10 Things Even Fans Didn’t Know About Sora From Kingdom Hearts

The Kingdom Hearts series, cherished by many, presents a complex and occasionally perplexing narrative timeline. Even devoted enthusiasts may find themselves at a loss due to the intricate plotline that traverses numerous years and various gaming platforms. However, one consistent aspect in this series is the character of Sora. While he doesn’t always take center stage, the tale – even in prequel games like “Birth By Sleep” – somehow circles back to Sora. It’s intriguing to discover that there are some lesser-known facts about Sora that even dedicated Kingdom Hearts fans might be unaware of.

10. Sora Started Out as Non-Human

This lands last on our list due to it becoming quite well-known, even if unofficially so. Notably, one fun fact about concept art is that Sora was initially envisioned as a half-lion character. However, this idea was eventually abandoned, leaving us with the beloved version of Sora we have today.

Early concept art of Sora by Tetsuya Nomura
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As an enthusiastic follower with a knack for uncovering lesser-known details, you may have stumbled upon this tidbit, although it remains largely uncharted territory in the realm of Sora’s lore.

9. He’s Kind of Obsessed with Pirates

Sora’s hidden fondness for pirates is subtly revealed throughout the games, even though it’s not explicitly stated. This intriguing fact was recently brought to light by Reddit user @Waste-Newspaper9645.

In the initial game, his room features a pirate ship model, which sparks his eagerness to share with Kairi about his adventure on a real pirate ship after such a long separation. Additionally, he shows great enthusiasm upon encountering Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean universe, both in Kingdom Hearts 2 and Kingdom Hearts 3. It’s interesting to note that these pre-Keyblade passions and pastimes are often overshadowed by his heroic role in the series.

8. His Canon Weapon Selection from the Kingdom Hearts Opening

Fans of Kingdom Hearts may recall that in the original game, they were initially given a Dream Sword, Dream Shield, and Dream Rod during the opening scene. These items serve as Sora’s primary equipment, influencing his main stats in the game. During our individual playthroughs, we have the freedom to choose based on our preferred gaming style. However, later games suggest that if left to his own devices, Sora might make a different choice.

In several instances, Sora is depicted using the Dream Sword instead of the Shield or Rod, as seen in the games 358/2 Days and Kingdom Hearts 3D. Unlike his companions Goofy and Donald who often use shields and magic respectively, it seems that Sora deliberately chose to utilize the Dream Sword. This suggests that he might have found a preference for this weapon over others in his arsenal.

7. His Exact Height and Current Age

Back in the day, nothing beat the thrill of diving into a physical game manual for Kingdom Hearts. In those pages, you’d find interesting tidbits like the age of our hero, Sora. When we first met him, he was a sprightly 14-year-old. As the storyline twists and turns, it gets tricky to pinpoint his current age, but guessing from the timeline, I’d say he’s probably around 16 now, still ready for adventure!

Regarding Sora’s height, the creator Nomura has shared this detail. Originally, Sora, the main character from Kingdom Hearts, is quite short, standing at around 5 feet 3 inches tall. However, based on what we’ve seen so far in Kingdom Hearts 4, it seems that Sora has grown a bit. Therefore, it can be expected that he might be taller when he reappears in the next game.

6. He Wasn’t Originally Meant to Be The Protagonist

It’s tough to envision Kingdom Hearts without Sora these days. However, in various interviews, it has been revealed that Sora wasn’t initially slated to be the main character. In fact, during the early conceptual phases of the game, Sora hadn’t been created yet.

Initially, Tetsuya Nomura shared in past conversations that both Mickey and Donald might have been the primary character. But eventually, Mickey was assigned a lesser role as King Mickey, while Donald took up the position as one of Sora’s companions instead.

5. He Doesn’t Remember Meeting Tarzan

It’s no secret among Kingdom Hearts enthusiasts that Sora encounters Tarzan in the Deep Jungle during the initial game. Interestingly, neither this world nor Tarzan reappears in subsequent games. While an official explanation for this has yet to be provided, many fans speculate it could stem from complications with copyright and licensing matters.

As a result, these events have significantly affected Sora’s memory. In subsequent games like “Chain of Memories,” Sora’s recollections of his initial adventures in “Kingdom Hearts” exclude Tarzan and the Deep Jungle. Essentially, it seems that Sora has erased his friend Tarzan from his memory, as there are no in-game reminders of their time together during the first game.

4. He Almost Had a Totally Different Look in The 100 Acre Woods

In an interview with NeoGamer, the creators of Kingdom Hearts shared that at one point they thought about giving Sora a unique appearance in the 100 Acre Woods. Typically, Sora and his companions adapt their looks to match the world they’re in – from having fish tails in Atlantis to taking on dark themes in the Nightmare Before Christmas realm. However, when it comes to Winnie the Pooh’s storybook, Sora maintains his original appearance as just Sora.

Originally, the creators had thought about altering Sora’s style to fit the fairy tale ambiance. But in the end, they decided against it, and Sora retained his existing appearance.

3. He’s Actually, Technically Still a Heartless

In the final moments of Kingdom Hearts, Sora selflessly gives up his own heart and briefly transforms into a Heartless. However, he is eventually saved. Consequently, his Nobody, Roxas, comes into being. It’s worth noting that as long as Roxas exists, Sora can technically be considered a Heartless in some sense.

With Roxas now mostly merged into Sora’s being, the intricacies of this situation have become somewhat murky. Keep in mind that neither Sora nor the Kingdom Hearts series adheres strictly to any established set of rules. However, since Roxas’ Nobody hasn’t ceased to exist, we can think of Sora as a Heartless who inhabits a human form, essentially.

2. He Almost Had a Double-Edged Keyblade

In the conceptual stages of Kingdom Hearts 2, the creative team pondered an intriguing detail: equipping Sora with a two-sided Keyblade, reminiscent of the double-edged lightsabers from Star Wars.

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Eventually, this idea was abandoned and switched out for the two-handed combat featured in the games instead. However, the initial design sketches are still intriguing to explore, offering a glimpse into possibilities that never came to fruition.

The plan was ultimately discarded and replaced by the twin-wielding system present in the games. Nevertheless, it’s engaging to examine the early concept art, envisioning alternative realities that never materialized.

1. Sora Might Only Matter Because of Who Lives Within Him

I’d like to share an opinion that might stir some conversation – Sora, while being the main character, isn’t particularly captivating on his own. He comes across as a straightforward, optimistic individual. Interestingly enough, it seems like the Kingdom Hearts creators themselves recognize this, given the extensive plot devices they employ to keep Sora significant in each game.

In simpler terms, multiple games suggest that Sora’s significance is not only his own, but also because he houses the essences of other characters like Roxas and Ventus. At the beginning of Kingdom Hearts 2, we encounter Roxas, who becomes crucial in spinoff games since he is Sora’s Nobody, living within him. Similarly, Roxas’ look-alike, Ventus, resides within Sora in a dormant state, preparing to be reawakened. It’s possible that these two characters were meant to wield the Keyblade primarily, with Sora serving as a vessel for their souls.

2025-08-31 21:14