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Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Art Revealed

Details
Published on April 10, 2022 @ 05:30 am
Written by Arielle
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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.

   

Follow Kingdom Hearts Insider on Facebook and Twitter for the latest updates on the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event, the rumored Kingdom Hearts Disney Plus series, Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross], Kingdom Hearts Dark Road, Kingdom Hearts 3 and all things Kingdom Hearts! 

Source: aibo_ac7 & B_H_6_Bey2 via Twitter 

COMMENTS

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Chaser

April 10, 2022 @ 05:38 amOffline

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It's absolutely glorious. I can't wait for KH4 to be revealed so they can lift that hidden panel and tweet out a HQ version of the image so I can make it my phone wallpaper.

AleMustDie

April 10, 2022 @ 05:38 amOffline

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Wonderful
For today I just want to read some infos on the next title.... looking forward

the red monster

April 10, 2022 @ 05:39 amOffline

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yozora with four fingers. let's go.

Zettaflare

April 10, 2022 @ 05:39 amOffline

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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

Oracle Spockanort

April 10, 2022 @ 05:42 amOffline

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the red monster

yozora with four fingers. let's go.

totally betting on it

ShardofTruth

April 10, 2022 @ 05:57 amOffline

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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.

Silver_Soul

April 10, 2022 @ 06:00 amOffline

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Y'all. I really need this poster on my Wall. This is absolutely beautiful.

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Soaked_Pancakes

April 10, 2022 @ 06:05 amOffline

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Nomura hates Xaldin, Lexaeus and AtW, confirmed.

Also, is Riku Replica between Namine and Roxas?

Zettaflare

April 10, 2022 @ 06:06 amOffline

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Soaked_Pancakes

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

Zackarix

April 10, 2022 @ 06:11 amOffline

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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.

MATGSY

April 10, 2022 @ 06:43 amOffline

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Alpha Baymax

April 10, 2022 @ 06:50 amOffline

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Nomura key art is a literal piece of art. ?

NoWay

April 10, 2022 @ 07:01 amOffline

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It’s beautiful ?

EDIT: Y‘ALL THE BLACKBOX LITERALLY IS THE BLACKBOX
MoM Hid KH4 in the black box confirmed???

Chie

April 10, 2022 @ 07:44 amOffline

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I mean, MoM's "scenario" for the X games was literally the games themselves, so that sounds about right for him.

Darkspawn

April 10, 2022 @ 07:49 amOffline

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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.

AleMustDie

April 10, 2022 @ 09:42 amOffline

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the red monster

yozora with four fingers. let's go.

Yeah , I think the same

Light&Darkness

April 10, 2022 @ 10:11 amOffline

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They better have this buyable as a poster once the whole thing is revealed. I want to throw my money at this!

SweetYetSalty

April 10, 2022 @ 10:43 amOffline

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That artwork is so beautiful! Glad I awoke to this. I need that for my newest wallpaper.

ShardofTruth

April 10, 2022 @ 11:24 amOffline

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With so many fakes of the complete image floating around this could also be one, but it looks genuine:

Sephiroth0812

April 10, 2022 @ 11:25 amOffline

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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.

Alpha Baymax

April 10, 2022 @ 12:04 pmOffline

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Sephiroth0812

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.

DraconisZodiark

April 10, 2022 @ 01:52 pmOffline

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Nice.

Sephiroth0812

April 10, 2022 @ 02:00 pmOffline

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Alpha Baymax

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.

Face My Fears

April 10, 2022 @ 02:07 pmOffline

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Who is that girl mirrored to Namine? Is that a new design for Kairi?

Sephiroth0812

April 10, 2022 @ 02:14 pmOffline

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Face My Fears

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.

Face My Fears

April 10, 2022 @ 02:26 pmOffline

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Sephiroth0812

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.

Elysium

April 10, 2022 @ 03:36 pmOffline

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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.

Face My Fears

April 10, 2022 @ 03:51 pmOffline

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Elysium

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.

Alpha Baymax

April 10, 2022 @ 04:56 pmOffline

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Sephiroth0812

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.

Elysium

April 10, 2022 @ 06:47 pmOffline

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Face My Fears

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...)

Face My Fears

April 10, 2022 @ 07:22 pmOffline

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Elysium

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.

Elysium

April 10, 2022 @ 07:26 pmOffline

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Face My Fears

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.

Sephiroth0812

April 10, 2022 @ 07:28 pmOffline

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Alpha Baymax

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.

Face My Fears

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.

Unusual1290

April 10, 2022 @ 07:52 pmOffline

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I wonder why Ansem wasnt included

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kvyra

April 11, 2022 @ 03:37 amOffline

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Why is it Saix and Xehanort have elvish ears. How Siax still has orange eyes

Sign

April 11, 2022 @ 04:00 amOffline

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Elysium

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.

Recon

April 11, 2022 @ 04:54 amOffline

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Amazing piece

I can’t help laugh a little because to me it looks like Aqua has chubby cheeks. Just a little bit

Chaser

April 11, 2022 @ 05:29 amOffline

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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 :(

Alpha Baymax

April 11, 2022 @ 09:30 pmOffline

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I just realised, there's no Hayner, Pence, and Olette! ?

Elysium

April 12, 2022 @ 02:20 amOffline

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Sign

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

Sephiroth0812

April 12, 2022 @ 07:53 amOffline

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Alpha Baymax

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.

Vaddix

April 12, 2022 @ 01:12 pmOffline

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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.

Silver_Soul

April 12, 2022 @ 01:45 pmOffline

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Do we have a high resolution or HD version of this?

I need a new phone background

Sign

April 12, 2022 @ 02:23 pmOffline

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Silver_Soul

Do we have a high resolution or HD version of this?

I need a new phone background

They still haven't released it yet :(

Elysium

April 12, 2022 @ 02:43 pmOffline

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Vaddix

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.

Vaddix

April 13, 2022 @ 02:30 amOffline

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Elysium

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.

Alpha Baymax

April 13, 2022 @ 04:02 amOffline

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Vaddix

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.

Sephiroth0812

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.

HakaishinChampa

April 13, 2022 @ 12:41 pmOffline

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Alpha Baymax

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

Oracle Spockanort

April 13, 2022 @ 12:45 pmOffline

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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.

HakaishinChampa

April 13, 2022 @ 01:00 pmOffline

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Oracle Spockanort

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

Sign

April 25, 2022 @ 03:24 amOffline

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Cover for this week's issue of Famitsu.

Sephiroth0812

April 25, 2022 @ 06:39 amOffline

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Sign

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:

Launchpad

April 25, 2022 @ 04:30 pmOffline

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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

bambii (aka foreteller)

April 25, 2022 @ 09:23 pmOffline

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Nice fanmade phone background for those interested:

SweetYetSalty

April 25, 2022 @ 09:40 pmOffline

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Sephiroth0812

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.

Sign

April 30, 2022 @ 02:26 pmOffline

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SE posted the artwork on the English KH accounts.

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Mckstellar

May 22, 2022 @ 04:43 amOffline

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Does anyone else notice a face in larxene's hoody or is it just me....

Squood!

May 22, 2022 @ 08:34 pmOffline

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I'm noticing that Larxene's got lipstick on

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Deleted member 263385

May 29, 2022 @ 06:12 pmOffline

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beautiful.

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