News ► Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

[Sign]

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

 

[Bobjam]

Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

"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."

......that could mean so much and then so little at the same time. I really hope it means something for the future, it the health/mana bar and command deck below have anything to do with it.

 

[ultima-demi]

Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

Oh man,really hopes this leads to something bigger.

 

[Antar]

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!

 

[Sdog]

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:

I didn't notice at first, but AustralianRiku also spotted the command menu in the water!

Ahhhhhh! I JUST NOTICED THAT!

 

[Sign]

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

 

[Dandelion]

Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

I like it better than 2.5's cover >.>

 

[Ruran]

Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

Utada as a bonus playable character in KH3 confirmed!

 

[FudgemintGuardian]

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!

 

[limit]

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

 

[robvandam111]

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.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

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.

 

[Noel]

Re: Tetsuya Nomura Collaboration: Utada Hikaru's Cover Album

That Teddy Bear is the most epicly awesomest thign in the world.

 

[Dandelion]

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.

 

[Rydgea]

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

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

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!

 

[The Dead Skin]

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

 

[Heartkeeper]

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.

 

[Taochan]

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.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

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:

Utada was a queen before Sora & Noctis ever sat on a throne.