FF Characters' Sizzling Designs: A Simple Explanation

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

Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts’ Tetsuya Nomura disclosed 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 Look Good in Games,’ Said Nomura

Tetsuya Nomura has a unique approach when designing his protagonists: They always look like supermodels 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 reflects the soul. He’s not aiming for edginess either. There’s a more relatable reason for this aesthetic choice.

According to Nomura’s recent interview with Young Jump magazine, translated by AUTOMATON, Nomura’s design philosophy stems from his high school days, when a classmate made a remark that would shape the future of JRPGs: "Why do I have to be unattractive in the game world too?" Apparently, that casual comment resonated with him. It impacted him profoundly, aligning with his belief that video games offer escapism.

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

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

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 play with bold, extravagant looks. Enter Sephiroth, the silver-haired antagonist from Final Fantasy VII who swings 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 align that they become that kind of character."

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

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 subtle choices. But this wild youthful impetuosity 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."

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

In short, the next time you’re playing a Nomura game and your hero looks like they could double as a model for some fashion show, you can thank a past comment from a friend who simply wanted to look stylish while saving the world. After all, as Nomura might say, why be a hero if you can’t look great doing it?

Tetsuya Nomura’s Retirement and the Future of Kingdom Hearts

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

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 revitalize the series and set the stage for its grand finale, check out our article below!