Archive:Haley Joel Osment Leads All-Star Voice Cast for Square and Disney's "Kingdom Hearts"

"An Amazing New Adventure From The Creators of FINAL FANTASY®"

LOS ANGELES, Calif., May 14, 2002 - Square Co., Ltd., (Square) and Disney Interactive today announced the all-star voice cast for KINGDOM HEARTS, the 3D action role-playing game for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The player will assume the role of the lead character, Sora, voiced by Haley Joel Osment ("The Sixth Sense," "A.I. Artificial Intelligence"). Osment will lead an all-star voice cast, which includes David Gallagher ("Seventh Heaven") as Riku and Hayden Panettiere ("Ally McBeal," "Remember the Titans") as Kairi. KINGDOM HEARTS will also feature the voice talents of Sean Astin ("The Lord of the Rings," "Rudy"), Lance Bass (member of *NSYNC), David Boreanaz ("Angel," "Valentine"), Mandy Moore ("A Walk to Remember," "The Princess Diaries") and Christy Romano ("Even Stevens," "Kim Possible"). In addition, many of the original film star voice actors are reprising their role for this project.

KINGDOM HEARTS is the first project between Square and Disney Interactive, combining classic Disney characters and worlds with newly introduced characters and environments created in the renowned Square style. New Disney characters making their debut in KINGDOM HEARTS—Sora, Riku, Kairi and the Heartless—are designed by Square's Tetsuya Nomura, director and character designer of KINGDOM HEARTS, best known for his creations in the breakthrough titles FINAL FANTASY VII, VIII, and X.

KINGDOM HEARTS is scheduled for release this fall in North America. Combining Square's award-wiming game design and Disney's legendary cast of characters has brought upon the creation of a game that gives players a new opportunity to enjoy and experience with many of Disney's most adored properties. This exceptional blend of two companies will deliver a unique interactive gaming experience that melds Square and Disney entertainment legacies of animation, design, storγ-telling and character development.

"With the immense success of the recent Japanese release, I am certain that Kingdom Hearts will be as well received in the US," said Nomura. "I am confident that everyone who plays this game will have an incredible experience."

KINGDOM HEARTS follows the story of 14-year old Sora, who, while searching for his friends Riku and Kairi, in a strange and mysterious land, meets Court Wizard Donald and Captain Goofy, protectors of the Disney Castle. Donald and Goofy are on a mission to find King Mickey. The three learn of ominous creatures known as the Heartless—beings without hearts derived from an unknown dimension and the perpetrators of the devastating storm. Upon discovering the link between the Heartless, the storm and the disappearance of King Mickey, Sora, Donald and Goofy join forces to recover Sora's friends, return the King to his right position and save the universe from the Heartless. KINGDOM HEARTS is an epic tale of adventure, heroism and, ultimately, the sacrifice of what is held dearest for the greater good.

For the first time, multiple Disney characters and worlds co-exist in one interactive product. More than l00 Disney characters appear in the game including Jafar and Aladdin from Disney's Aladdin, Clayton and Tarzan from Disney's Tarzan™, Hades and Hercules from Hercules, The Queen of Hearts and Alice from Disney's Alice in Wonderland, Oogie Boogie and Jack Skellington from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and Simba from Disney's The Lion King. In addition, FINAL FANTASY characters, including Cloud from FINAL FANTASY VII, Squall from FINAL FANTASY VIII, Tidus and Wakka from FENAL FANTASY X along with others will make special guest appearances. There will also be new features added to KINGDOM HEARTS exclusively for the North American release that will bring additional challenges to the player, further enhancing gameplay.

The action-packed game features a real-time battle system that incorporates innovative new elements with traditional RPG elements found in other Square titles. KINGDOM HEARTS fully exploits the technological possibilities of the PlayStation 2, incorporating remarkably crafted 3D and CG worlds. KINGDOM HEARTS is compatible with DUALSHOCK®2 analog controller and will carry an ESRB rating of "E." Additional information on the title can be found at http://www.kingdomhearts.com.

About Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Square Co., Ltd.[edit | edit source]

Square Co., Ltd. is the leading third-party developer and publisher of home video game console software in Japan with annual sales of more than U.S. $614 million consolidated base (based on average annual exchange rate of 123 Japanese Yen per U.S. Dollar during fiscal year ending March 31, 2001) and 900 employees worldwide. Square Co., Ltd. became famous for its role-playing games, including its world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series, which has sold more than 38 million units to date, and now publishes other titles under the SQUARESOFT brand spanning all genres. Square Co., Ltd. is based in Tokyo, Japan, and maintains a branch office in Osaka.

Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is the exclusive publisher of all SQUARESOFT products in North America. Square Co., Ltd. publishes its SQUARESOFT titles in North America through Square Electronic Arts L.L.C., located in Los Angeles, Calif. Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. is a Limited Liability Company established on May l, 1998 by Square Soft, Inc. and Electronic Arts to manage the marketing and distribution of SQUARESOFT products in North America. More information about SQUARESOFT products can be found on the Internet at http://www.playonline.com.

About Disney Interactive[edit | edit source]

Disney Interactive, part of Disney Consumer Products division of The Walt Disney Company, develops, markets and globally distributes a wide variety of interactive entertainment, educational and sports CD-ROMs and video ganes. For more information on Disney Interactive's products visit http://www.disneyinteractive.com.

©2002 Disney. Tarzan™ owned by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and used by permission. © 2002 Edgar Rice Burroughs, Inc. and Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Developed by SQUARESOFT. © 1990, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 Square Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. FINAL FANTASY and the SQUARESOFT logo are registered trademarks of Square Co., Ltd. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

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