The Unfulfilled Vision: Lara Croft's Anime Redesign Request

In the late stages of developing the original *Tomb Raider*, publisher Victor Interactive Software proposed a significant redesign of the game's protagonist, Lara Croft. The request aimed to adapt her appearance to better resonate with Japanese audiences, a market known for favoring exaggerated character designs, such as larger eyes and stylized features. Paul Douglas, one of the game's co-creators, revealed that Victor sent over design suggestions via fax, which included ideas for altering Lara's in-game look to make her more appealing.

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFTTomb Raider publishers floated a Lara Croft anime redesign in Japan, but the original developers refused itHuge Eyes? Big Head? Lara Croft Almost Looked Very Different For Her Japanese DebutLara Croft's design could've gone full FF7/Street Fighter in Japan to appeal to audiences in the mid-'90s, says co-creator, but 'All that was changed was the manuals & guide'

The proposal faced internal resistance, particularly from Toby Gard, the original designer of Lara Croft. Gard was opposed to altering the character's design, which led to a compromise. Instead of changing Lara's in-game model, the team agreed to implement manga-style illustrations in the game's manuals and guides. Douglas noted that the changes were minimal and did not affect the actual gameplay experience.

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFT

Ultimately, the only modifications made were to the promotional materials, rather than the character model itself. The manga-style illustrations were created by artists credited in the Japanese Saturn manual, including Takanori Wada and Hiromasa Ohta, who had a history of working with Victor. While the redesign was not fully realized in the game, the influence of Japanese aesthetics was still present in the marketing materials.

Lara Croft's design could've gone full FF7/Street Fighter in Japan to appeal to audiences in the mid-'90s, says co-creator, but 'All that was changed was the manuals & guide'

This incident reflects a broader trend in the video game industry during the 1990s, where character designs were often altered to cater to different cultural preferences. The desire to maximize market appeal can lead to significant changes in character representation, highlighting the complexities of global game development. The request from Victor was not an outright rejection of Lara Croft's original design but rather an attempt to align with perceived audience preferences.

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFT

Critics of the redesign request argue that it undermined the integrity of Lara Croft's character, which had already established a strong identity in Western markets. The push for an anime-style redesign could be seen as an oversimplification of cultural differences, suggesting that Western characters needed to conform to Japanese standards to be successful.

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFT

• “Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience. Huge eyes/head etc. They faxed through examples really late in dev.” — Paul Douglas, Co-Creator of *Tomb Raider*

Lara Croft's design could've gone full FF7/Street Fighter in Japan to appeal to audiences in the mid-'90s, says co-creator, but 'All that was changed was the manuals & guide'

• “Victor wanted us to change in-game Lara to appeal more to a Japanese audience. Huge eyes/head etc. They faxed through examples really late in dev. Toby Gard really didn't want to alter Lara. As a compromise all that was changed was the manuals & guide. Not sure who did that render or illustrations,” — Paul Douglas, Co-Creator of *Tomb Raider*

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFT

The request to redesign Lara Croft for the Japanese market illustrates the challenges and negotiations that can occur in international game development. While the redesign was ultimately not implemented in the game itself, the compromise reached demonstrates the balancing act between creative vision and market demands. As *Tomb Raider* continues to evolve, the legacy of these early design discussions remains a point of interest for fans and developers alike.

TOMB RAIDER CO-CREATOR REVEALS PUBLISHER'S REQUEST TO ALTER LARA CROFT