Kairi

> “*Don't ever forget. Wherever you go, I'm always with you.*”
>
>

*- Kairi*

Kairi is a protagonist and a member of The New Action Squad.

## Character Information

### Personality

Gentle, compassionate, friendly, kind, determined, courageous, wise, spunky, adventurous, cheerful, upbeat, loyal, headstrong, brave

### Goal

To go on an adventure to outside worlds/To protect the universe from evil.

## **BIOGRAPHY**

Kairi is a Princess of Heart, one of seven maidens whose hearts hold no darkness but only pure light, and is needed to open the Final Keyhole to Kingdom Hearts.

She is Sora and Riku's childhood friend. As one of the seven princesses, she became a target of the forces of darkness, but thankfully Sora and Riku came to the rescue. She was waiting in the Destiny Islands for their safe return.

Outside of Destiny Islands, she is also a member of The New Action Squad.

## **APPEARANCE**

Kairi is a beautiful young woman of average stature with brownish-auburn hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. She is always seen sporting a necklace with a silver bead, which contains a protective spell on it placed by Aqua. Kairi displays a fondness for pink, white, and purple, wearing it in all of her casual clothing.

At age 14, during the events of *Kingdom Hearts*, she wears a white top with a black one underneath, purple shorts underneath a purple skirt with a blue belt, and white shoes. She also wears a black choker, a yellow wristband as well as a purple armband on her left arm and a pair of bracelets on her right arm.

In *Kingdom Hearts II*, Kairi becomes taller while her hair becomes longer and darker, and her body has developed into that of a young woman. Her main outfit is a pink strapless mini-dress made up of three zippers as well as a white top underneath her mini-dress with a black hood. She also sports three bracelets on her left wrist, a black belt with a bag attachment, and lilac Converse sneakers with black laces.

In *Kingdom Hearts III*; Kairi has shorter hair, and wears a pink and black sleeveless dress with a hood, and also wears black shoes.

As a child, she wore her hair short, and wore a white and purple sundress with flower designs, with matching slip-on sandals.

## **PERSONALITY**

Kairi is caring, kindhearted, wise, supportive, and outspoken, although she quickly becomes determined and courageous when someone she cares about is in danger. Her sociable, charismatic nature enables her to quickly befriend others comparable to Sora's ability. At fourteen years old, Kairi was somewhat brash and bold, but by *KH II*, she has become more mature, responsible, and wise, although she still retains her tomboyishness and bravery.

Kairi is usually optimistic and upbeat, but she can be rather stubborn sometimes. When faced with a challenge and to protect her friends, Kairi becomes quite loyal and headstrong.

## **TRIVIA**

* Kairi's name is derived from the Japanese word for "sea" (海), as part of the name theme she shares with Riku and Sora. Together, their names make up "Land, Sea, Sky".
* Kairi is considered by many as the first Disney Princess to originate from a video game. Though she has been considered to be an unofficial Disney Princess, and she is an unofficial member of the Disney Princess franchise.
* The secret ending of *Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance* foreshadowed that Kairi would become a Guardian of Light (and with her doubling as a Guardian and a Princess, that would make thirteen beings of light in total (the other six Princesses and the other six Guardians) which would be an even match against Master Xehanort's thirteen darknesses). However, Nomura has stated that players will be surprised by who the lights are, meaning the revelation could be a double bluff.
* Kairi's first English voice actress, Hayden Panettiere, has jokingly said that she wishes she had Kairi's body.
* Her four-year-old self is voiced by Ariel Winter, who would later voice another unofficial Disney Princess, *Sofia the First.*
* In *Kingdom Hearts II*, before Luxord's battle, in the cutscene shows Sora and the gang as well as Kairi running, you only see the four running then Kairi appears out of nowhere, which is just a simple glitch.
* In *Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep,* when Mickey speaks to Aqua about protecting Kairi you can see Kairi is on Aqua's right but another one is behind her leg this is a glitch.