Hidetaka Miyazaki addresses rumors regarding character designs

Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director behind the Dark Souls and Elden Ring series, has addressed long-standing community rumors regarding a perceived foot fetish. During an interview with The Guardian in September 2026, Miyazaki expressed confusion over the origin of these claims.

The rumors stem from the frequent appearance of barefoot female characters, such as Malenia in Elden Ring and Priscilla in Dark Souls, within his games. Miyazaki suggested that these design choices may be a subconscious manifestation rather than an intentional preoccupation, noting that he aims to depict complex aspects of human nature and existence.

He explained that his character designs often focus on overarching themes such as “ruin and rebirth” to represent facets of humanity that are difficult to describe.