“The glasses stay on. Bayonetta’s glasses are just like her underwear – do not take them off at any cost.” That’s what Hideki Kamiya said when publishers tried to convince him to remove Bayonetta’s most iconic design feature. Recently, Kamiya and character designer Mari Shimazaki revealed the untold story of how those glasses came to be, and it’s a masterclass in creative vision overriding corporate pressure. In an industry where publishers constantly push for focus-tested designs, Kamiya refused to compromise on something most developers would have abandoned without a second thought.
How It All Started With One Whisper
Mari Shimazaki, the main character designer for Bayonetta, revealed on X (formerly Twitter) that the entire glasses concept started with Kamiya appearing behind her while she was sketching rough character designs. “Kamiya appeared behind me out of nowhere and whispered: ‘Give her glasses.'” That’s all it took. From that moment forward, every single design iteration Shimazaki created for Bayonetta included glasses.
Shimazaki said she developed a habit of always having a “glasses layer” ready in her design software. Whenever Kamiya reviewed her work, he’d consistently ask, “Why don’t you have glasses on her?” So she kept them prepared. The process of finalizing the design was apparently chaotic, with constant back-and-forth about the character’s overall look. But one thing remained constant: the glasses stayed on every proposal, every iteration, every sketch.
This wasn’t casual preference. This was obsession. This was a creative director who had a vision and refused to let anything compromise it.
Publishers Wanted Them Gone
During development, publishers pushed back hard. The glasses weren’t marketable, they argued. They didn’t fit conventional ideas of what a sexy female protagonist should look like. The frame was unusual. The style didn’t match what was being pushed in mainstream games at the time. Every corporate concern pointed to the same conclusion: remove the glasses.
But Kamiya wouldn’t budge. He had a reason for keeping them, and it wasn’t just stubbornness. Kamiya understood something about character design that most studios don’t: the details are where the soul lives.
The Mask That Protects
In Bayonetta: The Official Guide, Kamiya explained that the glasses serve as a psychological mask. Bayonetta wears them to protect herself from the outside world, specifically because of her tragic past. The glasses aren’t just an accessory. They’re armor. They’re a symbol of emotional protection. The lore later revealed that in all the Bayonetta titles Kamiya created, only one person – Luka – ever got to see Bayonetta’s bare face without the glasses. That’s how important they are to her character.
Kamiya originally wanted to write entire story episodes exploring why Bayonetta never removes her glasses. Maybe it’s trauma. Maybe there’s another reason entirely. But whatever the reason, the glasses are non-negotiable. They’re not optional cosmetics that players can toggle on or off. They’re fundamental to who Bayonetta is as a character.
This level of intentionality separates good character design from great character design. Most video game characters are just a visual template. Bayonetta’s glasses are a psychological statement. They force players to think about why this character wears them. What is she hiding from? What has happened to her? The glasses ask questions without words.
Defying Gaming Stereotypes
In video game design, characters wearing glasses are typically relegated to supporting roles, nerdy side characters, or antagonists. Glasses are associated with intelligence and caution, traits that don’t usually belong to action protagonists. Those main characters dive headfirst into danger. They don’t wear glasses.
Bayonetta completely shattered that convention. She wears glasses while being one of gaming’s most confident, capable, and action-oriented protagonists. She doesn’t apologize for her eyewear. She owns it. She incorporates it into her fighting style and her personality. By refusing to remove the glasses, Kamiya forced the industry to reconsider what protagonist characters could look like and what they could wear.
This subtle subversion of design conventions created a character that felt genuinely different from everything else in 2009. Most protagonists looked similar. Bayonetta looked like nobody else because she broke the rules that everyone else followed.
A Fashion Icon Is Born
What Kamiya couldn’t have predicted is that Bayonetta’s glasses would eventually transcend gaming and become a fashion statement. By 2025, “Bayonetta glasses” refer to a specific style of eyewear that’s influenced fashion runways and inspired designer collections. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid have worn glasses inspired by Bayonetta’s style. Fashion publications have written about them. Social media influencers have recreated the look.
A video game character’s accessory became a real-world fashion trend. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because a designer made a bold, unconventional choice and stuck with it despite pressure to conform. Kamiya’s refusal to remove the glasses created something timeless. Something that meant enough to people that they wanted to wear it in their own lives.
The Lesson For Game Design
The story of Bayonetta’s glasses is fundamentally a story about artistic conviction. Kamiya had a vision. Publishers told him it was wrong. He didn’t compromise. He didn’t hold a focus group to justify his choice. He simply said: “The glasses stay on.”
In an industry where companies constantly test-market character designs and let algorithms determine what players might like, Kamiya’s stubbornness seems almost reckless. But it worked. It created one of gaming’s most iconic and instantly recognizable characters. Nobody forgets Bayonetta because of her glasses. The glasses are unforgettable because they belong to Bayonetta.
This is what happens when creators refuse to compromise on the small details that make characters memorable. The glasses aren’t just eyewear. They’re confidence. They’re mystery. They’re the wall between Bayonetta’s public persona and her private pain. That’s why they matter.
FAQs
Why does Bayonetta wear glasses?
According to Hideki Kamiya, Bayonetta wears her glasses as a psychological mask to protect herself from the outside world due to her tragic past. They’re not just an accessory but a symbol of emotional protection and her complex relationship with the world around her.
Can you remove Bayonetta’s glasses in the games?
No, Bayonetta’s glasses cannot be removed in any of the games created by Hideki Kamiya. They’re a permanent fixture of her character design. While some alternative costumes exist, every version includes the glasses. This was intentional – Kamiya refused to create a version of Bayonetta without them.
Who decided Bayonetta should wear glasses?
Hideki Kamiya, the creator and director of Bayonetta, insisted on giving the character glasses. Mari Shimazaki, the main character designer, revealed that Kamiya would constantly tell her to add glasses to every design iteration. When publishers tried to remove them, Kamiya famously refused, saying “The glasses stay on.”
What do Bayonetta glasses look like?
Bayonetta’s glasses feature thick, geometric frames with a dark color and elongated lenses. They embody a Y2K aesthetic with a modern twist, creating a distinctive and instantly recognizable look that has influenced fashion design.
Did publishers really want to remove the glasses?
Yes, according to statements from Kamiya and Shimazaki, publishers pressured them to remove the glasses during development. They argued that glasses didn’t fit the conventional design for a female protagonist. Kamiya refused to compromise on this design choice.
Has anyone ever seen Bayonetta without her glasses?
In the Bayonetta games created by Hideki Kamiya, only one person – Luka – ever gets to see Bayonetta without her glasses. This was intentional storytelling, emphasizing how important the glasses are to her character and how rarely she lets anyone see her true self.
How have Bayonetta’s glasses influenced fashion?
Bayonetta’s glasses have become a real-world fashion trend. Fashion designers have created similar styles, celebrities have worn glasses inspired by her design, and the term “Bayonetta glasses” now refers to a specific eyewear style in fashion circles. This is one of the rare examples of a video game character design directly influencing mainstream fashion.
What’s the story behind the famous “The glasses stay on” quote?
When publishers tried to pressure Hideki Kamiya into removing Bayonetta’s glasses, he responded by saying “The glasses stay on. Bayonetta’s glasses are just like her underwear – do not take them off at any cost.” This became one of gaming’s most legendary statements about creative vision and refusing to compromise on artistic choices.
Conclusion
Hideki Kamiya’s decision to keep Bayonetta’s glasses despite publisher pressure is a masterclass in creative conviction. It’s a reminder that sometimes the smallest design choices carry the biggest impact. The glasses aren’t just eyewear. They’re psychology. They’re storytelling. They’re a statement about who Bayonetta is and what she’s protecting herself from. When a creator refuses to compromise on details that matter, the result is something unforgettable. Bayonetta’s glasses prove that unconventional choices, when executed with purpose, create characters that transcend their medium and become cultural icons. That’s why, after all these years, “The glasses stay on” remains one of the most important design decisions in video game history.