Tetsuya Nomura

Tetsuya Nomura (born October 8, 1970 in Kochi, Japan) is the creator and director of the Kingdom Hearts series. He is a Japanese video game director and character designer working for Square Enix.

Along with Kingdom Hearts, Nomura is renowned throughout the world for his various contributions to the Final Fantasy franchise. Having started out as a monster designer for Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI, his big break came when he was asked to be the lead character designer for Final Fantasy VII (as well as the game's compilation), which is now widely recognised as the most popular entry in the series so far. Nomura would later go on to design the characters for Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X and the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series started with Final Fantasy XIII. This is why the majority of the Final Fantasy cast is comprised of characters strictly designed by Nomura, thus, those who originated from VII, VIII and X. Others, such as Setzer and Vivi, were not designed by Nomura but received modifications, and Nomura only included them after receiving pressure from his staff.

In addition, Nomura is the director and character designer of The World Ends With You, which enabled the cast of that game to make an appearance in the series.

Most of Nomura's work has been met with wide critical acclaim. In regards to the series' future, Nomura has recently announced Kingdom Hearts III and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, but has also stated that the team is currently busy with Final Fantasy XV.

Kingdom Hearts series

 * Sora
 * Riku
 * Kairi
 * Terra
 * Aqua
 * Ventus
 * Xehanort (along with all his incarnations)
 * Master Eraqus
 * Vanitas
 * Organization XIII
 * Ansem, Seeker of Darkness
 * Braig
 * Dilan
 * Even
 * Aeleus
 * Ienzo
 * Isa
 * Lea
 * Hayner
 * Pence
 * Olette
 * Heartless
 * Nobodies
 * Unversed
 * Meow Wow

Final Fantasy series

 * Leon
 * Cloud
 * Auron
 * Aerith
 * Cid
 * Yuffie
 * Tifa
 * Sephiroth
 * Zack
 * Tidus
 * Wakka
 * Selphie
 * Seifer
 * Fuu
 * Rai
 * Gullwings
 * Moogles

The World Ends With You

 * Neku Sakuraba
 * Joshua
 * Beat
 * Rhyme
 * Shiki