Summary
Kingdom Heartsco-creator Tetsuya Nomura recently shared some insight into the creation of the epic RPG series, including the fact that he wasn’t present during the fateful elevator ride that started it all. The magical worlds of Disney andFinal Fantasyfirst collided in the originalKingdom Heartsback in 2002, which followed a young boy named Sora as he teamed up with Donald Duck and Goofy to find his lost friends and defeat an evil force threatening various Disney universes. The game would become a major success on the PlayStation 2, spawning a series that continues to this day.
The story of howKingdom Heartsfirst came to be is nearly as magical as the game’s plot, with the title initially being pitched during a chance meeting between Disney and Square Enix employees who shared an office building in Arco Towers in Japan. One seemingly normal day,Square Enix game producer Shinji Hashimotofound himself in an elevator with a Disney executive, who allowed him to pitch an idea for a 3D game in the style ofSuper Mario 64that he brainstormed withFinal Fantasycreator Hironobu Sakaguchi. Disney liked the concept enough to allow Square Enix to use its characters, leading to what would eventually becomeKingdom Hearts.
There have been a few misconceptions about the elevator meeting that led toKingdom Hearts, namely that Tetsuya Nomura was present during the encounter. In a recent interview withFamitsu(shared by Twitter user aitaikimochi), Nomura stated that this wasn’t the case, and that he wasn’t on-site for the conversation that ultimately led to a deal between Disney and Square Enix. He did, however, overhear Shinji Hashimoto and Hironobu Sakaguchi discussing their idea foraSuper Mario 64-style 3D platformerbeforehand, taking interest when they noted that the only characters that could rival Mario in popularity would be those from Disney.
Tetsuya Nomura Wasn’t In The Elevator During The Kingdom Hearts Pitch
Tetsuya Nomura claims that he was inspired to makeKingdom Heartsafter seeing how freely players could move in a 3D space inSuper Mario 64, which was released while he was working onthe originalFinal Fantasy 7. He doesn’t remember why he was in the room when Hashimoto and Sakaguchi brought up their idea for a Disney game, but he jumped at the chance to lead the project and create a similar experience.
That project wouldtake the form ofKingdom Hearts, a franchise that owes its existence to seemingly random encounters that formed a bridge between Disney and Square Enix that has continued for over two decades. It’s hard for many RPG fans to imagine a world withoutKingdom Hearts, so it’s a good thing that Tetsuya Nomura was around when the game was first being planned - even if he actually wasn’t in the elevator when Shinji Hashimoto shared this plan with Disney for the first time.
Kingdom Hearts
WHERE TO PLAY
KINGDOM HEARTS: Fear locks the light in darkness. Courage is the key.When a supernatural storm transports 14-year-old Sora to a distant land, he sets out to track down his missing friends. Teaming up with Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, join Sora as he embarks on a valiant quest to find his friends and defeat the evil ‘Heartless’.Explore new and familiar worlds featuring over 100 Disney characters. Beware of the Disney villains and their devious intentions. Team up with Disney heroes as you battle evil. Experience stunning graphics and authentic voiceovers.
