Sora's Formation Arts figure from Volume 3

Formation Arts are a line of officially-licensed collectible figures. There are two Kingdom Hearts Formation Arts series – the Original Series and the Kingdom Hearts II Series – each with three volumes of figures.

Design

All three original volumes are composed of six figures: three heroes and three villains. The Kingdom Hearts II volumes are composed of five figures each, and they lack the chess icons of the previous series. All figures are made of heavy plastic and feature a character or characters with important props, locations, or symbols that represent them.

The original series figures have a black or white symbol on the back opposite the Mickey head or Heartless symbol on the front of the base. This marks which chess piece the figure corresponds to, allowing the figures to be used as pieces on chessboard. The same chess piece is repeated on multiple figures, allowing for different configurations of the figures on the chessboard.

The Formation Arts figures have been produced in two styles. The original style comes packaged in a small, solid box. The figure inside is randomized, so the buyer cannot see which character they are purchasing, and will not know until the box is opened; however, certain characters can be guessed at based on the weight of the box, such as the heavier Hades figures. In addition, at least a few of each figure were also released in rare monotone version, colored to resemble a pewter-like metal. Once opened, the figurines have to be assembled in the style of a gashapon toy according to the directions contained within. The second version comes packaged in a blister pack, so the character being chosen is readily seen; only the heroes from each set are available. In addition, instead of coming in pieces, the blister figures are made from one molded, painted piece of plastic. Although the material is of lower quality, the second series is cheaper and more readily available outside of Japan.

Original Series

Figure Description Chess Piece Release Date
Volume 1
 
01. Sora
Sora in his Kingdom Hearts gear, holding the Kingdom Key on top of a stylized version of the Traverse Town Gizmo Shop clock. Available in both styles. White King April 2005
 
02. Donald Duck
Donald Duck, holding the Mage's Staff and sitting atop a stylized Traverse Town roof. Available in both styles. White Bishop
 
03. Jack Skellington
Jack Skellington with Zero, surrounded by ghosts and a stylized version of Halloween Town's Guillotine Gate. Available in both styles. White Rook
 
04. Maleficent
Maleficent, holding her wand and encircled by thorns and her dragon form. Black Queen
 
05. Hades
Hades, sitting on his throne with Cerberus behind him. Black Knight
 
06. Shadow
A collection of Heartless, including three Shadows, one Wyvern, one Darkball, the Gauntlet of the Guard Armor, and a Red Nocturne-like Heartless, colored black. Black Pawn
Volume 2
 
07. Cloud
Cloud in his original Kingdom Hearts gear, wielding the Buster Sword on top of some damaged pieces of Olympus Coliseum. Available in both styles. White Knight April 2006 (Initial)
August 2008 (Re-release)
 
08. Kairi
Kairi on the dock at Destiny Islands, surrounded by palm trees and with a Paopu Fruit in her lap. Available in both styles White Queen
 
09. Goofy
Goofy with the Knight's Shield atop a stylized spire in Traverse Town, complete with a Tinker Bell wind vane. White Knight
 
10. Oogie Boogie
Oogie Boogie, surrounded by the dangerous toys and tricks from his lair in Halloween Town. Black Rook
 
11. Ansem
Ansem, Seeker of Darkness and the Dark Figure cupped in a Darkside's hands. Black King
 
12. Jafar
Jafar, atop a pile of treasure from the Cave of Wonders and Genie, holding Genie's lamp and Iago. Black Knight
Volume 3
 
13. Sora
Sora in his Kingdom Hearts II outfit in The World That Never Was. Available in both styles. White King August 2008
 
14. Minnie Mouse
Queen Minnie with Chip and Dale at Disney Castle. Available in both styles. White Queen
 
15. Jack Sparrow
Jack Sparrow atop treasure from the Isla de Muerta. Available in both styles. White Rook
 
16. Axel
Axel with his Eternal Flames on top of Castle Oblivion. Black Knight
 
17. Pete
Pete with various cartoon-style implements of destruction. Black Pawn
 
18. Ursula
Ursula with Flotsam and Jetsam, holding King Triton's Trident Black Bishop

Kingdom Hearts II Series

Figure Description Release Date
Volume 1
  Roxas in his Twilight Town attire eating sea-salt ice cream atop the clock tower. Fall 2010
  Naminé sitting on a chair in the middle of a pod with a small staircase wrapping around it with Sora, Donald, and Goofy running up the stairs. This figure was only released in Japan.
  Riku with his Way to the Dawn Keyblade riding the Sidecar Glider.
  Final Form Sora with the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades in the Audience Chamber in Disney Castle.
  Mickey Mouse in his Kingdom Hearts II attire fighting a Shadow Heartless with his Kingdom Key D Keyblade in Radiant Garden.
Volume 2
  Master Form Sora with the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades in front of Radiant Garden. Stars swirl around him and yellow energy spikes are at his feet. Winter 2012
  Roxas in his Organization XIII attire with the Oathkeeper and Oblivion Keyblades in front of the Castle That Never Was. Purple energy zig-zags around him while darkness swirls at his feet.
  Axel bursting out of flames with chakrams in hand. A flame-colored nobody symbol sticks out from the top of the flames while two Dusks dance alongside it.
  The Twilight Thorn in a dynamic pose on the Dive to the Heart platform; white energy shoots around it.
  Sora, Donald, and Goofy in their forms from The Pride Lands. Sora is swinging the Kingdom Key while stars circle around his feet.
Volume 2
  Sora on the beach in Destiny Islands. He is holding Kairi's Wayfinder. June 2013
  Sora, Donald, and Goofy in Timeless River. Sora is on top of the cannon tower in Lilliput, holding the Monochrome Keyblade.
  Sora with Ariel and Sebastian in Atlantica. They are in a musical: Sora is posing and holding a few bubbles, while Ariel is clapping and Sebastian is conducting.
  Sora in Space Paranoids. He is on his Light Cycle in the Game Grid. The MCP is also visible.
  Sora, Donald, and Goofy in Halloween Town. Oogie's Manor and ghosts are seen in the background.

Gallery