Final Fantasy IX Artist Toshiyuki Itahana Leaves Square Enix After 30 Plus Years, Shifting to Freelance Work
Toshiyuki Itahana, the Japanese artist and character designer widely recognized by RPG fans for his work across the Final Fantasy series and especially for shaping the character identity of Final Fantasy IX, has confirmed that he has left Square Enix after more than 30 years with the company and will continue his career as a freelance illustrator and character designer. In his farewell message published on his announcement post, Itahana explains that as he began thinking seriously about preparing himself to keep drawing for many years to come, he decided to resign from Square Enix at the end of last year.
Itahana frames the timing around a major milestone for the franchise. He notes that last year marked the 25th anniversary of Final Fantasy IX and describes the celebration as a significant event, adding that he was grateful to see so many people honoring the game. He also states that with the illustration work and supervision related to the anniversary now completed, he feels a strong sense of accomplishment, having fulfilled the role entrusted to him, and that this felt like the right moment to close a chapter and take on new challenges.
From an industry standpoint, this is the kind of departure that lands with extra weight because Itahana is not simply another long tenured creative moving on. Final Fantasy IX has a distinct silhouette and warmth that still stands out in the series lineup, and character design is a major reason why the game remains visually memorable across generations of players. In practical terms, moving to freelance can be an empowering strategic pivot. It gives a veteran creator more flexibility to collaborate across studios, media, and new IP, while still allowing the possibility of future contributions to legacy franchises through contract work, depending on how Square Enix and partners structure projects going forward.
For fans, the timing will inevitably intersect with the ongoing chatter around a possible Final Fantasy IX remake. Those reports and rumors remain unconfirmed publicly, and that makes it impossible to accurately map what Itahana’s transition means for any potential project. His statement specifically ties the milestone work to the 25th anniversary, and that alone is enough to explain the timing. Still, the broader takeaway is clear: one of the defining artistic voices behind Final Fantasy IX is entering a new professional phase, and that can lead to fresh collaborations that may surprise the RPG space in the years ahead.
If a Final Fantasy IX remake is ever formally announced, would you want the art direction to stay extremely faithful to the original character identity, or would you prefer a modern reinterpretation that takes bolder risks?
