Kingdom Hearts Creator Explains Why He Avoids Designing 'Ugly' Characters

Tetsuya Nomura, the mastermind behind Kingdom Hearts and the character designer for numerous Final Fantasy heroes, has shared why he refrains from creating unattractive characters. As a key figure in the world of JRPGs, Nomura has been part of Square Enix for over three decades, shaping the aesthetic and storytelling of many iconic games.

Nomura has held influential roles throughout his tenure at Square Enix. He co-directed the Final Fantasy 7 Remake, served as the creative director for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and is currently working on the final chapter of the FF7 remake trilogy while simultaneously developing Kingdom Hearts 4. Recently, he hinted at the possibility of retirement, suggesting that finishing Sora's journey in Kingdom Hearts might be his final project.

Fans have long admired Nomura's ability to craft visually appealing characters. In a recent interview with Young Jump, he revealed the origin of this design philosophy, dating back to his high school days. Nomura shared a story about a friend who was playing a game with a less-than-attractive protagonist and remarked, “Why do I have to be ugly in the game too?” This simple comment left a lasting impact on Nomura, inspiring him to create many of Square Enix's most striking and beloved characters.

Why Tetsuya Nomura Prefers to Create Attractive Characters

Nomura's portfolio includes the creation of some of the most iconic characters in gaming history. He was responsible for designing key figures from Final Fantasy 7 like Cloud, Tifa, Barret, Aerith, and Sephiroth, as well as Final Fantasy favorites such as Squall, Tidus, and Noctis. In Kingdom Hearts, Nomura brought to life characters like Sora, Riku, Roxas, and Aqua, leaving his unmistakable artistic signature on the series. During the PlayStation 1 era, he also designed Aya Brea, the lead character in Parasite Eve.

Over the years, Nomura has become a subject of fan discussions for two primary reasons. His character designs are instantly recognizable, often featuring spiky hair or outfits with an array of belts, contributing to his signature style. Meanwhile, the storyline of Kingdom Hearts has sparked endless debate for its complexity and confusing narrative threads, something Nomura himself has acknowledged. Additionally, there has been some misconception among players that he was responsible for the major plot changes in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, though it was actually producer Yoshinori Kitase who drove those narrative shifts.