Naoki Yoshida's "Leveling Up" panel at Anime Expo 2025 offered a fascinating look into the mind of the celebrated Final Fantasy XIV director and Final Fantasy XVI producer. From his childhood influences in anime and manga to his illustrious career in game development, Yoshida provided an engaging and often humorous journey through the inspirations that shaped his creative vision.

Early Inspirations: Anime, Manga, and Childhood Dreams

Born on May 1st, 1973, making him 52 years old at the time of the panel, Yoshida revealed that his early life was deeply immersed in various forms of storytelling. "I grew up reading manga, watching anime, and reading mystery novels," he shared, humorously noting, "Do I not look like a sports person?" He clarified that he was indeed quite active, playing baseball throughout middle school and continuing to swim, run track, and now enjoys basketball and snowboarding. He even expressed a desire to snowboard in America, asking for recommendations for good mountains.

Yoshida's earliest anime influences painted a vivid picture of his formative years:

• Combattler V: This super robot anime captivated him with its cool-looking combined mechs and "ultimate moves" beyond simple punches and kicks, such as "Thunder attacks and spin attacks." He highlighted its national phenomenon status in Japan and recommended the full CG movie to anyone interested.
• Space Battleship Yamato: Yoshida recalled being "smitten by a Star Child" and finding aliens "so amazing" while watching reruns of this series. He expressed excitement about Studio Khara potentially handling a new Space Battleship Yamato project.
• Galaxy Express 999: This series instilled in him a love for adventure and discovery, making him want to be like the protagonist. He recommended it for its "wonder and discovery."

He also touched upon his experience with Mobile Suit Gundam, a series he's "kind of watched all of." The iconic Gundam pose, where the mech stands with its hands at its sides, left such an impression that he specifically requested his internal team at Square Enix to recreate it for Final Fantasy XIV assets.

A humorous and insightful anecdote came from his childhood attempts to acquire Gundam plastic models. As a child, he'd ask his father to buy him "a good model" not knowing his dad wouldn't understand the nuances of the hobby. His dad would often bring back the wrong one, leading Yoshida to a valuable life lesson: "Whenever I want something or there's something that I like, I should assume that everybody knows about it and understands it. And so I would need to explain it to them so that the other person would understand as well." This applied to his father with Gundam models and later to parents buying the wrong "Family Computer" (Famicom) for their kids.

Middle School to Early Adulthood: Expanding Horizons

As he moved into middle school, Yoshida's influences broadened to include more iconic titles:

• Dragon Ball: A universally recognized title, he stopped playing baseball and started playing soccer due to its influence.
• Space Runaway Ideon: Watching the movie version with his mother in fifth grade led to an awkward but memorable moment when some of the characters' more mature scenes played out. Yoshida highlighted how "what was kind of encapsulated in that scene was supposed to be very memorable."
• Saint Seiya: Serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, this manga fueled discussions among his classmates about the different "Gold Saints" and their horoscope signs. He humorously offered "my condolences to those who are of the Cancers" when discussing the ranking of the characters.
• Space Cobra: This comic, which he read during his "emotional stages of... puberty," caused his female classmates to call him a "pervert," showcasing the impact of its more mature themes.

He emphasized that three titles profoundly influenced him as a creator, aspiring to make something as "ultimate" and "creative" as them one day:

• Berserk: Yoshida confessed to having "memorized all the lines of all the characters." He expressed deep admiration for its creator, Kentaro Miura, and hope for the series' continuation under his assistants. He also revealed that Berserk heavily inspired the "composition of how the villains' character" in Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers.
• Akira: Praising its balanced portrayal of cloth textures and armor, Yoshida recommended Akira for its cool characters and visual style.
• Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind: He lauded this film as a "really good example of like adventure and story into one," inspiring him to create games where players collaborate within a simple yet exciting narrative.

Entering the Industry: Movies and Games

Yoshida's influences continued into his early adulthood and career, particularly in movies and video games. He revealed his appreciation for films like:

• E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial: A movie that still brings him to tears and is a great example of adventure.
• Back to the Future: The first movie especially stood out to him for its "really high quality." He would even "recite the lines along with my friends."
• Die Hard: He expressed his fortune in witnessing these films "premiering on screen as they come out."
• Lethal Weapon: Yoshida recommended watching all four films for a complete understanding of the series. He particularly loved how "something has 'snap' when you put the gun" in the film. While rumors of a reboot exist, he prefers the original legacy to remain untouched.

His gaming influences were equally impactful:

• Commando: Yoshida spent countless hours in arcades, striving to extend his playtime on a single coin.
• Contra: He enjoyed the challenge and depth of arcade games like this.
• Gradius: Another arcade classic that captivated his attention.
• Gain Ground: A Sega title he fondly remembered playing.

The Power of Storytelling and Creative Connection

Even now, Yoshida continues to be influenced by anime, movies, and games. He highlighted his deep connection to Neon Genesis Evangelion, a series he's watched "several times." He shared a memorable anecdote from his early career when his senior colleague, after driving him home at 3 AM, would stop the car in front of his house just to discuss Evangelion. This shared passion, though sometimes inconvenient, deepened his understanding of the profound impact Evangelion had on people. He even mentioned that he hasn't contacted that senior colleague in 30 years but still thanks him for the introduction.

He also expressed his immense respect for One Piece creator Eiichiro Oda, urging him to "please take care of yourself" and "take off many weeks" to ensure the series' continuation.

Finally, Yoshida lauded Christopher Nolan's films, particularly Inception and The Dark Knight trilogy, for their intricate narratives and ability to spark speculation and discussion among viewers. He watches Nolan's films "two to three times a year," always finding something new with each viewing.

Naoki Yoshida's panel was a candid and personal look at the vast tapestry of influences that have woven together to create the celebrated game developer he is today. It highlighted not just the specific titles that inspired him, but also the deeper lessons learned about communication, passion, and the enduring power of compelling storytelling across various mediums.

_{© SQUARE ENIX Final Fantasy XIV}