Final Fantasy: Character Design's Intentional Heat

Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts’ Tetsuya Nomura revealed in a recent interview why he designs his characters to be appealing, and no, it’s not that profound. Read on to learn more about his unconventional approach to character design.

Why Tetsuya Nomura Designs His Heroes to Look Like They Just Stepped Off a RunwaySimple: ‘I Want to be Handsome in Games,’ Said Nomura

Tetsuya Nomura has a peculiar habit when it comes to designing his protagonists: They always look like supermodels trapped in a world of oversized swords and existential crises. But why? Why are all of Nomura’s protagonists conventionally attractive? No, it’s not because he believes beauty is a reflection of the soul. He’s not trying to be edgy either. There’s a frankly more relatable reason behind this aesthetic choice.

According to Nomura’s recent interview with Young Jump magazine, translated by AUTOMATON, Nomura’s design philosophy can be traced back to his high school days, when a classmate dropped a truth bomb that would shape the future of JRPGs: "Why do I have to be unattractive in the game world too?" Apparently, that casual, offhand remark stuck with him. It hit like a limit break resonating with his belief that video games offer an escape.

He noted: "From that experience, I thought, ‘I want to be handsome in games,’ and that’s how I create my main characters."

This doesn’t seem to simply be about conceit, though. Nomura believes that players are more likely to connect with characters they find aesthetically pleasing. It’s about empathy. "If you go out of your way to make them unconventional, you will end up with a character who is too unique and hard to empathize with," Nomura explained.

Now, don’t get it twisted—Nomura doesn’t avoid quirky designs altogether. He just saves those daring experiments for the villains. For him, it’s the bad guys who get to sport bold, extravagant looks. Enter Sephiroth, the silver-haired antagonist from FINAL FANTASY VII who wields a sword that’s slightly taller than him and has a flair for melodrama. Sephiroth and other villainous characters like Kingdom Hearts’ Organization XIII are where Nomura’s creative energy runs rampant.

"Yes, I like Organization XIII," he said. "I don’t think the designs of Organization XIII would be that distinctive without their personalities. That’s because I feel that it’s only when their inner and outer appearances are unified that they become that kind of character."

However, if you look back at FINAL FANTASY VII, it’s clear that in his younger days, Nomura wasn’t quite as reserved. He cheerfully admitted that when he first designed the FFVII crew, it was a free-for-all of creativity. Red XIII, a lion-like creature with a flaming tail, and Cait Sith, a Scottish-speaking cat riding a stuffed moogle, weren’t exactly understated choices. But this wild youthful audacity worked in the game’s favor.

"At the time, I was still young… so I just decided to make all the characters unique," Nomura 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 brief, the next time you’re playing a Nomura title and your protagonist appears as though they could also model in a fashion show, you can thank an earlier remark from a friend who simply desired to look stylish while saving the world. After all, as Nomura might say, why be a hero if you can’t look dashing doing it?

Tetsuya Nomura’s Retirement and the Future of Kingdom Hearts

In the same interview with Young Jump, Tetsuya Nomura alluded to his potential retirement in the coming years, as the Kingdom Hearts series approaches its conclusion. He mentioned that he’s been integrating new writers unfamiliar with Kingdom Hearts to foster new perspectives. Nomura shared, "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 revamp the series and set the stage for its grand finale, check out our article below!