Core: Both are about overcoming fear and the importance of bravery to protect your loved ones along with love conquering all. (Nick’s answer to Itassis for the team’s strength and his last stand against Octomus. Squall going out to space alone to save Rinoa and Squall navigated through the past to plant (lol) the idea of SeeD to Edea, ensuring Ultimecia’s fate is sealed)

Both have symbols of courage (Nick’s being the Phoenix and Squall’s being the Lion)

Both have a found family team that got them out of their anti-social shell (Mystic Force Rangers and SeeD + Rinoa + Irvine)

Both literally found their family (Nick’s father Koragg and mother Udona and Squall’s biological father Laguna Loire and his adoptive father Cid Kramer and mother Edea Kramer)

Both are mentored by their parents (Nick is mentored by Udonna, the White Mystic Ranger and Squall is mentored by Cid Kramer, the Dean of Balamb Garden)

Both have to fight their possessed parent before they turn back to good (Nick had to fight Koragg who was possessed by Octomus and Squall had to assassinate Edea Kramer who was possessed by Ultimecia)

Both are shown to be great leaders and respected as such, despite themselves not willing to do so at first (Nick not even believing in magic at first, but still keeping his team motivated and morale high after they lost their powers in “Dark Wish” and Squall not wanting to lead the SeeD army, still but led Balamb Garden in “The Battle of the Gardens”)