Famitsu 4/5 Translations! OP UPDATED

[Oracle Spockanort]

Will update as info comes in:

Spoiler Show

Q1. The series has celebrated its 10th anniversary, how do you feel now?
A1. It’s gotten old. (Wry laughter.)

The first Kingdom Hearts title went on sale in 2002. At that time, Nomura was 31 years old.

Nomura: Really now, I can’t move like I did 10 years ago. The feeling of impossibleness has lost its effect on me. (Wry laughter.)

After this how many titles do you think you’ll put out into the world, have you calculated that far?

Nomura: After 10 years, I’ve thought that “the creator’s life span is short”, so I’ve already decided that as long as a hold a position where I have the opportunity to make things, I will do so. At any rate, so far I have already made quite a number of titles. There is still a lot I want to make, and since there is something I promised with my staff, from here on out I want to continue making titles as long as possible.

Furthermore regarding the future, Nomura added: With my close colleagues, if half of them retire maybe I’ll be able to make things more leisurely. (Laughs).

Spoiler Show

Q2. During these 10 years, what’s the most impressive occurrence to you?
A2. The release date of each title.

Nomura: When the release date comes, it feels like it’s actually been completed. Once it reaches the players hands, I can say it’s finally complete. Then the first thing I do is relax.

What about the most impressive occurrence involving the advertising team for the series?

Nomura: We were at an event in Los Angeles prior to the North American release of Kingdom Hearts II and when the trailer was streaming there was a great cheering from the crowd. It was very moving for me, and I haven’t forgotten about even now.

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Q3. What would you say is the overall theme of the Kingdom Hearts series?
A3. Defining what the “heart” is.

Nomura: I set the theme around the “heart”, and the “things that the eye can’t see” that relate to it. How a character feels, and what the character thinks about those things which they can’t see, it’s drawn around that idea.

Bonds, friendships, promises, memories, sleep, and dreams. All these keywords of the series are connected to the “heart”. Also, they are things that everyone concerns themselves with in their lives. Though it’s a fantasy, it evokes a strong sense of sympathy. Maybe that’s the reason the titles of this series reverberate in our own hearts.

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Q4. As a director, what part of the Kingdom Hearts titles do you put the most consideration?
A4. I put serious consideration into every aspect.

Regarding the Kingdom Hearts series, every element passes through Nomura’s hands and he makes the final decisions, from the system’s technical specifications, to the story’s plot, the final script, the design of the small icons in the menu and maps etc., the music, and all the names of the games contents. It’s the same with promotional material, Nomura directs every detail that goes into them, from the advertisements and storefront pop ups, to how the trailers are edited.

Nomura: I put serious consideration into every aspect of the titles, I want to release it once I’m satisfied with it.

Having a responsibility to himself to only put out titles that he is satisfied with, that is Nomura’s policy for Kingdom Hearts.

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Q5. When you draw the Kingdom Hearts characters, what do you focus on?
A5. I draw them freely and without expectations.

Nomura: It’s a collaborative title with Disney, but if I drew with the designs of the Disney characters in mind, then it wouldn’t really be a collaboration, so I draw Sora how I like as the standard.

Also, from the Kingdom Hearts illustrations drawn so far, which one is your favorite?

Nomura: I’ll go with my gut feeling, it’s the illustration used on the package of original Kingdom Hearts, since it was the one that began everything. I drew it thinking that it was unlike any Disney image seen before.

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Q6. What components of Kingdom Hearts do you think stand out the most?
A6. The deep story and refreshing action.

The series has many charms and features, but it’s these two aspects that stick out the most.

Nomura: I always tell my team, it’s about the story and action. We make Kingdom Hearts satisfy both those elements.

On top of that, the systems developed in the titles are relevant to the story among other aspects, it seems giving each element of the game meaning is Nomura’s specialty. It must be that attention to detail which he produces worlds with a sense of unity that garner him so many fans.

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Q7. If you were to defined the music of Kingdom Hearts, what would you say?
A7. It’s a joint effort with Shimomura-san.

Composer Yoko Shimomura’s specialty is dramatic melodies that fill the listener with emotions, it’s easy to see how it’s a joint effort with her.

Nomura: Ultimately, the songs in Kingdom Hearts are made through a joint effort with Shimomura-san. Recently Takeshi Kando and Takeharu Ishimoto have been participating as well, but to get the atmosphere as right as possible so we can say it’s definitely Kingdom Hearts quality, the music inadvertently becomes more Shimomura-ish.

My own favorite song is “Dearly Beloved”.

Nomura: Origianlly, that song wasn’t given the go ahead. But it was a favorite of mine and I decided to use it on the title screen, now it feels like it was fated to be.

Spoiler Show

Q8. If you could give advice to yourself from 10 years ago when you begun producing Kingdom Hearts, what would you say?
Q8. It’s gonna be long!
Nomura: Its continued more than I expected, I’ve had to take a lot of notes. There’s a lot to forget! (Laughs.)

At that time, amongst the 99 pages there was a comment from Kanamori, saying that there weren’t plans to make a sequel.

Nomura: There weren’t details about the story’s continuation, but I was considering it to some degree. When Kingdom Hearts was released, its sales went really well. It’s thanks to all the fans who supported the original Kingdom Hearts that we’ve been able to develop a series that’s continued for over 10 years.

Spoiler Show

Q9. Now 10 years later, what do you think has become of Kingdom Hearts?
Q9. It isn’t finished yet, huh.

Nomura: At that time, I figured by the time I was 50 years old I wouldn’t be able to work like I did then, so I took a slow pace. (Wry laughter.) The Xehanort saga will end in the next one, but it’s not necessarily completely over. When I finish it, I want to “close” the story completely, so no one could make a continuation of it. I’m thinking of a way to end it so there is no room to continue it.

While there doesn’t seem to be any details about how he will end it, he seems to have an image to some degree of how it will happen. The recently released title on sale now is the next episode in the Xehanort saga centering around Master Xehanort. I wonder when something relating to Kingdom Hearts 3, which will assumably be the final chapter, will be shown? Attentive fans will want to play Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance first and check on the secret movie.

Spoiler Show

Q10. For you, what does Kingdom Hearts mean?
Q10. My thirties.

Nomura: These works were the first ones I directed, at the same time they are my “masterpieces”. I am free to be my most creative in these titles. In an older interview, someone asked, “What does Final Fantasy mean to you?” And I answered, my twenties, because I had certainly spent my twenties working on those titles. However, 10 years after that, there’s Kingdom Hearts too.

The Final Fantasy series was founded by a number of creatives, but Kingdom Hearts was produced as a result of Nomura choosing a challenge and making a new setting altogether. Kingdom Hearts is where the creative spirit of Tetsuya Nomura really blossomed.

Thanks to SQEXGAL!

 

[zspek09]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Talk about sarcasm, sheez Nomura lol

 

[Venitas]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

It's funny, but it also sounds like he's tired of the series :/

 

[The Lionheart]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Q4. As a director, what part of the Kingdom Hearts titles do you put the most consideration?
A4. I put serious consideration into every aspect.

What a weak answer, I mean i don't know what they expected him to say but come on

 

[zspek09]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

It's funny, but it also sounds like he's tired of the series :/

No, just tired of the same questions over and over again. He wants everything to be a surprise and interviewers are constantly trying to get him to spill precious info

 

[rokudamia2]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

I think most of the questions are dumb.

It's like "ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer"

 

[Piercing Light]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Q10. For you, what does Kingdom Hearts mean?
Q10. I’m in my thirties.

Pfft, what's that supposed to mean?

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Guys, not a serious interview xD

Pfft, what's that supposed to mean?

From youth to old man, he's seen his life pass by with a boy who never ages~

 

[Piercing Light]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

From youth to old man, he's seen his life pass by with a boy who never ages~

I was thinking it was something like that. I've always wondered what that felt like.

 

[Mite]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

I wasn't expecting the short Q&A here. Maybe Nomura's just getting tired of the interviews?

Q1. The series has celebrated its 10th anniversary, how do you feel now?
A1. It’s gotten old. (Wry laughter.)

We've all gotten old. 10 years later and still no KH3 in sight.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Its like a game of 21 questions. Again, it's not a serious interview xD

 

[maggosh]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Pfft, what's that supposed to mean?

It means...he's in his thirties. :| I don't see how hard that is to grasp.

 

[rokudamia2]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Just so you know, Nomura is 41 Maggosh.

(That came off ruder then intended, sorry.)

 

[Shamdeo]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

nomura and the press

to be expected

 

[gelandporn]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

The interview goldpanner translated just makes this hilariously ironic.

Iwata: You've built up more and more flows and ties so far, but, do they ever tire you out?

Nomura: Yes, well. But...

Iwata: The truth is, Mr. Nomura, we can't see any of that tiring out at all (laughs).

 

[captain]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Cranky Nomura needs a nap??

 

[Taochan]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Nomura is hilarious. <3

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations

Nomura is my spirit animal

 

[Chaser]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations!

Poor Nomura. He sounds like he's not enjoying himself.

 

[Oracle Spockanort]

Re: Famitsu 4/5 Translations!

He's a slave under SE. He must be liberated.