When Platinum Games unleashed Bayonetta upon the world in 2010, she immediately cast a spell over players, quickly becoming a beloved icon. It’s easy to see why: a powerful, shapeshifting witch with incredible gun skills who is almost always seen with her distinctive eyewear. This signature look, particularly her glasses, was no accident—it was a direct insistence from her brilliant creator, Hideki Kamiya.
The discussion around Bayonetta’s glasses recently resurfaced after a fan inquired about a memorable quote attributed to Kamiya: “Bayonetta’s glasses are just like her underwear.” Kamiya clarified that this colorful analogy originated from Yuji Shimomura, the animation director responsible for the game’s cinematics. Crucially, Kamiya confirmed that he wholeheartedly agreed with Shimomura’s sentiment: Bayonetta simply shouldn’t be without her glasses.
Kamiya recounted the early design process: “During Bayonetta’s initial conception, our clients frequently asked us to remove her glasses. I consistently pushed back against these suggestions.” He added, “Mr. Shimomura, who oversaw the cinematic production, echoed my conviction, stating, ‘Bayonetta’s glasses are just like her underwear—they must never be taken off.'”
Mari Shimazaki, the character designer for Bayonetta, shared her own insights into the creation of the witch’s iconic accessory. She revealed that Kamiya’s vision for the glasses was present from the very beginning. “While I was working on early character sketches for Bayonetta, Kamiya would often appear behind me and whisper, ‘Give her glasses.’ That’s how it all started,” Shimazaki explained. She continued, “It became a running joke, and a habit, to always have a ‘glasses layer’ ready in my designs, knowing he’d ask. Even when the design process got tricky, the glasses layer was always on standby, ready to be added back.”
Throughout her gaming adventures, Bayonetta has rarely been seen without her glasses, reportedly showing her true face to only one other person. This commitment to her look extends even to the 2023 prequel, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon, where she maintains her signature eyewear.
While Bayonetta 3 launched in 2022, and Kamiya had hinted at a potential Bayonetta 4, his departure from Platinum Games in 2023 to pursue independent game development leaves the future of the series uncertain. Currently, Kamiya is immersed in his work on Okami 2, keeping fans eagerly awaiting his next unique creation.