Xehanort: Difference between revisions

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==Development==
==Development==
Master Xehanort first appeared in the teaser for ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' as the antagonist battling Terra, Aqua, and Ventus alongside Vanitas. Despite being the true main antagonist of the "Dark Seeker Saga," Master Xehanort did not appear until ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', the series's sixth installment, and he did not meet Sora face to face until ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', the seventh. After ''Kingdom Hearts II'', it was believed that Terra-Xehanort, then simply known as "Xehanort" and the original persona of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness and Xemnas, was the true Xehanort and the series's antagonist, until ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' revealed that the character was simply Terra, possessed by the elderly Master Xehanort, the villain's original incarnation. Master Xehanort's origins and connection to Terra-Xehanort were hinted when it was revealed that he would be voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka, the father of Akio Ōtsuka, who voiced Terra-Xehanort and Ansem. On January 15, 2015, Chikao Ōtsuka passed away due to ischemic heart failure.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150116183704/http://www.aoni.co.jp/ '''''AONI Production''', What's New'': "2015.01.16—Chikao Ohtsuka, an actor attached to our company, passed away January 15, 2015, in part due to ischemic heart disease."]</ref>
Master Xehanort first appeared in the teaser for ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' as the antagonist battling Terra, Aqua, and Ventus alongside Vanitas. Despite being the true main antagonist of the "Dark Seeker Saga," Master Xehanort did not appear until ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'', the series's sixth installment, and he did not meet Sora face to face until ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance'', the seventh. After ''Kingdom Hearts II'', it was believed that Terra-Xehanort, then simply known as "Xehanort" and the original persona of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness and Xemnas, was the true Xehanort and the series's antagonist, until ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' revealed that the character was simply Terra possessed by the elderly Master Xehanort, the villain's original incarnation. Master Xehanort's origins and connection to Terra-Xehanort were hinted when it was revealed that he would be voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka, the father of Akio Ōtsuka, who voiced Terra-Xehanort and Ansem. On January 15, 2015, Ōtsuka died of ischemic heart failure.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20150116183704/http://www.aoni.co.jp/ '''''AONI Production''', What's New'': "2015.01.16—Chikao Ohtsuka, an actor attached to our company, passed away January 15, 2015, in part due to ischemic heart disease."]</ref>


In the English version of the series, Master Xehanort is voiced by Leonard Nimoy, who was chosen specifically by Tetsuya Nomura because of his role as Mr. Spock from ''Star Trek'' and because Nomura himself is a huge fan of both ''Star Trek'' and ''Star Wars'', two franchises he intended to pit against each other by additionally casting Mark Hamill as Master Eraqus, Xehanort's enemy. ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' was originally intended to be Nimoy's final performance before his retirement in 2010, but he came out of retirement and briefly reprised the role of Master Xehanort in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''. On February 27, 2015, Nimoy died of chronic lung disease.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31662024 '''''BBC News''''', "Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek's Mr Spock, dies at 83"]</ref>
In the English version of the series, Master Xehanort is voiced by Leonard Nimoy, who was chosen specifically by Tetsuya Nomura because of his role as Mr. Spock from ''Star Trek'' and because Nomura himself is a huge fan of both ''Star Trek'' and ''Star Wars'', two franchises he intended to pit against each other by additionally casting Mark Hamill as Master Eraqus, Xehanort's enemy. ''Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep'' was originally intended to be Nimoy's final performance before his retirement in 2010, but he came out of retirement and briefly reprised the role of Master Xehanort in ''Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance''. On February 27, 2015, Nimoy died of chronic lung disease.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-31662024 '''''BBC News''''', "Leonard Nimoy, Star Trek's Mr Spock, dies at 83"]</ref>
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