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Title

Is Kingdom Hearts a JRPG? The Racialized Labor of a Japanese Anti-auteur's Disney-Licensed Videogame.

Authors

Wong, K. T.

Abstract

This article explores the question of whether Kingdom Hearts, a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) featuring Disney characters, can be considered a JRPG. The author examines the racialized labor behind the game and argues that it challenges the notion of a JRPG's Japanese identity. The article also discusses the collaboration between Square and Disney, the genre's lack of definition, and the controversy surrounding Kingdom Hearts' status as a JRPG. It analyzes the game's production, design choices, and the role of director Tetsuya Nomura as an anti-auteur. The article highlights the erasure of minority labor in the global video game industry and the racial politics underlying the development of JRPGs.

Subjects

NINTENDO video game consoles; AMUSEMENT park design & construction; MICKEY Mouse (Fictional character); BUSINESS partnerships; WORK environment; COMPULSIVE gambling; ODORS

Publication

JCMS: Journal of Cinema & Media Studies, 2024, Issue 5, p77

ISSN

2578-4900

Publication type

Academic Journal

DOI

10.1353/cj.2023.a918258