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The popular Kingdom Hearts series , which meld Disney and Square Enix characters , had a ambitious journeying to get its original approval . Shuji Utsumi , a former Disney Interactive executive director , has just shared the backstage inside information 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 videothat Disney ’s protective nature regarding its cerebral property beat a major challenge . Despite this , the exploitation of Kingdom Hearts advanced importantly before the project was officially approved . Sakaguchi described the position as unsettling , having reassure Square Enix of approval when it had n’t been secured yet ( thanks , AM ) .
A significant moment happened when Michael Eisner , Disney ’s chief executive officer at the time , chatter . Taking vantage of the CEO ’s authority , Utsumi used the opportunity to showcase Kingdom Hearts during an important group meeting . He plan the presentation to coincide with Roy E. Disney , known for being a inviolable protector of the Disney brand , but it was not there .
The intro confront some challenges . Questions came up about technical aspects , like turn Mickey Mouse ’s famous design into 3D. However , as Disney branding representatives supported the labor , Utsumi ’s late efforts to persuade yield off . They go out the potency of Kingdom Hearts to draw male audience , an area where the company was not doing well .
Ultimately , Eisner ’s dewy-eyed “ OK , do your skillful ” signaled the project ’s blessing . Utsumi admitted to feel compulsive throughout the process . His efforts were essential in bridging the gap between Square Enix and Disney , and he continued as the Disney - side producer for Kingdom Hearts .
One interesting item that the interview does n’t reference is that while Michael Eisner took peril , he may not have continued their Kingdom Hearts family relationship just because the dealership direct off . Pixar face a similar result , where Eisner had a strained relationship with Steve Jobs , one of the founder of Pixar , over licensing right . Even Ed Catmul , another founder , mention in his bookCreativity Inc.(on the founding of Pixar ) that Disney was willing to start an entirely Modern studio apartment as their relationship with Pixar deteriorated .
When Bob Igor took over , Disney was much more uncoerced to collaborate with others on successful dealership . They buy Pixar so that the caller could regenerate Disney – and that ’s what the Pixar founders did , as they took over Disney Animation – likely make 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 .
