Tetsuya Nomura, the creative force behind Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, recently shared his straightforward approach to character design in an interview with Young Jump magazine, translated by AUTOMATON. His philosophy stems from a simple yet impactful comment from his high school days, which continues to influence the JRPG genre.
Why Tetsuya Nomura Designs His Heroes to Look Like They Just Stepped Off a Runway
Simple: ‘I Want to be Good-Looking in Games,’ Said Nomura
Tetsuya Nomura's protagonists are renowned for their striking, model-like appearances amidst fantastical settings. This aesthetic choice isn't about deep philosophical beliefs or an attempt to be edgy; it's rooted in a more relatable reason.
Nomura revealed that a casual remark from a classmate during his high school years profoundly influenced his design philosophy: "Why do I have to be ugly in the game world too?" This comment resonated with Nomura’s belief that video games should provide an escape, leading him to decide, "From that experience, I thought, ‘I want to be good-looking in games,’ and that’s how I create my main characters."
Nomura's approach isn't solely about vanity. He believes that players are more likely to connect with visually appealing characters, enhancing empathy. He explained, "If you go out of your way to make them unconventional, you will end up with a character who is too distinct and hard to empathize with."
While Nomura's heroes maintain a conventional attractiveness, he reserves more eccentric designs for his villains. Characters like Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII and members of Kingdom Hearts’ Organization XIII showcase his flair for bold, outlandish looks. Nomura stated, "Yes, I like Organization XIII. I don’t think the designs of Organization XIII would be that unique without their personalities. That’s because I feel that it’s only when their inner and outer appearances come together that they become that kind of character."
Reflecting on his early work, Nomura admitted that his approach was less restrained when designing the cast of Final Fantasy VII. Characters like Red XIII and Cait Sith exemplify his youthful creativity. "At the time, I was still young… so I just decided to make all the characters distinctive," he recalled. "I am very particular about the basis (for character designs) right down to the smallest details, like why this part is this color, and why this is a certain shape. These details become part of the character’s personality, which in the end become part of the game and its story."
In essence, Nomura's design choices are influenced by a desire for players to feel good about themselves in the game world. As he might put it, why be a hero if you can't look good doing it?
Tetsuya Nomura’s Retirement and the Future of Kingdom Hearts
In the same interview, Nomura hinted at his potential retirement as the Kingdom Hearts series approaches its conclusion. He has been involving new writers to bring fresh perspectives to the series. Nomura mentioned, "I only have a few years left until I retire, and it’s looking like: will I retire or will I finish the series first? However, I'm making Kingdom Hearts IV with the intention of it being a story that leads to the conclusion."
For more details on how Kingdom Hearts IV aims to reboot the series and set the stage for its grand finale, check out our article below!
