Final Fantasy Characters Are Hot on Purpose Because of a Simple Line

Tetsuya Nomura, the creative mind behind Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, recently revealed the surprisingly simple reason behind his characters' striking good looks. This article delves into his unconventional design philosophy.

Why Nomura's Heroes Look Like Supermodels

Nomura's protagonists consistently boast supermodel-esque features, a fact that's often noted. But the reason isn't some deep artistic statement about beauty reflecting the soul. It's far more relatable.

In a recent Young Jump interview (translated by AUTOMATON), Nomura traces his design philosophy back to high school. A classmate's simple question – "Why do I have to be ugly in the game world too?" – profoundly impacted him. This resonated with his belief that video games offer escapism.

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

This isn't mere vanity. Nomura believes visual appeal fosters player connection and empathy. He argues that unconventional designs can create characters too distinct for players to relate to.

However, Nomura doesn't shy away from eccentric designs entirely; he reserves them for villains. Sephiroth from Final Fantasy VII, with his towering sword and dramatic flair, exemplifies this. The same applies to Kingdom Hearts' Organization XIII. Nomura's creativity flourishes in these villainous characters.

"Yes, I like Organization XIII," he stated. "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."

Looking back at Final Fantasy VII, Nomura admits a more unrestrained approach in his younger days. Characters like Red XIII and Cait Sith showcase this early, unrestrained creativity. This youthful exuberance, however, proved beneficial to the game.

"At the time, I was still young… so I just decided to make all the characters distinctive," Nomura remembered. "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, the next time a Nomura hero looks like they belong on a runway, remember a high school comment that shaped a generation of JRPG character design. As Nomura might say, why be a hero if you can't look good doing it?

Nomura's Potential Retirement and the Future of Kingdom Hearts

The same Young Jump interview also hinted at Nomura's potential retirement in the coming years, as the Kingdom Hearts series approaches its conclusion. He's actively incorporating new writers to bring fresh perspectives. Nomura stated, "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."