Square Enix has lost one of its most distinct artistic voices. Toshiyuki Itahana, the celebrated character designer best known for bringing the world of Final Fantasy IX and the Crystal Chronicles series to life, has announced his departure from the company.
As of the beginning of 2026, Itahana has officially transitioned to freelance, ending a long and storied tenure as a full-time employee at the RPG giant.
In a heartfelt announcement made on January 5, 2026, Itahana revealed that he actually left the company at the end of 2025. The timing was deliberate; Itahana viewed the recent 25th Anniversary celebrations for Final Fantasy IX as a natural conclusion to his time at the studio.
Having overseen the illustration work and supervision for the milestone anniversary, including exhibitions and collaboration cafes, Itahana expressed a “strong sense of accomplishment” in fulfilling his duties to the game that defined much of his career. With the 25th-anniversary projects largely wrapped up, he felt it was the perfect moment to “draw a line under this chapter.”
Itahana’s departure marks a significant shift for Square Enix’s creative lineup. His art style defined the look of several key franchises:
Final Fantasy IX: He served as a main character designer, helping create iconic designs like Vivi Ornitier and Zidane Tribal.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: His designs gave this spin-off series its unique, pastoral identity.
Chocobo Series: He is largely credited with the modern, adorable look of the franchise’s mascot, the Chocobo.
In his official message to fans, Itahana emphasized that this move is about longevity and personal growth rather than retirement.
“As I began thinking seriously about preparing myself to continue drawing for many years to come, I decided to leave Square Enix at the end of last year… From here on, I will be working as a freelance illustrator and character designer. While remaining deeply grateful for all the connections I’ve been fortunate to receive through my work so far, I hope to draw upon my experience and continue creating a wide variety of new artwork.”
He also took a moment to thank fans who visited the recent anniversary events, noting that the Final Fantasy IX collaboration café in Osaka is still ongoing, serving as one of the final official projects he oversaw.
Itahana is now accepting work as a freelancer and has asked fans to support him if they come across his work in the wild, signaling that while he has left Square Enix, his artistic output is far from over.
We at Ermis did honor his work by making a special art for Final Fantasy XIV 25th anniversary, you can check it out here.
