Characters of Kingdom Hearts

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, and is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series features Disney, Final Fantasy, The World Ends with You, and Pixar characters, as well as several original characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura.^[1] In addition, it has an all-star voice cast which includes many Disney characters' official voice actors.

The series centers on Sora, his friends, and their encounters with various Disney and Final Fantasy characters along the way. Players primarily control Sora, though there are numerous characters that join his party as computer controlled members. Most characters were introduced in the original game Kingdom Hearts, with subsequent installments featuring new original, Disney, and Final Fantasy characters. Dream Drop Distance introduces characters from Square Enix's The World Ends with You, while Kingdom Hearts III introduces characters from Pixar franchises.^[2]^[3]^[4]

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 have focused on the accurate presentation of Disney characters, the unique visual style of Square Enix characters, how well all the characters blend together, and the consistent quality performances from voice actors.

Xigbar (Braig/Luxu), a who wields two "arrowguns" (rayguns) and has the power of spatial manipulation. He is first introduced in Kingdom Hearts II, with his role as one of Xehanort's first followers being expanded upon in subsequent games, revealing him to be an incarnation of the ancient Keyblade wielder Luxu, who collaborates with Xehanort to observe his actions. Xigbar and Braig are voiced by Hōchū Ōtsuka in Japanese and James Patrick Stuart in English, while Luxu is voiced by Kenjiro Tsuda in Japanese and Max Mittelman in English.^[68]

marksman

Xaldin (Dilan), an eloquent warrior who has the power to control wind and wields lances. He is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. Xaldin and Dilan are voiced by in Japanese and David Dayan Fisher in English.

Yōsuke Akimoto

Vexen (Even), a researcher and scientist who conducts various experiments for the Organization; he has the power to control ice and wields a shield. He is introduced in Chain of Memories, and after being restored in Dream Drop Distance, Vexen returns to the Organization as one of Xehanort's "seekers of darkness" in Kingdom Hearts III to sabotage Xehanort's schemes and retrieve his research. Later on, his restored human self resumes his duties as Ansem's apprentice. In Japanese, Vexen and Even are voiced in most appearances by , with Shigeru Chiba voicing them in Kingdom Hearts III; in English, they are voiced by Derek Stephen Prince.

Nachi Nozawa

Lexaeus (Aeleus), a stalwart warrior who is the Organization's most physically powerful member and has the power to control earth. He wields an "axe sword", a long-bladed axe capable of shattering solid rock. He is introduced in Chain of Memories. In most appearances, Lexaeus and Aeleus are voiced by in Japanese and Dave Boat in English.

Fumihiko Tachiki

Zexion (Ienzo), the youngest of the Organization's founders, who has the ability to create . He initially appears as a non-combatant in Chain of Memories, with later games revealing his weapon to be a lexicon. In Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III, his restored human self supports Sora's group by helping to reconstruct Roxas. Zexion and Ienzo are voiced by Akira Ishida in Japanese and Vince Corazza in English.

illusions

Saïx (Isa), Xemnas' right-hand man and Axel's friend from Radiant Garden. He draws power from the heart-shaped moon of Kingdom Hearts to assume a berserk state and transform his weapon, a . He is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II, and later appears in Dream Drop Distance as one of Xehanort's thirteen "seekers of darkness" from the original Organization. However, he secretly works against the Organization to help restore Roxas before reconciling with Lea in Kingdom Hearts III. He is voiced by Ginpei Sato in Japanese and Kirk Thornton in English.

claymore

Axel (Lea), a resident of Radiant Garden and the Organization's resident assassin, who has the power to control fire, which he can use to empower his . He is introduced in Chain of Memories as a double agent under orders to dispatch the traitorous members at Castle Oblivion. He also appears in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days as a mentor for Roxas. The two develop a friendship, with him warning Roxas of the dangers of defecting from the Organization. In Kingdom Hearts II, Axel helps Sora reach The World That Never Was as an apology for kidnapping Kairi, and sacrifices himself to allow Sora to escape. In Dream Drop Distance and Kingdom Hearts III, his restored human self becomes a Keyblade wielder and guardian of light. Axel and Lea are voiced by Keiji Fujiwara in Japanese and Quinton Flynn in English. Axel also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit.^[16]

chakrams

Demyx, a laid-back member who controls water with his music. He is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II and also appears in Kingdom Hearts III as a reserve "seeker of darkness" for his past as an ancient Keyblade wielder. However, he is convinced to help Vexen act against the Organization. Demyx is voiced by Kenichi Suzumura in Japanese and Ryan O'Donohue in English.

sitar

Luxord, a courteous gambler who has the power to control time and wields a deck of . He is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. He later appears in Kingdom Hearts III as one of Xehanort's seekers of darkness, recruited for his past as an ancient Keyblade wielder. Luxord is voiced by Jouji Nakata in Japanese and Robin Atkin Downes in English.

cards

Marluxia (Lauriam), who wields a scythe and attacks with flower-based attacks. As the main antagonist of Chain of Memories, he presides over Castle Oblivion and harbors intentions of overthrowing the group using Sora and Naminé's powers. Despite his betrayal, he appears in Kingdom Hearts III as one of Xehanort's chosen "seekers of darkness" for his past as an ancient Keyblade wielder. In most appearances, he is voiced by in Japanese and Keith Ferguson in English.

Shūichi Ikeda

Larxene (Elrena), a female member and co-conspirator of Marluxia who is introduced in Chain of Memories. She has electricity-based powers and wields a set of knives. She appears in Kingdom Hearts III as one of Xehanort's chosen "seekers of darkness" for her past as an ancient Keyblade wielder. In most appearances, Larxene is voiced by in Japanese and Shanelle Workman in English.

Yūko Miyamura

Xion, the de facto fourteenth member of the Organization who is introduced in 358/2 Days. Similar to Roxas, she wields a Keyblade and appears to lack memories of her past. Despite initially appearing to be emotionless and static, she eventually befriends Roxas and Axel and joins them on missions. Xion eventually discovers her true identity as an artificial human "replica" created from Sora's memories to duplicate Roxas' powers, which forces her to sacrifice her existence and others' memories of her to protect her friends. She is later revived as the final member of Xehanort's thirteen "seekers of darkness" before regaining her original memories and rejoining her friends. Xion is voiced by Risa Uchida in Japanese and in English by in 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts III and Hayden Panettiere in Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance. Xion also appears in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate as a spirit.^[16]

Alyson Stoner

Reception[edit]

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] 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.^[117] IGN listed him as a possible character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl;^[118] though he was not chosen as the "reader's choice".^[119]

GameSpy praised the voice cast and voice acting in the first and third games.^[114]^[120] G4TV awarded Kingdom Hearts II "Best Voice Over" in their 2006 G-phoria Awards.^[121] Game Informer praised the voice acting of the third game, particularly the performances by Haley Joel Osment, Christopher Lee, and James Woods. They also stated the voice talent "shines across the board."^[122] 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".^[123]