Recent News
2012: Year of the Tetsuya Nomura sketch By Erren Van Duine on December 31, 2012 at 7:41 PM

2012 has come and gone, and what it a year it was.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 along with its assortment of DLC saw its release in the first half of the year, while Final Fantasy itself turned a seasoned 25 years old. Final Fantasy XIV stepped out from its ruined shadow to reveal a beautiful realm reborn, and a third Final Fantasy XIII – Lightning Returns – will be joining the spotlight come 2013. Other events brought memories and anticipation – but most curiously, a collection of sketches by Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts artist, Tetsuya Nomura.

While 2012 was certainly not the year for his own sought after creation, Nomura still left his mark in more ways than one.

Final Fantasy XI celebrated its 10th year with Vana Fest in June. This recently discovered sketch of Shantotto, Prishe, Eald’narche and Kam’lanaut congratulates the game for reaching its decade long milestone.

Japan Expo took place in Paris, France in July – ahead of Kingdom Hearts 3D’s North American and European releases. For this event, Nomura decided to draw Sora and Riku with a promise of “next time, hope we meet again.” These words would soon be followed by the announcement of Kingdom Hearts 1.5 HD ReMIX for PS3.

Perhaps the most surprising of Nomura’s sketches this year – Noctis Lucis Caelum from Final Fantasy Versus XIII. With nearly two years gone by since the last piece of media from his own elusive title, this drawing appeared in the event pamphlet for Japan’s 25th anniversary exhibit. The game itself absent from the show, Nomura has once again asked fans to “please wait for his turn” and that he would “soon show the future of Final Fantasy.”

Following the announcement of Lightning Returns: FFXIII, Nomura submitted a drawing of the original Lightning in part of a celebration of Dengeki’s 20th year anniversary.

Additionally, what would go on to be somewhat of a “first look” at Lightning’s new outfit in her upcoming game, this sketch was on display at the Distant Worlds THE CELEBRATION event in London, which also included Isamu Kamikokuryou’s Lightning Returns painting.

Look ahead to 2013, Final Fantasy fans have a great deal to look forward to – and hopefully, if vague words are anything to go by, the warm Spring will bring something even greater.

Via: Zelu1984_FFM & bKvEBVAvUq.

Posted in Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.
  • http://twitter.com/AcolyteHalcyon Acolyte Halcyon

    I want Lightning Returns NAOOO!

  • salem

    Nomura FTW. Seriously, you may hate Noctis and Lightning all you want, but no one can deny that this man doesn’t have some serious TALENT.

  • Protosin

    Noctis was his best sketch.

  • Jay

    Tetsuya Nomura’s sketches never fails to disappoint.

  • Himiko

    Oh how I wish Versus would be shown already. So much for his turn in 2012. :(

  • salem

    His getup is a little emo for me…don’t understand people’s obsession with him tho…

  • http://twitter.com/Nova_Crystallis Nova Crystallis

    His black suit is really nice. I like Noctis because of his “can-do” attitude. He seems ready to go forward regardless of the consequences, and feels he has the strength to do it, even when he technically may not.

  • Himiko

    I hope we can select the black suit as a costume and it’s not a one-time thing.

  • salem

    Don’t know where you got that out of a trailer where he barely speaks. This is why I’m not excited for Versus XIII, because everyone seems to be creating a character from nothing so far. Your description sounds exactly like Lightning, though she usually knows what are in her boundaries of strengths and such.

  • Protosin

    People are sick of Lightning.

  • Himiko

    You should watch the 2011 trailer. It’s really obvious by his dialogue.

  • http://twitter.com/LuXord96 مُحمد بن ضيف الله

    good guy nomura .. i just love his work.

  • http://twitter.com/Nova_Crystallis Nova Crystallis

    Yep, between the things that he and his friends say in the dialogue, it’s very easy to see the direction the characters might be heading.

  • Himiko

    Yep! I’m sure Nojima/Nomura will be able to come up with a very compelling character. With the way the story is turning up, I’m glad they didn’t take the stereotypical route. I was surprised and quite happy with how chatty he is. :D

  • Hedge

    Ah Noctis. Looking forward to seeing the promised unveiling in 2013.

  • http://twitter.com/Nova_Crystallis Nova Crystallis

    I like how he seemed very optimistic. Nomura has said he won’t be a cliche protagonist so we’ll have to see.

  • Tenjyusei

    Hmmm… Maybe a non-cliche character will be a first for a Final Fantasy. But I see a lot of uncommon protagonists in other games. But we’ll see indeed.

    What I really don’t like about Noctis is his hair. I can’t take Sahsookay out of my mind. Maybe to a point that I hate it. I wonder what Nomura’s character studies looked like, I’d rather that he take another hairstyle.

    I wish there was a Final Fantasy where you could change hairstyles. :/

  • Tenjyusei

    Technically, the XI one is the best. Most detailed too.

  • Tenjyusei

    Name change~ it will now be XV. Hahaha! Although Versus XIII sticks very well, I think this production is so big it deserves a mainline title.

  • Himiko

    His design has improved imo. He seems to have given him a much more mature look over the years which made him look less like Sasuke. :O

    I think Stella’s design improved the most, though. She looks much more like her CG model.

  • Tenjyusei

    It’s Stella’s face that is the best looking one in this game. I sincerely hope I’ll like her in the game when it comes. She feels like an Ashe to me (which is a good thing, Ashe is my favourite FF character).

  • doemaaan

    or… how bout v13 gets rid of the “Final Fantasy” brand name, so it can differentiate itself from the tarnished reputation that the later games have given to that franchise?
    a dream of mine that will stay but a dream.

  • http://twitter.com/Nova_Crystallis Nova Crystallis

    I like how Stella looks very different than Nomura’s typical females, namely in the face.

  • http://twitter.com/Nova_Crystallis Nova Crystallis

    Except the Final Fantasy name itself still carries a lot of weight.

  • Himiko

    “Tarnished Reputation” Oh god.

  • doemaaan

    sadly true and it’s part of the reason why my dream will remain a dream.

  • salem

    I did. “Not interested.”

  • salem

    “Sasuke”
    *facepalm*

  • salem

    Hell, the minority. Certainly most people do.

  • salem

    It’s the fans that “tarnish” the FINAL FANTASY name. You choose to bring it down or not. I for one still enjoy it as much as I did when FFX came out.

  • Himiko

    Yeah, very appealing design. Not only in looks but in personality as well. Maybe it’s just been a while since I’ve seen such a character, but I like the balance of her being direct, and polite seemingly from the information we have gotten and that one trailer.

    The detail in the 2011 CGI is also quite unbelievable.

  • Tenjyusei

    Hahaha his hair really is structured the same way! I tried drawing Noctis fanart the other day, the lines would be similar to Saskay. Noctis’ face is only kinder and more, Chinese-y. I got a friend who looks like him and Cid Raines, hehehe!

  • Tenjyusei

    I don’t like the game much but Lightning’s androgynous face is so appealing to me. I wanna be her, on be on her. Honestly, she’s that pretty to me.

  • Tenjyusei

    Oh wow, I agree with this. The openness of the internet allows for excessive debating and vile commenting. Back then in the late 1990′s people were just generally discussing how to do this and that for games and just enjoyed it for what it is. But then I was never really into the FF community and was more of a fan of the other games like Suikoden, and people are generally more polite. Well, actually until now.

  • http://twitter.com/TauhiDrizzY T ‘ I ~ Y Δ N G ^‿^

    no there isn’t any proof of the change , lol

  • http://twitter.com/TauhiDrizzY T ‘ I ~ Y Δ N G ^‿^

    (it’s just a rumor) ;)

  • Tartarus

    i don’t know where they get all that for the 2011 trailer either.

    i just get that noctis is a lazy sleepy boy who nobody understands.

    all the trailer, o and that also likes to sleep.

    noctis was like:

    noctis: i’m a bad guy so i can kill anything, i will cut their….

    noctis friends: …shut up you can’t!

    noctis: but, i have superpowers!

    ignis: yeah they suck and we don’t care.

    weirdly reminds me of naruto but you know he looks like sasuke.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AnimeMangaFan Giulianna Suppa

    Noctis, it’s nice to see him again. :)