Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Art Revealed
- Details
- Published on April 10, 2022 @ 05:30 am
- Written by Arielle
The Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event is currently taking place in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan at the moment, and fans have been sharing photos of their walk through the exhibit where photography is allowed. The completed 20th anniversary artwork by series creator and director Tetsuya Nomura has been revealed, although the original art cannot be shown to the public at this time.
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Source: aibo_ac7 & B_H_6_Bey2 via Twitter
COMMENTS
Wonderful
For today I just want to read some infos on the next title.... looking forward
yozora with four fingers. let's go.
Its a really nice piece to celebrate 20 years of the franchise's history. Too bad Dilan and Aeleus couldn't have made the cut
yozora with four fingers. let's go.
totally betting on it
This looks great and there are so many details like Ven with his Chirithy or Repliku. I'm glad the KH4 announcement is almost here.
Y'all. I really need this poster on my Wall. This is absolutely beautiful.
Nomura hates Xaldin, Lexaeus and AtW, confirmed.
Also, is Riku Replica between Namine and Roxas?
Nomura hates Xaldin, Lexaeus and AtW, confirmed.
Also, is Riku Replica between Namine and Roxas?
Oh wow Ansem the Wise is missing. And he is a fairly important character, lol. And yeah that's Repliku
Ienzo is looking out of place in the lower left corner there. The bottom is mostly full of members of the true Organization XIII except for him. What does this mean? [S]Ienzo was the true mastermind all along.[/S] There probably was no better place to put him.
Also, young Xehanort and Eraqus are gazing longingly into each other's eyes in the top right corner.
Nomura key art is a literal piece of art. ?
It’s beautiful ?
EDIT: Y‘ALL THE BLACKBOX LITERALLY IS THE BLACKBOX
MoM Hid KH4 in the black box confirmed???
I mean, MoM's "scenario" for the X games was literally the games themselves, so that sounds about right for him.
I replayed KH3 to celebrate the anniversary and just finished Remind moments ago. I can’t believe KH4 may now legit be on the horizon. With so many years and games between KH2 and 3, it feels weird to even say or think about.
yozora with four fingers. let's go.
Yeah , I think the same
They better have this buyable as a poster once the whole thing is revealed. I want to throw my money at this!
That artwork is so beautiful! Glad I awoke to this. I need that for my newest wallpaper.
With so many fakes of the complete image floating around this could also be one, but it looks genuine:
What jumped me in the eye immediately is how Kairi is "paired" with Terra, Aqua and Ventus while Riku is on the other side together with Roxas, Xion and Lea/Axel.
Also kudos to Nomura to fit all the arguably central characters into one panel.
What jumped me in the eye immediately is how Kairi is "paired" with Terra, Aqua and Ventus while Riku is on the other side together with Roxas, Xion and Lea/Axel.
Also kudos to Nomura to fit all the arguably central characters into one panel.
I think it makes thematic sense. Kairi wants to train under Aqua whilst Riku was responsible for setting Xion, Roxas, and Namine free from their confines.
Nice.
I think it makes thematic sense. Kairi wants to train under Aqua whilst Riku was responsible for setting Xion, Roxas, and Namine free from their confines.
Certainly, now it remains to be seen if that will also lead to some more character interactions and possible more intermingling between the characters, like i.e. Kairi constantly interacting and working with TAV while Riku gets some time with RLX, within the latter it would be interesting to see Riku and Xion following up on all the stuff they already had in Days while between Riku and Roxas there will be finally the whole issues from the end of Days and the KH 2 prologue be settled with them forming a basis for a new relationship between each other going into the next saga.
Who is that girl mirrored to Namine? Is that a new design for Kairi?
Who is that girl mirrored to Namine? Is that a new design for Kairi?
You mean the girl pictured between Donald and Ventus?
That's Strelitzia, Lauriam's sister from Union X and the girl Sora speaks with in the KH IV trailer.
You mean the girl pictured between Donald and Ventus?
That's Strelitzia, Lauriam's sister from Union X and the girl Sora speaks with in the KH IV trailer.
Thanks! I never saw her before in KHUX, I just read what happened to her.
This is gorgeous.
You know, the only thing about this and the ReMIX covers that bothers me is Maleficent's absence. I mean, he includes the full Organization from 2 across the ReMIXes, I believe? And here the full Organization from 3. And all the Foretellers. I would have liked to see the full council from KH1 together in their own segment as villains of the saga--but at least Maleficent, if nothing else, since she's been there through it all.
This is gorgeous.
You know, the only thing about this and the ReMIX covers that bothers me is Maleficent's absence. I mean, he includes the full Organization from 2 across the ReMIXes, I believe? And here the full Organization from 3. And all the Foretellers. I would have liked to see the full council from KH1 together in their own segment as villains of the saga--but at least Maleficent, if nothing else, since she's been there through it all.
Ansem The Wise, Xaldin and Lexaeus were not worthy of being on the artwork. I guess he couldn't squeeze Maleficent in.
He also finished this at 10AM before the event, so yeah lol.
Certainly, now it remains to be seen if that will also lead to some more character interactions and possible more intermingling between the characters, like i.e. Kairi constantly interacting and working with TAV while Riku gets some time with RLX, within the latter it would be interesting to see Riku and Xion following up on all the stuff they already had in Days while between Riku and Roxas there will be finally the whole issues from the end of Days and the KH 2 prologue be settled with them forming a basis for a new relationship between each other going into the next saga.
I think that's exactly how the new character dynamics are going to play out. They all have the same goal of finding Sora, they're just going about it in different ways. Having a focal character for both the TAV group and RAX group via Kairi and Riku respectively streamlines and connects their confined narratives.
Ansem The Wise, Xaldin and Lexaeus were not worthy of being on the artwork. I guess he couldn't squeeze Maleficent in.
Well, I was also referring to the ReMIXes' artwork in that post. I think the Disney villains in KH1 played the same role the Organization and new Organization did in 2 and 3. The seven of them deserved to be on the cover the way those other groups were, with Ansem SOD sort of standing behind and smirking or whatever. (I wouldn't have minded the 7 PoH being on the cover for 1, too, since that's a big part of that one's story, but that's something else...)
Well, I was also referring to the ReMIXes' artwork in that post. I think the Disney villains in KH1 played the same role the Organization and new Organization did in 2 and 3. The seven of them deserved to be on the cover the way those other groups were, with Ansem SOD sort of standing behind and smirking or whatever. (I wouldn't have minded the 7 PoH being on the cover for 1, too, since that's a big part of that one's story, but that's something else...)
I would have shoved Maleficent on the left hand side with the KHUX people since Riku's side was packed. Or I would have had her and Ansem the Wise in the heart with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Xaldin and Lexaeus could have also been shoved in the Organization group shot.
Would Nomura have even been allowed to use anyone besides Mickey, Donald and Goofy for KH artwork? I guess if they allowed Mickey, then anyone else should be usable.
Would Nomura have even been allowed to use anyone besides Mickey, Donald and Goofy for KH artwork? I guess if they allowed Mickey, then anyone else should be usable.
It's probably more that he wouldn't want to have to practice drawing them correctly, where he draws MDG so often he probably has it down without going through much effort. Probably the same reason we haven't seen stained glass artwork since that first game, even though 3 made the PoHs relevant again.
I think that's exactly how the new character dynamics are going to play out. They all have the same goal of finding Sora, they're just going about it in different ways. Having a focal character for both the TAV group and RAX group via Kairi and Riku respectively streamlines and connects their confined narratives.
It would be a neat way to include them as well as at least partly breaking up the whole confined trio dynamics, of which the SRK trio is arguably the best to use first because their "trio" is probably the least definite one to begin with.
Imagine Kairi roaming through worlds with TAV as party members or Riku with Roxas and Xion with added party banter and regular in-game conversations.
I would have shoved Maleficent on the left hand side with the KHUX people since Riku's side was packed. Or I would have had her and Ansem the Wise in the heart with Mickey, Donald, and Goofy. Xaldin and Lexaeus could have also been shoved in the Organization group shot.
Would Nomura have even been allowed to use anyone besides Mickey, Donald and Goofy for KH artwork? I guess if they allowed Mickey, then anyone else should be usable.
It is a bit weird that Ienzo is there but AtW as well as Dilan & Aeleus aren't as those four were arguably together working as the "atoning" Org members with Even and Isa behind the scenes, but well, I think this might have also have to do in part with the fact that Nomura finished this art piece only shortly before the event took place in the first place.
I was already pleasantly surprised how many of the central cast he managed to include in the first place so maybe there simply was not enough time to include them as well.
I wonder why Ansem wasnt included
Why is it Saix and Xehanort have elvish ears. How Siax still has orange eyes
It's probably more that he wouldn't want to have to practice drawing them correctly, where he draws MDG so often he probably has it down without going through much effort. Probably the same reason we haven't seen stained glass artwork since that first game, even though 3 made the PoHs relevant again.
Back in the day, Nomura would have a back-n-forth with a Disney staffer when drawing MDG. He'd sketch out what he'd want them to look like, then they'd redraw it on model, and he'd do it over again with his final revisions. Dunno if he's still doing that though.
Amazing piece
I can’t help laugh a little because to me it looks like Aqua has chubby cheeks. Just a little bit
Where’s the full 4K hi res png of this artwork, Square Enix?! Don’t you know people want to have a new phone wall paper :(
I just realised, there's no Hayner, Pence, and Olette! ?
Back in the day, Nomura would have a back-n-forth with a Disney staffer when drawing MDG. He'd sketch out what he'd want them to look like, then they'd redraw it on model, and he'd do it over again with his final revisions. Dunno if he's still doing that though.
That makes sense. Probably the main reason then, he probably doesn't want to go through the hassle of doing multiple Disney characters because of how time-consuming the process is. /sigh
I just realised, there's no Hayner, Pence, and Olette! ?
Probably the same reason as to why Ansem the Wise, Dilan/Xaldin and Aeleus/Lexaeus are missing.
Nomura was in a rush and didn't even finish this piece shortly before the event itself started.
And for a rushed work it's certainly looking dope.
There's probably tons of reasons some major characters didn't find their ways in (in part from the slightly lesser roles they played), but I am, perhaps foolishly, surprised Dilan and Aeleus, particularly Dilan, get sidelined so hard. If the KH3 chess set is any indication, it seems Nomura originally had plans for Xaldin to be one of the 13 Darknesses, right? I guess he had a hard left turn on that idea and hasn't come back.....though it does make me wonder why we still have his chess piece, both in the physical set and in the cutscenes.
And as many above have said, I'm just overall bewildered by Ienzo in the Org section. Like, sure, he was part of the old Org, and I guess traitors Demyx and Vexen are there as well, but...he definitely sticks out like a sore thumb, and sorta perks up some long-running suspicion I've had for Ienzo (or, Nomura's intentions for him) since before even the BbS days.
Do we have a high resolution or HD version of this?
I need a new phone background
Do we have a high resolution or HD version of this?
I need a new phone background
They still haven't released it yet :(
There's probably tons of reasons some major characters didn't find their ways in (in part from the slightly lesser roles they played), but I am, perhaps foolishly, surprised Dilan and Aeleus, particularly Dilan, get sidelined so hard. If the KH3 chess set is any indication, it seems Nomura originally had plans for Xaldin to be one of the 13 Darknesses, right? I guess he had a hard left turn on that idea and hasn't come back.....though it does make me wonder why we still have his chess piece, both in the physical set and in the cutscenes.
I remember before 3 when theorizing about the chess pieces that one was so obviously Xaldin. Did they change the chess pieces or did that one simply turn out to symbolize a different character?
Xaldin should've been there instead of Demyx or Luxord, but I know Luxord at least is one of Nomura's favs.
I remember before 3 when theorizing about the chess pieces that one was so obviously Xaldin. Did they change the chess pieces or did that one simply turn out to symbolize a different character?
As far as I'm able to tell (maybe someone has further info to clarify or expound?), that particular chess piece was one of the more confusing and contested pieces due to Xaldin's absence. The best bet was Dark Riku.
However, since the physical chess set has been put up for pre-order, the pieces were given names in the item description. That spiky dragon-head-esque piece was labeled as Xaldin's, while a flame-heart shaped piece that never appeared nor was alluded to in the game was labeled as Dark Riku's.
So the chess pieces were oddly never changed or replaced in-game. It almost seems to me like Nomura would've wanted Xaldin as part of the crew pretty late into development. In fact it makes all the more sense that both Dilan and Even were kept offscreen together recovering in DDD, if both were to be picked up for the New Org. Which again makes me wonder at what happened and why it feels like he 180'd so hard into trying to pretend Xaldin doesn't exist.
As far as I'm able to tell (maybe someone has further info to clarify or expound?), that particular chess piece was one of the more confusing and contested pieces due to Xaldin's absence. The best bet was Dark Riku.
However, since the physical chess set has been put up for pre-order, the pieces were given names in the item description. That spiky dragon-head-esque piece was labeled as Xaldin's, while a flame-heart shaped piece that never appeared nor was alluded to in the game was labeled as Dark Riku's.
So the chess pieces were oddly never changed or replaced in-game. It almost seems to me like Nomura would've wanted Xaldin as part of the crew pretty late into development. In fact it makes all the more sense that both Dilan and Even were kept offscreen together recovering in DDD, if both were to be picked up for the New Org. Which again makes me wonder at what happened and why it feels like he 180'd so hard into trying to pretend Xaldin doesn't exist.
Fingers crossed Xaldin was promoted to an important role for the Lost Masters Arc.
Probably the same reason as to why Ansem the Wise, Dilan/Xaldin and Aeleus/Lexaeus are missing.
Nomura was in a rush and didn't even finish this piece shortly before the event itself started.
And for a rushed work it's certainly looking dope.
Yeah, you're absolutely right. I'd argue that it's my favourite Kingdom Hearts Key Art by Nomura to date.
Fingers crossed Xaldin was promoted to an important role for the Lost Masters Arc.
Yeah, you're absolutely right. I'd argue that it's my favourite Kingdom Hearts Key Art by Nomura to date.
Maybe Dilan is related to Braig
Can we just talk about the fact Nomura has forgotten to share the art online? Like maybe he is making edits or properly coloring it fully? But I’m just like ?????? It’s been days now.
Can we just talk about the fact Nomura has forgotten to share the art online? Like maybe he is making edits or properly coloring it fully? But I’m just like ?????? It’s been days now.
Maybe he realized that he forgot to add Yozora lol
Cover for this week's issue of Famitsu.
Cover for this week's issue of Famitsu.
Neato, seeing it as a magazine cover is always another proof of appreciation for an art piece.
And despite some characters missing I am still impressed how many Nomura managed to include when counting in this being a last 30 minute or something quickshot. :LOL:
I cannot wait for HMK and TheGamersJoint to dissect the famitsu interview and harvest its innards to make a dozen ten minute videos for a d r e v e n u e
Nice fanmade phone background for those interested:
Neato, seeing it as a magazine cover is always another proof of appreciation for an art piece.
And despite some characters missing I am still impressed how many Nomura managed to include when counting in this being a last 30 minute or something quickshot. :LOL:
Yeah, a few characters are missing. Among them are Xehanort's classmates. But no worries, the Dark Road cast are obviously being setup for Kingdom Hearts 5 lol.
SE posted the artwork on the English KH accounts.
Does anyone else notice a face in larxene's hoody or is it just me....
I'm noticing that Larxene's got lipstick on
beautiful.
Chaser
April 10, 2022 @ 05:38 amOffline