Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined's Diorama Art Style and Toriyama's Legacy

Since its reveal, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined has sparked extensive discussion—both positive and critical—regarding its diorama-style art and doll-inspired character designs. This reaction contrasts with the recent Dragon Quest I–III HD remakes, which adopted a more traditional pixel-art aesthetic. Regardless of personal opinions on the doll-like presentation, one fact is clear: the new art style remains highly faithful to the original character designs by the late Japanese manga artist and renowned Dragon Quest series illustrator Akira Toriyama.

Adapting Toriyama's Iconic Vision

In an email interview with Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined producer Takeshi Ichikawa, we delved into the creative process behind translating Toriyama's legendary illustrations into this unique visual style.

"The original Dragon Quest 7 was defined by Akira Toriyama's designs, featuring charming, stylized characters," Ichikawa explained. "We thought about how to convey that charm while still capturing the game's distinctive atmosphere."

From a design standpoint, the remake excels impressively. Even setting aside broader critiques—such as the game's perceived lower difficulty—the execution of Toriyama's aesthetic is outstanding: it modernizes his signature style without losing its core essence.

The Inspiration Behind the Doll-Like Aesthetic

When asked about Square Enix's reasoning for this artistic direction, Ichikawa explained that the decision stemmed from both industry trends and creative aspirations:

• Square Enix had observed the global popularity of films and games featuring doll motifs and wanted to explore that visual concept;
• "At the same time, we noticed that movies and games with doll motifs were well-received globally, which inspired us to merge this idea with Dragon Quest 7's character designs," he shared;
• "We felt this approach would create a visually engaging style, leading to our choice of the hand-crafted aesthetic."

A Contemporary Representation—Not a Replacement

Importantly, Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined is deliberately framed not as a supplement or improvement to previous versions of the classic JRPG, but rather as a standalone representation of the game for today's audience.