Analysis on Kairi

[Ephemera 37]

I've seen a lot of people hate on Kairi, and while many people hate on her, not everyone is in 100% agreement on "why" she's hated on. I do know one thing from being in the background of the KH fanbase, and that is that the hate for Kairi never really stemmed from Kingdom Hearts or Chain of Memories, her hate was loud and clear in Kingdom Hearts 2. And after fully looking into it, i think i found out why the hate is so strong.

 

Lets start off with what we were introduced with Kairi. Whether she was important in the story or not, it was irrelevant. From what we were introduced early in Kingdom Hearts was that she was Sora's friend (and possibly love interest). Now with that said, as Sora's friend/potential love interest, she showed a lot of it. 

 

Kingdom Hearts

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kingdom-hearts/images/8/86/Kairi_HD_1.5_ReMIX.png/revision/latest?cb=20130426200338&path-prefix=de

 

First, i want to talk about her design. Kairi's looks pretty interesting in the first game. She has very bright blue eyes, short bright red hair and has a specific smile you dont see the other characters have. Her choice of clothes are also pretty interesting. She wears white spagetti strap top with purple straps, her shoes match her top which are also white with purple linen and wears a purple skirt. Looking at Kairi you don't get the sense of someone being heroic or incredibly relevant character, but has a lot of personality. 

 

One of the first comments we hear from her is "Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here." which really tells us a lot. She is comfortable and finds Sora approachable. In the first few scenes she was already showing off her character as Sora's friend. However, the beginning of Kingdom hearts was one of the most ethereal scenes. We also learn that she changed Sora and Riku's perspective by being someone from another world. What makes her interesting how she plays her jokes. At one point she says, "Sora, let's take the raft and go—just the two of us!" which some may suggest this was a shot against Riku, but i personally believe it speaks more on how she views Sora. 

 

With that being said, we all know what happens. Destiny's Island is no more, Kairi disappears and becomes a search party for her. So its hard to judge her character from this point on when she doesn't have a heart. But that doesn't mean she stops shining. After regaining her heart, she immediately becomes aware of the situation when she says "Sora, are you really— No. It can't be! I won’t let him go!" She continues to show off more of her connection with Sora by being able to identify Sora even after turning into a Heartless. Once returning to safety, she continues to wanting to help. 

 

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Kairi wasn't seen from most of the game, but her importance to Sora was clear when he fought so hard to find Namine only to realize she was replacing Kairi (and in some part, Riku) with him. 

 

Kingdom Hearts II

Lets now compare Kairi's design with her new design. She is now slightly more tan, her eyes have become darker, and her hair although is still red, is only bright in certain CGI cutscenes such as the opening. I dont know if anyone else noticed, but her facial expressions are dull and she is no longer as expressive as she was in Kingdom Hearts. She now wears a white top (similar to Namine's) and a pink dress full of zippers and straps (something Nomura is often criticized for). Its definitely flashier for Kairi but given her personality traits, the two just dont combine and making her look like an inconsistent character. Also to contrast her lacking design, Sora and Riku's gets better. Riku still retains his bright eyes, spiky hair and has received a more punkish outfit. 

 

Kingdom Hearts II is where the hate begins. I hear a lot of times is because she's irrelevant or that she doesn't hold a more important role (i'll explain why those two aren't exactly synonymous). Personally, i believe its how her character was treated. Compared to the fun, interesting, and dare i say "funny" version of Kairi that we experienced in Kingdom Hearts, KH2 shows a completely different side, she is dull, and no longer fun. The voice actor behind her seems to sound tired the majority of the time. 

 

She was mostly irrelevant and only starting to remember Sora (despite everyone else forgetting for the sake of plot). She decided not to go on the island until she reunited with this mysterious person.She mummers later on that maybe waiting isn't good enough. So here's where things really get irritating. She conveniently gets an opportunity by the enemy, Axel in which she willingly goes into the corridor. Hardly any development or positive aspects being shown about her character. She seems to do it mostly to get away from Axel, but also Sora didn't come in mind (or she didn't make it clear that was her goal). She inevitably gets captured anyways without much of a fight only to be rescued again by her Nobody, Namine. 

 

One of the things i want to point out as well is when she gets to wield a keyblade and fights off a couple of heartless. That scene isn't exactly bad but after a reunion and the fact that she was being a burdon most of the time, the comment she says "This time... I'LL fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us! C'mon, Riku!". 

 

Kairi then fades back into the background. One of the other aspects i think fuels her hate among fans is how she conveniently was waiting for Sora and Riku in Destiny's Island. Sure, no fan ever mentions that as one of the reasons, but its a piece to the bigger issue. So in turn i dont think Kairi si a bad character because she's not useful, or relevant. To me, Kairi has always been important enough to Sora, and that was enough. But since KH2, Kairi's character seemed more blank, yet it was trying to tell players that she was relevant and that may have pissed players off when she wasn't all that useful (unlike KH1 where she wasn't trying to say she was useful and what little she did still stuck). 

 

 

Now that Kairi has a keyblade, i dont really mind, but it seems like they are trying to masquerade her character with a more relevant role in the plot. Since Riku and Sora got redesigned (with Riku having a design closer to Kh1) i hope that kairi regains a design closer to kh1 including eye color, hair color, and facial expressions back.


Well thats my analysis.......this is just what i can understand as to why fans can hate her and how i can see the hate, but reasoning is bigger.
 

[Pokemoncuzzie 271]

Fair analysis. Honestly I don't know what happened with Kairi because they had an amazing female protagonist in the form of Aqua. Hopefully this helps them clear up Kairi's role and maybe she will actually get to fight alongside Sora this time

[KeybladeLordCheeseCurd 1,542]

Fair analysis. Honestly I don't know what happened with Kairi because they had an amazing female protagonist in the form of Aqua. Hopefully this helps them clear up Kairi's role and maybe she will actually get to fight alongside Sora this time

Heres what I think happened. Someone snuck in and changed the script hoping no one would notice.Or maybe Didney did it.

[Komali 594]

Yeah, KH2 did everything wrong with Kairi. A stupid, helpless girl with a lack of personality.

But when I look at her through Sora's eyes, I see a beautiful, self-conscious girl and I want to spend the rest of my life with her.

Hopefully she will get more screentime and will be useful in KH3.

[Psychic_Ketchup 367]

I agree, KH2 Kairi was less relevant and interesting. My headcanon is that she got a bit traumatized after the events of KH1, and without her two best friends to help her, she started acting as if she just had a lobotomy.

[kingdomlanelover 494]

I like your analysis. Although, I think you're not looking at Kairi fairly. Kairi in KH2 was burdened by forgetting one of her best friends. I'm sure she couldn't even tell anyone on the islands what she had experienced in Kingdom Hearts 1 because they all would think she was crazy. When the moment came for her to go out looking for Sora, she went with no hesitation. Sure, she may have gotten captured, but she didn't have a weapon at that point. It wasn't until Riku gave her a keyblade that she started going out, being bold, and killing heartless trying to get to Sora. Kingdom Hearts is not Kairi's story, it's Sora's, and because of this, she doesn't get much screen time. I agree that hopefully she will be more involved in Kingdom Hearts 3. But it's not her fault! lol  

[matteso586 115]

I don't see what the hates all about. And being helpless is what she hates.

[Ephemera 37]

I like your analysis. Although, I think you're not looking at Kairi fairly. Kairi in KH2 was burdened by forgetting one of her best friends. I'm sure she couldn't even tell anyone on the islands what she had experienced in Kingdom Hearts 1 because they all would think she was crazy. When the moment came for her to go out looking for Sora, she went with no hesitation. Sure, she may have gotten captured, but she didn't have a weapon at that point. It wasn't until Riku gave her a keyblade that she started going out, being bold, and killing heartless trying to get to Sora. Kingdom Hearts is not Kairi's story, it's Sora's, and because of this, she doesn't get much screen time. I agree that hopefully she will be more involved in Kingdom Hearts 3. But it's not her fault! lol  

The bigger problem i find with Kairi in Kingdom Hearts 2 was more on the lines of her drastic personality changes. Kairi in kingdom hearts 1 was distinguishable and interesting despite being captured. Nomura in an interview claims she matured, but she really just had a personality shift. Kairi in Kingdom hearts 2 just stares at the beach and only thinks about him. Regardless of "when" she went to look for Sora, there could've been more to build up on it. For example, how she spent her time between kh1 and kh2. 

 

She decided to go find Sora, how was she going to do it? At least make another kh1 reference where she builds a raft to get to another world. And the fact that she has a weapon shouldn't make her interesting at all. Do all characters need to fight in order to be interesting? Namine is a very important character and she is important NOT because she can fight. 

[KairiKeybasH 851]

I've seen a lot of people hate on Kairi, and while many people hate on her, not everyone is in 100% agreement on "why" she's hated on. I do know one thing from being in the background of the KH fanbase, and that is that the hate for Kairi never really stemmed from Kingdom Hearts or Chain of Memories, her hate was loud and clear in Kingdom Hearts 2. And after fully looking into it, i think i found out why the hate is so strong.

 

Lets start off with what we were introduced with Kairi. Whether she was important in the story or not, it was irrelevant. From what we were introduced early in Kingdom Hearts was that she was Sora's friend (and possibly love interest). Now with that said, as Sora's friend/potential love interest, she showed a lot of it. 

 

Kingdom Hearts

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/kingdom-hearts/images/8/86/Kairi_HD_1.5_ReMIX.png/revision/latest?cb=20130426200338&path-prefix=de

 

First, i want to talk about her design. Kairi's looks pretty interesting in the first game. She has very bright blue eyes, short bright red hair and has a specific smile you dont see the other characters have. Her choice of clothes are also pretty interesting. She wears white spagetti strap top with purple straps, her shoes match her top which are also white with purple linen and wears a purple skirt. Looking at Kairi you don't get the sense of someone being heroic or incredibly relevant character, but has a lot of personality. 

 

One of the first comments we hear from her is "Sora, you lazy bum. I knew that I'd find you snoozing down here." which really tells us a lot. She is comfortable and finds Sora approachable. In the first few scenes she was already showing off her character as Sora's friend. However, the beginning of Kingdom hearts was one of the most ethereal scenes. We also learn that she changed Sora and Riku's perspective by being someone from another world. What makes her interesting how she plays her jokes. At one point she says, "Sora, let's take the raft and go—just the two of us!" which some may suggest this was a shot against Riku, but i personally believe it speaks more on how she views Sora. 

 

With that being said, we all know what happens. Destiny's Island is no more, Kairi disappears and becomes a search party for her. So its hard to judge her character from this point on when she doesn't have a heart. But that doesn't mean she stops shining. After regaining her heart, she immediately becomes aware of the situation when she says "Sora, are you really— No. It can't be! I won’t let him go!" She continues to show off more of her connection with Sora by being able to identify Sora even after turning into a Heartless. Once returning to safety, she continues to wanting to help. 

 

Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

Kairi wasn't seen from most of the game, but her importance to Sora was clear when he fought so hard to find Namine only to realize she was replacing Kairi (and in some part, Riku) with him. 

 

Kingdom Hearts II

Lets now compare Kairi's design with her new design. She is now slightly more tan, her eyes have become darker, and her hair although is still red, is only bright in certain CGI cutscenes such as the opening. I dont know if anyone else noticed, but her facial expressions are dull and she is no longer as expressive as she was in Kingdom Hearts. She now wears a white top (similar to Namine's) and a pink dress full of zippers and straps (something Nomura is often criticized for). Its definitely flashier for Kairi but given her personality traits, the two just dont combine and making her look like an inconsistent character. Also to contrast her lacking design, Sora and Riku's gets better. Riku still retains his bright eyes, spiky hair and has received a more punkish outfit. 

 

Kingdom Hearts II is where the hate begins. I hear a lot of times is because she's irrelevant or that she doesn't hold a more important role (i'll explain why those two aren't exactly synonymous). Personally, i believe its how her character was treated. Compared to the fun, interesting, and dare i say "funny" version of Kairi that we experienced in Kingdom Hearts, KH2 shows a completely different side, she is dull, and no longer fun. The voice actor behind her seems to sound tired the majority of the time. 

 

She was mostly irrelevant and only starting to remember Sora (despite everyone else forgetting for the sake of plot). She decided not to go on the island until she reunited with this mysterious person.She mummers later on that maybe waiting isn't good enough. So here's where things really get irritating. She conveniently gets an opportunity by the enemy, Axel in which she willingly goes into the corridor. Hardly any development or positive aspects being shown about her character. She seems to do it mostly to get away from Axel, but also Sora didn't come in mind (or she didn't make it clear that was her goal). She inevitably gets captured anyways without much of a fight only to be rescued again by her Nobody, Namine. 

 

One of the things i want to point out as well is when she gets to wield a keyblade and fights off a couple of heartless. That scene isn't exactly bad but after a reunion and the fact that she was being a burdon most of the time, the comment she says "This time... I'LL fight. You know Sora's completely hopeless without us! C'mon, Riku!". 

 

Kairi then fades back into the background. One of the other aspects i think fuels her hate among fans is how she conveniently was waiting for Sora and Riku in Destiny's Island. Sure, no fan ever mentions that as one of the reasons, but its a piece to the bigger issue. So in turn i dont think Kairi si a bad character because she's not useful, or relevant. To me, Kairi has always been important enough to Sora, and that was enough. But since KH2, Kairi's character seemed more blank, yet it was trying to tell players that she was relevant and that may have pissed players off when she wasn't all that useful (unlike KH1 where she wasn't trying to say she was useful and what little she did still stuck). 

 

 

Now that Kairi has a keyblade, i dont really mind, but it seems like they are trying to masquerade her character with a more relevant role in the plot. Since Riku and Sora got redesigned (with Riku having a design closer to Kh1) i hope that kairi regains a design closer to kh1 including eye color, hair color, and facial expressions back.

 

 

Well thats my analysis.......this is just what i can understand as to why fans can hate her and how i can see the hate, but reasoning is bigger.

 

The First Game i see that she had more personality...in the second game meh...she was ok, she was not that bad.

 

Don't get me started with "i hate her for the Stupidest of Reasons".

Edited August 12, 2015 by MarieltheKeybasHGirl

[Ephemera 37]

i think its a series of small (yet valid) reasons that build up a very strong hate.....A lot of people think that giving her a keyblade will solve the problem. But i think its the fact that she lacks personality, and uniqueness. 

 

Kairi is very close to being Aqua (which also lacks any unique personality features)

[KairiKeybasH 851]

i think its a series of small (yet valid) reasons that build up a very strong hate.....A lot of people think that giving her a keyblade will solve the problem. But i think its the fact that she lacks personality, and uniqueness. 

 

Kairi is very close to being Aqua (which also lacks any unique personality features)

This is why i don't like about Kairi and KH Fans in general.

 

Forcing her to become playable.

Edited October 25, 2015 by MarieltheKeybasHGirl

[X_Master95 3]

It's funny cause Kairi would probably agree with these responses. :happy:  

[The Transcendent Key 12,109]

This is a pretty thorough analysis, and I think that the reason there's so much hate for Kairi's character is because of the whole "damsel in distress" trope.  Granted, in KHI she has her heart taken from her, so she can't do anything, but in Kingdom Hearts II, she decides to take matters into her own hands!  What I think that may redeem Kairi is character development.  What I'm hoping for is that Kingdom Hearts III gives Kairi more screen time, therefore allowing us to see what she thinks of this whole situation that's been recurrent in the Xehanort Saga, and I'd like to see her thoughts about the responsibilities of being a Princess Of Heart, ya know?  Being one such Princess must definitely be a hard thing to do, so I want to see how she shoulders that responsibility!  And of course, more moments between her and Sora would also be awesome!  Overall, I want Kairi to really shine!  I love her character, and I really wish people didn't hate on her so much!  I'm very much hoping Kingdom Hearts III can serve as the game that develops Kairi greatly as a character!

Edited November 1, 2015 by The Transcendent Key