The popular Kingdom Hearts series, which combines Disney and Square Enix characters, had a challenging journey to get its original approval. Shuji Utsumi, a former Disney Interactive executive, has just shared the backstage details of how they worked to get Disney’s approval for the game series.
Hironobu Sakaguchi, the Vice President and Managing Director for Disney Interactive’s Asia Pacific region, acknowledged in a YouTube video that Disney’s protective nature regarding its intellectual property posed a major challenge. Despite this, the development of Kingdom Hearts advanced significantly before the project was officially approved. Sakaguchi described the situation as unsettling, having reassured Square Enix of approval when it hadn’t been secured yet (thanks, AM).
A significant moment happened when Michael Eisner, Disney’s CEO at the time, visited. Taking advantage of the CEO’s authority, Utsumi used the opportunity to showcase Kingdom Hearts during an important meeting. He planned the presentation to coincide with Roy E. Disney, known for being a strong protector of the Disney brand, but it was not there.
The presentation faced some challenges. Questions came up about technical aspects, like turning Mickey Mouse’s famous design into 3D. However, as Disney branding representatives supported the project, Utsumi’s previous efforts to persuade paid off. They saw the potential of Kingdom Hearts to attract male audiences, an area where the company was not doing well.
Ultimately, Eisner’s simple “OK, do your best” signaled the project’s approval. Utsumi admitted to feeling determined throughout the process. His efforts were crucial in bridging the gap between Square Enix and Disney, and he continued as the Disney-side producer for Kingdom Hearts.
One interesting detail that the interview doesn’t mention is that while Michael Eisner took risks, he may not have continued their Kingdom Hearts relationship just because the franchise took off. Pixar faced a similar issue, where Eisner had a strained relationship with Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Pixar, over licensing rights. Even Ed Catmul, another founder, mentioned in his book Creativity Inc. (on the founding of Pixar) that Disney was willing to start an entirely new studio as their relationship with Pixar deteriorated.
When Bob Igor took over, Disney was much more willing to collaborate with others on successful franchises. They bought Pixar so that the company could revitalize Disney – and that’s what the Pixar founders did, as they took over Disney Animation – likely creating a more open space for Kingdom Hearts to continue. Kingdom Hearts was a huge shot in the dark, but things worked out well for the game.
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