Square Enix just lost one of its most beloved artists. Toshiyuki Itahana, the character designer who brought Final Fantasy 9’s iconic cast to life, announced on January 5, 2026 that he’s leaving the company after more than 30 years. The timing couldn’t be more bittersweet, coming right after he completed his work on Final Fantasy 9’s major 25th anniversary celebration. Itahana will now pursue a career as a freelance illustrator and character designer.
The Man Behind the Magic
If you’ve ever fallen in love with Vivi’s innocent struggle for identity, Zidane’s charming rogue personality, or Garnet’s regal elegance, you have Itahana to thank. His character designs for Final Fantasy 9 struck a perfect balance between Yoshitaka Amano’s ethereal fantasy aesthetic and the super-deformed charm of earlier Final Fantasy games. The result was a cast that felt both timeless and distinctly different from the more realistic direction Final Fantasy 7 and 8 had taken.
But Itahana’s contributions to Square Enix extended far beyond that single PlayStation classic. He served as the main character designer for the entire Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series and the Chocobo spin-off games, including Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon. He directed Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii, designed DLC costumes for Final Fantasy 13-2, contributed character work to Mobius Final Fantasy, and even provided art for Final Fantasy 14. Most recently, he designed one of Sphene’s outfits in Final Fantasy 14’s Dawntrail expansion and created the key art for patch 7.3.
Why He Decided to Leave Now
In his announcement message shared in both Japanese and English, Itahana explained that the decision came after serious reflection on how to sustain his drawing career for many years to come. The 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy 9 in 2025 marked a significant milestone that prompted him to think about his artistic future. Square Enix went all out for the celebration with new illustrations, vinyl records, merchandise, exhibitions, cafe collaborations, and a crossover with the mobile game Another Eden.
With all that illustration work and supervision related to the anniversary now complete, Itahana felt a profound sense of accomplishment. He stated this was the right moment to draw a line under this chapter and take on new challenges. The freelance route will give him creative flexibility to apply his experience across a wider variety of projects beyond Square Enix’s ecosystem, potentially including work for other game studios, anime productions, or completely independent ventures.
What This Means for the FF9 Remake
Here’s where things get interesting. The Final Fantasy 9 remake has been one of gaming’s worst-kept secrets since it appeared in the infamous 2021 Nvidia GeForce Now database leak. That leak also included Chrono Cross Remaster, Kingdom Hearts 4, and the Final Fantasy 7 Remake PC version, all of which have since been officially announced or released. Multiple credible leakers, including Nate the Hate, have stated the FF9 remake remains in active development, with some suggesting a potential 2026 release window.
Itahana’s departure raises questions about his involvement with that rumored remake. If the project exists and is genuinely in active development, would Square Enix let its original character designer leave without securing his contributions? It’s possible all his character design work for the remake was completed before he left, or that Square Enix has negotiated a freelance contract for his continued involvement. Character designers typically provide updated designs, reference materials, and guidance for translating 2D artwork into modern 3D models even after the initial concept phase.
The Freelance Advantage
Interestingly, being freelance might actually make Itahana more available for specific projects rather than less. As a full-time Square Enix employee, his time was divided between multiple ongoing projects like Final Fantasy 14’s regular content updates. As a freelancer, he can dedicate focused periods to remake consultation work without the administrative overhead of being a company employee. Other game companies have successfully worked with freelance original creators on remake projects, so this arrangement isn’t unprecedented.
His Artistic Legacy at Square Enix
Looking back at Itahana’s portfolio reveals an artist who consistently brought warmth and personality to his character designs. The Crystal Chronicles series featured his signature style, combining cute proportions with detailed costume work that made even minor NPCs feel distinct. His Chocobo designs managed to take Final Fantasy’s iconic bird creatures and give them expressive faces and body language that carried entire games.
In a 2019 interview with Polygon, Itahana discussed his design philosophy, explaining how he tries to create characters that feel both fantastical and relatable. That philosophy shines through in Final Fantasy 9’s cast, where you have everything from the literally inhuman Quina to the tragically sympathetic Vivi to the relatively grounded Steiner. Each character reads visually at a glance while maintaining enough detail to reward closer examination.
What Comes Next
Itahana emphasized in his announcement that he’s still finding his way as a newly independent artist, listening to advice and learning from senior freelance illustrators. He’s asked fans to support him if they happen to come across his work somewhere, suggesting he’s open to various types of projects. Given his reputation and portfolio, job offers are probably already flooding in from multiple directions.
The gaming industry has seen several high-profile creatives go freelance in recent years, often with positive results. Hironobu Sakaguchi, the father of Final Fantasy, left Square Enix back in 2003 and founded Mistwalker, creating games like Blue Dragon and Fantasian. Tetsuya Takahashi departed to form Monolith Soft, which gave us the Xenoblade Chronicles series. While Itahana isn’t starting a studio, his freelance status could lead to collaborations that wouldn’t have been possible while locked into Square Enix’s corporate structure.
The Timing Question
Some fans have speculated whether Itahana’s departure signals trouble with the rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake. After all, why would Square Enix’s original character designer leave right when a remake of his most famous work might be in development? However, the counter-argument is equally compelling. Maybe his departure now means his remake work is already done. Character designers typically finish their contributions relatively early in a game’s development cycle, providing the foundation that 3D modelers and animators build upon.
The FF9 remake rumors have been remarkably persistent despite Square Enix’s absolute silence. A French animated series based on the game was announced in 2021, seemingly died when Cyber Group Studios closed in early 2025, and then reportedly got revived by Euro Visual with a 2028 target release date. That level of multimedia expansion usually accompanies major game releases, similar to how Castlevania got a Netflix series alongside various game re-releases and remakes.
FAQs About Toshiyuki Itahana Leaving Square Enix
Who is Toshiyuki Itahana?
Toshiyuki Itahana is a character designer and illustrator best known for creating the iconic cast of Final Fantasy 9. He also designed characters for the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series, Chocobo games, and contributed art to multiple other Square Enix titles during his 30-plus years at the company.
When did Itahana leave Square Enix?
Itahana departed Square Enix at the end of 2025, announcing the move publicly on January 5, 2026. His departure came after completing work related to Final Fantasy 9’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
Why did he leave Square Enix?
In his announcement, Itahana explained that he wanted to ensure he could continue drawing for many years to come and felt it was the right moment to take on new challenges as a freelance illustrator and character designer after fulfilling his anniversary commitments.
What other games did Itahana work on besides Final Fantasy 9?
Itahana designed characters for the Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles series, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon games, contributed to Mobius Final Fantasy, designed DLC costumes for Final Fantasy 13-2, created art for Final Fantasy 14, and directed Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers.
Does this affect the rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake?
The impact is unclear since Square Enix hasn’t officially announced a remake. If the remake exists, Itahana may have already completed his character design contributions, or Square Enix could contract him as a freelancer for continued involvement.
Will Itahana still work on Final Fantasy projects?
As a freelancer, Itahana is open to various projects. He could potentially be contracted for future Final Fantasy work, including the rumored FF9 remake, but nothing has been officially announced regarding his future collaborations.
How long did Itahana work at Square Enix?
Itahana worked at Square Enix for more than 30 years, starting before the Square-Enix merger in 2003. He was part of numerous major projects spanning from the PlayStation era through current-generation titles.
What is he planning to do now?
Itahana will work as a freelance illustrator and character designer, which gives him flexibility to take on diverse projects across gaming, animation, manga, or other creative industries. He’s stated he’s still learning the freelance world and seeking advice from experienced independent artists.
Conclusion
Toshiyuki Itahana leaving Square Enix closes a significant chapter in Final Fantasy history. The artist who gave us Vivi’s existential journey, Zidane’s optimistic energy, and Garnet’s quiet strength is moving on to new creative challenges after three decades of defining some of gaming’s most beloved characters. Whether this affects the long-rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake remains to be seen, but his legacy is already secure. Final Fantasy 9 continues ranking among fans’ favorite entries in the series 25 years later, and those character designs remain as charming and expressive today as they were on the original PlayStation. Whatever Itahana creates next, whether it’s for Square Enix as a freelancer or entirely new projects with different companies, he’s earned the freedom to explore. For fans who grew up with his work, this isn’t really goodbye. It’s more like watching one of Final Fantasy 9’s party members head off on their own adventure after the credits roll, knowing they’ll always carry the memories and connections they made along the way.