brutally in Dangonronpa 2.
It’s interesting that, on the Lamborghini official website, they draw attention to the fact that he was a Taurus — strong and determined. Many people interpret astrological qualities one way, but for Nagito, his luck finally ran out.
6 Chrom And Andre 3000 — May 27
Chrom and Andre 3000 are both outspoken advocates for justice in different senses. They are simply not afraid to say what’s on their mind in the face of; in Andre 3000’s case, prejudice and racism, and, in Chrom’s case, tyranny. At the end of the day, these two are completely genuine in their actions.
They both started young, too. In their 20s, they were ready to take on the world, and that didn’t stave them off from accomplishing some pretty incredible things.
5 Sonya Blade And Edward Snowden — June 21
Part of what makes the military and government so stringent is the focus on tradition. What happens when you go against that tradition in order to expose some ill is usually unfavorable. In fiction, this sounds exciting, but in reality, every day is a battle for your life or privacy.
While Sonia sticks to her missions throughout the series, Snowden departed from the CIA in order to fight for collective liberation. In their lifetime, both have gotten into some rough waters. The bottom line is that if they don’t do it, no one else will.
4 Ryu And Ernest Hemingway — July 21
Masters of their craft, both Ryu and Hemingway channel their lived experiences through their professed art. They are nomads, worldly, and not without serious trauma. There’s a lot to be said of the sheer influence that these two have had on video games and literature respectively.
According to the Street Fighter Wiki, Ryu was born in 1964, 3 years after Hemingway passed away. One wonders what kind of books Ryu is attracted to in his adult life.
3 Cloud Strife And Hulk Hogan — August 11
If Cloud was about 100 pounds heavier and prone to leg-dropping Shinra soldiers, it might be possible to see a resemblance here. Really, Cloud prefers fighting with a sword, but Hogan would probably swing it a few times before deciding it was not for him.
Hogan and Cloud are both icons. You mention wrestling, people think Hulk Hogan. You mention Final Fantasy, heck even spiky-haired anime boys, people think Cloud. People are entitled to their other favorites, but this is undeniable.
2 Ann And Anne Hathaway — November 12
It’s a bit tenuous to draw connections to people through similar names, but both these women found success through donning “masks.” Hathaway found structure through acting. Now, she is remembered for being Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises and Fantine in Les Miserables.
In Persona 5, Ann awakens her persona while trapped in Kamoshida's lair. This shows authority and the resolve to not be something that someone else says she is. The motivation behind Ann's transformation is admirable.
1 Bayonetta And Jake Gyllenhaal — December 19
Some people are judged primarily on their looks. Both Bayonetta and Gyllenhaal are subjects of this, appearing on lists as “sexy” and “good-looking.” Of course, Bayonetta welcomes this as part of her charm and character, and Gyllenhaal embodies much more than this through his movies.
They also have rich family histories. The Gyllenhaal family has their own noble coat of arms, and Bayonetta’s mother was an Umbra Witch — a very powerful profession indeed.