Characters of Kingdom Hearts

A piece of promotional artwork for Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ that showcases the main characters of the series up to II; Sora appears twice in the center in two different outfits with his Kingdom Hearts II design next to Roxas (left) and his original design next to Riku (right), with the members of Organization XIII at the bottom.

Kingdom Hearts is a series of action role-playing games developed and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). It is the result of a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney Interactive Studios. Kingdom Hearts is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series features a mixture of familiar Disney, Final Fantasy and The World Ends with You characters, as well as several new characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura.[1] In addition, it has an all-star voice cast which includes many of the Disney characters' official voice actors.

The series centers on Sora's search for his friends and his encounters with various Disney and Final Fantasy characters along the way. Players primarily control Sora, though there are numerous characters that join Sora's party as computer controlled members. The majority of the characters were introduced in the original game Kingdom Hearts. Subsequent installments including Chain of Memories, Kingdom Hearts II, 358/2 Days, Birth by Sleep and coded featured several new original, Disney and Final Fantasy characters while the most recent game Dream Drop Distance introduces several characters from Square Enix's The World Ends with You.

Various types of merchandise modeled after the characters' likeness have been produced, including figurines and jewelry. The characters have garnered praise from several video game websites and magazines for the quality of their voice acting and visual style. Comments focused on the accurate presentation of Disney characters, the unique visual style of Square Enix characters, how well all the characters blended together, and the consistent quality performances from voice actors.

Creation and influences

Early concept art of Riku, Kairi, and Sora, original characters created for the series

The Kingdom Hearts series is directed by Tetsuya Nomura, the character designer of the games. Nomura has stated that unlike working with Final Fantasy characters, keeping the main character Sora alive and interesting over multiple games is a challenge.[2] He also stated that though many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story, and despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics.[3] Though Disney gave Nomura freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds.[2] When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting.[4]

The inclusion of specific Final Fantasy characters was based on the opinions of fans and the development staff.[5] Another criterion for inclusion was whether the staff felt the characters would fit into the storyline and in the Kingdom Hearts universe.[6] Initially, Nomura was hesitant to use characters he did not design, because he was unfamiliar with the background work of such characters.[7] For Kingdom Hearts II, he changed his mind after receiving pressure from his staff.[5] Throughout the development of the games, Nomura has often left certain events and connections between characters unexplained until the release of future games. Nomura did this because he feels that games should have room for fans to speculate and use their imagination. He stated that with speculation, even though a game may get old, people can still be happy with it.[8]

Playable characters

Sora

Main article: Sora (Kingdom Hearts)

Sora (ソラ) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura. He is the protagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series and the character that the player directly controls through a majority of the games.[1] Sora's weapon is the Keyblade.[9] Nomura has stated that Sora's name can be interpreted as "sky";[10] the Japanese word for sky is sora (空).[11]

Sora is voiced by Miyu Irino in the Japanese version and by Haley Joel Osment in the English version.[12] The character's child version is voiced by Takuto Yoshinaga in the Japanese version and by Luke Manriquez in the English version.

Riku

Riku (リク) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura.[1] He is Sora's and Kairi's best friend. Nomura has stated that Riku's name can be interpreted as "land";[10] the Japanese on'yomi pronunciation of land is riku (陸).[11][13] Riku's character represents one of the series' main themes alongside Sora which is "the light and the dark sides of hearts."[14]

During Kingdom Hearts, Riku is motivated by his wish to go to other worlds and gain strength. However, Riku goes with the darkness as his world is attacked by the Heartless. He is separated from his friends and ends up at Hollow Bastion where he is found by Maleficent and receives his weapon known as the Soul Eater (ソウルイーター) from her. Under her influence, Riku turns on Sora and searches for a way to help Kairi.[13] Riku becomes possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, until being sent to the realm of darkness where he meets King Mickey and helps him and Sora seal the door to the realm of darkness.[15] In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Riku appears as a playable character as he awakens in the basement levels of Castle Oblivion and begins climbing to the ground floor. Along the way, Riku faces Ansem seeking to control him once again as well as Zexion and a replica of himself.[16] After learning of Sora's comatose state, Riku chooses to find a balance between his light and darkness, allowing him to defeat what remains of Ansem within him.

Soon after in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Riku joins DIZ to ensure Sora is restored in peace by capturing Roxas in order to make Sora complete again. He fights against Roxas as the final boss. After Roxas defeats him, Riku uses the power of darkness to capture him at the cost of becoming a physical manifestation of Ansem.[17] In Kingdom Hearts II, Riku is trapped in his Ansem form, but helps Sora in secret, eventually gaining his Way to the Dawn (ウェイトゥザドーン) Keyblade. Riku returns to his original form when Ansem the Wise's machine used to digitally seal away Kingdom Hearts malfunctions and self-destructs. Joining Sora's party, they battle and defeat Xemnas, and return to Destiny Islands.[18]

As revealed in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Riku as a young boy was granted the power to wield a Keyblade by Terra. In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Riku serves as a playable character alongside Sora as the two are instructed to take the Mark of Mastery exam in order to become Keyblade Masters and prepare to fight Xehanort. The two of them undergo a series of trials through various dream worlds. After saving Sora from Xehanort's group, and releasing Sora's heart from Ventus' armor, Riku is declared a Keyblade Master. Nomura emphasizes how Riku is the main focus of this game as it shows the character's growth across the series.[19]

Riku is voiced by Mamoru Miyano in the Japanese version and by David Gallagher in the English version.[12] The character's child version is voiced by Eiji Shima in the Japanese version and Ty Panitz in the English version.

Kairi

Kairi (カイリ) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura for the Kingdom Hearts series.[1] She is Sora and Riku's best friend, and one of the seven Princesses of Heart. Nomura has stated that Kairi's name can be interpreted as "sea or separation",;[10] the Japanese on'yomi pronunciation of sea is kai (海).[13]

During Kingdom Hearts, Kairi's heart enters Sora's while her body falls into a deep sleep when Destiny Islands is destroyed by the Heartless.[15] Upon learning her identity as a Princess of Heart and the location of her heart, Sora gives up his heart in order to release hers and restore it back into her body. Soon after, Kairi finds Sora's Heartless and restores him back to human form. Kairi later stays in Destiny Islands awaiting Sora's return from his journey.[20]

During Chain of Memories, Naminé's memory-altering powers break the memories in Sora's heart as well as those of all his friends, leading Kairi to lose her memories of him. In Kingdom Hearts II, Kairi gradually remembers Sora as his own memories are restored. Later, Kairi is kidnapped by Axel in the hopes to use Kairi to lure Sora to him. However, Saïx takes Kairi from Axel and imprisons her in a jail cell in the World That Never Was. But with the help of Naminé and Riku, she escapes her cell and uses her Destiny's Embrace (デスティニープレイス, lit. "Destiny Place") Keyblade to fight the Heartless summoned by Saïx.[21] Kairi reunites with Sora's group to face and defeat Xemnas.[22] Kairi then returns with Sora and Riku to Destiny Islands.

According to Birth by Sleep, Kairi is originally a resident of Radiant Garden. During an encounter with Aqua, she is given a protective charm to keep her safe from darkness (which would lead to her being sent to Destiny Islands when Xehanort performs an experiment where all six apprentices of Ansem the Wise cause the invasion of darkness[23]).

In Dream Drop Distance, Yen Sid has Kairi summoned to train her in the use of her Keyblade in response their future fight against Xehanort's Organization XIII.

Kairi is voiced by Risa Uchida in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version, the character is voiced by Hayden Panettiere in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Alyson Stoner during Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.[12] The character's child version is voiced by Sumire Morohoshi in Japanese and by Ariel Winter in English.

King Mickey

Main article: Mickey Mouse

King Mickey is the ruler of Disney Castle and, by extension, Disney Town.[24] His inclusion in the series was initially restricted to a small cameo for only one scene.[4] The larger role he played in the sequels first required the approval of Disney.[8]

By the time Kingdom Hearts begins and the Heartless begin to invade other worlds, Mickey leaves his world to discover the cause, leaving a message to Donald and Goofy telling them to find and protect the Keyblade wielder.[25] His journey ultimately leads him to obtaining a new Keyblade, the Kingdom Key D (キングダムチェーンD, lit. "Kingdom Chain D"), from within the realm of darkness, using it to seal Kingdom Hearts with Sora. In Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, he helps Riku in his inner fight against Ansem who previously possessed him.[16] Mickey helps uncover Organization XIII's plan before helping Sora directly during Kingdom Hearts II. He is playable in certain boss battles in Kingdom Hearts II; if Sora and his friends are defeated, King Mickey will step in to fight in Sora's place until he is able to revive Sora. He is also a playable character in the multiplayer mode of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. In the aftermath of both Ansem and Xemnas's utter defeat, Mickey returns to his world, only to go on another adventure in the events of Kingdom Hearts coded, where he learns the fates of Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, and contacts Sora to help them.[26] He originally meets them during the time of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Mickey is a student under Yen Sid and while helping out them with the Star Seeker (スターシーカー) Keyblade.[27]

Mickey Mouse is voiced by Takashi Aoyagi in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version, King Mickey was voiced by Wayne Allwine in all games from Kingdom Hearts to 358/2 Days, and now voiced by Bret Iwan in all subsequent games starting with Birth by Sleep.

Donald Duck

Main article: Donald Duck

Donald Duck is the court magician of Disney Castle, King Mickey's majordomo, and one of Sora's two partners throughout the series.[9] Donald is a short-tempered, powerful magician on a quest to find King Mickey Mouse. In Kingdom Hearts, he and Goofy embark on a journey to carry out the missing king's orders to follow the Keyblade wielder. Initially, he only seems to care for Sora as an asset to track down King Mickey, telling a white lie to him about being able to locate his missing friends in order to convince him to accompany them.[28] However, he eventually grows to deeply care for him as a friend. At the end of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, he, Sora, and Goofy are put to sleep for a year while their memories are fixed by Naminé.[29] In Kingdom Hearts II, he awakens with his friends and continues to fight the Heartless along with the Nobodies and Organization XIII. Donald is playable in the multiplayer mode of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. In Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, he saves Riku and Mickey from Xehanort's Guardian when he and Goofy strike the Heartless from behind.

Donald Duck is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in the Japanese version and by Tony Anselmo in the English version.

Goofy

Main article: Goofy

Goofy is the captain of the Royal Knights of Disney Castle and the second of Sora's two partners throughout the series. Despite his position as a knight, Goofy dislikes using weapons, instead wielding a simple shield, and prefers to avoid fighting whenever possible. Goofy retains his trademark clumsiness and simple-mindedness in this series, but is an eternal optimist who takes life in stride. He has surprisingly accurate intuitive skills, often noticing things that others miss. Under King Mickey's orders in Kingdom Hearts, he accompanies Donald on the quest to accompany the Keyblade wielder, Sora.[9] At the end of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, he, Sora, and Donald are put to sleep for a year while their memories are fixed by Naminé.[29] In Kingdom Hearts II, he awakens with his friends and continues to fight the Heartless along with the Nobodies and Organization XIII. He is a playable character in the multiplayer mode of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. In Kingdom Hearts 3D, he and Donald saves Riku and Mickey from Xehanort's Guardian by striking the Heartless from behind.

Goofy is voiced by Yū Shimaka in the Japanese version and by Bill Farmer in the English version.

Roxas

Roxas (ロクサス Rokusasu, /ˈrɔːksəs/ ROK-səs) is Sora's Nobody. He is created when Sora becomes a Heartless to save Kairi in Kingdom Hearts.[11] "Roxas" is an anagram of "Sora" with an X.[30] He is playable in the beginning portion of Kingdom Hearts II where Roxas lives in DiZ's digital Twilight Town after abandoning Organization XIII and being captured by Riku.[31] He merges with Sora to wake him up from his slumber. He is also the protagonist from Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days which follows his life in the Organization.[32]

Roxas is voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in the Japanese version and by Jesse McCartney in the English version.[33][34]

Terra

Terra (テラ Tera) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura who appears as one of the three protagonists of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. He is a Keyblade wielder raised and trained by Master Eraqus alongside Aqua and Ventus, developing a strong sibling-like bond and sharing his dream of becoming a Keyblade Master with them. During the exam to obtain the Mark of Mastery, Master Xehanort manipulates the trials to stimulate the darkness that resides inside of Terra. Terra becomes troubled upon learning that the darkness in his heart is too strong, for which he is denied the Mark of Mastery.[35] He is thus easily manipulated by Master Xehanort's encouragements to embrace and channel his darkness into power,[36] This, in turn, causes him to succumb to the darkness and become possessed by Xehanort. His fate remains unknown as Xemnas and Ansem's destruction brought back Master Xehanort instead of his possessed self.

Terra is voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu in the Japanese version and by Jason Dohring in the English version.[37]

Ventus

Ventus (ヴェントゥス Ventusu), also known as Ven (ヴェン), is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura who appears as one of the three protagonists of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. His name means "wind" in Latin and his Wayward Wind (フレッシュブリーズ, lit. "Fresh Breeze") Keyblade (which he wields in a reverse grip) both have a "sky" theme similar to that of Sora.[10] He is one of the three Keyblade apprentices from The Land of Departure training to become a Keyblade Master. The exploration of his identity, including his striking resemblance to Roxas, is a major theme in the game,[38] which shows him being stripped of the darkness in his heart and sent to train under Master Eraqus by Master Xehanort so he may form an all-powerful Keyblade called the χ-blade.[39][40]

Ventus shares Roxas's voice actors: Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English.[34]

Aqua

Aqua (アクア Akua) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura who appears as one of the three protagonists of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Her name means "water" in Latin and wields the Rainfell (レインフォール, lit. "Rainfall") Keyblade which both carries a water theme similar to that of Kairi's "sea" meaning.[10] She is the only one among her friends to succeed in achieving the rank of Keyblade Master by the start of the game, and is tasked by Master Eraqus to watch over Terra and bring Ventus home.[41][42] Unlike Ventus and Terra, Aqua was not part of Xehanort's plans, so she remained largely unaware of them. She delved into the Realm of Darkness, replacing the possessed Terra; Aqua now awaits Sora to rescue her.

Aqua is voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi in the Japanese version and by Willa Holland in the English version.[37]

Antagonists

Xehanort

Xehanort (ゼアノート Zeanōto, /ˈzeɪənɔːrt/ ZAY-ə-nort) is the main antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series. His name is an anagram of "No Heart" and "Another" with the additional letter "X".[8][43]

Master Xehanort is an elderly Keyblade Master that uses a Keyblade War-era Keyblade, Terra-Xehanort is Terra's body converted into Xehanort's vessel that can use Ansem's Heartless-like Guardian symbiote, and Young Xehanort originated from the Destiny Islands (like Sora and Riku) that can use of swords similar to Xemnas's Ethereal Blades as well as a Keyblade that features various time elements. Master Xehanort is the main antagonist of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Xehanort is a Keyblade Master (alongside classmate Eraqus). He wandered the worlds as he eventually became obsessed with the Keyblade War's mysteries and sought to recreate the χ-blade to summon Kingdom Hearts. Furthermore, he originally also took Ventus as an apprentice to serve his purposes to prolong his life before the youth's inability to use darkness forced him to extract the boy's darkness as Vanitas while seeing Terra as an ideal pawn in his schemes. Master Xehanort set up several events, having planned to merge his former apprentice Ventus back into his current creation Vanitas to reforge the χ-blade. Once the scheme nearly succeeds at the Keyblade Graveyard, having conditioning Terra into opening the youth's heart to darkness, Master Xehanort transfers his heart into Terra's body to convert into his new vessel.[44] Although he is successful in obtaining his vessel to cheat death, Terra-Xehanort finds resistance in Terra's disembodied will before his conflict reaches its zenith and attempts to purge his host's heart during a fight with Aqua.[45] This results in Terra-Xehanort being an amnesic and then found by Ansem the Wise with Braig's help. As time passes, the amnesiac Terra-Xehanort, as one of Ansem's students, becomes increasingly obsessed with the study of hearts so he can regain his lost memories, steals Ansem's name as his own, and sacrifices his own heart and body to split himself into his Heartless "Ansem" and his Nobody Xemnas, leaving his mind and soul to continuously harass various individuals, including Sora and Riku.[46]

Xehanort's youthful incarnation, prior to leaving Destiny Islands, was arranged to travel forward in time in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance to assemble his future self's splintered incarnations to form the True Organization XIII (Thirteen Seekers of Darkness). Young Xehanort infiltrates the Sleeping Worlds to harass Sora and Riku. After attempting to recruit Riku as the group's final "member" but failing when the youth proved to be a lost cause, Young Xehanort lures Sora to a dream version of the World That Never Was to take advantage of the youth's inexperience with darkness. Although Young Xehanort failed to defeat Riku, Master Xehanort is restored. Although Xehanort fails to make Sora into the final vessel, Master Xehanort falls back to make the preparations for the χ-blade's recreation while Young Xehanort returns to his own time with no memory of his actions yet motivated to ensure his future self's status.

Master Xehanort will return as the main antagonist in Kingdom Hearts III to have his final showdown with Sora.[47]

Master Xehanort was voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka in the Japanese version and by Leonard Nimoy in the English version. Terra-Xehanort shares Ansem's voice actors (Akio Ōtsuka for Japanese and Richard Epcar for English). Young Xehanort shares Riku's voice actors (Mamoru Miyano for Japanese and David Gallagher for English) [albeit uncredited] in Birth by Sleep while in later games by Takanori Okuda in the Japanese version and by Benjamin Diskin in the English version.

Ansem

Ansem, Seeker of Darkness (闇の探求者 アンセム Yami no Tankyūsha Ansemu), or simply "Ansem" (アンセム Ansemu), is Xehanort's Heartless. His name comes from Terra-Xehanort stealing the identity of Ansem the Wise as Xehanort's memories return.[48] He controls a Heartless-like symbiote known as the "Guardian".[43]

"Ansem" appears in Kingdom Hearts as the game's main antagonist. Devoid of a body, he watches Maleficent do his dirty work in gathering the Princesses of Hearts. Once Maleficent served her purpose, Ansem possesses Riku's body to regain a physical presence while dealing with Sora at the End of the World.[49] Although his goal of reaching Kingdom Hearts is realized, the light behind the door to Kingdom Hearts destroys him, causing most of the worlds he destroyed to be restored while the others entered in a state of sleep.[50] But in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Ansem is revealed to still exist and attempted to take over Riku again within Castle Oblivion, however, Riku subdued Ansem.[51]

Ansem reappears as one of the main antagonists for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, having been brought from a moment in time by Young Xehanort. Ansem takes advantage of the Sleeping Worlds to mess with Riku by attempting to open the youth's heart to darkness again. After being defeated by Riku in the Sleeping World version of the World That Never Was, later appearing in the Organization's attire, Ansem attacks Riku and Mickey to hinder from interfering in Master Xehanort's attempt to convert Sora. By that time, it is revealed that Xehanort's scheme included making use of Ansem's bodiless form to make contact with Young Xehanort to enact the back-up plan.

Ansem is voiced by Akio Ōtsuka in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version, the character was originally voiced by Billy Zane in Kingdom Hearts (and again for the Kingdom Hearts Final Mix portion of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX) and later by Richard Epcar in all subsequent games.

Xemnas

Xemnas (ゼムナス Zemunasu, /ˈzɛmnəs/ ZEM-nəs), also known as "The Superior of the In-Between" (狭間の指導者 Hazama no Shidōsha), is the Nobody of Xehanort as Terra-Xehanort albeit uses an anagram of his stolen alias Ansem with an "X" added for his name.[52] He controls the Sorcerer Nobodies, fights with beams of light he generates from his palms called "Ethereal Blades", can manipulate nothingness to phase through solid matter and manifest energy-based shields and projectiles,[43] and is the leader of Organization XIII.

Xemnas is the main antagonist in Kingdom Hearts II, having used Roxas and Xion prior in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days for the deed while watching from behind the scenes, getting Sora to gather the hearts from destroyed Emblem Heartless so he can increase the size of the Kingdom Hearts that he is cultivating in the World That Never Was. However, after his followers have been dispatched, Xemnas finds his kingdom Hearts damaged as the result of Ansem the Wise attempt to digitally contain. When Sora and company refuses to aid him in it restoration, Xemnas uses what is left of Kingdom Hearts' power to take on a new form to fight Sora's party. Though Xemnas is thought to be defeated, he separates Sora and Riku from the others to attack them. However, the two defeat Xemnas and he fades into darkness.[53]

Xemnas returns as one of the main antagonists for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Xemnas takes advantage of the Sleeping Worlds to mess with Sora by using the youth's many connected hearts. In a Sleeping World version of the World That Never Was, Sora defeats Xemnas. It is also revealed that Xehanort's back-up actions included Xemnas forming Organization XIII to serve as vessels for Xehanort's heart to achieve a perfect recreation of the χ-blade.

Xemnas is voiced by Norio Wakamoto in the Japanese version and by Paul St. Peter in the English version.

Maleficent

Main article: Maleficent

Maleficent is an evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty. As revealed in the series prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Maleficent originated from the world Enchanted Dominion as she encountered Terra, Ventus, and Aqua after Master Xehanort reveals the existence of the Seven Princesses of Heart, the Keyblade and other Worlds to her. Serving as the secondary antagonist of Kingdom Hearts, Maleficent formed a group of Disney villains help her take control of all worlds through the power of Kingdom Hearts, using the ruins of Hollow Bastion as a base of operations. However, she is defeated by Sora after Riku—possessed by "Ansem"—unlocks her heart and transforms her into a dragon. But Maleficent is resurrected in Kingdom Hearts II, where she resumes her plans of world domination together with Pete while also seeking revenge against Sora, as well as converting Xemnas' Castle That Never Was into her new base of operations. In Kingdom Hearts coded, unaware that she was in an artificially created simulation of the worlds, Maleficent sought the data in Jiminy's Journal to amass an army of Heartless to invade the outside world. Despite failure to carry out this plan, Maleficent attempted to claim the Datascape in exchange for Queen Minnie's life in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance; however, she once more was forced to abandon her plan. But as revealed in a secret ending in Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix, after learning what the Datascape is, Maleficent aims her goals to find a relic known as the Book of Prophecies as she believes there may be a link between it and the journal.

Maleficent is voiced by Toshiko Sawada in the Japanese version and by Susanne Blakeslee in the English version.

Villains' Council

The Villains' Council is a council that consists of several Disney villains led by Maleficent, with Pete as second in command. She supplied them with a ready supply of Heartless, and they in turn aid her in her plans by locating the Keyholes and any Princesses of Heart that are there.

Pete

Main article: Pete (Disney)

Pete is part of the main group of Disney villains led by Maleficent. He is originally a steamboat captain from Disney Castle prior to the events of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, where he causes mischief in Disney Town until he is banished to another dimension for his evil ways by Queen Minnie. However, he is freed by Maleficent and vows to help her conquer the worlds.[56] As such, he plays an unseen role until Kingdom Hearts II in order to build a Heartless army for Maleficent, and spends much of his appearances in the series following Sora throughout the worlds he and his group visit, mainly to recruit local villains, old and new, to either join Maleficent's fold or turn them into Heartless for his own purposes. Despite his bumbling ways, Pete remains Maleficent's only loyal ally throughout the series.

Pete is voiced by Tōru Ōhira in the Japanese version and by Jim Cummings in the English version.[33]

Organization XIII

Main article: Organization XIII

Organization XIII (XIII機関 Jūsan Kikan, lit."XIII Order") is a group of thirteen Nobodies based in the World That Never Was who seek to discover the mysteries that lie within the heart and use the power of Kingdom Hearts to become complete humans once again. The Organization is first formed when Ansem the Wise's six apprentices discard their hearts, their Nobodies becoming the first members of the Organization.[8] Members are numbered in the order in which they joined, with Xemnas numbered first as their leader. Each member also has the letter "X" placed in his or her name, the remaining letters being an anagram of their name prior to becoming a Nobody.[57] As Nobodies, acting based on the memories of their original selves, they lack true emotion and morality, and are unable to feel guilt or remorse for their actions.[58]

Several Organization members were introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, divided into two parties that are eventually destroyed by Sora and Riku. In Kingdom Hearts II, the Organization's plan is fully revealed as they use Sora to eliminate the Heartless, taking the hearts that emerge and using them to create Kingdom Hearts, which they believe will allow them to regain their own hearts and existences.[59]

Xigbar is voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka in the Japanese version and by James Patrick Stuart in the English version.[33][60] Xaldin is voiced by Yōsuke Akimoto in the Japanese version and by David Dayan Fisher in the English version.[33][60] Vexen is voiced by Nachi Nozawa in the Japanese version and by Derek Stephen Prince in the English version.[60][61][62] Lexaeus is voiced by Fumihiko Tachiki in the Japanese version and by Dave Boat in the English version.[60][62] Zexion is voiced by Akira Ishida in the Japanese version and by Vince Corazza in the English version.[60][62] Saïx is voiced by Ginpei Sato in the Japanese version and by Kirk Thornton in the English version.[33] Axel is voiced by Keiji Fujiwara in the Japanese releases while Quinton Flynn provided the voice for the English releases.[33][60][63] Demyx is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in the Japanese version and by Ryan O'Donohue in the English version.[33][60] Luxord is voiced by Jouji Nakata in the Japanese version and by Robin Atkin Downes in the English version.[33][60] Marluxia is voiced by Shūichi Ikeda in the Japanese version and by Keith Ferguson in the English releases.[60][62] Larxene is voiced by Yuko Miyamura in the Japanese version and by Shanelle Workman in the English releases.[60][62]

Vanitas

Vanitas (ヴァニタス Vanitasu, /vəˈniːtəs/ və-NEE-təs) is the embodiment of the darkness in Ventus's heart and Master Xehanort's creation/apprentice.[64] In the form of a masked teenager, Vanitas normally wears a mask which hides a face that shares a strong physical resemblance with Sora as a result of Ventus' connection with the child's heart.[37] In addition to wielding his Void Gear (ヴォイドギア) Keyblade, the Unversed are extensions of his being produced from negative emotions.[65] His name is derived from the Latin word for "emptiness" which connects with Ventus's and Sora's names.

One of the main antagonists in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Vanitas exists for the purpose of fighting with Ventus so that their respective hearts of pure darkness and light can merge back into one as part of Xehanort's attempt to recreate the χ-blade. To that end, Vanitas goads Ventus into following Terra while pitting him against the Unversed to strengthen him until he became an equal for the plan to work. Once Ventus met his expectations at the Keyblade Graveyard, Vanitas has the Unversed hold Ventus down so he can fuse back into the boy's body with the χ-blade manifested. But as he fights Aqua and Mickey using Ventus's body in the form of Ventus-Vanitas (ヴェントゥス-ヴァニタス Ventusu-Vanitasu),[66] Vanitas learns his reunion with Ventus is flawed as he proceeds to confront Ventus in a metaphysical battle within his mind to force a complete fusion so the χ-blade can be stabilized.[67] Both fights ultimately end with Vanitas seemingly ceasing to be while Ventus's heart leaves his body. An Unversed-like entity who resembles Vanitas, known as the Vanitas Remnant (ヴァニタスの思念 Vanitasu no Shinen, lit. "Vanitas Sentiment"), appears as a secret boss in the Western and Final Mix versions of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep.[37] Vanitas makes a brief cameo in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. When Sora is taunted by Young Xehanort about the nature of his heart at Notre Dame, Ventus's heart reacts to Young Xehanort's presence, causing Sora to see a vision of Vanitas.

Vanitas shares Sora's voice actors (Miyu Irino in Japanese and Haley Joel Osment in English).[37] Ventus-Vanitas also speaks through Ventus's voice actors (Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English).

Braig

Braig (ブライグ Buraigu, transliterated (incorrectly) as Bleig in the English release of Kingdom Hearts II) is a mercenary for Master Xehanort, co-conspirator with Terra-Xehanort, a student of Ansem the Wise, and the original form of Xigbar. He has a profound interest for the Keyblade. Similar to Xigbar, he attacks with a pair of rayguns which can be combined as well to form a sniper rifle and can manipulate space to teleport himself, warp his bullets, and levitate in battle.[43]

In Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Braig has a part of Master Xehanort's plan. He battles against Terra at Radiant Garden but receives a scar on the left side of his face and has to wear an eyepatch over his right eye afterwards. After receiving part of Xehanort's heart, he confronted Ventus and Aqua at the Keyblade Graveyard to which the former's glare is etched in his memory and battles against the latter. Back at Radiant Garden, Braig helps Ansem the Wise find Terra-Xehanort. He later helps Terra-Xehanort as Ansem's apprentice before eventually meeting Young Xehanort to discuss Master Xehanort's plans and then becoming Xigbar after being stabbed with Xehanort's Keyblade.[68] In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, still in his Xigbar incarnation, Braig returns as a member of the True Organization XIII when he confronts Sora in a Sleeping World version of the World That Never Was and reveals his nature as "half-Xehanort" being.

Braig shares Xigbar's voice actors (Hōchū Ōtsuka in Japanese and James Patrick Stuart in English).

Isa

Isa (アイザ Aiza)[69] is Lea's original friend and Saïx's original self.[70] In Birth by Sleep, Isa has a care-free personality and morals as he is a resident of Radiant Garden compared to his Nobody counterpart. In Kingdom Hearts 3D, Isa returns with Saïx's features which were due to being another "half-Xehanort" being and therefore a member of Xehanort's Organization XIII. In the World That Never Was, Isa is ordered to stop Lea's rescue of Sora before falling back when his masters' attempt to convert the youth are interrupted.

Isa shares Saïx's voice actors (Ginpei Sato in Japanese and Kirk Thornton in English).[33]

Other characters

A wide variety of Disney and Square Enix characters appear throughout the various Kingdom Hearts games. Some help the protagonists across multiple worlds, including Merlin (voiced by Jeff Bennett), an eccentric wizard whom King Mickey asked to teach Sora magic. He lives in Traverse Town with the Fairy Godmother during Kingdom Hearts, goes to Hollow Bastion along with Leon and his group to help restore their old home Kingdom Hearts II, and lived in Radiant Garden in Birth by Sleep. Dumbo, Bambi and Chicken Little (voiced by Zach Braff), all serve as summons. Other characters that provide assistance to both Sora and the Organization are the Moogles, well known for their roles in the Final Fantasy series.

Jiminy Cricket

Main article: Jiminy Cricket

Jiminy Cricket travels with Sora, Donald, and Goofy as the chronicler of their travels, recording information about people, places and events in his journals.[54][71] According to Dream Drop Distance, he is originally from the world Prankster's Paradise, where he acted as Pinocchio's conscience. Despite making only a few appearances in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, he plays a major role in both Chain of Memories and coded.

Jiminy Cricket is voiced by Kaneta Kimotsuki in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version of the series, the character was voiced by Eddie Carroll from Kingdom Hearts to Re:Chain of Memories and by Phil Snyder in Re:coded and Dream Drop Distance. However, in the Re:coded HD cutscenes of Kingdom Hearts 2.5 HD Remix, he was voiced by Joe Ochman.

Naminé

Naminé (ナミネ Namine, /ˈnɑːmᵻneɪ/ NAH-mə-nay) is an original character created for the Kingdom Hearts series. She is Kairi's Nobody, created during the events of Kingdom Hearts. She has the ability to change or erase the memories of Sora and those close to him by rearranging and creating new links between them, for which she is referred to as a witch.[72][73]

Naminé first appears in Chain of Memories, where she alters Sora's memories under the orders of Organization XIII to remember her as a close friend from Destiny Islands. She is later released by Axel under his own agenda and reveals the truth to Sora. After Marluxia is defeated, Naminé puts Sora, Donald, and Goofy to sleep for a year in order to restore their memories to their original state.[29] Naminé also saves Riku in "Reverse/Rebirth" from Zexion by teaching him to not fear the darkness.[8] In Kingdom Hearts II, Naminé visits Roxas in the virtual Twilight Town to help him discover his true identity. Though she outlives her purpose in Sora's restoration, Riku entrusts Naminé to the now rogue Axel after DiZ gives him orders to destroy her. While Kairi is trapped in the Organization's dungeon, Naminé appears and helps her escape. She meets with Roxas once more through Sora after Xemnas's apparent defeat, and opens a portal to lead Sora and his friends go home, after which she fuses with Kairi to complete her. During the events of coded, it is revealed that Naminé had created a copy of herself within Jiminy's journal during the restoration of Sora's memories to contact Mickey and reveal to him Sora's ties to herself, Roxas, Xion, Axel, Terra, Aqua and Ventus.

Naminé is voiced by Iku Nakahara in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version, the character was originally voiced by Brittany Snow in Kingdom Hearts II and now by Meaghan Martin in all subsequent appearances/remakes.

Ansem the Wise

Ansem the Wise (賢者アンセム Kenja Ansemu) is an original character created for the Kingdom Hearts series. He first appears under the disguise DiZ (ディズ Dizu, /dɪz/ DIZ) in the "Reverse/Rebirth" mode of Chain of Memories while his true identity Ansem the Wise is revealed in Kingdom Hearts II.

Ansem the Wise was a former respected sage and ruler of the Radiant Garden. As a researcher, Ansem studied the heart and delved into the many secrets of the worlds. He and his apprentice Xehanort believed that darkness could spread into and take control of the heart. After meeting with King Mickey and learning his research may be connected with a current crisis happening in other worlds, Ansem ceased the experiments. He later found his report on the experiments was given new entries by Xehanort, now using Ansem's name as his own. Ansem's apprentices then betrayed him and banished him to a world of nothingness before he wound up in the realm of darkness.

Taking the name of DiZ, Ansem guides Riku through his encounters in Castle Oblivion during the events of Chain of Memories. Soon after Riku joins him in his campaign, DiZ convinces Naminé to move Sora, Donald and Goofy to Twilight Town for safekeeping as they regain their lost memories, which DiZ oversees throughout 358/2 Days. When the restoration process comes to a standstill, DiZ orders Riku to forcefully retrieve Roxas and he then places inside a virtual Twilight Town, allowing the process to continue.

In Kingdom Hearts II, Naminé begins to act on her own and Riku declines to help him in DiZ's revenge. As he observes the lengths that Riku is willing to go to in order to help Sora, including taking on the physical form of Xehanort's Heartless, DiZ loses his lust for revenge and grows regretful of his actions. Once Sora awakens and embarks on his new quest, he does not function as DiZ wants, and all of his plans fall apart.[74] DiZ reveals himself as Ansem to Mickey at the World That Never Was while attempting to digitally seal away Xemnas's Kingdom Hearts inside a machine. However, the hearts prove unpredictable and begin to overload the machine, and Ansem chooses to sacrifice himself in order to help defeat the Organization. The machine self-destructs after Ansem apologizes for his mistakes,[75] causing an explosion that consumes Ansem, disrupts the power contained in Kingdom Hearts.

In the epilogue of Birth by Sleep, Ansem is in the Realm of Darkness once more with only his memories of his relation to Sora intact. There he meets Aqua at the shores of a dark ocean and tells her about Sora and how he may be the means for Ansem to redeem himself for his actions. In Kingdom Hearts 3D, a digital copy of DiZ appears within Sora's mind, informing Riku of the data he hid inside Sora while under his watch. He also mentions that Sora also may have the power to bring back those who were lost or ceased to be.

Ansem the Wise/DiZ is voiced by Genzō Wakayama in the Japanese version of the series. In the English version, the character is voiced by Sir Christopher Lee in Kingdom Hearts II and 358/2 Days and by Corey Burton for Re:Chain of Memories, Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance. Burton also redubs Lee's lines in the HD remaster of 358/2 Days, due to Lee's unavailability to provide his voice for the newly made cutscenes.

Dilan

Dilan (ディラン Diran, transliterated (incorrectly) as Dilin in the English release of Kingdom Hearts II) was Xaldin's original self. During Birth by Sleep, he was Ansem the Wise's palace working guard. In Dream Drop Distance, Xaldin's defeat results in the restoration of Dilan.

Dilan shares Xaldin's Japanese voice actor (Yōsuke Akimoto) and English voice actor (David Dayan Fisher).

Even

Even (エヴェン) is Vexen's original self. He is a scientist whose interest in studying Terra-Xehanort's memories after Birth by Sleep results in him becoming a Nobody. Vexen's death leads to Even's restoration in Dream Drop Distance.

Even shares Vexen's Japanese voice actor (Nachi Nozawa) and English voice actor (Derek Stephen Prince).

Aeleus

Aeleus (エレウス Ereusu, transliterated (incorrectly) as Eleus in the English release of Kingdom Hearts II) is Lexaeus's original form. By the time of Birth by Sleep, he was one of Ansem the Wise's guards. Lexaeus's demise leads to Aeleus's revival in Dream Drop Distance. In the English version, how Aeleus speaks is different from his Nobody; Lexaeus usually sounds like he's growling his words, while Aeleus is more easily heard.

Aeleus shares Lexaeus's Japanese voice actor (Fumihiko Tachiki) and English voice actor (Dave Boat).

Ienzo

Ienzo (イエンツォ Ientso) is one of Ansem the Wise's students and Zexion's original form. In Birth By Sleep, he was a silent young orphan who is taken in by Ansem as one of his apprentices after the boy's parents' deaths. He later suggests the creation of an underground laboratory for their research on the heart. Zexion's death leads to the revival of an adult incarnation of Ienzo in Kingdom Hearts 3D.

Ienzo's child incarnation is voiceless in Birth by Sleep whereas his adult incarnation in Dream Drop Distance shares Zexion's Japanese voice actor (Akira Ishida) and English voice actor (Vince Corazza).

Yen Sid

Main article: Yen Sid

Yen Sid is a sorcerer who lives in the Mysterious Tower and is King Mickey's old mentor when King Mickey once serve as Yen Sid's apprentice.[76] He shows considerable knowledge about Keyblades abilities, and is shown to be an acquaintance of both Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort. Though he is retired, his wisdom still serves as a source of information for the protagonists. In Kingdom Hearts II, he informs Sora, Goofy and Donald of the dangers of the Heartless, the Nobodies and Organization XIII. In Birth by Sleep, he informs Terra, Ventus, Aqua and Eraqus of the threat of the Unversed. In Re:coded, Yen Sid reveals to Mickey that the destruction of "Ansem" and Xemnas will eventually lead to the reconstruction of Master Xehanort. In Dream Drop Distance, Yen Sid puts Sora and Riku through a Mark of Mastery exam in order to make them into full-fledged Keyblade Masters to defeat Xehanort. After Riku saves Sora, Yen Sid decides they need seven protectors to keep the Princesses of Heart safe from Xehanort's Organization XIII so he inlists the aid of Kairi to train because of her ability to wield a Keyblade.

Yen Sid is voiced by Takashi Inagaki in the Japanese version and by Corey Burton in the English version.

Xion

Xion (シオン Shion, /ˈʃiːoʊn/ SHEE-ohn) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura who appears in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. She is the newest and fourteenth member of Organization XIII, who then forged a friendship with Roxas and Axel. Later on, it is revealed that she is a replica of Roxas created from Sora's memories of Kairi, and is thus not technically a member of Organization XIII or even a real Nobody.[60] She eventually fades away from existence before asking Roxas to stop Xemnas's plans, reverting into Sora's memories which entered Roxas.[77][78] Though all memories of her existence were erased from everyone she came in contact with, Xion still existed through Roxas (and later Sora in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance). Xion also appears in Kingdom Hearts Re:coded where she is shown to be one of the people connected to Sora's heart who may be able to return one day.[79] It appears Roxas, still existing within Sora in Dream Drop Distance, does remember her, given Sora cried upon seeing Xion. She appears once again as one of the three characters asking Riku a question in Sora's heart.

Xion shares Kairi's voice actresses: Risa Uchida [Japanese], Alyson Stoner (English, 358/2 Days) and Hayden Panettiere (English, Dream Drop Distance).

Master Eraqus

Master Eraqus (マスター・エラクゥス Masutā Erakūsu, /ˈɛrəkəs/ ERR-ə-kəs)[80] is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura. His name is an anagram of "Square", the first name of the developer, Square Enix.[35][81] He also bears a striking resemblance to Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi who also was a member of Square.[82] He appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep as one of the few remaining Keyblade Masters who trained alongside Master Xehanort, who he considers to be a friend in a relationship similar to that of old classmates.[80] He oversees the power of light in all worlds from the Land of Departure, and acts as both a teacher and caring father figure of Terra, Ventus and Aqua. Eraqus is strongly biased in the existence of darkness in favor of light, believing darkness to be a malevolent force that needs to be destroyed, which leads him to deny Terra the Mark of Mastery upon sensing darkness in his heart.[83] He also strictly forbids Ventus from leaving the Land of Departure, fearing Xehanort will use him to create the χ-blade. He sends Terra and Aqua to deal with the appearance of the Unversed and the disappearance of Master Xehanort and also sends Aqua to retrieve Ventus who escaped from the Land of Departure. When Ventus confronts him over this and confirms his fears, Eraqus attempts to foil Xehanort's plan by killing Ventus.[84] He is stopped by Terra and, after battling and losing to his student, is struck down by Xehanort and fades away, leaving behind his Master Keeper (マスターキーパー) Keyblade.[85] However, the game's secret ending reveals that Eraqus had hidden his own heart within Terra, allowing Terra to resist Xehanort's influence after being possessed by him. An additional boss modeled after Eraqus's armor called the Armor of the Master (アーマー・オブ・ザ・マスター Āmā obu za Masutā) appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix in the Mirage Arena.

Master Eraqus is voiced by Makio Inoue in the Japanese version and by Mark Hamill in the English version.

Lea

Lea (リア Ria) is the original form of Axel and an original character created for the series. He has a desire to achieve his own ideal of immortality by having everyone he comes in contact with remember him, saying the phrase "Got it memorized?" on multiple occasions.

During the events of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, Lea and his friend Isa meet Ventus during his visit to Radiant Garden and befriends him (this friendship is reflected in his Nobody's ties to Roxas and Sora[86]). Though converted into a Nobody by the actions of Xehanort to serve as the eighth member of Organization XIII, Axel possessed many of Lea's memories and quirks as he befriended Roxas and Xion during the events of Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. In Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, Axel's sacrifice at the end of Kingdom Hearts II restores Lea to his original form before he leaves Radiant Garden to find Braig and Isa. In doing so, he becomes an ally of Sora and his companions, aiding Riku and Mickey in rescuing Sora from Xehanort's new Organization XIII. Afterwards, Lea reveals himself to have become a Keyblade Wielder as he obtains his own Keyblade.

Lea shares Axel's voice actors: Keiji Fujiwara in Japanese and Quinton Flynn in English.

Princesses of Heart

The Seven Princesses of Heart are maidens whose hearts are made of pure light, devoid of darkness. The first five are generally made up of Disney Princesses, with the sixth being Alice, and the seventh being Kairi. They are noted for possessing the power to summon the Door to Darkness when all seven of them are brought together. The term "princess" is merely a formality; while several Princesses are indeed such, official Disney Princesses such as Ariel are not counted among them, while Alice is.

Prior to and during the events of the original Kingdom Hearts, the princesses are kidnapped by Maleficent so that she may open the pathway to Kingdom Hearts; their hearts are later used to forge a Keyblade with the power to unlock people's hearts, which is wielded by Xehanort's Heartless "Ansem" while he possesses Riku. Sora restores their hearts by unlocking his own heart to release Kairi's using Ansem's Keyblade, which is then destroyed. The princesses (excluding Kairi) remain at Hollow Bastion to hold the darkness at bay until the door to Kingdom Hearts is sealed, returning to their homeworlds soon after.[9] In Birth by Sleep, Master Xehanort seeks out the Princesses of Heart, though his reasons for doing so are unexplained. In Dream Drop Distance, it is revealed their hearts were once part of the true χ-blade, which broke apart at the end of the Keyblade War; thirteen darknesses were also released. Yen Sid has said that their hearts are the source of all light in the World. Xehanort plans to gather thirteen darknesses in the form of himself and 12 clones and fight seven guardians of light to create the χ-blade. To this end, Yen Sid prepares a clash along with seven other Keyblade wielders: Sora, Riku, Mickey, Kairi, Aqua, Ventus and Lea.

Given the timeline between Xehanort's youth and the present, the hearts of the Princesses most likely reincarnate when their owners pass away; proven possible as Kairi hadn't been born yet when Xehanort lived on Destiny Islands.

Characters in other locations

Destiny Islands

The characters on the Destiny Islands are introduced in Kingdom Hearts and include Sora, Riku, and Xehanort. Though originally from Radiant Garden, Kairi came to consider the Destiny Islands as her home. The island's village also has a mayor, who is briefly mentioned by Sora to have looked after Kairi shortly after her arrival on the Destiny Islands. Other characters include youthful versions of Final Fantasy X's Tidus and Wakka and Final Fantasy VIII's Selphie, all of whom are friends of Sora, Riku, and Kairi, and gather on the island where they like to play.

Disney Castle/Disney Town

The characters of Disney Town, along with the occupants of Disney Castle, includes many classic Disney characters.[87] It is also the world where King Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pete originate from. During the events of Kingdom Hearts II when Disney Castle's Cornerstone of Light is endangered, Merlin conjures a door that takes Sora's group into the past incarnation of Disney Town called the Timeless River.

Traverse Town

Traverse Town is an original world created for Kingdom Hearts. It is where many who lost their worlds (such as Radiant Garden) end up. In the first game, among its Disney character occupants are Pongo and Perdita, with their 99 puppies scattered across the worlds after their world was consumed. Lady and the Tramp make a cameo appearance as a neon sign in the back alley. Ending up a sleeping world after the events of Kingdom Hearts, Traverse Town was found by Joshua while trying to save his friends. It became the home to the main cast of The World Ends with You during the events of the Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance storyline. This marks the first time that non-Disney or non-Final Fantasy characters appear in the series.[88] Some of these characters include:

Wonderland

Wonderland features characters from the 1951 animated film, Alice in Wonderland,[87] and the world where Sora and his friends first meet Alice. Conventional logic is quite useless in this world, as even gravity can work differently.

Olympus Coliseum

Olympus Coliseum features characters from the 1997 animated film, Hercules,[87] as well as the Final Fantasy characters Zack Fair (voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Rick Gomez in English) and Auron (voiced by Hideo Ishikawa in Japanese and Matt McKenzie in English). Both Cloud and Sephiroth appeared in that world during the first game's events, with the former appearing in facsimiles of the world based on Sora's memories in later games. In Kingdom Hearts II, the Underworld is introduced as an expansion along with its counterpart to the Olympus Coliseum called the Underdrome.

Deep Jungle

The Deep Jungle appears only in the first Kingdom Hearts game and its "Final Mix" version. It features characters from the 1999 animated film Tarzan.[87] It features:

Other animals appearing in the Deep Jungle include:

Due to Square Enix's failure to keeping the rights to Tarzan, Deep Jungle has not made another appearance in any other games in the series. Though it has been referenced.

Agrabah

The city of Agrabah features characters from the 1992 animated film Aladdin. Jasmine originated from this world.

Atlantica

Atlantica features characters from the 1989 animated film, The Little Mermaid.

Halloween Town

The characters featured in Halloween Town are from Tim Burton's 1993 stop motion Disney film, The Nightmare Before Christmas. In Kingdom Hearts II, Christmas Town was introduced as an expansion.

Neverland

The characters in Neverland are from the 1953 animated film, Peter Pan. In the original Kingdom Hearts, most of the game's setting takes place on Captain Hook's ship and the Big Ben Clock tower but never on the actual world itself. In Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days, the player can now set on foot on a specific part of the island, and various parts of the island itself are featured in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

Radiant Garden/Hollow Bastion

Radiant Garden is an original world created for Kingdom Hearts. It came to be known as Hollow Bastion after the Heartless infested it until the city was restored to its former glory. The majority of the inhabitants are alternative versions of Final Fantasy characters, with original characters like Lea, Ansem the Wise, and his apprentices. Sora originally met many of the residents from here in Traverse Town. Most of them help Sora's group in his journey and help to protect Hollow Bastion and then become known as the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee. Some of these members include:

There were also characters that were not being official members of the group:

100 Acre Wood

The characters featured in the 100 Acre Wood are from A. A. Milne's series of Winnie-the-Pooh books that have been adapted into animated featurettes and films by Disney.[87]

Twilight Town

Twilight Town was introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories,[54] but characters were not introduced until Kingdom Hearts II. Many of the characters were first introduced as alternative versions of themselves in DiZ's virtual Twilight Town, though they still exhibited the same personalities.

Another gang, is the self-proclaimed Twilight Town Disciplinary Committee consists of Seifer (voiced by Takehito Koyasu in Japanese and Will Friedle in the English dub), Rai (voiced by Kazuya Nakai in Japanese and Brandon Adams in the English dub), Fuu (voiced by Rio Natsuki in Japanese and Jillian Bowen in the English dub), and Vivi (voiced by Ikue Ōtani in Japanese and Melissa Disney in the English dub). The committee is based on Final Fantasy VIII of which the first three belongs to in Final Fantasy VIII counterpart. Being very prideful, Seifer has a thing against outsiders and more so on those who disturb the town's peace. Picking fights with Hayner, Seifer and him sometimes settle their disputes in contests like "Struggle Battle" and "Grandstand Ball".

Another inhabitant of Twilight Town is Setzer (voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu in Japanese and Crispin Freeman in the English dub) from Final Fantasy VI, a flamboyant gambler that participates in the Struggle Battle.

The Land of Dragons

The Land of Dragons features characters from the 1998 animated film, Mulan. This world and most of the characters were introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. The Land of Dragons is a Han dynasty-based world in the middle of a war between Shan Yu and the forces of China, ruled by the Emperor.[93]

Beast's Castle

Beast's Castle features characters from the 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast. Belle originated from this world.

Timeless River

Timeless River is a world from the past, introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. It is largely based on the 1928 animated short Steamboat Willie, as well as many other classic Disney shorts. The world is an area back in time to when it was still monochrome and the Castle had not been built.

Pete comes to the Timeless River as part of a wish to return to simpler days, which Maleficent takes advantage of and works into her plans. Heartless invade the sacred land and capture the Cornerstone of Light. This is because the Disney Castle of the future wouldn't have any way to protect itself leaving it vulnerable to the Heartless. But thanks to Sora's group, with the help of Past Pete, they thwart Pete's plans and locks his door into Timeless River so he cannot return as The Cornerstone and The Present Disney Castle are safe at last.

Port Royal

Port Royal features characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean series. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts II and is occupied by pirates and local residents from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, following primarily the storyline of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Though the characters of Port Royal were visually more realistic than the other Kingdom Hearts characters, the development team had experience creating realistic character models from earlier Final Fantasy titles. The characters models were created using technology that generated them from live-action pictures.[7]

Pride Lands

The Pride Lands features characters from the 1994 animated film, The Lion King. The Pride Lands and most of the characters were introduced in Kingdom Hearts II.

Space Paranoids

Space Paranoids features characters from the 1982 science-fiction Disney film, Tron. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts II as a digital world located within Ansem the Wise's computer at Hollow Bastion, Xemnas revealing that it was a copy of another world at its earliest stage.

The World That Never Was

The World That Never Was is an original world created for the game series, introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. It serves as home to the Nobodies and Organization XIII before the latter group was seemingly defeated. However, Xehanort enabled his past self to gather members throughout time for his ideal Organization XIII, composed of thirteen alternate selves of Xehanort. In 358/2 Days, it is referred to by the castle's name - The Castle That Never Was. In contrast to End of the World, which was a world of the Heartles and thus had a naturalistic look, The World That Never Was has a city and the Organization's castle, showing civilization as a representation of the Nobodies' ability to be able to think and plan.

Enchanted Dominion

Enchanted Dominion features characters from the 1959 animated film, Sleeping Beauty, introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Both Maleficent and Aurora originate from this world.

Castle of Dreams

Castle of Dreams features characters from the 1950 animated film, Cinderella. This world and most of the characters were introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Cinderella originated from this world. Terra appears in normal size the whole time in that world, Aqua appears in normal size, but is reduced to three inches by the Fairy Godmother in order to help Jaq try to reach Cinderella, and Ven appears three inches high the whole time in the Castle of Dreams.

Dwarf Woodlands

Dwarf Woodlands features characters from the 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and takes place in the woods of the Dwarves. Snow White originated from this world.

Deep Space

Deep Space features characters from the Lilo & Stitch series. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and takes place in outer space in the galaxy of Lilo & Stitch. Unlike most of the universe, the residents of Deep Space are aware other worlds exist....specifically the worlds in the Galactic Federation.

La Cité des Cloches

La Cité des Cloches (French for The City of Bells) features characters from the 1996 animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance as a Sleeping World, while taking place in the city of Paris during the 15th century.

The Grid

The Grid features characters from the 2010 science-fiction Disney film, Tron: Legacy, making it the second world to be based on the Tron franchise. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance as a Sleeping World, Xemnas revealing to Sora how a past version of The Grid was found by Ansem the Wise who copied it to create Space Paranoids. Hoping to confuse Sora, Young Xehanort lied, claiming that this world wasn't asleep because it was data.

Prankster's Paradise

Prankster's Paradise features characters from the 1940 animated film, Pinocchio. Jiminy Cricket originated from this world. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance as a Sleeping World, in which most of the world's setting takes place on the circus area and amusement park of Pleasure Island and inside Monstro the Whale.

Country of the Musketeers

The Country of the Musketeers features characters from the 2004 direct-to-video Disney film, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Like Timeless River and Symphony of Sorcery, it is set in the past, although at a later period, and focuses on King Mickey's earlier adventures as a musketeer with Donald and Goofy.

Symphony of Sorcery

Symphony of Sorcery features characters from the 1940 animated film, Fantasia, introduced in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Like Timeless River and Country of the Musketeers, it is set in the past at the Mysterious Tower when Mickey was still Yen Sid's apprentice. The actual parts of the world itself are located within three song books located within Yen Sid's tower: The Sorcerer's Apprentice, the Nutcracker Suite, and The Pastoral Symphony.

Kingdom of Corona

Kingdom of Corona features characters from the 2010 animated film, Tangled. It will be introduced in Kingdom Hearts III and takes place in the kingdom and the tower where Rapunzel lives.[105]

San Fransokyo

San Fransokyo features characters from the 2014 animated film, Big Hero 6. It will be introduced in Kingdom Hearts III and takes place after the events of the movie's storyline with Baymax's original body turned into an antagonist.[106]

Merchandise

Kingdom Hearts character figurines; a Play Arts figure of Roxas appears in the center and Formation Arts Volume 1 & 2 figures are arrayed around him.

The characters of the Kingdom Hearts series have had various types of merchandise modeled after their likeness. Square Enix has released a collection of Formation Arts figurines that feature several of the main characters from the first game.[107][108] A series of Play Arts action figures has also been released.[109] Other merchandise includes jewelry and key chains modeled after character apparel and accessories.[110] The characters are also featured on posters,[110] desktop wallpapers,[111] and trading cards that are part of the Kingdom Hearts Trading Card Game.[112]

Reception

Overall, the characters within the Kingdom Hearts series have been well received and have garnered praise for the quality of their voice acting as well as their visual style. IGN, GameSpy, and Game Informer all praised the animation quality of the characters.[113][114][115] IGN's David Smith's impressions of the characters were very positive, referring to them as an "engaging cast", and stating the "characters' acting is helped immensely by the facial expressions and body". The design of the characters created specifically for Kingdom Hearts was seen as the highlight of the first game, stating "the majority of its best visual moments are based on original designs". One complaint he expressed was "the odd bit of cheating with the lip-synching, where textured facial features are substituted for full 3D animation".[113] GameSpy stated the Disney characters "slide perfectly into Square's visual style", and complemented the realistic characters from Pirates of the Caribbean, describing them as "remarkably accurate".[114]

GameSpot commented the first game created a "fascinating world" using the Disney and Final Fantasy characters.[116] Gaming Age commented the combination of Final Fantasy and Disney characters worked very well and outweighed any design problems in the game. For the third game, they stated Square Enix "captured the look and mannerisms of the various Disney characters" very well.[117] GameSpy stated the inclusion of the Disney and Square Enix characters was handled well.[114] The main character Sora has also received press comments. In January 2007, Sora was listed the 4th biggest dork of 2006 by Game Informer, citing the Atlantica singing portions of the game.[118] IGN listed him as a possible character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl;[119] though he was not chosen as the "reader's choice".[120]

GameSpy praised the voice cast and voice acting in the first and third games.[114][121] G4TV awarded Kingdom Hearts II "Best Voice Over" in their 2006 G-phoria Awards.[122] Game Informer praised the voice acting of the third game, particularly performances by Haley Joel Osment, Christopher Lee, and James Woods. They also stated the voice talent "shines across the board."[123] Gaming Age praised the voice work in the first and third game and the localization of the dialogue.[117][124] They commented the voice acting in the first game was one of its best features.[124] For the third, they stated the voice actors did an "admirable job" and given the amount of characters, the small number of complaints was impressive.[117] Reception towards the voice acting in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, however, was decidedly mixed, with praise aimed at the performances of Jesse McCartney, Mark Hamill and Leonard Nimoy, while Willa Holland and Jason Dohring's performances received a more mixed reaction, with GameSpot referring to Dohring's performance as "abysmal".

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gerstmann, Jeff (May 17, 2001). "E3 2001: Square announces Disney RPG for PS2". GameSpot. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
  2. 1 2 "Nomura Interview TechTv". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on June 9, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Playstation.com Europe – E3 Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on April 18, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  4. 1 2 "KHU Interview w/Tetsuya Nomura". Kingdom Hearts Insider. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  5. 1 2 Boulette, Bryan (November 27, 2005). "Nomura Divulges Kingdom Hearts II Details". RPGamer. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  6. ↑ "Tetsuya Nomura 1st 1UP Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on June 10, 2007. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  7. 1 2 "Dengeki – Kingdom Hearts 2 Progress Report". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on June 8, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania – Tetsuya Nomura Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on July 10, 2007. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Birlew, Dan (2003). Kingdom Hearts Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0198-6.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scenario Mysteries Interview". KingdomHearts3.net. May 14, 2007. Retrieved August 25, 2007.
  11. 1 2 3 "Sora Biography". IGN. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  12. 1 2 3 "Kingdom Hearts Voice Talent Announced". GamePro. April 30, 2003. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2008.
  13. 1 2 3 "Riku Biography". IGN. Retrieved January 2, 2008.
  14. ↑ "Kingdom Builder". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) (276): 40–41. March 2012. ISSN 1041-9551.
  15. 1 2 Square (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts. Sora: Whoever you are, let Riku go! Give him back his heart! / Ansem: But first, you must give the princess back her heart. / … / Ansem: Don't you see yet? The princess's heart is responding. It has been there all along. Kairi's heart rests within you! / Sora: Kairi... Kairi's inside me? / … /Sora: Tell me. Who are you? / Ansem: It is I, Ansem, the seeker of darkness.
  16. 1 2 Square Enix (December 2, 2008). Kingdom Hearts: ReChain of Memories. Playstation 2. Square Enix. Ansem: Only darkness can offer to you all the strength that you will need. Mickey: You are wrong. / Riku: That voice...! Your Majesty?! / Mickey: That is right! Remember Riku, you are not alone. Listen close. The light will never give up on you. You will always find it, even in the deepest darkness!
  17. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Riku: All right. You've left me with no other choice. / Roxas: What? / Riku: I have to release the power in my heart—the dark power that I've been holding back. Even...if it changes me forever.
  18. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Sora: What should we do, Riku? / Riku: We must defeat Xemnas. He's the Organization's last survivor.
  19. ↑ Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania. Square Enix. May 2012. pp. 426–430. ISBN 978-4757536159.
  20. ↑ Square (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts. Sora: Kairi. Remember what you said before? I'm always with you, too. I'll come back to you. I promise! / Kairi: I know you will!
  21. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Riku: Take it. / Kairi: This time...I'LL fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us! C'mon, Riku!
  22. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Kairi: Does that mean...you can't change back? / Riku: This battle isn't over. And until it is, I still need the power of darkness. / Sora: Then...let's finish it. You're still Riku, no matter what!
  23. ↑ Square (December 16, 2002). Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (in Japanese). PlayStation 2. Square, Disney Interactive. Ansem Report 10: "However, as for one possibility, an experiment. She can lead me to the place where the person who possesses the "Key" is... I will try sending her to the sea of the strange sky. (アンセムレポート10: しかし、これは一つの可能性であり、実験である。彼女が鍵を持つ者のいる場所へ私を導いてくれるのか… 異空の海に送り出してみよう。)
  24. ↑ Square Enix (2006). Kingdom Hearts II Instruction Booklet. Square Enix.
  25. ↑ Square (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts. King Mickey's Note: Donald, Sorry to rush off without sayin' goodbye, nevertheless, there's big trouble brewin'. Not sure why, but the stars have been blinkin' out, one by one. And that means disaster can't be far behind. I hate to leave you all but I've gotta go check into it. There's someone with a "key"—the key to our survival. So I need you and Goofy to find him, and stick with him. Got it? We need that key or we're doomed!
  26. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (January 11, 2011). Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Nintendo DS. Square Enix. Mickey: Yen Sid... I think we're finally close to figuring out where Ven's heart is. / Yen Sid: Is that so? Then that leaves only Terra. / Mickey: Right. And we gotta save all three of 'em.
  27. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ventus: I see you've got a Keyblade. / Mickey: Yep. I've been trainin' under the great Yen Sid. He found out the worlds are in trouble, an' I sorta took off without tellin' him.
  28. ↑ Square (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts. Goofy: Hey, why don't ya come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel. / Sora: I wonder if I could find Riku and Kairi... / Donald: Of course. / Goofy: Are you sure? / Donald: Who knows? But we need him to come with us to help us find the king.
  29. 1 2 3 Jupiter (December 7, 2004). Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Game Boy Advance. Square Enix U.S.A., Disney Interactive. Naminé: I'm sorry. It's the only way. You have to choose, Sora. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old memories... or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost. / Sora: I have to choose? / Naminé: Yes. / Sora: Put me back the way I was. / … / Donald: We have to sleep in these to get our memories back? / Naminé: You'll be fine. It might take a little time, but I'll take care of you. / Goofy: But when we wake up, we won't remember you anymore...
  30. ↑ Boyes, Emma (September 20, 2007). "TGS '07: Three new Kingdom Hearts games coming". GameSpot. Retrieved September 20, 2007.
  31. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Riku: Because, Sora... Roxas is your Nobody. / Sora: My... Nobody? But that's crazy. I never turned into a Heart... oh, right. / Kairi: It was when you came to rescue me, remember? / Riku: Xemnas is the one who found Roxas. He could use the Keyblade because he was your Nobody. That's why Xemnas brought him into the Organization... But Roxas betrayed them. I went after him because DiZ said it would help you wake up. I fought Roxas, and I lost. The next time we met, I made sure I was the stronger one. Maybe I didn't have to fight him after all, I think he left the Organization because... he really wanted to meet you.
  32. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Roxas' diary: I don't understand the Organization. I don't understand Axel... I understand myself least of all. Why do I keep coming back to the castle? Me and Xion are special, connected by "Sora." If she's a puppet, maybe I am, too. I don't know what I am.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Kingdom Hearts II Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved September 4, 2007.
  34. 1 2 Van Duine, Erren (May 31, 2012). "Classic voice-over talent returns for Kingdom Hearts 3D". RPGsite.
  35. 1 2 Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese) (Enterbrain): 266–267. November 5, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  36. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Master Xehanort: The darkness is nothing to fear. /.../ And yet...how frustrating that Eraqus refutes its power. Why, you could train with him forever and still...you'd never be a Master in his eyes. / Terra: But why? Help me understand, Master Xehanort. What is it that I have failed to learn? / Master Xehanort: You are fine as you are. Darkness cannot be destroyed. It can only be channeled. / Terra: Yes. Thank you, Master.
  37. 1 2 3 4 5 キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ アルティマニア [Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania] (in Japanese). Square-Enix. 2010. ISBN 978-4-7575-2788-1.
  38. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (October 2, 2007). "Nomura Discusses Kingdom Hearts". IGN. Retrieved January 25, 2010.
  39. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Xehanort: Pure light against pure darkness, to forge the ultimate key. The all-powerful χ-blade!
  40. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ventus: Please don't do this master! I'm not strong enough. / Xehanort: Let the dark impulses waken in the pit of your heart. /.../ Really? You would rather die than use the power? Feckless neophyte. If I must... I will extract the darkness from within you myself.
  41. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Eraqus: I told Terra this could be a second chance to show the Mark of Mastery...and I meant it. However, that flicker of darkness he displayed during the examination—I can sense it runs very deep. If he were to— If those powers were to prove too much for him to handle, I want you to bring him back to me at once. It's for his own good. I could not bear to lose any of you to the darkness. / Aqua: Of course. I would never let that happen. I promise you I will bring Terra back. Only this time, you'll see he has what it takes to be a Master. He's not as weak as you think.
  42. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Aqua: Wait, Ven! / Eraqus: No! He mustn't! You have to bring him back!
  43. 1 2 3 4 Studio BentStuff, ed. (2005). Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania (in Japanese). Square Enix. ISBN 4-7575-1621-5.
  44. ↑ Jupiter (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Xehanort: I swore I would survive...and be there to see what awaited beyond the Keyblade War! And now it is your darkness that shall be the ark that sustains me!
  45. ↑ Jupiter (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Aqua: Terra, I know you're in there! / Xehanort: This'll teach you. Get out of my heart!
  46. ↑ Square Co. (September 17, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square, Disney Interactive. Ansem Report 10: My path is set. I shall seek out the wielder of the Keyblade, and the princesses. My body is too frail for such a journey, but I must do this. I will cast it off and plunge into the depths of darkness.
  47. ↑ Nakamura, Toshi (June 20, 2013). "Here Are Some Things To Expect in Kingdom Hearts 3". Kotaku. Retrieved June 24, 2013.
  48. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Mickey: But, what you actually fought was his Heartless. Ya see, he wasn't really Ansem. He just went around telling everybody that he was.
  49. ↑ Jupiter (December 2, 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. Square Enix, Disney Interactive. D Report: Pursuer of darkness. To open the door to darkness, Ansem used the Heartless to steal countless hearts. He enslaved Riku, but met his demise at Sora's hand. Nonetheless, Ansem's shadow lives on in the depths of Riku's heart.
  50. ↑ Square Co. (September 17, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square, Disney Interactive. Aerith: Don't worry. If we defeat Ansem, all should be restored. Including your island.
  51. ↑ Jupiter (December 2, 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. Square Enix, Disney Interactive. Ansem: You have been thinking about me... You're afraid of the darkness I command. Good... The more you think of me, the closer my return draws. And when I have awoken, I will take hold...Your heart will be mine!
  52. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Ansem the Wise: Xemnas, the Organization's Superior, is the Nobody of Xehanort, my foremost apprentice.
  53. ↑ Beth Hollinger, Matt Berner, David Cassady and Grag (2005). Kingdom Hearts 2: Official Strategy Guide. United States: BradyGames. pp. 209–213. ISBN 0-7440-0526-4.
  54. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Hollinger, Elizabeth (2004). Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0473-X.
  55. ↑ Barbossa: This is no trinket, missy. This is cursed Aztec gold. One of eight hundred and eighty-two identical pieces they delivered in a stone chest to Cortez himself. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  56. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Goofy: Pete's been causin' trouble for ages! His Majesty banished him to another dimension a long time ago. I wonder how he escaped. / Pete: You wanna know how, eh? Well, Maleficent busted me out, that's how! And now your world—no, no, no, all the worlds—are gonna belong to yours truly. Cause Maleficent's gonna help me conquer 'em!
  57. 1 2 "Kingdom Hearts II Tetsuya Nomura interview". Video Game Blogger. Retrieved June 19, 2007.
  58. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Yen Sid: Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse—they only pretend to have hearts.
  59. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Saïx: Pitiful Heartless, mindlessly collecting hearts. And yet they know not the true power of what they hold. The rage of the Keyblade releases those hearts. They gather in darkness, masterless and free...until they weave together to make Kingdom Hearts. And when that time comes, we can truly, finally exist.
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  61. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix + Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  62. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved June 16, 2009.
  63. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Tech Info". GameSpot. Retrieved September 24, 2007.
  64. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ventus: Please don't do this master! I'm not strong enough. / Xehanort: Let the dark impulses waken in the pit of your heart. /.../ Really? You would rather die than use the power? Feckless neophyte. If I must... I will extract the darkness from within you myself. Empty creature from Ventus riven... to you, the name Vanitas shall be given.
  65. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Xehanort: Vanitas uses the Keyblade to sow seeds of darkness. /.../ Terra: The Unversed! /.../ Xehanort: Lend you me your strength, Terra. Right this wrong what I have wrought.
  66. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Vanitas: Correct. I am not Ventus. His heart has become a part of mine now.
  67. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Vanitas: Our union was not finished. The χ-blade shouldn't stay broken like this. Join me now, and we can complete the χ-blade! / Ventus: I've got a better idea. How 'bout I destroy you both? / Vanitas: The χ-blade is made of your heart, too, idiot. If you destroy it, your heart will vanish forever. / Ventus: Whatever it takes. Anything to save Terra and Aqua.
  68. ↑ "Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Famitsu Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. September 27, 2007. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2007.
  69. ↑ Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese) (Enterbrain): 36–42. January 14, 2010. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  70. ↑ Saïx: What were you really after, Lea? We joined the Organization at the same time, and formulated our plan. At this point, it's just and idle fantasy. Everything changed. You, and me.Square Enix (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix.
  71. ↑ Minnie: Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you. / Jiminy: Over here! Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket, at your service. Square (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts.
  72. ↑ Larxene: The girl you've been trying to protect all this time...is really a manipulative witch who shackles peoples' hearts! Square Enix (December 2, 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  73. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Naminé: I'm a witch with power over Sora's memories and those around him. / Roxas: A witch? / Naminé: That's what DiZ called me.
  74. ↑ Ansem the Wise: I made so many plans. But when Sora became an acting force, they all fell apart. All my research amounted to nothing, compared to that one boy's heart. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  75. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Ansem the Wise: Sora, it's all up to you now. And Roxas—I doubt you can hear me—but... I am sorry.
  76. ↑ Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games. Goofy: Yen Sid is the King's teacher!
  77. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Roxas: Am I...the one who did this to you? / Xion: No... It was my choice...to go away now. Better that, than to do nothing...and let Xemnas have his way. I belong with Sora. And now, I am going back...to be with him. Roxas... I need you...to do me a favor. All those hearts that I've captured... Kingdom Hearts... Set them free.
  78. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Roxas: I'm going to set Kingdom Hearts free! Then everything can go back to the way it was! Me, and Axel, and...and her can go on having ice cream together. / Riku: Her? You mean Xion? It's a struggle just to remember the name now, isn't it? Either way, I can't let you go doing anything crazy.
  79. ↑ Square Enix, h.a.n.d. (September 29, 2009). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Nintendo DS. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Xion: Roxas, don't be sad. I came from you and Sora. I am you...the same way that I am Sora. You'll forget me, but the memories themselves will never go away. Memories of you and me will always be together...forever, him.
  80. 1 2 Weekly Famitsu (in Japanese) (Enterbrain): 262–263. November 5, 2009. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  81. ↑ Famitsu (September 28, 2009). "野村哲也氏独占インタビュー！ TGSサプライズ映像の内容に迫る - ファミ通.com" (in Japanese). Famitsu. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  82. ↑ Brian Ashcraft (October 15, 2009). "Who Does This New Kingdom Hearts Character Look Like?". Kotaku. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  83. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Eraqus: We have deliberated and reached a decision. Terra, Aqua, you both performed commendably. However, only Aqua has shown the Mark of Mastery. Terra, you failed to keep the darkness within you sufficiently in check. But, there is always next time. That is all.
  84. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Ventus: Master! What are you... / Eraqus: The χ-blade has no place in this or any world. Xehanort has made hispurpose clear...and I am left with no choice. Forgive me...but you must exist no more.
  85. ↑ Square Enix PDD 5 (September 7, 2010). Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. PlayStation Portable. Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios. Eraqus: Why do all my attempts to reach you fail? If you don't have it in your heart to obey... then you will have to share Ventus's fate. / … / Terra: You may be my master... but I will not... let you hurt my friend!
  86. ↑ Axel: Wait a minute, I'm actually enjoying this! You guys really are something else! Square Enix (December 2, 2008). Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  87. 1 2 3 4 5 Zdyrko, Dave (February 6, 2002). "Kingdom Hearts Preview". IGN. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
  88. ↑ Valay (September 15, 2011). "Neku Is in Kingdom Hearts 3DS". NintendoEverything. Retrieved September 15, 2011.
  89. ↑ Aladdin: Genie and Carpet took off to see the world. It's what Genie always wanted, so I wished him the best and all, but... / Goofy: You miss him. / Sora: Man, things must be REALLY quiet with Genie gone. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  90. ↑ Aladdin: I...I wish... ...for your freedom, Genie. A deal’s a deal, Genie. Now, you can go anywhere you want. You’re your own master. But if you can, it’d be great if you could go along with them and help Sora find Jasmine. Square Co. (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts.
  91. ↑ Aladdin: Can't believe it... That stupid peddler let Jafar out of the lamp! Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  92. ↑ Yuna: Excuse me, are you with the Restoration Committee? / … / Paine: Let's report. / Donald: To who? / Yuna: Our leader, of course! / Rikku: Yeah, you know, Malefi--- Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  93. ↑ Shang: You've done a passable job. But stay alert! This is just the beginning. Shan-Yu has invaded our country. We must stop him at all costs. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  94. ↑ Hollinger, Elizabeth (2006). Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0526-4.
  95. ↑ Beast: Why... Why did you...you come here? I came to fight for Belle. And though I am on my own, I will fight. I won’t leave without her. That’s why I’m here. / Sora: Me too. I’m not gonna give up now. I came here to find someone very important to me. Square Co. (November 15, 2002). Kingdom Hearts. PlayStation 2. Square Electronic Arts.
  96. ↑ Xaldin: It's time you dealt with Belle. She's scheming to take everything you have. This castle, your precious rose. And then---your life. Trust no one. Feed your anger! Only anger will keep you strong. / Beast: I've had enough of strength. There's only one thing I want--- / Xaldin: What? To love, and be loved in return? Who could ever love a beast? Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  97. ↑ Jack Sparrow: Treasure's already his. So's the curse upon it. I've no desire for such treacherous spoils. But I will have back what's mine---the Black Pearl.Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  98. ↑ Scar: And here's my little secret... I killed Mufasa. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  99. ↑ Nala: There was... but he died... when he was just a cub. He was the son of our last king, Mufasa. If only Simba were here... / Sora: Simba!? But Simba's just fine! He was fighting right beside us not that long ago. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
  100. ↑ Tron: A number of my functions were appropriated when I last took on the MCP. That's why I need the password. If I can get inside the DTD, I can access my original backup program and restore all my functions. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
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  102. ↑ Flora: Now, those aren't ordinary garments. / Fauna: They have very special powers. / … / Flora: Your garments also have other powers---but you will have to discover what they are as you continue on your journey. Square Enix (March 28, 2006). Kingdom Hearts II. PlayStation 2. Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games.
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