Today it is impossible to imagine Lara Croft in any other way than with her iconic British adventurer appearance. But the history of video games was about to give us a very different version. Recently, Paul Douglas, one of the original creators of tomb Raiderrevealed a production secret kept for decades. The Japanese publisher at the time pushed hard for Lara to have a “manga-style” appearance. According to Douglas, the Core Design team received requests to give him huge eyes and a disproportionate head to “please” the Japanese public. A change that would have completely altered the identity of the most famous heroine in gaming.
The fax that almost changed history
The authority This revelation comes directly from Paul Douglas, programmer and co-creator of the original game, who detailed the creative tension experienced with publisher Victor Interactive Software. The requests came “quite late in the development” of tomb Raider.
The lead designer and co-creator of Lara CroftToby Gard, was strongly opposed to altering the three-dimensional model of the character. Since they did not want to change the in-game models or the cinematics, an intermediate agreement was reached. The manga style was only applied to printed manuals and guides exclusive to Japan.
“Victor assimilated that altering all the models would only take a few days… they started by asking to change the entire game, then only the scenes, then only Lara and finally only her head.” —Paul Douglas.
A legacy that remains strong
The experience Core Design's history in defending its vision artistic is what allowed Lara Croft became a global icon. Today, the franchise is undergoing an unprecedented unification process to connect all its eras.
With the departure of Camilla Luddington from the saga, the actress Alix Wilton Regan She will now be in charge of giving voice to Lara both in the games and in the animated projects, consolidating this new unified timeline.
The unified future of Tomb Raider
In terms of reliabilitythe brand tomb Raider is under a massive restructuring led by Amazon and Crystal Dynamics. The goal is to create a “unified narrative universe” that interconnects the Prime Video television series with future video games. This means fans should prepare for some retcons (adjustments in past history) so that titles like Legacy of Atlantis and Catalyst fit perfectly into this new official chronology.
The value of visual identity
The revelation that the creators of Lara Croft resisting the “manga-fication” of their character is a reminder that visual identity is sacred. If Core Design had relented, Lara would probably have been seen as a generic product of the time rather than the pioneer who broke molds in the West and East.
Toby Gard made the right decision. The appeal of Lara Croft in Japan it didn't depend on him looking like an anime character, but on his attitude and the revolutionary design of his levels. Seeing those old sketches of Lara with giant eyes today feels like a strange curiosity, almost an “alternate universe.” Looking ahead to 2026 and 2027, with the arrival of Sophie Turner to the role, it is clear that the essence of Lara remains her adventurous realism, not fleeting marketing trends.
Do you think the success of Lara Croft In Japan it would have been higher or lower if they had accepted the manga-style design, or do you think its original aesthetic was precisely what made it stand out in that market? We want to read your opinion in the comments!
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