Tetsuya Nomura, the mastermind behind Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts character designs, recently revealed the surprisingly simple reason behind his characters' striking good looks. It's not some deep artistic statement; it's far more relatable. In a Young Jump interview (translated by AUTOMATON), Nomura traced his design philosophy back to a high school classmate's insightful question: "Why do I have to be ugly in the game world too?" This casual remark resonated deeply, sparking Nomura's desire to create visually appealing protagonists. He aims to make players connect with characters they find attractive, believing this fosters empathy. Unconventional designs, he argues, can hinder this connection.
This isn't to say Nomura shies away from unique aesthetics entirely. He reserves his boldest, most eccentric designs for antagonists, citing Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII and Organization XIII from Kingdom Hearts as prime examples. He believes the impact of these designs is amplified by the characters' personalities, creating a powerful synergy between inner and outer appearances.
Reflecting on his earlier work in Final Fantasy VII, Nomura acknowledges a more unrestrained approach, highlighting characters like Red XIII and Cait Sith as examples of his youthful creative exuberance. However, even then, he meticulously considered every design detail, believing these contribute to the characters' personalities and enrich the overall narrative.
The interview also touched upon Nomura's potential retirement in the coming years, as the Kingdom Hearts series nears its conclusion. He expressed uncertainty about whether retirement or completing the series would come first, but confirmed Kingdom Hearts IV is being developed as a crucial step toward the franchise's finale. He's also actively incorporating new writers to bring fresh perspectives to the series. In essence, the next time you admire a Nomura protagonist's striking appearance, remember it all stems from a simple desire to make the gaming experience more visually appealing and engaging for the player.
