Characters of Kingdom Hearts

A piece of promotional artwork for Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ that showcases the main characters of the series; Sora appears twice in the center in two different outfits. He is flanked by Roxas (left) and Riku with the members of Organization XIII at the bottom of the image.

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 and Disney Interactive Studios. Kingdom Hearts is a crossover of various Disney settings based in a universe made specifically for the series. The series features a mixture of familiar Disney and Final Fantasy characters, as well as several new characters designed by Tetsuya Nomura.^[1] In addition, it has an all-star voice cast which includes many of the Disney characters' official voice actors.

The series centers around the main character Sora's search for his friends and his encounters with Disney and Final Fantasy characters on their worlds. Players primarily control Sora, though there are numerous characters who join Sora's party as computer controlled members. The majority of the characters were introduced in the first game, Kingdom Hearts. Several new characters were introduced in the sequel, Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, which also features alternative versions of previous characters created from Sora's memories. Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep added more Disney and Final Fantasy characters, as well as introduced new antagonists.

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

Creation and influences

Early concept art of Riku, Kairi, and Sora, original characters created for the series

The Kingdom Hearts series is directed by Tetsuya Nomura, who also works as the character designer of the games. Nomura has stated that unlike working with Final Fantasy characters, keeping the main character Sora alive and interesting over multiple games is a challenge.^[2] He also stated that though many of the Disney characters are not normally dark and serious, there were not many challenges making them so for the story, and despite this, their personalities shine because they maintain their own characteristics.^[3] Though Disney gave Nomura freedom in the characters and worlds used for the games, he and his staff tried to stay within the established roles of characters and boundaries of the worlds.^[2] When deciding which worlds to include in the game, the development staff tried to take into account worlds with Disney characters that would be interesting.^[4]

The inclusion of specific Final Fantasy characters was based on the opinions of fans and the development staff.^[5] Another criterion for inclusion was whether the staff felt the characters would fit into the storyline and in the Kingdom Hearts universe.^[6] Initially, Nomura was hesitant to use characters he did not design, because he was unfamiliar with the background work of such characters.^[7] For Kingdom Hearts II, he changed his mind after receiving pressure from his staff.^[5] Throughout the development of the games, Nomura has often left certain events and connections between characters unexplained until the release of future games. Nomura did this because he feels that games should have room for fans to speculate and use their imagination. He stated that with speculation, even though a game may get old, people can still be happy with it.^[8]

Voice cast

The Kingdom Hearts games feature well-known voice actors for the Japanese and English versions of the characters. The Japanese version featured Miyu Irino as Sora, Mamoru Miyano as Riku, and Risa Uchida as Kairi.^[9][10] Kingdom Hearts II introduced Kōki Uchiyama as Roxas, Iku Nakahara as Naminé, and Genzō Wakayama as DiZ.^[11] The English release of the Kingdom Hearts games featured many of the Disney characters' official voice actors. Wayne Allwine (later Bret Iwan after Allwine's death), Tony Anselmo, and Bill Farmer voiced Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy, respectively.^[10][12] Several high profile actors provided the voice acting of the main characters. The first game featured Haley Joel Osment as Sora, David Gallagher as Riku, Hayden Panettiere as Kairi, and David Boreanaz as Leon.^[13] Kingdom Hearts II saw the return of the main character voice actors and added Jesse McCartney as Roxas, Brittany Snow as Naminé and Christopher Lee as DiZ,^[14] with Alyson Stoner as Xion in Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep also introduced several new actors to the cast, such as Jason Dohring as Terra, Willa Holland as Aqua, Leonard Nimoy as Master Xehanort and Mark Hamill as Master Eraqus.^[15]

Main protagonists

Sora

Main article: Sora (Kingdom Hearts)

Sora (ソラ^?) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura, the protagonist of the series and the character that the player directly controls through a majority of the series.^[1] Sora's weapon is the Kingdom Key Keyblade.^[16] Though not the original one chosen to wield the Keyblade, Sora was ultimately chosen over Riku because Sora's heart was stronger, while Riku's heart became vulnerable and temporarily weak.^[17] Nomura has stated that Sora's name can be interpreted as "sky";^[18] the Japanese word for sky is sora (空^?).^[19] He is voiced by Miyu Irino in the Japanese version and by Haley Joel Osment in the English version. As a child, he is voiced by Takuto Yoshinaga in the Japanese version and Luke Manriquez in the English version.

Kairi

Kairi (カイリ^?) is a best friend of Sora and Riku, and one of the seven "Princesses of Heart". She is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura for the Kingdom Hearts series.^[1] Nomura has stated that Kairi's name can be interpreted as "sea";^[18] the Japanese on'yomi pronunciation of sea is kai (海^?).^[17] She is voiced by Risa Uchida in the Japanese version of the series. In English, she is voiced by Hayden Panettiere in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Alyson Stoner in Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. She is voiced as a child by Sumire Morohoshi in Japanese and Ariel Winter in English.

Kairi was originally a resident of Radiant Garden as one of the seven "Princesses of Heart." She has an encounter with Aqua in Birth by Sleep and is given a protective charm to keep her safe from darkness, which leads to her being sent to Destiny Islands when Xehanort performs an experiment where all six apprentices of Ansem the Wise cause the invasion of darkness;^[20]

She is fourteen years old at the beginning of the main series.^[21] When Destiny Islands is destroyed by the Heartless, Kairi's heart enters Sora's while her body falls into a deep sleep. Upon learning her identity as a Princess of Heart and the location of her heart, Sora gives up his heart in order to release hers and restore it back into her body. Soon after, Kairi finds Sora's Heartless and restores him back to human form. Kairi later gives Sora her lucky charm, which Sora promises to return. After Sora seals the door to Kingdom Hearts, Kairi is separated from him and left behind on the reforming Destiny Islands where she awaits his return.

During Chain of Memories, Naminé's memory-altering powers break the memories in Sora's heart as well as those of all his friends, leading Kairi to lose her memories of him. In Kingdom Hearts II, Kairi gradually remembers Sora as his own memories are restored, and writes him a letter which she sends out to sea in the hopes that it will find its way to him. Later, Kairi is kidnapped by Axel, who hopes to use Kairi to lure Sora to him. However, Saïx takes Kairi from Axel and imprisons her and Pluto in a jail cell in the World That Never Was. She escapes her cell with the help of Naminé, and they are saved from Saïx by Riku, who she recognizes despite his guise as Xehanort's Heartless, Ansem. Riku gives her the Destiny's Embrace (デスティニープレイス^?, lit. "Destiny Place") Keyblade, which she uses to fight off the Heartless that Saïx summons. Kairi reunites with Sora, and along with Donald, Goofy and King Mickey, they face and defeat Xemnas. Kairi then returns with Sora and Riku to Destiny Islands where they receive a letter from King Mickey. Soon afterwards, Sora resolves to go on another journey to find Terra, Aqua and Ven. Kairi loans him her lucky charm again.

Riku

Riku (リク^?) is Sora's and Kairi's best friend, and character created by Tetsuya Nomura for the Kingdom Hearts series.^[1] Nomura has stated that Riku's name can be interpreted as "land";^[18] the Japanese on'yomi pronunciation of land is riku (陸^?).^[17][19] Riku is voiced by Mamoru Miyano in the Japanese version and by David Gallagher in the English version. As a child, he is voiced by Eiji Shima in the Japanese version and Ty Panitz in the English version. He is playable in the second story mode of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and is a world-specific ally to the world that never was in Kingdom Hearts II. In Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Riku is playable in the multiplayer mode and also serves as the final boss in the game's story mode. He also acts as Sora's main rival in combat.

As a young boy in Birth by Sleep, Riku becomes curious about going to other worlds and gaining the strength needed to protect his friends, which leads him to being chosen by Terra to inherit the power of the Keyblade. By the beginning of the main series, now fifteen years old, Riku goes with the darkness as their world is attacked by the Heartless. Separated from his friends, Riku ends up at Hollow Bastion where Maleficent finds him, thus giving him the Soul Eater. Under her influence, Riku turns on Sora and searches for a way to help Kairi.^[17] Riku eventually becomes possessed by Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, with his heart sent to the realm of darkness where he meets King Mickey and helps him and Sora seal the door to the realm of darkness.

In Chain of Memories, through DiZ, Riku awakens in the basement levels of Castle Oblivion and begins climbing to the ground floor. Along the way, Riku confronts the remaining darkness in his heart and a replica of himself that is created by Vexen; he also encounters Ansem the Wise in his DiZ guise, who has been overseeing his progress. After being reunited with Mickey, Riku reaches the main floor where he finds Naminé as she attends to a sleeping Sora. Riku chooses to find a balance between his light and darkness, allowing him to defeat what remained of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness within him. Soon after, Riku joins DiZ to ensure Sora is restored in peace. While capturing Roxas in order to make Sora complete again, Riku uses the power of darkness to capture him at the cost of becoming a physical manifestation of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness.^[22] Trapped in that form, Riku helps Sora in secret, ashamed of his appearance and gaining the Way to the Dawn (ウェイトゥザドーン^?) Keyblade. Riku returns to his original form when Ansem the Wise's machine to digitally seal away Kingdom Hearts malfunctions and self-destructs,which also causes Riku to lose his dark powers. Joining Sora, they battle and defeat Xemnas. In the end, he returns to Destiny Islands and remained there for a year before Sora receives a letter from Mickey explaining the fates of Terra, Ventus, and Aqua. Now teaming up with Sora, Riku goes on a quest to complete the Mark of Mastery to become a Keyblade Master in preparation for his eventual battle against Master Xehanort.

Donald Duck

Main article: Donald Duck

Donald Duck is the court wizard of Disney Castle, King Mickey's majordomo, and one of Sora's two partners throughout the series.^[16] He is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in the Japanese version and by Tony Anselmo in the English version. Donald is a short-tempered, powerful magician on a quest to find King Mickey Mouse. In Kingdom Hearts, he and Goofy embark on a journey to carry out the missing king’s orders to follow the Keyblade wielder. Initially, he only seems to care for Sora as an asset to track down King Mickey, telling a white lie to him about being able to locate his missing friends in order to convince him to accompany them;^[23] however, he eventually grows to deeply care for him as a friend. At the end of Chain of Memories, he, Sora, and Goofy are put to sleep for a year while their memories are fixed by Naminé.^[24] In Kingdom Hearts II, he awakens with his friends and continues to fight the Heartless along with the Nobodies and Organization XIII. Sora's Wisdom Form uses Donald in order to activate the form. In 358/2 Days, Donald is playable in the multiplayer mode.

Goofy

Main article: Goofy

Goofy is the captain of the Royal Knights of Disney Castle and the second of Sora's two partners throughout the series. Goofy is voiced by Yū Shimaka in the Japanese version and by Bill Farmer in the English version. Despite his position as a knight, Goofy dislikes using weapons, instead wielding a simple shield, and prefers to avoid fighting whenever possible. The Goofy of Kingdom Hearts retains his trademark clumsiness and simple-mindedness, but is an eternal optimist who takes life in stride. He has surprisingly accurate intuitive skills, often noticing things that others miss. Under the king’s orders, he accompanies Donald on the quest to find the key.^[16] At the end of Chain of Memories, he, Sora, and Donald are put to sleep for a year while their memories are fixed by Naminé.^[24] In Kingdom Hearts II, he awakens with his friends and continues to fight the Heartless along with the Nobodies and Organization XIII. Sora's Varlor Form uses Goofy in order to activate the form. In 358/2 Days, Goofy becomes playable in the multiplayer mode.

King Mickey

Main article: Mickey Mouse

King Mickey is the ruler of Disney Castle and by extension, Disney Town.^[25] He is voiced by Takashi Aoyagi in the Japanese version of the series and is voiced in English by Wayne Allwine in Kingdom Hearts, Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and Bret Iwan in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. Mickey's inclusion in the series was initially restricted to a small cameo for only one scene.^[4] The larger role he played in the sequels first required the approval of Disney.^[8] In Birth by Sleep, Mickey was a student under Yen Sid and met Ansem the Wise while helping out Terra's group with the Star Seeker Keyblade. By the time Kingdom Hearts begins, when the Heartless began to invade other worlds, Mickey left his world to discover the cause. While he had Donald and Goofy find and protect the Keyblade Master, Mickey was on a mission of his own to uncover the plot of Organization XIII that ultimately leads to obtaining a new Keyblade called Kingdom Key D from within the realm of darkness, using it to seal Kingdom Hearts with Sora. In Chain of Memories, he helps Riku in spirit at first, but then returns from the dark realm thanks to DiZ to help directly. Donning a cloak of darkness in unity with Riku, Mickey continues to uncover the Organization's plan in secret before helping Sora directly. He is only playable in certain boss battles in Kingdom Hearts II; if Sora and his friends are defeated, King Mickey will step in to fight in Sora's place until he is able to revive Sora, as the game forbids King Mickey from defeating a boss on his own. In the aftermath of Xemnas' defeat, Mickey returns to his world, only to go on another adventure in the events of the mobile game Kingdom Hearts coded where he learns the fates of Terra, Aqua and Ven as he contacts Sora to help them.

Ansem the Wise

Ansem the Wise (賢者アンセム, Kenja Ansemu^?) is an original character created for the Kingdom Hearts series. He first appeared in the "Reverse/Rebirth" mode of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories under the disguise of a mysterious man named DiZ (ディズ, Dizu^?) and appeared again in Kingdom Hearts II. The name "DiZ" is an acronym for "Darkness in Zero". Ansem is voiced by Genzō Wakayama in the Japanese version of the series and in English by Christopher Lee in Kingdom Hearts II and Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, and Corey Burton in Kingdom Heats Re:Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

Ansem was formerly a respected sage and ruler of the Radiant Garden. As a researcher, Ansem studied the heart and delved into the many secrets of the worlds. He and his apprentice Xehanort believed that darkness could spread into and take control of the heart. After meeting with King Mickey and learning his research may be connected with a current crisis happening in other worlds, Ansem ceased the experiments. He later found his report on the experiments was given new entries by Xehanort, now using the name Ansem as his own. Ansem's apprentices then betrayed him and banished him to a world of nothingness before ending up in the Realm of Darkness, losing his memory in the process. In time, however, Ansem regained his memories and took on the name DiZ. From that point on, until he cleared his name and had his revenge, DiZ wore concealing red robes and covered most of his face with red bandages.

In Chain of Memories, he helps guide Riku through his encounters in Castle Oblivion. Soon after Riku joins in his campaign, DiZ convinces Naminé to move Sora, Donald, and Goofy to Twilight Town for safekeeping as they regain their lost memories, which DiZ oversees throughout 358/2 Days. When the restoration process comes to a standstill, DiZ orders Riku to forcefully retrieve Roxas, Sora's Nobody, who he then places inside a virtual Twilight Town, allowing the process to continue. In Kingdom Hearts II, Naminé begins to act on her own and Riku declines to help him in his revenge. As he observes the lengths that Riku is willing to go to in order to help Sora, including taking on the physical form of Xehanort's Heartless, DiZ loses his lust for revenge and grows regretful of his actions. Once Sora awakens and embarks on his new quest, he does not function as DiZ wants, and all of his plans fall apart.^[26] In the World That Never Was, he reveals himself to Mickey while attempting to digitally seal away Kingdom Hearts. However, the hearts prove unpredictable and begin to overload the machine, and Ansem chooses to sacrifice himself in order to help defeat the Organization. After apologizing to Roxas for his mistakes,^[27] the machine self-destructs, and Ansem is consumed in the blast which disrupts the power contained in Kingdom Hearts and restores Riku to his true form. As revealed in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, the explosion sends Ansem to the Realm of Darkness once more with only his memories of Sora and his relation to him intact. There he meets Aqua and tells her about Sora and how he may be the means for Ansem to redeem himself for his actions.

Jiminy Cricket

Main article: Jiminy Cricket

Jiminy Cricket travels with Sora, Donald, and Goofy as the chronicler of their travels, recording information about people, places and events in his journals.^[28][29] Jiminy is originally from the same world as Geppetto and Pinocchio, where he acted as Pinocchio's conscience. Despite making only a few appearances, he plays a major role in both Chain of Memories and coded. He is voiced by Kaneta Kimotsuki in Japanese, and by Eddie Carroll in English until his death in 2010, after which he is voiced by Phil Snyder.

Naminé

Naminé (ナミネ, Namine^?) is Kairi's Nobody when her heart left her body and entered Sora's body. She is an original character created for the Kingdom Hearts series. She has the ability to change or erase the memories of Sora and those close to him by rearranging and creating new links between them, and is called a witch because of it.^[30][31] Naminé is voiced by Iku Nakahara in the Japanese version of the series and is voiced in English by Brittany Snow in Kingdom Hearts II and by Meaghan Jette Martin in all subsequent appearances.

Naminé first appears in Chain of Memories when she's talking to Larxene, she mentions that she is the shadow of Kairi, being held hostage by Organization XIII. Under orders from the Organization, she alters Sora's memories to remember her as a close friend from Destiny Islands. When Axel releases Naminé under his own agenda, she reveals herself and the truth to Sora. Naminé gives Sora some hints of who is really his friend (which is Kairi) by transforming into Kairi. When Marluxia is defeated, Naminé puts Sora, Donald, and Goofy to sleep for a year in order to give them back their memories. Until then Sora's mission is to sleep in order to get his memories back. .^[24] Naminé also saves Riku in "Reverse/Rebirth" from Zexion by teaching him not to fear the darkness.^[8] In Kingdom Hearts II, Naminé is revealed to be a "special Nobody" born from Kairi's heart when it left Sora's body. When Sora took his own heart with the dark Keyblade, his body and soul were used to create not only Roxas, but Naminé as well. Naminé is the only human Nobody who is not a member of Organization XIII. Since Kairi had no darkness in her heart Naminé became a Nobody of light. When Kairi's heart was in contact with Sora's body it gave Naminé powers that can affect Sora and those around him. Despite DiZ's orders, Naminé visits Roxas in the virtual Twilight Town to help him discover his true identity. Though she outlived her purpose in Sora's restoration, Riku entrusted Naminè to the now rogue Axel after DiZ gave him orders to destroy her. While Kairi was stuck in the Organization's dungeon, Naminé comes and helps her escape. After meeting with Roxas once more through Sora after Xemnas's apparent defeat, she opens a portal to lead Sora and his friends go home and she fuses with Kairi to complete her.

But during the events of Kingdom Hearts coded, it was revealed that Naminé created a copy of herself within Jiminy's Journal to contact Mickey and reveal to him Sora's ties to Terra, Aqua, and Ven before dissolving upon fulfilling her objective. Naminé also briefly appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, shown drawing a picture of Sora sitting alone on a Paopu tree in his Kingdom Hearts II attire on Destiny Islands, as she says his name.

Roxas

Main article: Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)

Roxas (ロクサス, Rokusasu^?) is Sora's Nobody who was created when Sora became a Heartless to save Kairi.^[19] "Roxas" is an anagram of "Sora" with an X.^[32] He was first featured in the secret trailer "Another Side, Another Story" while wearing the Organization's cloak, though he was unnamed and his face was hidden under a hood. He is playable in the beginning portion of Kingdom Hearts II, and the entire game of Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days. Roxas is voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in the Japanese version and by Jesse McCartney in the English version.

Terra

Promotional artwork for Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep depicting (from left to right) Master Xehanort, Vanitas, Aqua, Ventus, and Terra.

Main article: Terra (Kingdom Hearts)

Terra (テラ, Tera^?) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura. He first appears as one of the main protagonists of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, originally wielding the Earthshaker (アースシェイカー^?) Keyblade. He is voiced by Ryōtarō Okiayu in the Japanese version of the game and Jason Dohring in English. His name means "earth", from Latin, both it and his Keyblade follow the "land" theme he represents alongside Riku.^[18] Terra is raised and trained by Master Eraqus alongside Aqua and Ventus, developing a strong sibling-like bond and sharing his dream of becoming a Keyblade Master with them. He becomes troubled upon learning that the darkness in his heart is too strong, for which he is denied the Mark of Mastery.^[33] He is thus easily manipulated by Xehanort, who encourages him to embrace and channel his darkness into power. Throughout Terra's story, attack and defense is his main fight style.

Ventus

Main article: Ventus (Kingdom Hearts)

Ventus (ヴェントゥス, Ventusu^?), also known as Ven (ヴェン^?), is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura who first appears as one of the main protagonists of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and the character that the player directly controls in one of the scenarios of the game which also involves him exploring his true identity.^[34] He bears an extremely striking resemblance to Roxas, both of whom are voiced by Kōki Uchiyama in Japanese and Jesse McCartney in English. His name means "wind" in Latin; both it and his Wayward Wind (フレッシュブリーズ^?, lit. "Fresh Breeze") Keyblade have a "sky" theme similar to that of Sora's. Throughout Ventus's scenario, speed is his main fighting style, which explains why he holds the Wayward Wind in a reverse grip.^[18]

Aqua

Main article: Aqua (Kingdom Hearts)

Aqua (アクア, Akua^?) is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura. She first appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and is the only female main protagonist of that game. She is voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi in the Japanese version and Willa Holland in the English version. Her name means "water" in Latin which carries a water theme similar to that of Kairi, whose name means "sea".^[18] Aqua is a level-headed and serious person, but often worries about her friends. She is also a very creative and outgoing girl as well. Her Keyblade is called Rainfell (レインフォール^?, lit "Rainfall"). Throughout Aqua's story magic is her main fighting style.

Master Eraqus

Master Eraqus (マスター・エラクゥス, Masutā Erakūsu^?)^[35] is an original character created by Tetsuya Nomura. He appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep as one of the few remaining Keyblade Masters who trained alongside Master Xehanort, who he considers to be a friend in a relationship similar to that of old classmates.^[35] He oversees the power of light in all worlds from the Land of Departure, and acts as both a teacher and caring father figure of Terra, Aqua, and Ventus. He is voiced by Makio Inoue in the Japanese version of the game, and by Mark Hamill in the English version.

Eraqus is strongly biased in the existence of darkness in favor of light, darkness to be a malevolent force that needs to be destroyed, which leads him to deny Terra the Mark of Mastery upon sensing darkness in his heart. He also strictly forbids Ventus from leaving the Land of Departure, fearing Xehanort will use him to create the χ-blade. He sends Terra and Aqua to deal with the appearance of the Unversed and the disappearance of Master Xehanort; he also requests Aqua to watch over Terra to ensure he doesn't succumb to darkness, as well as to retrieve Ventus after he chases Terra to other worlds. When Ventus confronts him over this and confirms his fears, Eraqus attempts to foil Xehanort's plan by destroying Ventus. He is stopped by Terra and, after battling and losing to his student, is struck down by Xehanort and fades away, leaving behind his Keyblade, the Master Keeper (マスターキーパー^?), which Aqua later uses to replace her own Keyblade. However, the game's secret ending reveals that Eraqus has hidden his own heart within Terra, allowing Terra to resist Xehanort's influence after being possessed by him. An additional boss modeled after Eraqus's armor, called the Armor of the Master (アーマー・オブ・ザ・マスター, Āmā obu za Masutā^?), appears in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix in the Mirage Arena.

His name is an anagram of "Square," the first name of the developer, Square Enix. Early speculation of his name showed it as being "Master Erauqs," which is Square, only reversed.^[33][36] He also bears a striking resemblance to Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi.^[37]

Yen Sid

Main article: Yen Sid

Yen Sid is a sorcerer who lives in the Mysterious Tower. He is King Mickey's old mentor.^[38] It is unknown whether he was a keyblade weilder, though he shows considerable knowledge about Keyblades and their abilities. He is shown to be an acquaintance and friend of both Master Eraqus and Master Xehanort. Though he is retired, his wisdom still serves as a source of information for Mickey, Terra, Aqua, Ventus, Sora, Donald and Goofy, demonstrated when he informs Eraqus of the threat of the Unversed and Sora of the dangers of the Heartless, the Nobodies and Organization XIII. Upon discovering that due to the destruction of "Ansem" and Xemnas, Xehanort has returned and will pave way for the return of Master Xehanort, Yen Sid intends to put Sora and Riku through a Mark of Mastery Exam in order to make them into full-fledged Keyblade Masters to defeat Master Xehanort once and for all. He is voiced by Corey Burton in the English version and Takashi Inagaki in the Japanese version. His name reversed makes Disney (Dis Ney).

Main antagonists

Xehanort

Xehanort (ゼアノート, Zeanōto^?) is an original character and the primary antagonist of the Kingdom Hearts series. His name without the "X" is an anagram of "No Heart", "A Throne" and "Another".^[8][39] Xehanort, a student of Ansem the Wise, becomes increasingly obsessed with the study of hearts so he can regain some of his lost memories. To that end, he sacrifices his body in the process,^[40] creating his Heartless and Nobody.

His Heartless assumes the identity of his teacher, Ansem,^[41] with the title of Ansem, Seeker of Darkness (闇の探求者 アンセム, Yami no Tankyūsha Ansemu^?) while his Nobody takes the name Xemnas.^[42] "Ansem" is featured in Kingdom Hearts as the main antagonist. He commandeers the Heartless to do his bidding and steals the hearts of many worlds. Late in the game, he takes Riku's body to regain a physical presence.^[43] Although his goal of reaching Kingdom Hearts is realized, the light behind the door to Kingdom Hearts destroys him, causing all of the worlds he destroyed to be restored.^[44] However, in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, Ansem is revealed to still exist and fights to take over Riku's body again, who continuously fights back.^[45] Xehanort's Nobody, Xemnas, first appears in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix as an optional boss, Unknown (謎の男, Nazo no Otoko^?, lit. "Enigmatic Man"), who tests Sora for his own agenda. He later appears as the main antagonist of Kingdom Hearts II. As the leader of Organization XIII and master of the power of nothingness, Xemnas controls the Nobodies.^[39] He is defeated by Sora and Riku in the World That Never Was.

In the prequel, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, it is revealed that Xehanort was originally Master Xehanort (マスター・ゼアノート, Masutā Zeanōto^?), an elderly Keyblade Master obsessed with the mysteries behind the Keyblade War. He pits his former apprentice Ventus against Vanitas to forge the χ-blade in order to open the door to Kingdom Hearts and begin another war, hoping to uncover the secrets of the first. He also manipulates Terra into becoming a warrior of darkness with the intention of merging his own heart with a suitable, younger body that will allow him to survive long enough to see his plan come to fruition. Though he succeeds in possessing Terra, creating the current incarnation of Xehanort, the unforeseen creation of the Lingering Will, made from Terra's mind inhabiting his armour, leads to his defeat. He is later defeated again by Aqua, which leaves him in his amnesic state while found by Ansem the Wise.

Twelve years later, as shown in the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts Re:coded, with the destruction of both "Ansem" and Xemnas, Yen Sid realizes that Xehanort has been revived.

Xehanort and "Ansem" are voiced by Akio Ōtsuka in the Japanese version of the series and Richard Epcar in all English versions after Kingdom Hearts, "Ansem" being voiced in the first game by Billy Zane. Master Xehanort in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep is voiced by Chikao Ōtsuka in the Japanese version and Leonard Nimoy in English.

Maleficent

Main article: Maleficent

Maleficent is an evil fairy from Sleeping Beauty, voiced by Toshiko Sawada in the Japanese version and by Susanne Blakeslee in the English version. She is originally from the world Enchanted Dominion, encountering Terra and his group after Master Xehanort reveals to her the existence of the Princesses of Heart in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. She recruits Terra's help in cursing Princess Aurora in return for her helping him find Master Xehanort, but her plans are derailed by Aqua and Ven, who know of her treachery. In the end, Maleficent is defeated in battle by Aqua, but she flees and is not seen again for a year. By the time of Kingdom Hearts, Maleficent has rallied a group of Disney Villains who seek to harness the power of darkness within Kingdom Hearts. Upon Riku's arrival to Hollow Bastion, she gives him the "Soul Eater" and later the power to control the heartless. Xehanort's Heartless unlocks her heart which transforms her into her dragon form. Sora defeats her but she is resurrected in Kingdom Hearts II, where she primarily seeks a new base of operations with Pete so she can obtain Kingdom Hearts. She also wants her revenge against Sora, but to that end, she ends up helping him on two occasions in order to stop Organization XIII from interfering with her plans. With the apparent destruction of Organization XIII, Maleficent resumes her quest for revenge on Sora and confronts a digital version of him in Kingdom Hearts coded, but entering the Data world made by Jiminy's Journal proves to be a major error, as she is almost erased completely from existence along with Pete when the debugging of the Journal is completed, but she is rescued by the Data Riku.

Organization XIII

Main article: Organization XIII

Organization XIII (XIII機関, Jūsan Kikan^?) is a group of thirteen Nobodies based in the World That Never Was who seek to discover the mysteries that lie within the heart and use the power of Kingdom Hearts to become complete humans once again. The Organization was first formed when Xehanort, Braig, Dilan, Even, Aeleus, and Ienzo became Heartless, their Nobodies becoming the first members of the Organization.^[8] Members are numbered in the order in which they joined, with Xemnas, the Nobody of Xehanort, numbered one as their leader. Each member also has the letter "X" placed in his or her name. The remaining letters are an anagram of their name prior to becoming a Nobody.^[46] As Nobodies, acting based on the memories of their original selves, they lack true emotion and morality, and are unable to feel guilt or remorse for their actions.^[47]

They were originally introduced in the secret ending video of Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, "Another Side, Another Story [deep dive]". More members were introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, divided into two parties that are eventually destroyed by Sora and Riku. In Kingdom Hearts II, the Organization's plan is fully revealed as they use Sora to kill the Heartless, taking the hearts that emerge and using them to create Kingdom Hearts.^[48]

Pete

Main article: Pete (Disney character)

Pete is part of the main group of Disney villains led by Maleficent. Pete is voiced by Tōru Ōhira in the Japanese version and by Jim Cummings in the English version.^[10] Pete is first introduced in Kingdom Hearts II, absent from the first two games because he was traveling to other worlds to build a Heartless army for Maleficent. He was originally a steamboat captain from Disney Castle until the events of Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, where he causes mischief in Disney Town in his Captain Justice and Captain Dark personas. Eventually, this leads to Queen Minnie banishing him to another dimension for his evil ways. However, he is freed by Maleficent and vows to help her conquer the worlds.^[49] After some of this schemes were ruined by Roxas, Pete follows Sora throughout the worlds his group visit to mainly recruit local villains, old and new, to either join Maleficent's fold or turn them into Heartless for his own purposes. At the end of Kingdom Hearts II, he and Maleficent hold the Heartless at bay in the World that Never Was to help Sora reach and defeat Xemnas. In Kingdom Hearts coded, while infiltrating Disney Castle, he somehow ends up inside the Digital world made from Jiminy Cricket's journal, and summons Maleficent for them to take it over, create more Heartless and release them into the real world to further their original plan. But this proves to be their downfall when the journal is ready to be erased: the Data Sora attempts to retrieve both Pete and Maleficent from the data world before they vanish, but is too late and they are apparently erased completely from existence. However it is later revealed that they were rescued by the Data Riku through a "rift in the data".

Vanitas

Vanitas (ヴァニタス, Vanitasu^?) is the embodiment of the darkness in Ventus's heart, created by Master Xehanort and appearing only in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. He is also the source of the Unversed, which are spawned from his emotions to carry out his will. He wields a Keyblade called Void Gear (ヴォイドギア^?) in a stance similar to Riku's, and wears a full-body suit resembling Riku's "dark mode" costume, concealing his face behind a black, rounded mask. Despite his similarities to Riku, his physical appearance is identical to that of Sora, but he looks different with black hair and golden yellow eyes compared to Sora's brown hair and blue eyes. Tetsuya Nomura says this is because Sora connected his heart to Ventus's to supplement his missing darkness, and adds that Vanitas's appearance would have been identical to any other character who would do the same. His name is derived from the Latin word for "emptiness," which sounds similar to Ventus's name. In addition, the kanji for "emptiness" (空^?) is shared with the word "sky," which further connects Vanitas to Sora. Vanitas shares Sora's Japanese and English voice actors, Miyu Irino and Haley Joel Osment, respectively.^[50]

Vanitas exists for the purpose of fighting with Ventus so that their hearts of pure darkness and light, respectively, can merge and forge the χ-blade. Noting Ventus's weakness, Vanitas goads him into following his friend Terra and pits him against the Unversed to strengthen him, all while monitoring his strength and progress. He also makes several attempts on Aqua's life, deeming her to be an obstacle to Master Xehanort's plans. He merges with Ventus during the final battle at the Keyblade Graveyard, though Ventus' consciousness prevents the χ-blade's completion. Vanitas fights Ventus in a metaphysical battle within Ventus's mind while simultaneously possessing his body and fighting Aqua and Mickey, wielding the χ-blade during both fights. Ventus and Aqua both defeat Vanitas and destroy the χ-blade, vanquishing him and the Unversed. A secret boss in the game known as the Vanitas Remnant (ヴァニタスの思念, Vanitasu no Shinen^?, lit. "Vanitas Sentiment") or Vanitas's Lingering spirit, in the English version, appearing identical to Vanitas with a grayscale Void Gear and armor, and bearing the Unversed emblem on his helmet. He was added to the game due to positive fan response to the secret boss battle of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+.^[50]

Other characters

A wide variety of Disney and Final Fantasy characters appear throughout the various Kingdom Hearts games. Some help the protagonists across multiple worlds, including Merlin. Merlin is an eccentric wizard whom King Mickey asked to teach Sora magic. He lives in Radiant Garden during Birth by Sleep, and in Traverse Town with the Fairy Godmother during Kingdom Hearts. In Kingdom Hearts II, he goes to Hollow Bastion along with Leon and his group to help restore their old home. Dumbo, Bambi and Chicken Little all serve as summons. While at the End of the World, Sora confronts Chernabog from the 1940 film Fantasia.

Other characters that provide assistance to both Sora and the Organization are the Moogles, well known for their roles in the Final Fantasy series. The first Kingdom Hearts also features a side quest that involves a search for Pongo and Perdita's ninety-nine Dalmatian puppies. The two parent Dalmatians live in Traverse Town after the destruction of their world, which also scattered their 99 puppies.

Neku Sakuraba, from the Nintendo DS game The World Ends With You, will be appearing in Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. This marks the first time that a non-Final Fantasy or non-Disney character has appeared in the series.^[51]

Princesses of Heart

The Seven Princesses of Heart are maidens whose hearts are made of pure light, devoid of darkness. The first six are generally made up of Disney Princesses, with the seventh being Kairi. They are noted for possessing the power to summon the Door to Darkness when all seven of them are brought together. The term "princess" is merely a formality; while several Princesses are indeed such, official Disney Princesses such as Ariel are not counted among them, while Alice is.

During the events of Birth by Sleep, Master Xehanort seeks out the Princesses of Heart, though his reasons for doing so are unexplained. Prior to and during the events of the original Kingdom Hearts, the princesses are kidnapped by Maleficent so that she may open the pathway to Kingdom Hearts; their hearts are later used to forge the Keyblade of People's Hearts, which is wielded by Xehanort's Heartless, "Ansem," while he possesses Riku. Sora restores their hearts by unlocking his own heart to release Kairi's using Ansem's Keyblade, which is then destroyed. The princesses (excluding Kairi) remain at Hollow Bastion to hold the darkness at bay until the door to Kingdom Hearts is sealed, returning to their homeworlds soon after.^[16]

• Snow White: A beautiful, kindhearted princess from Dwarf Woodlands. In Birth by Sleep, she becomes the target of the Queen's jealous rage once the Queen learns Snow White is more beautiful than her. She is attacked by Unversed and flees into the forest, where she is guided by Ventus to the Seven Dwarfs' cottage for safekeeping. She is later tricked by the disguised Queen into eating a poisoned apple, but is revived with a kiss from the Prince. She is voiced by Kurumi Kobato in the Japanese version and by Carolyn Gardner in the English version.
• Cinderella: A hardworking young woman from the Castle of Dreams. She is forced by her wicked stepmother and stepsisters to work as a scullery maid until the events of Birth by Sleep result in her marrying Prince Charming. She is voiced by Yoriko Suzuki in the Japanese version and by Jennifer Hale in the English version.
• Aurora: A romantic princess-to-be who comes from the same world as Maleficent, Enchanted Dominion. She was cursed by Maleficent at birth, causing her to fall into a deep sleep on her sixteenth birthday. During the events of Birth by Sleep, Maleficent forces Terra to remove Aurora's heart from her body for her own use. Ventus restores her heart, and the curse is lifted when she is kissed by her true love, Prince Phillip. She is voiced by Mayumi Suzuki in the Japanese version and by Jennifer Hale in the English version.
• Belle: A strong-willed young woman who resides in Beast's Castle, caring for the Beast and healing the loneliness he endured. When Maleficent captures Belle, the Beast makes his way to Hollow Bastion to save her. During Kingdom Hearts II, she is nearly forced to leave Beast due to Xaldin's actions. She is voiced by Eri Itō in the Japanese version and by Paige O'Hara in the English version.
• Alice, a precocious young girl who had stumbled into Wonderland,^[28] where she is unjustly put on trial by the Queen of Hearts under the charge of attempting to steal the Queen's heart. She is the first of only two princesses (excluding Kairi) who Sora and company meet before she is captured by Maleficent. She is voiced by Mika Doi in the Japanese version and by Kathryn Beaumont in the English version.
• Jasmine: A headstrong, beautiful, and smart princess living in Agrabah, and the second of only two princesses that Sora encounters before she is taken to Hollow Bastion by Riku. She is voiced by Kaori Asō in the Japanese version and by Linda Larkin in the English version.

Destiny Islands

The characters on Destiny Islands are introduced in Kingdom Hearts and include some of the main characters (Sora, Riku, and Kairi) and their parents. The island's village also has a mayor, who is briefly mentioned by Sora to have looked after Kairi shortly after her arrival on Destiny Islands. Other characters include youthful versions of Final Fantasy X's Tidus and Wakka and Final Fantasy VIII's Selphie, all of whom are friends of Sora, Riku, and Kairi, and gather on the island where they like to play.

Disney Town/Disney Castle

The characters of the world where Disney Castle and Disney Town are located includes many classic Disney characters.^[52] It is also the world where Mickey, Donald, Goofy, and Pete originate from. During the events of Kingdom Hearts II, when Disney Castle's Cornerstone of Light is endangered, Merlin conjures a door that takes Sora's group into the past incarnation of Disney Town, the Timeless River.

• Queen Minnie: The queen of Disney Castle, taking charge during her husband Mickey's absence while waiting for his return. She is the one responsible for banishing Pete when he acts out of hand during Birth by Sleep. She is voiced by Yūko Mizutani in the Japanese version and by Russi Taylor in the English version.
• Daisy Duck: Queen Minnie's lady-in-waiting and Donald's girlfriend. She is voiced by Mika Doi in the Japanese version and by Tress MacNeille in the English version.
• Chip 'n' Dale: Gummi Ship engineers who help Sora's group out. They also host the "Rumble Racing" mini-game during the Dream Festival in Birth by Sleep, and create a machine that helps King Mickey analyze Jiminy Cricket's journal in coded. Chip is voiced by Roko Takizawa in the Japanese version and by Tress MacNeille in the English version, while Dale is voiced by Minoru Inaba in Japanese and by Corey Burton in English.
• Huey, Dewey, and Louie: Donald's nephews who run an ice cream shop in Disney Town and item shops in Traverse Town and Hollow Bastion, hoping to save up money for their own adventures. They run item shops in Traverse Town and Hollow Bastion, and host the "Ice Cream Beat" mini-game during the Dream Festival in Birth by Sleep. They are voiced by Chika Sakamoto in the Japanese version and by Russi Taylor in the English version.
• Pluto: Mickey's pet dog who comes with Donald and Goofy to Traverse Town before mysteriously disappearing. After Xehanort's Heartless is defeated, Pluto returns with a letter from Mickey to Sora and company. During Kingdom Hearts II, Pluto remains by Kairi's side when she is abducted by Axel and then again by the Organization. He is voiced by Bill Farmer in both versions of the series.
• Scrooge McDuck: Donald's uncle and a wealthy entrepreneur in charge in charge of creating an inter-world transit system. He appears in Radiant Garden during Birth by Sleep, giving Ventus three lifetime passes to Disney Town. He returns there in Kingdom Hearts II where he tries to recreate his favorite ice cream flavor, sea-salt ice cream. He is voiced by Atsushi Ii in the Japanese version and by Alan Young in the English version.
• Horace Horsecollar: A friend of Mickey and Minnie, introduced as a past incarnation of himself in Kingdom Hearts II. He appears in Disney Town during the events of Birth by Sleep to host the "Fruitball" mini-game. He is voiced by Atsushi Ii in the Japanese version and Bill Farmer in the English version.
• Clarabelle Cow: A friend of Mickey and Minnie, introduced as a past incarnation of herself in Kingdom Hearts II.
• Clara Cluck: A friend of Mickey and Minnie, introduced as a past incarnation of herself in Kingdom Hearts II.

Wonderland

Wonderland features characters from the 1951 animated film, Alice in Wonderland.^[52] It is unknown if Alice originated from this world.

• The Queen of Hearts is the ruler of Wonderland. She is voiced by Tomie Kataoka in the Japanese version and by Tress MacNeille in the English version.
• Along with the Queen is the White Rabbit, the Queen's personal assistant. He is voiced by Shigeru Ushiyama in the Japanese version and by Corey Burton in the English version.
• The Cheshire Cat is a mysterious, grinning cat that enjoys giving cryptic clues to wanderers and the residents of Wonderland.
• The talking Doorknob guards both the door to the Queen's castle and the Keyhole of the world, located in his mouth. He is voiced by Takehiro Koyama in the Japanese version and by Corey Burton in the English version.
• The Mad Hatter and March Hare make a cameo appearance in a painting in the Tea Party Garden.
• The Caterpillar makes an appearance in Kingdom Hearts V Cast.
• The flowers in the Lotus Forest present travelers with rewards if they give them items.
• The Card Soldiers serve the Queen as her personal guard.

Olympus Coliseum

Olympus Coliseum features characters from the 1997 animated film, Hercules,^[52] as well as the Final Fantasy characters Zack Fair and Auron. Both Cloud and Sephiroth appeared in that world during the first game's events, with the former appearing in facsimiles of the world based on Sora's memories in later games. In Kingdom Hearts II, the Underworld is introduced along with its counterpart to the Olympus Coliseum: The Underdrome.

• Hercules, a legendary hero, a demi-god, and the son of Zeus.^[28] He usually uses his friend Pegasus as transportation. In Birth by Sleep, Hercules appears as a strong but clumsy teenage boy who comes to Phil in order to become a hero. By Kingdom Hearts, Hercules played a supporting role in overseeing Sora's own rise to heroism. But due to the appearance of Heartless plaguing the colleseum, Hercules is at wits end keeping up with both them and the usual monsters he goes up against. By Kingdom Hearts II, Hercules suffers a brief crisis and relearns what it takes to be a hero. He is voiced by Yasunori Matsumoto in the Japanese version of the series; he is voiced by Sean Astin in the English version of the first game and by Tate Donovan in the English version of the second game. He is voiced by Masakazu Suzuki in the Japanese version and by Josh Keaton in the English version of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep
• Hades, the smooth-talking Lord of the Underworld who is out to destroy Hercules, manipulating Zack Fair, a young boy who wishes to be a hero but lost to hercules, to fight for him. Allying with Maleficent, Hades manipulates Cloud to his advantage, but Sora's interference results with Hades and Maleficent going their separate ways. During Kingdom Heart II, Hades revives Auron and later reopens the Underdrome to finish off Hercules, though Sora once again interferes. He is voiced by Kyūsaku Shimada in the Japanese version and by James Woods in the English version.
• Megara, Hercules' girlfriend, is a serious and cynical young woman who has some reluctant ties to Hades. She is introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. Voiced by Susan Egan.
• Philoctetes, or "Phil" for short, is a satyr who is veteran trainer of heroes, and Hercules' mentor. He runs the Coliseum and chooses suitable competitors, refusing to see Sora and company as true heroes. Phil also trained Roxas, believing him to be the new rookie Hercules found for him. He is voiced by Ichirō Nagai in the Japanese version and by Robert Costanzo in the English version.
• Pain and Panic, Hades' two imp minions who run the Underdrome for him.
• Several monsters from the animated film also appear as bosses, including Cerberus in both games and the Hydra in Kingdom Hearts II. The Rock Titan and the Ice Titan appears as a Tournament boss in Kingdom Hearts along with the Ice Colossus who appeared in Birth by Sleep"

Deep Jungle

The Deep Jungle features characters from the 1999 animated film, Tarzan.^[52] Due to Square Enix's failure to keeping the rights to Tarzan, Deep Jungle has not made another appearance in any other games in the series.

• Tarzan, a young man raised from infancy by gorillas in Deep Jungle.^[16] He spoke only the language of the apes until he met Jane. He is voiced by Jūrōta Kosugi in the Japanese version and by Tony Goldwyn in the English version.
• Jane Porter, a naturalist who studied gorillas. She is voiced by Mayumi Suzuki in the Japanese version and by Naia Kelly in the English version.
• Clayton, a veteran hunter who acts as Jane’s guide on her expedition. He thinks of animals only as prey and dreams of the money to be made selling gorillas. His black heart attracted the Heartless which he used to capture Gorillas. However, he ends up being crushed to death by a Stealth Sneak he summoned to deal with Sora's group. He is voiced by Banjō Ginga in the Japanese version and by Brian Blessed in the English version.
• Kerchak is the leader of the Gorilla troupe, initially not trusting Sora and the humans that Tarzan befriends.
• Kala is Tarzan's adoptive mother.
• Terk is one of Tarzan's friends. Voiced by Yūko Doi in the Japanese version and by Audrey Wasilewski in the English version.
• Sabor, a leopard that Sora first encounters upon arriving. Tarzan saves Sora from Sabor, but the leopard continues to attack Sora on other occasions until she is killed near the end of the chapter.

Agrabah

The city of Agrabah features characters from the 1992 animated film, Aladdin. Jasmine originated from this world.

• Aladdin, a poor but kind-hearted Agrabah thief. Aladdin fell in love with Princess Jasmine, but was afraid to tell her about his humble background.^[16] During 358/2 Days, Aladdin led the people of Agrabah in fortifying their city in response to the sandstorms caused by the Heartless. But by Kingdom Hearts II, Aladdin starts longing for adventure as the city got peaceful soon after.^[53] He is voiced by Shinichirō Miki in the Japanese version and by Scott Weinger in the English version.
• Abu, Aladdin's cheeky kleptomaniac, but loyal pet monkey and friend. He is voiced by Frank Welker in both versions of the series.
• Genie, a comedic genie with nigh omnipotent power that can only be exercised when his master wishes it. Found in the Cave of Wonders, Genie was in Aladdin's possession until Jafar stole it for his own use. But after Jafar's defeat, Aladdin frees Genie from the lamp to allow him to accompany Sora on his journey.^[54] Soon after, Genie returns to Agrabah after a world tour during 358/2 Days, deciding to resume it after seeing everyone there is doing well without him. Genie later returns in Kingdom Hearts II prior to Jafar's return. However, as his magic isn't needed much, Genie wishes to be of some use and tries to restrain himself. Sora can call on Genie as a summonable ally in the first three Kingdom Hearts games. He is voiced by Kōichi Yamadera in the Japanese version and by Dan Castellaneta in the English version.
• The Magic Carpet is a sentient carpet who is able to fly and expresses himself through pantomime, accompanying his friend Genie before returning to Agrabah.
• Jafar, the power-hungry Royal Vizier of Agrabah who allied himself with Maleficent to rule the city with the Heartless while he captures Jasmine. He steals the lamp from Aladdin to try to take over the kingdom.^[28] He uses his final wish from Genie to become "an all-powerful genie", but he gets sealed into his lamp. In Kingdom Hearts II, he tricks the Peddler into releasing him, but is defeated again by Sora, violently imploding as his lamp disintergrates. He is voiced by Akira Takarada in the Japanese version and by Jonathan Freeman in the English version.
• Iago, Jafar's sarcastic, foul-mouthed pet parrot sidekick. He initially aids Jafar in taking over Agrabah but in Kingdom Hearts II, he joins forces with Sora after ending up saving him and his friends from a Heartless attack. However, Jafar appears and convinces Iago to take Aladdin and Sora's group on a wild goose chase. Feeling guilty at betraying Aladdin, Iago risks his life to save Aladdin from Jafar's attack. He is voiced by Akira Kamiya in the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts and by Tōru Ōkawa in the Japanese version of Kingdom Hearts II; he is voiced by Gilbert Gottfried in the English version of the series.
• The Peddler is a mysterious small merchant who runs a shop in Agrabah, interested in money above all else. He appears in the first game as a cameo. In Kingdom Hearts II, the Peddler plays a bigger part in finding Jafar's lamp and later releasing him.^[55] He is voiced by Takashi Matsuo in the Japanese version and by Corey Burton in the English version.

Halloween Town/Christmas Town

The characters featured in Halloween Town are from Tim Burton's 1993 stop motion Disney film, The Nightmare Before Christmas.

• Jack Skellington is "The Pumpkin King" who is the organizer of each year's Halloween festival, intending to use the Search Ghosts for it until the heart he and Finklestien created caused them to go amok.^[16] Between the events of Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, while attempting to think up new ideas, Jack became fascinated by Christmas. His pet Zero is a ghost dog whose Heartless-sniffing nose doubles as a bright light. Voiced by Chris Sarandon.
• Oogie Boogie is A large insect-containing sack who attempted to ruin Jack's Halloween planning by getting control of the Heartless. Though defeated in the first game, Oogie was later revived by Maleficent in Kingdom Hearts II before being defeated for good. Voiced by Ken Page.
• Sally is a ragdoll originally patched together by Doctor Finkelstein, Jack's love-interest and his voice of reason. Despite her makeshift appearance, Sally is a determined individual with a good feel for what is right. Voiced by Kath Soucie.
• Doctor Finklestein is a wheelchair-bound mad scientist who created Sally, helping Jack during his "Heartless Halloween" plan and then his second attempt to run Christmas while working on his Experiment.^[28] Voiced by Jess Harnell
• The Mayor of Halloween Town is a literally two-faced politician, one for a joyous mood and the other when he freaks out, that has trouble doing anything without Jack's help. Voiced by Jeff Bennett in the first game and by Glenn Shadix in the second game.
• Lock, Shock, and Barrel are a group of young, mischievous trick-or-treaters (a devil, a witch, and a skeleton, respectively), wearing masks that resemble their actual faces. They usually work as Oogie Boogie's henchmen but don't often directly follow his orders. While Oogie was gone, they worked as assistants to Dr. Finklestein though still cause trouble and harassed Roxas during his visits to Halloween Town while taking a Leechgrave as a pet before it goes out of control. During Kingdom Hearts II, the tricksters help Maleficent and later use a Prison Cage Heartless to hold off Sora and company for her and the revived Oogie to escape. The trio later cause mischief in Christmas Town. Lock is voiced by Jess Harnell, Shock by Kath Soucie, and Barrel by Jeff Bennett.
• Santa Claus (or "Sandy Claws" as Jack calls him) is the leader of Christmas Town, featured in Kingdom Hearts II. When Sora meets Santa Claus, he encourages Sora to believe while trying to reason Jack to stick with his holiday. Voiced by Corey Burton.
• The Experiment, which was created by Dr. Finklestein by using components scavenged around town to provide Lock, Shock, and Barrel with a playmate. However, the robot was not equipped with a heart, which prompted it to steal Christmas gifts in hopes of gaining one.

Monstro

Monstro is an enormous whale who has swallowed characters from the 1940 animated film, Pinocchio.^[52] After its world is destroyed by Heartless, the whale swims around in the dimensional rift, attacking and swallowing vessels that passes its way, including Sora's Gummi Ship and Geppetto's ship. Its only residents are Geppetto, a kind and gentle woodcarver, and Pinocchio, a puppet crafted by Geppetto and brought to life by the Blue Fairy.^[28] Sora, Donald, and Goofy meet Geppetto and Pinocchio after being swallowed by Monstro, and assist them in escaping. They eventually make their way to Traverse Town where Leon assists them in finding a home.^[56] Pinocchio is voiced by Seth Adkins and Geppetto by Tony Pope. Monstro also makes an appearance in Birth By Sleep: Final Mix as a boss in the Mirage Arena.

Atlantica

The characters featured in Atlantica are from 1989 animated film, The Little Mermaid.

• Ariel is the youngest daughter of King Triton and princess of Atlantica. She meets Sora and company soon after his descent into Atlantica and serves as a member of his party. She was tricked by Ursula into bringing her into the palace on the promise that she would take her to other worlds where she steals the trident. Upon entry into the castle Ursula promptly takes King Triton's trident and attacks him. Ariel then goes with Sora to defeat Ursula and retrieve the Trident. Voiced by Jodi Benson.
• Ursula the Sea Witch tricks Ariel into taking her inside the palace. Once inside she snatches away King Triton's trident and attacks him. When her two minion eels, Flotsam and Jetsam, tell her the keyhole isn't in the palace she returns to her lair where she would later be defeated by Sora. In a non-canonical plot, Ursula makes another attempt to take the trident through Ariel's love for Eric. Voiced by Pat Carroll.
• King Triton is Ariel's father and the ruler of Atlantica. Voiced by Kenneth Mars.
• Sebastian is the royal advisor and personally takes care of Ariel on behalf of the King and keeps a watchful eye out for her. Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
• Flounder is Ariel's best friend and helps her out in any possible way. Voiced by Eli Russell Linetz in the first game and by Parker Goris in the second game.
• Flotsam and Jetsam are Ursula's pet minion eels. Voiced by Corey Burton.
• Prince Eric is a human that Ariel fell in love with, appearing in Kingdom Hearts II. Voiced by Christopher Daniel Barnes.
• Glut is a shark that serves as a boss.
• Attina and Andrina, two of Ariel's six sisters, appear in Kingdom Hearts II during the final music number.

Neverland

The characters in Neverland are from the 1953 animated film Peter Pan. In the original Kingdom Hearts, most of the game's setting takes place on Captain Hook's ship but never on the actual world itself but in Kingdom Hearts: 358/2 Days the player can now set on foot on a specific part of the island, and various parts of the island itself are featured in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

• Peter Pan, as the boy who never grows up. Though he acts insensitive, he is caring towards those dear to him. He infiltrates Hook’s ship to save his friend Wendy, teaming up with Sora to save her before he returns to help him out.^[16] Peter Pan later appears as a summonable ally in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts II with Tinker Bell by his side. Voiced by Christopher Steele.
• Tinker Bell, a hot-headed pixie and Peter Pan's closest friend, being very envious when Peter started to have a relationship to Wendy. As a result, Tink goes with Sora as a summonable ally in Kingdom Hearts. She also appears in the game prequel Birth by Sleep.
• Wendy Darling is a girl that Peter has brought to Neverland, mature despite her age. She is kidnapped by Hook under the assumption that she's the seventh Princess of Heart. She returns to London after Peter saved her. Voiced by Kathryn Beaumont.
• Captain Hook, a pirate captain who seeks revenge on Pan for taking his left hand, that was fed to the crocodile, with the aid of his personal assistant Mr. Smee. He allied himself with Maleficent, helping her until his humiliating defeat as he knocked over board and flees for his life with the crocodile in hot pursuit. Hook and Smee return in 358/2 Days, looking for treasure which Pete placed Heartless in that response to the darkness in Hook's heart. Eventually, Hook ends up waking up the Ruler of the Skies Heartless whose demise heavily damaged his ship. Voiced by Corey Burton.
• Lost Boys, Peter's ragtag friends in Neverland who are dressed in animal fur. Among its members are Slightly and Cubby, who are dressed in fox and bear fur respectively. Voiced by Mason Vale Cotton and Wally Wingert, respectively.

Radiant Garden

Radiant Garden is an original world created for Kingdom Hearts; it came to be known as Hollow Bastion after the Heartless infested it until the city was restored to its former glory. The majority of the inhabitants are alternative versions of Final Fantasy characters, with original characters like Ansem the Wise. Sora originally met many of the residents from here in Traverse Town.

Most of them help the Sora's group in his journey and help to protect Hollow Bastion and then become known as the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee. Some of these members include Leon, a soldier who discarded his previous name and serves as the group's leader; Cid, an expert on Gummi Ships, Aerith, a woman with a good heart, and Yuffie, a young female ninja.^[16] While not being official members of the group, Cloud, a silent swordsman, and Tifa, a woman expert in hand-to-hand combat, support them during Kingdom Hearts II, while dealing with the former hero Sephiroth who embodies the darkness in Cloud's heart.^[16] Yuna, Rikku, and Paine are three fairies who secretly work for Maleficent, who had them spy on the Hollow Bastion Restoration Committee,^[57] until Maleficent left during the massive battle at Hollow Bastion. Nomura changed them into pixies because he wanted to have some Final Fantasy characters appear in a non-human form that still looked human and felt that the Kingdom Hearts universe was the best scenario. He chose a fairy appearance because he felt it would make them more interesting and was also worried that the screen would be too crowded if the three showed up as normal sized characters.^[46]

• Kairi's grandmother, who told Kairi a story about light and darkness based on the events of the Keyblade War. Though appearing as a memory of Kairi's that Sora looked into, the grandmother actually appears in Birth by Sleep, voiced by Kathryn Beaumont.

100 Acre Wood

The characters featured in the 100 Acre Wood are from A. A. Milne's series of Winnie-the-Pooh books that have been adapted into animated featurettes and films by Disney.^[52]

• Winnie the Pooh, a bear whose favorite food is honey. He is absent-minded and often forgets what he was trying to remember. He is voiced by Jim Cummings in the English version.
• Tigger, a tiger-like with bright orange fur and black stripes. He is often seen bouncing around on his springy tail and is usually very optimistic. He is voiced by Jim Cummings in the English version.
• Piglet, a baby pig who often stutters when speaking and has a timid disposition. He is usually caught in situations which require him to receive help from Sora or any of his friends to get out of. He is voiced by John Fiedler in the first game and by Travis Oates in the second game in the English version.
• Rabbit, a practical and responsible rabbit who always tries to protect his honey supplies from Pooh. He has his own garden where he keeps crops which are always destroyed by Tigger's bouncing. He is voiced by Ken Sansom in the English version.
• Eeyore, a donkey who always drops his tail which is pinned on to his back. He usually has a very pessimistic attitude, but is capable of great compassion. He is voiced by Gregg Berger in the English version.
• Owl, an owl who is supposedly very wise though rather questionable. He loves to tell stories to his friends about his numerous famous relatives which causes him to seem rather long-winded. He is voiced by Andre Stojka in the English version.
• Kanga, a kangaroo who is Roo's mother. She is voiced by Tress MacNeille in the English version.
• Roo, a baby kangaroo who is Kanga's son. He is usually rather playful and always hangs out around Tigger. He is voiced by Jimmy Bennett in the English Version.
• Gopher, a gopher who constantly digs tunnels underground. He is very hard-working when it comes to digging his tunnels which he always falls into from time to time. He is voiced by Michael Gough in the English version.

Twilight Town

Twilight Town was introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories,^[28] but characters were not introduced until Kingdom Hearts II. Many of the characters were first introduced as alternative versions of themselves in DiZ's virtual Twilight Town, though they still exhibited the same personalities. A regular gang seen is one composed of three children named, Hayner, Pence, and Olette whose virtual replicas befriended Roxas.

Another gang, is the self-proclaimed "Twilight Town Disciplinary Committee" consists of Seifer, Rai, Fuu and Vivi. The committee is based on Final Fantasy VIII of which the first three belongs to in Final Fantasy VIII counterpart. Being very prideful, Seifer has a thing against outsiders and more so on those who disturb the town's peace. Picking fights with Hayner, Seifer and him sometimes settle their disputes in contests like "Struggle Battle" and "Grandstand Ball". Another inhabitant of Twilight Town is Setzer from Final Fantasy VI. He is a flamboyant gambler that participates in the Struggle Battle.

Space Paranoids

Space Paranoids features characters from Buena Vista Pictures 1982 science-fiction film, Tron. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts II as a digital world located in Ansem the Wise's computer.

• Tron is a security program who had most of his functions removed by the MCP due to his rebellious attitude towards the MCP and Sark. Voiced by Bruce Boxleitner.
• The Master Control Program or MCP for short, he is the ruler of the world, he issues functions to other programs in order to grow more powerful. The MCP seeks to extend its reach into the real world with the help of the Heartless. Voiced by Corey Burton.
• Commander Sark is the apprentice of the MCP and deals directly with dissident programs who disobey the MCP's orders.^[58] Voiced by Corey Burton.

The Land of Dragons

The Land of Dragons features characters from the 1998 animated film, Mulan. This world and most of the characters were introduced in Kingdom Hearts II. The Land of Dragons is in the middle of a war between Shan Yu and the forces of China, ruled by the Emperor.^[59]

• Mulan, a woman who disguises herself as a man named Ping to replace her ailing father in the Chinese army. Though exposed, Mulan manages to save the Emperor with Sora's help and maintained her family's honor. Later, while investigating the sightings of a figure in black, Mulan joins Sora and company in once more saving the Emperor from a Heartless attack. Though her extact request for her deed is denined, Mulan accepts the Emperor's offer to serve as his protector with Shang whom she developed feelings for.^[60] Voiced by Ming-Na
• Captain Shang, A Chinese army captain who is the highly capable leader of the unit Mulan sneaked into. Though a "by-the-book" and putting his duty above his feelings, Shang developed feelings for Mulan in the long run after learning of her identity. Voiced by B.D. Wong.
• Yao, Ling, and Chien-Po are a trio newly recruited soldiers, lacking military skills before they were trained. Yao is the self-appointed leader of the trio with a temper, Ling the friendly funnyman, and Chien-Po the calmest of them. Yao is voiced by Harvey Fierstein. Ling is voiced by Gedde Watanabe. Chien-Po is voiced by Jerry Tondo.
• The Emperor of China is among the wisest of his people. Kidnapped by Shan Yu, the Emperor is saved by Sora and Mulan as Shan Yu quickly dispatched the Hun. Soon after, the Emperor steps and criticizes Mulan for impersonating a soldier, but thanks her for saving their beloved country, giving her Shan Yu's sword as a token for her effort. He later meets Riku when he warns him of a dragon being turned into the StormBringer Heartless and its arrival to the Imperial City. Voiced by Pat Morita.
• Mushu, a small dragon who is Fa Mulan's closest companion and originally a guardian spirit in her family until being demoted to the humiliating position for failing his mission. As a result, Mushu helps Mulan in her plan in order to regain his former title upon her success. Using his time with Sora from Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, as a summon, Mushu recruits him and his friends to help Mulan out while portraying himself as a family guardian to them until they learn the truth.^[16][28] Voiced by Mark Moseley.
• Shan Yu, the cruel leader of the Huns who is bent on conquering China, gaining control of the Heartless and using his falcon Hayabusa as his eyes. While Sora and Mulan investigate a cave, Shan Yu sets the nearby village on fire in an attempt to deal with the imperial army stationed there. Later, Shan Yu uses his Heartless army to finish them off until Mulan uses a cannon to cause an avalanche that wipes out the army. However, Shan Yu survives and heads to the Imperial City with a new batch of Heartless, using them as a distraction while he kidnaps the Emperor and threatens him to submit. But Sora and company manage to free the Emperor with Shang's help as they battle Shan Yu when he attempts to break down the palace doors after his quarry. In the end, Shan Yu collapses after Sora defeats him. Voiced by Corey Burton.

Beast's Castle

Beast's Castle features characters from the 1991 animated film, Beauty and the Beast. Belle originated from this world.

• Beast is a prince who was transformed into a hideous monster because of his selfish heart.^[16] But Belle's arrival healed the loneliness he endured. When Maleficent captures Belle, the Beast's iron will carries him through a corridor of darkness to Hollow Bastion where he teams up with Sora to defeat Maleficent.^[61] In 358/2 Days, Beast and Belle have returned to their world though their relationship starts to get friction because of the Heartless appearing with Beast fighting them alone and Xaldin studying his weaknessess. By the time of Kingdom Hearts II, Beast is plagued by his inner darkness brought forth through Xaldin's attempt to acquire his Nobody.^[62] Eventually, long after Xaldin's defeat, Beast is transformed back into a handsome prince. Voiced by Robby Benson.
• Lumiere is the kind-hearted but rebellious maître d' of the Beast's castle, he has been transformed into a candelabra. Voiced by Jeff Bennett.
• Mrs. Potts is the head of the castle kitchens, turned into a teapot, who takes on a motherly attitude towards Belle. She is accompanied by her son Chip who was turned into a teacup. Voiced by Angela Lansbury.
• Cogsworth: The castle majordomo, transformed into a clock. While he is as good-natured as Lumiere, he is extremely loyal to the Beast so as to save himself and anyone else any trouble. Voiced by David Ogden Stiers.
• Wardrobe: Belle's confidant during her stay in the Castle. Voiced by Jo Anne Worley.

Port Royal

Port Royal features characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts II and is occupied by pirates and local residents from the Pirates of the Caribbean film series, following primarily the storyline of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl. Though the characters of Port Royal were visually more realistic than the other Kingdom Hearts characters, the development team had experience creating realistic character models from earlier Final Fantasy titles. The characters models were created using technology that generated them from live-action pictures.^[7] Port Royal has not made another appearance in any other games in the series.

• Captain Jack Sparrow: An eccentric pirate noted for a slightly drunken swagger, accompanied by slurred speech and awkwardly flailing hand gestures. He is bent on regaining the Black Pearl, which he captained ten years before, and settle things with Barbossa.^[63] Though he succeeds, Jack helps Sora again when Luxord uses the cursed Aztec gold for his own schemes. But during the incident, Sparrow is cursed by the Grim Reaper Heartless. Voiced by James Arnold Taylor.
• Will Turner: A blacksmith's apprentice working in Port Royal, he is in love with Elizabeth Swann. Will struggles with the fact his father, "Bootstrap" Bill, was a pirate, unable to reconcile that he was a good man too. Voiced by Crispin Freeman.
• Elizabeth Swann: The daughter of Governor Weatherby Swann, she gives her name as Turner to Barbossa when he and his men attacked Port Royal, mistaken for "Bootstrap" Bill's child. Voiced by Eliza Schneider.
• Captain Barbossa: The captain of the Black Pearl, he was Sparrow's first mate before he led a mutiny ten years before. He and his crew stole cursed Aztec gold, for which they walk the Earth forever with un-life. As a result, they seek the gold and blood payment needed to break the curse.^[64] Barbossa is shot by Sparrow before the curse is broken, with the wounded Barbossa falling dead. Voiced by Brian George.
• Bo'sun: One of Barbossa's pirates, his burly second in command who uses a hatchet as his weapon. Voiced by John DiMaggio.
• Twigg: One of Barbossa's pirates, armed with a rifle that he uses to attack from long distances.
• Jacoby: One of Barbossa's pirates, a man with a long black beard and uses hand grenades. Voiced by Beau Billingslea.

Pride Land

The Pride Land features characters from the 1994 animated film, The Lion King. The Pride Land and most of the characters were introduced in Kingdom Hearts II.

• Simba is a lion and the son of Mufasa, a former king of the Pride Land who died in wildebeest stampede. After the Heartless consumed his world, the summon stone Simba became ended up in Leon's possession before he gave it to Sora, gaining Simba as a summonable ally in the Kingdom Hearts and then again in Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. During Kingdom Hearts II, though still blaming himself for Mufasa's death, learns the truth that his uncle Scar was responsible.^[65] Though he became the new king of Pride Land, Simba suffered self-doubt until Sora and friends help him out of it. Voiced by Cam Clarke
• Timon and Pumbaa, a meerkat and a warthog that Simba met during his time away from Pride Rock. Voiced by Bruce Lanoil and Ernie Sabella respectively.
• Nala is a lioness and a childhood friend of Simba's. Later on, the two are reunited in the jungle after Sora revealed to her that Simba was still alive.^[66] Voiced by Vanessa Marshall
• Rafiki is a wise old mandrill and advisor to the king of the Pride Land. Voiced by Robert Guillaume.
• Scar, a ruthless lion and Mufasa's brother. Wanting to rule the Pride Land, Scar set up Mufasa's death and turned the land into a barren wasteland. He made an alliance with Pete to further his rule as Sora attempts to help Simba regain his birthright. Though defeated, Scar succumbed to the darkness and prey on Simba's hesitance in the form of spirits. Voiced by James Horan.
• Shenzi, Banzai and Ed are the three most prominent hyenas who work for Scar, in the hope that they will get plenty of food while he is king of the Pride Land. Shenzi is voiced by Tress MacNeille. Banzai is voiced by Cheech Marin. Ed is voiced by Jim Cummings.

Enchanted Dominion

Enchanted Dominion features characters from the 1959 animated film, Sleeping Beauty, introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Both Maleficent and Aurora originate from this world.

• Prince Phillip is a prince who was betrothed to Aurora at birth. In order to lift Aurora's curse he teams up with Aqua to battle Maleficent.^[67] To be voiced by Josh Robert Thompson.
• The Three Fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, who attempt to save Aurora from Maleficent's curse. They later appeared in Yen Sid's tower during the events of Kingdom Hearts II, giving Sora his new attire and the ability to transform into Drive Forms.^[68] They are respectively voiced by Barbara Dirickson, Russi Taylor, and Tress MacNeille.
• Diablo, Maleficent's pet raven who carries his mistress cloak to Yen Sid's tower just before her return to power.

Castle of Dreams

Castle of Dreams features characters from the 1950 animated film, Cinderella, introduced in Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Cinderella originated from this world. As Terra appears in normal size the whole time, Aqua is reduced to 3'in by the Fairy Godmother, and Ven appears three inches high the whole time in the Castle of Dreams. The secret episode segment in the Final Mix version of Birth by Sleep, this world is one of the first world to be attacked by the Heartless and end up in the Realm of Darkness.

• Fairy Godmother is a benefactor who helps Cinderella get to the ball. She appears in Kingdom Hearts at Treverse Town, providing Sora with summons to help him in his fights. Fairy Godmother is voiced by Russi Taylor.
• Jaq is the mouse friend of Cinderella who helps her with favors in return for her saving him from mouse traps and from the cat Lucifer. Voiced by Rob Paulsen.
• Lady Tremaine is the wicked stepmother of Cinderella and treats Cinderella very badly forcing her to do chore after chore. Voiced by Susan Blakeslee.
• Prince Charming is a prince who falls in love at first sight with Cinderella after meeting her at the ball. He chases after her when she attempts to leave the ball, though he does not catch up to her but retrieves the slipper that she leaves behind. Voiced by Matt Nolan.
• Anastasia Tremaine and Drizella Tremaine are the ugly stepsisters of Cinderella who try their best to stop her from attending the ball. Anastasia is voiced by Tress MacNeille and Drizella is voiced by Russi Taylor.
• Lucifer is the cat owned by Lady Tremaine, he constantly tries to make Cindrella's chores tougher by dirtying the floor and always tries to catch Jaq before attempting of going after Ven. Voiced by Jon Olson in both versions.
• Grand Duke attempts to help Prince Charming locate Cinderella so that he can marry her by going through every house in the kingdom and letting each lady try out the glass slipper until he finds the perfect fit.^[67] Voiced by Rob Paulsen.

Dwarf Woodlands

Dwarf Woodlands features characters from the 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and takes place in the woods of the Dwarves. Snow White originated from this world.

• Seven Dwarfs are a group of dwarves living in a cottage deep in the woods working in mines. They were leaving alone until one day Snow White arrived at their cottage fleeing from the Queen. Soon after they become extremely good friends with each other and treat her like a sister. They are composed of Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Bashful, Sneezy, and Dopey. With the exception of Dopey, they are respectively voiced by David Ogden Stiers, Corey Burton, James Arnold Taylor, Bill Farmer, Jeff Bennett, and Bob Joles in the English version.
• The Queen, also known as Evil Queen, Wicked Queen, Old Hag, or Queen Grimhilde, is the vain and proud queen of the kingdom who became queen after marrying the widowed king who died shortly after the marriage. She attempts to kill Snow White after the Magic Mirror tells her that the latter is the fairest in the land instead of her due to her jealousy and hatred towards Snow White. The Queen will be voiced by Susan Blakeslee in the English version.
• The Magic Mirror is a magical mirror hung up on the wall of the castle which answers truthfully to any question asks. He always appears as a floating green mask who appears from puff of green smoke whenever called upon. In Birth by Sleep, the Queen allows Terra to ask the mirror the whereabouts of Master Xehanort if he does a favor for her. Aqua also gets into a battle with the mirror in a special world within the mirror.^[67] The Magic Mirror was voiced by Corey Burton (after death of Tony Jay, who had taken the role from Moroni Olsen) in the English version.
• The Prince is Snow White's love interest who arrives to Snow White's aid after she has been poisoned by the Queen. He was voiced by James Arnold Taylor in the English version.

Deep Space

Deep Space features characters from the Lilo & Stitch series. It was introduced in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep and takes place in outer space in the galaxy of Lilo & Stitch.

• Stitch is the 626th genetic alien experiment created by "evil genius" Dr. Jumba Jookiba for the motive of causing chaos and destruction throughout the galaxy. He is the most successful experiment created by Jumba and has the most abilities like retractable claws and super-strength. However, due to the presences of Terra's group, Stitch escapes while becoming more self-conscious from befriending each of the three Keyblade users. Stitch later ended up at Hollow Bastion during the events of Kingdom Hearts II. Voiced by Chris Sanders.
• Dr. Jumba Jookiba is an "evil genius" and in a way a father to Experiment 626. He created numerous genetic experiments each with unique abilities and characteristics. Voiced by David Ogden Stiers.
• Gantu is a captain of the Galactic Federation. He was the one who originally captured and arrested Jumba for his genetic experiments. He ended up demoted when he attempted to kill Aqua, who was trying to protect Stitch from him. Voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson.
• The Grand Councilwoman is the leader of the Galactic Federation, leading the trial against Jumba Jookiba before sentencing him and the newly created Stitch to their respective prisons. Voiced by Zoe Caldwell.
• Experiment 221 (a.k.a. Sparky) is the 221st genetic alien experiment created by Jumba. His primary motive is to cause chaos and destruction using his electrical powers and abilities, attacking Terra.^[69] Voiced by Frank Welker.

The City Of Bells

This is a new world based on the 1996 Disney film The Hunchback of Notre Dame. It was the first Disney world to be announced for Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. Quasimodo and Esmeralda were confirmed to be in the world at the Tokyo Game Show 2011 where a new trailer for the game was released.

Merchandise

Kingdom Hearts character figurines; a Play Arts figure of Roxas appears in the center and Formation Arts Volume 1 & 2 figures are arrayed around him.

The characters of the Kingdom Hearts series have had various types of merchandise modeled after their likeness. Square Enix has released a collection of Formation Arts figurines that feature several of the main characters from the first game.^[70][71] A series of Play Arts action figures has also been released.^[72] Other merchandise includes jewelry and key chains modeled after character apparel and accessories.^[73] The characters are also featured on posters,^[73] desktop wallpapers,^[74] and trading cards that are part of the Kingdom Hearts Trading Card Game.^[75]

Reception

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.^[76][77][78] 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".^[76] 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".^[77]

GameSpot commented the first game created a "fascinating world" using the Disney and Final Fantasy characters.^[79] Gaming Age commented the combination of Final Fantasy and Disney characters worked very well and outweighed any design problems in the game. For the third game, they stated Square Enix "captured the look and mannerisms of the various Disney characters" very well.^[80] GameSpy stated the inclusion of the Disney and Square Enix characters was handled well.^[77] 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.^[81] IGN listed him as a possible character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl;^[82] though he was not chosen as the "reader's choice".^[83]

GameSpy praised the voice cast and voice acting in the first and third games.^[77][84] G4TV awarded Kingdom Hearts II "Best Voice Over" in their 2006 G-phoria Awards.^[85] Game Informer praised the voice acting of the third game, particularly performances by Haley Joel Osment, Christopher Lee, and James Woods. They also stated the voice talent "shines across the board."^[86] Gaming Age praised the voice work in the first and third game and the localization of the dialogue.^[80][87] They commented the voice acting in the first game was one of its best features.^[87] For the third, they stated the voice actors did an "admirable job" and given the amount of characters, the small number of complaints was impressive.^[80]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Gerstmann, Jeff (2001-05-17). "E3 2001: Square announces Disney RPG for PS2". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/kingdomhearts/news.html?sid=2761861. Retrieved 2007-05-13. 
2. ^ ^{a b} "Nomura Interview TechTv". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on 2007-06-09. http://web.archive.org/web/20070609050907/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/TechTv. Retrieved 2007-07-18. 
3. ^ "Playstation.com Europe - E3 Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on 2007-04-18. http://web.archive.org/web/20070418212412/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/Playstation. Retrieved 2007-09-20. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "KHU Interview w/Tetsuya Nomura". Kingdom Hearts Insider. http://www.khinsider.com/content/view/42/41/. Retrieved 2007-08-10. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Boulette, Bryan (2005-11-27). "Nomura Divulges Kingdom Hearts II Details". RPGamer. http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q4-2005/112705b.html. Retrieved 2007-07-23. 
6. ^ "Tetsuya Nomura 1st 1UP Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on 2007-06-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20070610203227/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/1UP-1. Retrieved 2007-09-20. 
7. ^ ^{a b} "Dengeki - Kingdom Hearts 2 Progress Report". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on 2007-06-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20070608020051/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/Dengeki-2. Retrieved 2007-07-27. 
8. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania - Tetsuya Nomura Interview". Kingdom Hearts Ultimania. Archived from the original on 2007-07-10. http://web.archive.org/web/20070710094227/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/KH2U. Retrieved 2007-08-10. 
9. ^ "Full cast and crew for Kingdom Hearts (2002)(VG)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0322968/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved 2007-06-14. 
10. ^ ^{a b c} "Kingdom Hearts II Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/kingdomhearts2/tech_info.html. Retrieved 2007-09-04. 
11. ^ "Full cast and crew for Kingdom Hearts II (2005)(VG)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390163/fullcredits#cast. Retrieved 2007-06-14. 
12. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Tech Info". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/adventure/kingdomhearts/tech_info.html. Retrieved 2007-09-04. 
13. ^ GamePro Staff (2003-04-30). "Kingdom Hearts Voice Talent Announced". GamePro. http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/23475/kingdom-hearts-voice-talent-announced/. Retrieved 2008-09-30. 
14. ^ Coleman, Stephen (2006-02-08). "Kingdom Hearts II Gets All-Star Cast". IGN. http://games.ign.com/articles/686/686944p1.html. Retrieved 2007-06-14. 
15. ^ Mike Fahey (May 17, 2010). "Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Dated, Detailed, And PSP Bundled". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5540790/kingdom-hearts-birth-by-sleep-dated-detailed-and-psp-bundled/. Retrieved May 17, 2010. 
16. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} Birlew, Dan (2003). Kingdom Hearts Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0198-6. 
17. ^ ^{a b c d} "Riku Biography". IGN. http://stars.ign.com/objects/142/14213997_biography.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
18. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Scenario Mysteries Interview". KingdomHearts3.net. 2007-05-14. http://www.kingdomhearts3.net/scenario-mysteries-interview/. Retrieved 2007-08-25. 
19. ^ ^{a b c} "Sora Biography". IGN. http://stars.ign.com/objects/965/965214_biography.html. Retrieved 2008-01-02. 
20. ^ Ansem Report 10: "However, as for one possibility, an experiment. She can lead me to the place where the person who possesses the "Key" is... I will try sending her to the sea of the strange sky. (アンセムレポート10: しかし、これは一つの可能性であり、実験である。彼女が鍵を持つ者のいる場所へ私を導いてくれるのか… 異空の海に送り出してみよう。^?) Square. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix (in Japanese). (Square, Disney Interactive). PlayStation 2. (2002-12-16)
21. ^ Square Co. (2002). Kingdom Hearts Instruction Booklet. Square Co., Limited. 
22. ^ Riku: All right. You've left me with no other choice. / Roxas: What? / Riku: I have to release the power in my heart—the dark power that I've been holding back. Even...if it changes me forever. [...] I have accepted it. Square Enix, h.a.n.d.. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. (Square Enix, Disney Interactive Studios). Nintendo DS. (2009-09-29)
23. ^ Goofy: Hey, why don't ya come with us? We can go to other worlds on our vessel. / Sora: I wonder if I could find Riku and Kairi... / Donald Duck: Of course. / Goofy: Are you sure? / Donald Duck: Who knows? But we need him to come with us to help us find the king. Square. Kingdom Hearts. (Square Electronic Arts). PlayStation 2. (2002-11-15)
24. ^ ^{a b c} Naminé: I'm sorry. It's the only way. You have to choose, Sora. You can lose your memories of this castle and reclaim your old memories... or keep your memories here and give up the memories that you've lost. / Sora: I have to choose? / Naminé: Yes. / Sora: Put me back the way I was. / ... / Donald: We have to sleep in these to get our memories back? / Naminé: You'll be fine. It might take a little time, but I'll take care of you. / Goofy: But when we wake up, we won't remember you anymore... Jupiter. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. (Square Enix U.S.A., Disney Interactive). Game Boy Advance. (2004-12-07)
25. ^ Square Enix (2006). Kingdom Hearts II Instruction Booklet. Square Enix. 
26. ^ Ansem the Wise: I made so many plans. But when Sora became an acting force, they all fell apart. All my research amounted to nothing, compared to that one boy's heart. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
27. ^ Ansem the Wise: Sora, it's all up to you now. And Roxas—I doubt you can hear me—but... I am sorry. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
28. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} Hollinger, Elizabeth (2004). Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0473-X. 
29. ^ Minnie: Oh, and to chronicle your travels, he will accompany you. / Jiminy: Over here! Cricket's the name. Jiminy Cricket, at your service. Square. Kingdom Hearts. (Square Electronic Arts). PlayStation 2. (2002-11-15)
30. ^ Larxene: The girl you've been trying to protect all this time...is really a manipulative witch who shackles peoples' hearts! Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2008-12-02)
31. ^ Naminé: I'm a witch with power over Sora's memories and those around him. / Roxas: A witch? / Naminé: That's what DiZ called me. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
32. ^ Boyes, Emma (2007-09-20). "TGS '07: Three new Kingdom Hearts games coming". GameSpot. http://tgs.gamespot.com/story.html?sid=6179212. Retrieved 2007-09-20. 
33. ^ ^{a b} Famitsu Staff (2009-11-05). (in Japanese)Weekly Famitsu (Enterbrain): 266–267. 
34. ^ Gantayat, Anoop (October 2, 2007). "Nomura Discusses Kingdom Hearts". IGN. http://psp.ign.com/articles/824/824305p1.html. Retrieved January 25, 2010. 
35. ^ ^{a b} Famitsu Staff (2009-11-05). (in Japanese)Weekly Famitsu (Enterbrain): 262–263. 
36. ^ Famitsu (September 28, 2009). "野村哲也氏独占インタビュー！ TGSサプライズ映像の内容に迫る - ファミ通.com" (in Japanese). Famitsu. http://www.famitsu.com/game/news/1227992_1124.html. Retrieved June 18, 2011. 
37. ^ Brian Ashcraft (October 15, 2009). "Who Does This New Kingdom Hearts Character Look Like?". Kotaku. http://kotaku.com/5382223/who-does-this-new-kingdom-hearts-character-look-like. Retrieved June 18, 2011. 
38. ^ Goofy: Yen Sid is the King's teacher! Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
39. ^ ^{a b} Studio BentStuff, ed (2005) (in Japanese). Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania. Square Enix. ISBN 4-7575-1621-5. 
40. ^ Ansem Report 10: My path is set. I shall seek out the wielder of the Keyblade, and the princesses. My body is too frail for such a journey, but I must do this. I will cast it off and plunge into the depths of darkness. Square Co.. Kingdom Hearts. (Square, Disney Interactive). PlayStation 2. (2002-09-17)
41. ^ Mickey: But, what you actually fought was his Heartless. Ya see, he wasn't really Ansem. He just went around telling everybody that he was. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
42. ^ Ansem the Wise: Xemnas, the Organization's Superior and an anagram for Xansem, is the Nobody of Xehanort, my foremost apprentice. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
43. ^ D Report: Pursuer of darkness. To open the door to darkness, Ansem used the Heartless to steal countless hearts. He enslaved Riku, but met his demise at Sora's hand. Nonetheless, Ansem's shadow lives on in the depths of Riku's heart. Jupiter. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.. (Square Enix, Disney Interactive). (2008-12-02)
44. ^ Aerith: Don’t worry. If we defeat Ansem, all should be restored. Including your island.Square Co.. Kingdom Hearts. (Square, Disney Interactive). PlayStation 2. (2002-09-17)
45. ^ Ansem: You have been thinking about me... You're afraid of the darkness I command. Good... The more you think of me, the closer my return draws. And when I have awoken, I will take hold...Your heart will be mine! Jupiter. Kingdom Hearts Re:Chain of Memories.. (Square Enix, Disney Interactive). (2008-12-02)
46. ^ ^{a b} "Kingdom Hearts II Tetsuya Nomura interview". Video Game Blogger. http://www.videogamesblogger.com/2006/08/11/kingdom-hearts-ii-tetsuya-nomura-interview.htm. Retrieved 2007-06-19. 
47. ^ Yen Sid: Nobodies may seem to have feelings, but this is a ruse---they only pretend to have hearts. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
48. ^ Saïx: Pitiful Heartless, mindlessly collecting hearts. And yet they know not the true power of what they hold. The rage of the Keyblade releases those hearts. They gather in darkness, masterless and free... until they weave together to make Kingdom Hearts. And when that time comes, we can truly, finally exist. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
49. ^ Goofy: We sure do! Pete's been causin' trouble for ages! His Majesty banished him to another dimension a long time ago. I wonder how he escaped. / Pete: You wanna know how, eh? Well, Maleficent busted me out, that's how! And now your world---no, no, no, all the worlds---are gonna belong to yours truly. Cause Maleficent's gonna help me conquer 'em! Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
50. ^ ^{a b} (in Japanese) キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ アルティマニア [Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania]. Square-Enix. 2010. ISBN 978-4757527881. 
51. ^ Valay (September 15, 2011). "Neku Is In Kingdom Hearts 3DS". NintendoEverything. http://nintendoeverything.com/74073/. Retrieved September 15, 2011. 
52. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Zdyrko, Dave (2002-02-06). "Kingdom Hearts Preview". IGN. http://ps2.ign.com/articles/136/136467p1.html. Retrieved 2007-09-05. 
53. ^ Aladdin: Genie and Carpet took off to see the world. It's what Genie always wanted, so I wished him the best and all, but... / Goofy: You miss him. / Sora: Man, things must be REALLY quiet with Genie gone. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
54. ^ Aladdin: I...I wish... ...for your freedom, Genie. A deal’s a deal, Genie. Now, you can go anywhere you want. You’re your own master. But if you can, it’d be great if you could go along with them and help Sora find Jasmine. Square Co.. Kingdom Hearts. (Square Electronic Arts). PlayStation 2. (2002-11-15)
55. ^ Aladdin: Can't believe it... That stupid peddler let Jafar out of the lamp! Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
56. ^ Geppetto: A man named Leon helped us. He even got us this house to live in. Square Co.. Kingdom Hearts. (Square Electronic Arts). PlayStation 2. (2002-11-15)
57. ^ Yuna: Excuse me, are you with the Restoration Committee? / ... / Paine: Let's report. / Donald: To who? / Yuna: Our leader, of course! / Rikku: Yeah, you know, Malefi--- Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
58. ^ Tron: A number of my functions were appropriated when I last took on the MCP. That's why I need the password. If I can get inside the DTD, I can access my original backup program and restore all my functions. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
59. ^ Shang: You've done a passable job. But stay alert! This is just the beginning. Shan-Yu has invaded our country. We must stop him at all costs. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
60. ^ Hollinger, Elizabeth (2006). Kingdom Hearts II Official Strategy Guide. BradyGames Publishing. ISBN 0-7440-0526-4. 
61. ^ Beast: Why... Why did you...you come here? I came to fight for Belle. And though I am on my own, I will fight. I won’t leave without her. That’s why I’m here. / Sora: Me too. I’m not gonna give up now. I came here to find someone very important to me. Square Co.. Kingdom Hearts. (Square Electronic Arts). PlayStation 2. (2002-11-15)
62. ^ Xaldin: It's time you dealt with Belle. She's scheming to take everything you have. This castle, your precious rose. And then---your life. Trust no one. Feed your anger! Only anger will keep you strong. / Beast: I've had enough of strength. There's only one thing I want--- / Xaldin: What? To love, and be loved in return? Who could ever love a beast? Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
63. ^ Jack Sparrow: Treasure's already his. So's the curse upon it. I've no desire for such treacherous spoils. But I will have back what's mine---the Black Pearl.Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
64. ^ Barbossa: This is no trinket, missy. This is cursed Aztec gold. One of eight hundred and eighty-two identical pieces they delivered in a stone chest to Cortez himself. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
65. ^ Scar: And here's my little secret... I killed Mufasa. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
66. ^ Nala: There was... but he died... when he was just a cub. He was the son of our last king, Mufasa. If only Simba were here... / Sora: Simba!? But Simba's just fine! He was fighting right beside us not that long ago. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
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68. ^ Flora: Now, those aren't ordinary garments. / Fauna: They have very special powers. / ... / Flora: Your garments also have other powers---but you will have to discover what they are as you continue on your journey. Square Enix. Kingdom Hearts II. (Square Enix U.S.A., Buena Vista Games). PlayStation 2. (2006-03-28)
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71. ^ "Kingdom Hearts Formation Arts Vol.2". Play-Asia.com. http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-92-49-en-70-1c3l-43-9k.html. Retrieved 2008-09-30. 
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External links

• Official Kingdom Hearts site
• Official international Kingdom Hearts site