The legacy of the Tomb Raider franchise is filled with fascinating behind-the-scenes development stories, but a recent revelation from one of its co-creators adds a new dimension to Lara Croft’s history.
The original Tomb Raider, developed by Core Design and first released in 1996 for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and PC, was a landmark title that introduced gamers around the world to the adventurous British archaeologist, Lara Croft.
Now, a fresh insight reveals that Lara nearly underwent a dramatic anime-style redesign tailored specifically for Japanese audiences. Paul Douglas, one of the co-creators at Core Design, shared new details through his social media, shedding light on how publisher Victor Interactive Software sought to modify Lara Croft’s appearance to better resonate with Japan’s gaming market.
At the request of Victor, Douglas explained, the Japanese publisher requested alterations to Lara's in-game character model, proposing features such as larger eyes and an exaggerated head, to better fit the anime aesthetic that resonates with many Japanese players.
"Victor wanted us to adapt Lara's look to appeal more to Japanese audiences, suggesting bigger eyes and a larger head.
They sent over example designs very late in the development process," Douglas recalled. However, Core Design’s creative lead, Toby Gard, was firmly against making such a fundamental change to Lara’s in-game model.
After much discussion, the development team reached a compromise.
Instead of altering the game itself, only the illustrations and renders featured in the game’s manuals and strategy guides were modified for Japan.
According to Douglas, "Ultimately, the only changes made were to the artwork in the manual and guide.
It's unclear who handled those specific illustrations." The Tomb Raider series would go on to become one of the most successful franchises in gaming history, selling over 85 million copies across multiple generations of hardware, including recent ports and remasters for modern platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
Lara Croft herself became an enduring icon not only in Western gaming but also among Japanese fans, even without the proposed anime-inspired redesign. This story highlights the frequent cross-cultural adaptations major developers and publishers evaluate when launching global franchises.
Tomb Raider’s ability to captivate audiences worldwide without major changes to its core design speaks to the universal appeal of its characters and gameplay. For more insights into video game history and development, bookmark our site for the latest news on classic franchises, Nintendo Direct updates, eShop releases, and more.
The original Tomb Raider, developed by Core Design and first released in 1996 for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and PC, was a landmark title that introduced gamers around the world to the adventurous British archaeologist, Lara Croft.
Now, a fresh insight reveals that Lara nearly underwent a dramatic anime-style redesign tailored specifically for Japanese audiences. Paul Douglas, one of the co-creators at Core Design, shared new details through his social media, shedding light on how publisher Victor Interactive Software sought to modify Lara Croft’s appearance to better resonate with Japan’s gaming market.
At the request of Victor, Douglas explained, the Japanese publisher requested alterations to Lara's in-game character model, proposing features such as larger eyes and an exaggerated head, to better fit the anime aesthetic that resonates with many Japanese players.
"Victor wanted us to adapt Lara's look to appeal more to Japanese audiences, suggesting bigger eyes and a larger head.
They sent over example designs very late in the development process," Douglas recalled. However, Core Design’s creative lead, Toby Gard, was firmly against making such a fundamental change to Lara’s in-game model.
After much discussion, the development team reached a compromise.
Instead of altering the game itself, only the illustrations and renders featured in the game’s manuals and strategy guides were modified for Japan.
According to Douglas, "Ultimately, the only changes made were to the artwork in the manual and guide.
It's unclear who handled those specific illustrations." The Tomb Raider series would go on to become one of the most successful franchises in gaming history, selling over 85 million copies across multiple generations of hardware, including recent ports and remasters for modern platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.
Lara Croft herself became an enduring icon not only in Western gaming but also among Japanese fans, even without the proposed anime-inspired redesign. This story highlights the frequent cross-cultural adaptations major developers and publishers evaluate when launching global franchises.
Tomb Raider’s ability to captivate audiences worldwide without major changes to its core design speaks to the universal appeal of its characters and gameplay. For more insights into video game history and development, bookmark our site for the latest news on classic franchises, Nintendo Direct updates, eShop releases, and more.
