Miyazaki Breaks Silence on Barefoot Characters in His Games

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring, has finally addressed long-running fan speculation about the prevalence of barefoot characters in his games. In an interview with The Guardian, Miyazaki responded to questions about the imagery in his upcoming action-RPG, The Duskbloods, saying, "It's not necessarily something I'm consistently aware of--maybe it's something subconscious coming through." He added, "Take a look online and there's a rumor that I have a bit of a thing for feet, but I'm not honestly sure where this comes from. Fans have pointed out numerous examples of shoeless women across Miyazaki's catalog, from The Maiden in Black in Demons' Souls to characters like Priscilla, Gwynevere, Sister Friede, and Maneater Mildred in Dark Souls.

Elden Ring's Malenia also appears barefoot, though her feet are metal prosthetics, and the game's beaches even distinguish between barefoot players and those wearing footwear." Miyazaki explained the recurring motif as an attempt to depict the human experience, saying, I feel like I'm trying to depict some side of human nature or the human existence that is difficult to describe. Despite the speculation, he insists this is not a Quentin Tarantino situation, noting that other games are far more overtly foot-focused than his work. The interview comes as Miyazaki prepares for the release of The Duskbloods, his next project following the acclaimed Elden Ring.