Editing Xehanort (section)

==Creation and development==
Xehanort was originally conceptualized by [[Tetsuya Nomura]] as a villain who would only appear in the video game ''[[Kingdom Hearts (video game)|Kingdom Hearts]]''. However, when [[Square Enix]] was given the approval to make the sequel ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', Nomura put together an outline for the character. He was often told by the [[manga]] artist that they felt "the characters come alive however they want", and some parts did change from their original conceptualization. Nomura conceived Xehanort as a character which the players study throughout each installment of the series. Ansem symbolizes the heart while Xemnas symbolizes the body, leading to the focus of the original Xehanort in the future titles. In retrospect, Nomura believes this was properly explored, as each game builds up Xehanort's character until his full introduction.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2022/06/14/nomura-reveals-more-on-kingdom-hearts-iv-and-the-series-future-with|title=Nomura Reveals More On Kingdom Hearts IV And The Series' Future With Final Fantasy|magazine=Game Informer|access-date=June 14, 2022|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810025629/https://www.gameinformer.com/exclusive-interview/2022/06/14/nomura-reveals-more-on-kingdom-hearts-iv-and-the-series-future-with|url-status=live}}</ref>

The biggest change to Xehanort's character in ''Kingdom Hearts II'' is how his doppelganger, the Heartless Ansem Seeker of Darkness, was revised to feel more like an imposter of the real [[Ansem the Wise]], with more villainous traits.<ref name="IIIultimania">{{cite book|title=Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania|publisher=Square Enix|year=2019}}</ref> ''Kingdom Hearts II'' features another Xehanort doppelganger, the Nobody Xemnas, who is the leader of Organization XIII. The concept of Organization XIII began with Xemnas as the first member and [[Roxas (Kingdom Hearts)|Roxas]], [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]]'s Nobody, as the last. The name of each Organization member is an anagram of their original name prior to becoming a Nobody with the addition of the letter "X", which is revealed in ''[[Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep]]'' to be derived from the [[Universe of Kingdom Hearts#χ-blade|χ-blade]].

The organization's members wear black, hooded coats that shield them from the corrosive effect of prolonged use of the Corridors of Darkness, portals they use to traverse among worlds.<ref name="KH-NI-KHIIU">{{cite web| title = Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania&nbsp;— Tetsuya Nomura Interview| url = http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI/KH2U| publisher = Kingdom Hearts Ultimania| access-date = 2007-08-10| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070710094227/http://www.kh2.co.uk/?page=NI%2FKH2U| archive-date = 2007-07-10| url-status = dead}}</ref> Following the release of ''Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix'', Nomura revealed a connection between the cameo characters and Xemnas, but wanted to leave it up to people's imagination, as he still could not reveal their identities. This was done through the fight sequence between Sora's predecessors and the unnamed elder, who is later revealed to be Master Xehanort, and his apprentice [[Vanitas (Kingdom Hearts)|Vanitas]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Kingdom Hearts Another Report (Included with the video game Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix) |date=March 2007|language=ja | publisher=Square Enix }}</ref>

Nomura explained that Master Xehanort wishes to bring back the Keyblade War and see what happens afterward with his own eyes. However, by the time he finds a way to accomplish this, he will only have a few years left to live. Since he wants to become young again, he finds [[Terra (Kingdom Hearts)|Terra]] and defeats him with darkness so he can take his body. This is the Xehanort that Ansem the Wise takes in and makes his apprentice. In response to rumors saying that Sora's story would end in ''Kingdom Hearts III'', Nomura answered that Sora is the protagonist of the series and that Xehanort's arc would end in such a title.<ref name="bbs">{{cite book |script-title=ja:キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ アルティマニア|trans-title=Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Ultimania|year=2010 |isbn=978-4-7575-2788-1 |language=ja | publisher=Square Enix |pages=640–649}}</ref> In retrospect, Nomura said it was difficult to enjoy Sora's side of the story and instead like Xehanort's character when making the narrative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/6/14/17462782/kingdom-hearts-3-confusing-story-nomura-e3|title=Even Kingdom Hearts' creator gets a little confused about the story sometimes|website=Verge|date=14 June 2018|accessdate=March 2, 2022|archive-date=2 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302182655/https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/6/14/17462782/kingdom-hearts-3-confusing-story-nomura-e3|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:Akio Otsuka 2018.jpg|thumb|Akio Otsuka often voices Xehanort and Ansem in Japanese, taking over as the elder Xehanort following his father's death.]]
[[Billy Zane]] voiced Ansem in the first game. He was replaced by [[Richard Epcar]] for the later titles. Reflecting on his work, Epcar enjoyed his works in the ''Kingdom Hearts'' franchise due to all the people he met.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbiPUhg_3_Q|title=Richard Epcar Chats Kingdom Hearts, Anime, and Voice Acting - Definitive Discussion REBOOTED|website=Youtube|author=JukeJames Lugo|date=16 November 2019 |accessdate=March 4, 2022|archive-date=March 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304221632/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbiPUhg_3_Q|url-status=live}}</ref> Xemnas was voiced by [[Norio Wakamoto]] in Japanese and [[Paul St. Peter]] in English. Peter felt that the quick audition led to a positive response from the staff. He came to enjoy voicing Xemnas alongside Wormmon from ''[[Digimon Adventure 02]]''. He found the role challenging as he had to work as carefully as Wakamoto.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vZKlFd_W6M|title=Paul St. Peter Interview: Voice of Xemnas - Kingdom Hearts (2012)|website=Youtube|author=HMK|date=15 August 2014 |accessdate=March 4, 2022|archive-date=June 30, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630113323/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vZKlFd_W6M|url-status=live}}</ref>

For the eventual release of ''Birth by Sleep'', [[Ryōtarō Okiayu]] was chosen as Terra's Japanese voice as the staff wanted an actor who sounded similar to [[Chikao Ōtsuka]], Xehanort's original voice, and [[Akio Ōtsuka]], Xehanort's later voice who also voiced the villain while using Terra's body. The staff found Chikao's to be a dry sort of voice, and Akio's a deep, resonating sort of voice, and liked how Okiayu bore elements from both actors. This eventually led to the possession of Terra's body in the prequel by Xehanort and how they would become the villains from the main games. Nomura claims a hidden message in Xehanort's last lines when he hints that somebody else is in Terra's heart. Ōtsuka died during the development of ''Kingdom Hears III''. At the time, no substitute voice actor had been chosen, so the staff thought that a line they had recorded previously was playing, but it turned out that Akio Otsuka, the voice actor for Ansem that took Xehanort's identity, was playing the part. The staff, surprised by how uncomfortable they felt, decided to ask him to play the role.<ref>{{cite book|title=Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania|publisher=Square Enix|year=2019|page=51}}</ref> Xehanort was voiced in English by [[Leonard Nimoy]] in ''Birth by Sleep'' and ''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance|Dream Drop Distance]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://square-enix-games.com/es_ES/news/voice-talent-kingdom-hearts-3d|title=The Voice Talent of KINGDOM HEARTS 3D|website=Square Enix|accessdate=March 4, 2022|archive-date=April 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423214518/https://square-enix-games.com/es_ES/news/voice-talent-kingdom-hearts-3d|url-status=live}}</ref> This was an intentional casting call from Nomura, a fan of ''[[Star Trek]]'' and ''[[Star Wars]]'', as Xehanort's rival, [[Eraqus]], is voiced by [[Mark Hamill]]. Following Nimoy's death in 2015, [[Rutger Hauer]] assumed the role in ''Kingdom Hearts III''. Hauer died in July 2019, leading [[Christopher Lloyd]] to replace him in the ''Re:Mind'' DLC and ''Melody of Memory''.

Xehanort's younger self is voiced by Takanori Okuda and [[Benjamin Diskin]]. Diskin commented he had to manage his pitch to sound as young as Okuda. As a result, Diskin was afraid about his performance due to how the early trailers of ''Kingdom Hearts III'' could be received. Diskin had played the numbered titles of the franchise and thus had little knowledge about his character, since Xehanort's identity was primarily explored in the non-numbered games. Throughout the recording of ''Dream Drop Distance'', no one told him what his character was going through, or what his motivations were. As a result, Diskin had little understanding of the narrative.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3ciryc/iama_voice_actor_ben_diskin_ama/|title=IamA Voice Actor (Ben Diskin) AMA|website=Reddit|author=Diskin, Benjamin|date=8 July 2015|accessdate=March 4, 2022|archive-date=4 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304221437/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/3ciryc/iama_voice_actor_ben_diskin_ama/|url-status=live}}</ref>