| Aqua | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom Hearts character | |
&sq=&lang=&file=File:Kingdom_Hears_Aqua.png) Aqua as seen in Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | |
| First game | Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (2010) |
| Created by | Tetsuya Nomura |
| Designed by | Tetsuya Nomura |
| Voiced by | EN: Willa Holland JA: Megumi Toyoguchi |
| In-universe information | |
| Weapon | Keyblade |
| Home | Land of Departure |
Aqua (Japanese: アクア, Hepburn: Akua) is a character from Square Enix's video game franchise Kingdom Hearts. First making cameo appearances in Kingdom Hearts II and its updated version Final Mix, she is introduced in the prequel Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep alongside her friends Terra and Ventus. The three are Keyblade apprentices training under Master Eraqus, and are the playable protagonists. As the only one among her friends to obtain the rank of Keyblade Master, Aqua is assigned to monitor Terra and Ventus as she combats dark creatures known as the Unversed.
She has also appeared in other Kingdom Hearts titles, including Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue as the main character of the playable episode Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, and as a boss and temporary playable character in Kingdom Hearts III.
Aqua is the only protagonist in Birth by Sleep whom Tetsuya Nomura did not have a point of reference to design from, and thus was designed from scratch. Later in the design process, Nomura became concerned that Aqua would not be popular, which drove his decision to make her more distinct in her personal bravery and combat abilities. Aqua is voiced by Megumi Toyoguchi in Japanese and Willa Holland in English. The character received mixed reviews from game critics upon her debut, citing boring plot lines and unenthusiastic voice acting combined with weak combat skills. However, her role in Kingdom Hearts 0.2 has been more positively received, with critics favoring her stronger characterization over previous depictions.