Kingdom Hearts is a series of games in the action/role-playing genre. A collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, Kingdom Hearts has its own fictional universe and a storyline that revolves around Sora, the main character.
The game follows Sora on his journey as he interacts with lots of other characters along the way. Of course, it’s not plain sailing as there are the usual bad guys too, waiting to ruin everything. In this case, the main enemy is Xehanort who Sora encounters in the various Kingdom Hearts instalments.
First released in March 2002, Kingdom Hearts is available across multiple platforms. There are thirteen episodes to date, but more are planned for the future. The series has sold phenomenally well since its launch; by 2019 over 300 million copies had been sent worldwide.
Many fans describe how they’ve grown up playing this game, and it’s become to mean something much more on a personal level. This emotional connection to Kingdom Hearts is part of the reason for its success, with fans identifying with different characters within the franchise.
Kingdom Hearts IV isn’t expected to be released until 2023 at the earliest, but there’s a firm commitment to continue the series.
Unlike some video games, Kingdom Hearts is very accessible to younger teens because of its E10+ rating. This has meant that fans have grown up with the franchise, creating a strong bond. It’s therefore not a huge surprise to discover that Kingdom Hearts tattoos are extremely popular.
If you’ve been considering getting a design yourself, here are some Kingdom Hearts tattoo ideas to check out.
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Sora Tattoos
Sora is the main protagonist in Kingdom Hearts so it’s perhaps not a huge surprise to discover that Sora tattoos are very popular.
An upbeat teen who lives on the Destiny Islands, Sora is best friends with Kairi and Riku since they were young.
Although in many franchises the main character has special abilities, Sora is just a human and not a superhero being.
This was an intentional move to send the message that everyone has the power to influence lives and that you don’t need to be “special” to be special.
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Sora can appear in different forms, depending on the environment.
For example, he is sometimes transformed by Donald Duck’s magic, changing him into an underwater merman temporarily.
This provides a great choice for tattoos, making it possible to pick your favorite form of Sora for the design.
There are many storylines throughout the Kingdom Hearts series which don’t involve Sora yet he remains arguably the most influential, strongest, and recognizable character in the franchise.
When creating a Kingdom hearts tattoo, Sora would be an obvious inclusion, especially wielding the keyblade (see below).
He represents hope, belief in yourself, and joy, all qualities that are important at any time of life.
Keyblade Tattoos
The keyblade has a complex storyline which just becomes even more complicated as the game progresses.
Strongly linked to Sora, it’s not unusual to get a Kingdom Hearts keyblade tattoo which also features Sora.
Keyblades look like a giant, weaponized key but are imbued with the strongest magic imaginable.
This allows them to not only open every lock in existence but also gives them an enormous range of other capabilities.
The most important of all is the ability to hold back the Darkness and prevent evil from reigning over the world.
More than simply an inert weapon, keyblades can only be wielded by someone who is strong of heart.
These chosen keyblade holders can pass the powers on to the next generation.
There are a number of different keyblades featured in the various installments and fans typically choose the one they feel most aligned to.
The first keyblade seen in the series, the Kingdom Key, is the true form, but it’s possible to modify its appearance using items from the inventory.
Choosing to have a keyblade tattoo signifies a love for the game, but for some it has deeper importance.
The keyblade tattoo can symbolize the fact that every heart can be unlocked, if only they find the right person.
This is a romantic twist on the keyblade’s ability and also represents the hope that it offers.
Banishing darkness and bringing light is another popular interpretation, especially for those who have emerged through a tough time and see a brighter future.
However you choose the keyblade tattoo, it’s a symbol of inner strength, positivity, and triumph of light over dark.
The Symbolism Behind Kingdom Hearts Tattoos
Kingdom Hearts tattoos hold deep meaning and symbolism for those who choose to ink them on their skin. The most common Kingdom Hearts tattoo is the symbol of the heart, which is a recurring theme throughout the series. The heart symbol represents the connection between the characters and the overarching theme of light versus darkness.
Other common Kingdom Hearts tattoos include quotes from the games, such as “May your heart be your guiding key,” which is a phrase that is often used by the main character, Sora. Characters from the series, such as Sora, Kairi, and Riku, are also popular choices for Kingdom Hearts tattoos.
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Kingdom Hearts Characters and Story
The story which twists and turns throughout the Kingdom Hearts episodes is complex and at times, hard to understand. It’s not necessary to fully understand every element and in many cases, the full facts only become clearer at a later stage.
Set in fictional Kingdom Hearts locations, the story weaves in characters that players will recognize from other franchises.
Disney plays a leading part, with Mickey, Donald Duck and Goofy all appearing. Final Fantasy aficionados will also spot favorites, with moogles, Cloud Strife, Sephiroth and Zack among those who pop up during gameplay.
In the very beginning, the mythical word was complete with a single source of love, light, and wisdom: Kingdom Hearts. This source of power was protected by a weapon shaped like a key, the χ-blade.
Unfortunately, fighting broke out with new weapons shaped like the χ-blade; these were known as keyblades. The war was so devastating that it shattered the original χ-blade and sent Kingdom Hearts hurtling into oblivion, never to be seen again.
If this wasn’t enough, the single world which had existed was also shattered too, breaking up into many parts. This led to multiple worlds, some of which become home to the familiar characters from Disney and Pixar.
Following the split, Xehanort is the bad guy who dreams up an intricate plot to recreate the χ-blade. He does this by splitting his assistant in two, creating one with a heart of Light and another with a heart of Dark.
This sparks an intricate chain of events including the arrival of the Heartless, Nobodies and Unversed. The story is full of love, magic, darkness and light, with no guaranteed happy ending for anyone.
Will balance return to the world? Who will be forced to sacrifice themselves in the ultimate fight?
The powerful emotions that this sequence of episodes evokes is why there are many designs of Kingdom Hearts tattoos in existence, and many more yet to come.
