Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
- Details
- Published on November 10, 2014 @ 10:05 pm
- Written by Cecily
In an interview with Famitsu Weekly released back in September, Series Director Tetsuya Nomura revealed that he had been getting many requests inside and outside of Square Enix for collaboration projects. So far, we've seen the Hatsune Miku and Monster Hunter collaborations, but what could the next one be? To everyone's surprise, it's none other than the artwork for Utada Hikaru's upcoming cover album!
Click to enlarge!
Utada's cover album, to be released December 9, 2014, features various popular and new artists cover her familiar tunes. Such artists include Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis feat. Peabo Bryson, Yasuyuki Okamura, Ayumi Hamasaki, LOVE PSYCHEDELICO, and many more. The tracklisting has yet to be confirmed.
Nomura also left a message regarding his thoughts toward this artwork. Thanks to Zephyr, you can read it below:
Work Comments
This was the first time I felt troubled to draw.
There were a number of things that troubled me. Perhaps you could ask yourself is this the “game”. In the game’s proposal, I kept in mind when writing this, from what you know previously, your imagination may start to inflate/swell. I thought about trying to express this in one picture. What arises from this proposal, there is a meaning to every keyword in the picture.
And, as one waits for Utada to perform again, there is a double meaning in this content. What happens if she starts to move again?
I tried to draw those emotions in the possibility of those imaginations.
Tetsuya Nomura (Square Enix) Designer
FINAL FANTASY and KINGDOM HEARTS character designer, game designer, and Director.
What do you think of the artwork? Are you hoping one of these artists will cover Simple and Clean/Hikari or Sanctuary/Passion? Let us know!
Source: Utada Hikaru official website
COMMENTS
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Oh man,really hopes this leads to something bigger.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
IT IS HAPPENING! If this isn't a confirmation, then I don't know what is.
I didn't notice at first, but AustralianRiku also spotted the command menu in the water!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Gorgeous artwork! Hopefully this is a sign that they can work on a little something in the future ;).
Edit:
Ahhhhhh! I JUST NOTICED THAT!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Gonna be honest, I didn't think too much of the battle menu at first. Then Zephyr pointed out that it was specifically the KH command menu and I freaked xD
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I like it better than 2.5's cover >.>
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Utada as a bonus playable character in KH3 confirmed!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
If this is not a confirmation, then I don't know what is.
This just makes me so happy. *cries*
"there is a meaning to every keyword in the picture."
Hmm, Sky, water, two nifty chandeliers, teddy bear chair machine, and "CHARGE" is selected....
Ah, Utada is a physical manifestation of Kingdom Hearts!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Even the way she's seated looks like a callback to that one Sora drawing!!
I think this is relevant
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Utada as a bonus playable character in KH3 confirmed!
Look closely, she's one of the 13 Darkness of the new Organization XIII.
She's back in other words.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Utada chargin' up! (I hope ;A;)
Nomura's work is stunning. I might need to buy this if only for the album art.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
That Teddy Bear is the most epicly awesomest thign in the world.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I don't think she'd do it, but it'd be awesome if she were a voice in KH3.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Has she done much voice over work?
I love this image. I am CHARGED with hope! >O
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Has she done much voice over work?
I love this image. I am CHARGED with hope! >O
No, but she is a radio personality!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
you know duderinos, if KHI's servers crashed a few minutes after a newspost, then the hype is real. it's definitely real
the day a new Hikki song is inevitably revealed as KH3's theme song is gonna cripple the servers for a whole week or so i s2g
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I don't like the artwork but I hope this is a sign of Utada making a couple of songs for KHIII. She is part of KH too me.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Gonna be honest, I didn't think too much of the battle menu at first. Then Zephyr pointed out that it was specifically the KH command menu and I freaked xD
^^^^^^^^^^^
Gives me a small spark of hope.
Gosh, this is so stunning; Nomura did such a good job on this. Why he doesn't put this much effort into his KH drawings anymore confounds the mind.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Even the way she's seated looks like a callback to that one Sora drawing!!
I think this is relevant
Actually, the pose is similar to how she sits in "Movin' on without you" though she also sits like that kind of in "Automatic"
Though I imagine there is a lot of "Final Distance" in this ala the dark chandeliers
Also fun fact:
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Utada was a queen before Sora & Noctis ever sat on a throne.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I kind of wish he'd included her holding a dish in one hand and a washcloth in the other. But it's still gorgeous, I can't stop looking at it.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Oh my! Nomura did an amazing job! This pic wonderful. I also freaked out when I saw the command menu at the bottom. Also, someone pointed out, that the teddy bear chair has some resemblance to a keyhole.
Oh, there is this memory that pops in to my mind. I remember when my sister bought some Utada Hikaru collection album in December a few years back, an we just sat in her room listening the wonderful songs. I really wish Utada comes back.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Neat command menu, so it's Sing, Charge, Magic, and Item.... Oh no, don't tell me they're thinking of bringing back the Atlantica singing world from KH2! :eek: lol
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Now they just need to reveal that KH III theme song, please let it happen.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Now they just need to reveal that KH III theme song, please let it happen.
IF Utada decides to return. Nomura has certainly revived the hope that it is possible, but even he is worried about what she may decide considering his comments.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
IF Utada decides to return. Nomura has certainly revived the hope that it is possible, but even he is worried about what she may decide considering his comments.
If anything, she has fans from this series, and will probably do so to avoid disappointing those fans. I can imagine (well, not really) the pressure she is receiving to do the KH3 theme. It's inevitable despite the drama. Wasn't the issue about the money? She will get an insane amount of traffic from new fans from this series. I don't really see how she loses out to be honest.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
If anything, she has fans from this series, and will probably do so to avoid disappointing those fans. I can imagine (well, not really) the pressure she is receiving to do the KH3 theme. It's inevitable despite the drama. Wasn't the issue about the money? She will get an insane amount of traffic from new fans from this series. I don't really see how she loses out to be honest.
Kind of. Disney pays a licensing fee to use her music, that much is clear, but they also commission her to make the songs in the first place and then in turn expect her to make an english version. Her father's said that Disney doesn't pay enough. She's said that she thinks it hurts the integrity of the songs since the languages are different, despite being really really proud of Simple and Clean.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I..didn't know that and I do like her music. I hope she will come back..I always say JP to ENG translation is more of an art than a science, hence why they are so different. Not to mention she may of done the ENG version for "sounds good" instead of direct translation. (I don't know Japanese but I wish her well.)
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I'm pretty sure she'll be back. I don't understand how she could choose not to come back. I would definitely feel a sense of pride and obligation to the fans and the series. One more song to complete a work years in the making, she should be (and probably is) very proud of how iconic this has grown thanks to her. Imagine all those trailers without her voice.. I shudder to think.
Although, i hope for the next saga they choose another artist along with a new cast of characters.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Although, i hope for the next saga they choose another artist along with
This might actually happen.
| a new cast of characters. |
This likely won't.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
You don't think so?
I guess it might be a little hard for some people to see Sora, Riku, and freaking Axel not in the next game, but I think a New saga should be a new saga. Would you be apposed to something like that? Maybe I'm alone in this..
Edit: Thinking this over.. Lea will definitely die for the 12th time in KH3.. so maybe he won't be in the new saga. I can dream.
Edit again: When Lea dies in KH3 he'll become a nobody again and re-appear in the knew saga. They can't get rid of any characters..
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Oh wow! so pretty and the command bar at the bottom, AHHHH!!!!
Sure I'd wanna hear passion/sanctuary, simple and clean covers, but I wanz hear that KH3 song more than anything. Make me cry Utada (did I write that for everyone to see, I mean ummm lol)
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
You don't think so?
I guess it might be a little hard for some people to see Sora, Riku, and freaking Axel not in the next game, but I think a New saga should be a new saga. Would you be apposed to something like that? Maybe I'm alone in this..
Edit: Thinking this over.. Lea will definitely die for the 12th time in KH3.. so maybe he won't be in the new saga. I can dream.
Edit again: When Lea dies in KH3 he'll become a nobody again and re-appear in the knew saga. They can't get rid of any characters..
I'm not opposed to it, but Nomura's already come out and said that Kingdom Hearts is Sora's story so any game released will always have something to do with him.
Lea will live. Killing him has no impact anymore xD
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Hmm, that's unfortunate. Now that I know it all feels less mysterious..
Nobody can die anymore. They just become heartless and nobodies, and for whatever reason when those die, the person is regenerated. Unless this cycle can only happen once, no death will ever matter xD. I wonder who came up with that. It hurt me.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Hmm, that's unfortunate. Now that I know it all feels less mysterious..
Nobody can die anymore. They just become heartless and nobodies, and for whatever reason when those die, the person is regenerated. Unless this cycle can only happen once, no death will ever matter xD. I wonder who came up with that. It hurt me.
I'm sure SOMEBODY will die. KH3 has to have some kind of melancholic moments...
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
So am I, but nobody can die. They can all just be brought back, and resurrection nullifies the meaning and sacrifice. But maybe they will find a way to actually get rid of someone.
Don't I sound like a downer.. I'm still excited and stuff!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Just because nobody had been shown to die doesn't mean nobody will ever. We know that the concept of death does exist in the KHverse as stated by Ansem the Wise in one of his reports, and it happens when the soul leaves the body.
Sooner or later death will manifest in the KHverse, and KH3 is a good place for it to happen as any, especially with Master Xehanort who we know will be defeated once and for all (and probably some characters as well - Isa, perhaps?). Though the series has been littered by sad and bittersweet endings and a happy one seems overdue, not everyone has to survive for a good ending.
But I digress. This is a topic for another day.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Lots of people have been shown to die.. the problem is, is that they created this recurring cycle. Death creates a heartless and a Nobody, and if those are destroyed you are brought back. Right?
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Actually, that happens if you mess with their hearts, I think. You have to make their hearts collapse in some way to create a heartless and a nobody.
If you make them bleed to death or do a mortal injury to the body, THEN someone can actually die. We haven't seen more than 1 whole person get truely killed in the games so far (Master Eraqus), and yes his heart survived(yes that's from spoilers I read, I didn't think until recently I'd ever get a chance to play Birth By Sleep). I think if Xenohort's going to get killed though, no one is going to harbor THAT heart. It'll be a Voldemort situation (I think you've read the final book of that, right?) tho if rebirth is also part of the story, it might not be permanent, but he won't have his memories anymore when he comes back as a baby...
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Heartless aren't formed by death. Instead, they came about by losing one's heart to the darkness, and in rare cases they might also form a Nobody. In such a case, the soul still stays with the body wherever it goes, and this is especially evident from how Nobodies were able to function; the soul is the driving force that allows one to perform physical functions.
However, as this is a thread for Utada's album art by Nomura, this discussion will eventually derail it. If you have further stuff to discuss, you're very welcome to create a new thread.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Master Eraqus just went inside Terra though.. didn't he?
So is Terra the only character that has truly died? Since his soul left his body and willed the armor? But then how do we still see Terra talking with Master Xehanort at the end of Birth By Sleep?
Edit: whoops You posted while I was still typing, my apologies for the derailing.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
You know, I keep looking at the art and it really surprises me how much Nomura's rendition of Hikki looks like her. I've gotten so used to his KH work that I sometimes forget that Nomura's really amazing at realism and detail. His down-to-earth work is always beautiful and people always try to put down his art by saying "Where are the belts/zippers/spikes?" but outside of FFVII AC and old KH work (because his recent designs for KH have been *shock* beltless/zipperless), his art really has none of that. Some of my favorite work by Nomura comes from Parasite Eve and his enemy designs from FFVI.
Also this artwork released today for Forever Today: Final Fantasy XI Seekers of Adoulin OST Plus will have my heart forever
(Nomura needs to release an artbook. I say this constantly but his art is something I would love to have a 300 page artbook of on my shelf to just look at and admire.)
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Rau; I'll take this to pms to avoid derailing it any further unless a thread does get created.
And spock; I've actually been hanging on to see the end of Seekers in FFXI, I saw a small clip of the ending song and it sounded really good.
And yes..that artwork is really good.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
You know, I keep looking at the art and it really surprises me how much Nomura's rendition of Hikki looks like her. I've gotten so used to his KH work that I sometimes forget that Nomura's really amazing at realism and detail. His down-to-earth work is always beautiful and people always try to put down his art by saying "Where are the belts/zippers/spikes?" but outside of FFVII AC and old KH work (because his recent designs for KH have been *shock* beltless/zipperless), his art really has none of that. Some of my favorite work by Nomura comes from Parasite Eve and his enemy designs from FFVI.
(Nomura needs to release an artbook. I say this constantly but his art is something I would love to have a 300 page artbook of on my shelf to just look at and admire.)
I noticed that right away, how good and realistic Hikki looks. I really like his Parasite Eve artwork as well. And of course his FF VI artwork is amazing too.
Statue of the Gods - Characters & Art - Final Fantasy VI
And YES HE DOES NEED TO MAKE AN ART BOOK I'D BUY IT IN AN INSTANT.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I really hope this means she will be performing a new song for KH3.
Just hearing her music opening up a trailer or the full game will make my eyes tear up. ;_;
On December 9th I will def be checking her new album out. KHI better post a reminder!
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Look closely, she's one of the 13 Darkness of the new Organization XIII.
Damn, she's the Seeker that NO ONE saw coming! XD
I don't think she'd do it, but it'd be awesome if she were a voice in KH3.
That would be a really interesting idea, actually. I'd imagine they'd either make her a bit player or something as a nice cameo. She can even provide the voice work for both Japanese and English seeing as she's fluent in both.
Also fun fact:
Utada was a queen before Sora & Noctis ever sat on a throne.
Huh. I've always known Nomura to have a thing for characters on thrones, but I didn't realize Hikki did it beforehand.
Neat command menu, so it's Sing, Charge, Magic, and Item.... Oh no, don't tell me they're thinking of bringing back the Atlantica singing world from KH2! :eek: lol
Nah, he's preparing for the other musical world to appear in Kingdom Hearts III, the world based on [strike]Final Fantasy XV[/strike] Frozen. :P
I really hope this means she will be performing a new song for KH3.
Just hearing her music opening up a trailer or the full game will make my eyes tear up. ;_;
On December 9th I will def be checking her new album out. KHI better post a reminder!
Agreed. Whatever happens, I'd love for her to stay at least for this one last game to finish the Xehanort saga. My brother and I both consider her music for the games very nostalgic and I can't imagine the last game without her voice.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I'm thrilled to see the picture. Don't think it's the cover art, though.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I'm thrilled to see the picture. Don't think it's the cover art, though.
What do you mean? I thought they said that themselves...
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I'm thrilled to see the picture. Don't think it's the cover art, though.
What do you mean? I thought they said that themselves...
It's not the cover art. This artwork was made for the cover album, along with other art and photography as a gift to Utada.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
It's not the cover art. This artwork was made for the cover album, along with other art and photography as a gift to Utada.
Ohhhh, I see now. I misread it, I thought they said the picture was for the cover art. I read "cover album" as "album cover" xD
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Ohhhh, I see now. I misread it, I thought they said the picture was for the cover art. I read "cover album" as "album cover" xD
I made the same assumption too xP.
Though I'm curious, is the whole track list revealed as to which songs she will be covering?
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
I made the same assumption too xP.
Though I'm curious, is the whole track list revealed as to which songs she will be covering?
Utada isn't the one covering the songs xD
Guys, read the opening post! People are singing her songs as a gift. It's her 15th anniversary since she started performing.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Utada isn't the one covering the songs xD
Guys, read the opening post! People are singing her songs as a gift. It's her 15th anniversary since she started performing.
Ahhhhh, what I meant to say was.... I wonder which songs she will be having covered? ;p
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
So, I just gave the album a real good listen. The cover of Hikari was pretty meh, but the cover of Sanctuary (which was the album finisher) was definitely a highlight. If any of you are fans of Utada's non-KH music, "Letters" and "Automatic" were really well done too.
Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album
Automatic and Letters were the first ones I ordered from iTunes. *u*
Bobjam
November 10, 2014 @ 10:17 pmOffline