Can anyone explain Zidane's design differences from FFIX to Dissidia? timelines etc

[Mathias T.S | Wrathspawn]

They should have clarrified why the Zidane version in Dissidia is so much taller and face looks completely different in comparison to the version from PS1. Was his memories summoned to world b in Dissidia by Materia from an older FFIX timeline than the original PS1 story since he looks much older? because Kuja is summoned to world b then the FFIX characters must be from different timelines in the story in Dissidia since Kuja is from earlier in the timeline when he died when Zidane was the size he shows in FFIX while being much taller in Dissidia . Square should have addressed the redesign. I felt it was weird when Zidane changed that much out of nowhere.

[Visi]

Probably to make him fit in with the art style of Dissidia. It isn't that Zidane is short in FFIX, it's just that everyone in that game is stylized in a certain way that makes them appear kind of stocky.

[Nykusu]

I actually prefer his Dissidia design, he looks nice.

[Mathias T.S | Wrathspawn]

His Dissidia design looks cool but it was confusing when they didn't clarify if he was an older version or not when he meets characters alive again that died in the IX timeline like Kuja.

[FleischRocket]

if you read too much into timelines in the FF series you will find a lot of dead ends. take the games for what they are worth, each as a whole, and the dissidia games as a battle royale alternative to a lengthy rpg story.

[Konachibi]

Zidane, and by extension all the characters in FF9 had a sort of 'chibi' art style to them (short and stumpy with big heads), mimicking the sprite art style of the pre-3D Final Fantasy games. As such, if they were to put Zidane in to Dissidia in that style, he would look freakishly weird compared to the more anatomically correct designs of other characters.

Think of it the same way as how they've designed all the characters from FF1-6, for instance, Terra:
Original artwork - https://static.tumblr.com/234fa5bfc787fc5152ef28241c47e3a5/jkmffiq/e4nmgg4cq/tumblr_static_terra_branford__dff__portrait__01.jpg

In-game sprite - https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/5/5e/FF6_iOS_Terra_Sprites.png/revision/latest?cb=20150219173031

When you think of it in perspective, what you'd end up with if they kept their original in-game appearances instead of their original artwork, everyone from Final Fantasy 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 would all look like Shantoto, while those from 8, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 would all look like normal humans.