History YMMV / KingdomHeartsTheAntipode

* CompleteMonster: [[WouldHurtAChild The Coachman]], the unscrupulous owner of PleasureIsland, somehow manages to be even worse than his [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} animated counterpart]]. Luring away young boys who lost their homeworlds, the Coachman takes them to a twisted amusement park where they are encouraged to misbehave, then [[ForcedTransformation forcefully transformed into donkeys]] to be sold into slavery. The Coachman even goes as far as to whip the boys off-screen and feed them to [[Characters/KingdomHeartsHeartless the Heartless]] if they can't be sold. When 15-year-old Riku uncovers the operation alongside Donald, Goofy, and Jiminy Cricket, the Coachman tries to have them all killed by the Heartless to ensure that they don't reveal his secret.

** The [[BittersweetEnding ending]] of ''Act 1'', where Riku, faced with a SadisticChoice, decides to leave the Door to Darkness open in favour of [[IWillFindYou searching for Sora]]. This is the [[ForWantOfANail moment]] where the story diverges completely from TheStationsOfTheCanon and takes off in its own unique direction.

** During the ''WesternAnimation/TreasurePlanet'' arc, Xigbar uses the map to flick through portals of different worlds. Amongst them, [[spoiler:[[VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG Geno]]]] makes a [[TheCameo cameo]].[[note]]''VideoGame/SuperMarioRPG'' is a Creator/SquareEnix title.[[/note]] The next portal shows [[spoiler:''[[ThoseTwoGuys Tulio and Miguel]]'' [[TheLastOfTheseIsNotLikeTheOthers from]] ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'', which B.E.N decries as [[Creator/DreamWorksAnimation 'Katzenbergian interference']]]].

** The ClimaxBoss of ''The Year Between'', which serves as the conclusion to Riku Replica's arc. After several chapters worth of buildup, [[DualBoss Xigbar and Demyx]] launch an attack on Disney Town during the Dream Festival to strongarm the heroes into rebrandishing their Keyblades. In this battle is where the Replica finally overcomes his [[CloningBlues identity crisis]] and adopts the name "Xiruk".

** In the first installment (published in 2012), [[WesternAnimation/{{Aladdin}} the Genie]] does an impersonation of [[Film/BackToTheFuture Doc Brown]] upon meeting Sora. Come 2020, and Creator/ChristopherLloyd is cast as the official voice of [[BigBad Master Xehanort]].

** The reveal that Xemnas [[spoiler:is able to speak in Terra's voice]], though [[TearJerker heartwrenching]], makes him rather hard to take seriously when one realizes that [[spoiler:when he speaks, its really Terra doing a ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' voice except its Creator/PaulStPeter.]]

* MemeticLoser: [[WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast Gaston]]. After all those [[Memes/KingdomHearts memes]] about him being [[AdaptedOut left out]] of ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'',[[note]]Prior to ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsX'', at least.[[/note]] Gaston finally makes an appearance in ''Antipode''...as a [[AdaptationalComicRelief comic relief]] [[TheCameo side character]] whose [[https://archiveofourown.org/works/1944492/chapters/96884385 most notable appearance]] has him being punched through a table by [[Series/TheMuppetShow Miss Piggy]].

** The reveal that Xemnas [[spoiler:is able to speak in Terra's voice]], though [[TearJerker heartwrenching]], makes him rather hard to take seriously when one realizes that [[spoiler:when he speaks, its really Terra doing a ''ComicBook/{{Batman}}'' [[BadassBaritone voice]] except its Creator/PaulStPeter.]]

* BetterThanCanon: As it gives [[ActionGirl Kairi]] time to shine alongside Riku and Sora, integrates the Disney worlds seamlessly into the overall narrative and embraces its potential as a MassiveMultiplayerCrossover without going overboard, many fans consider ''Antipode'' as such.
** This is the general consensus on [[TheSoulless Xemnas']] [[TragicVillain characterization]]. While ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'' flattened his character in favour of advancing [[BigBad Xehanort's]] plot, ''Antipode'' explores several [[AbortedArc unresolved plot points]] that were established in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII [[UpdatedRerelease Final Mix]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth By Sleep]]'', making for a far more interesting antagonist.
** In response to the [[ExecutiveMeddling incredibly restrictive]], [[CompressedAdaptation beat-by-beat adaptation]] of ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'' in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', the ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'' world in ''All That's Left'' thoroughly involves the main characters in the plot of the [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 movie]], integrates the world of Arendelle seamlessly into the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' setting and even incorporates [[MagicMirror elements]] of the [[Literature/TheSnowQueen original fairy tale]] into the story.
*** Related to the above, [[TheEvilPrince Hans']] portrayal is considered a step up from not only his [[DemotedToExtra appearance]] in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', but also his portrayal in the [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 original film]]. Both his [[BitchInSheepsClothing charming]] [[FauxAffablyEvil facade]] and his more [[AmbitionIsEvil sinister machinations]] are explored in detail and he comes off as a more engaging antagonist as a result. [[spoiler:His status as a [[TheSoulless Nobody]] puts his LackOfEmpathy in a new context without undermining his villainy.]]

** [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Olaf]] is a frequent source of this. Special mention goes to his quip about making a bonfire out of Hans' innards; a mental image that disturbs Kristoff. Fortunately, Sven shuts him up by muffling his speech with a hoof before he can explain his plans for Prince Hans-brand camping equipment in front of Anna.

** After [[NominalHero DiZ]] spent an extensive period of time being a [[FantasticRacism hateful]] JerkAss to everyone around him as well as an AbusiveParent to [[RelatedInTheAdaptation Xion]], [[BewareTheNiceOnes Goofy]] gives him a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech prior to the climax of ''The Year Between'', calling him out for his horrid behaviour and [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman dehumanizing treatment]] of his "daughter".
** Given how much of a {{manipulative|Bastard}}, [[BitchInSheepsClothing two-faced]] bastard [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Hans]] is and given all the hell he put both Anna ''and'' Elsa through, [[BadassNormal Kristoff]] gaining the upper hand during a fight and giving him a NoHoldsBarredBeatdown is immensely satisfying. [[spoiler:Though this is [[DownplayedTrope mitigated]] by the fact that he [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere escapes]] [[KarmaHoudini scot-free]] afterwards]].

** After [[NominalHero DiZ]] spent an extensive period of time being a [[FantasticRacism hateful]] JerkAss to everyone around him and an AbusiveParent to [[RelatedInTheAdaptation Xion]], [[BewareTheNiceOnes Goofy]] gives him a well-deserved TheReasonYouSuckSpeech prior to the climax of ''The Year Between'', calling him out for his horrid behaviour and [[WhatMeasureIsANonHuman dehumanizing treatment]] of his "daughter".

** This is the general consensus on Xemnas' [[TragicVillain characterization]]. While ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHearts3DDreamDropDistance Dream Drop Distance]]'' flattened his character in favour of advancing [[BigBad Xehanort's]] plot, ''Antipode'' explores several [[AbortedArc unresolved plot points]] that were established in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsII [[UpdatedRerelease Final Mix]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep Birth By Sleep]]'', making for a far more interesting antagonist.

*** Related to the above, [[TheEvilPrince Hans']] portrayal is considered a step up from not only his [[DemotedToExtra appearance]] in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII'', but also his portrayal in the [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 original film]]. Both his [[BitchInSheepsClothing charming facade]] and his more sinister machinations are explored in detail and he comes off as a more engaging antagonist as a result. [[spoiler:His status as a [[TheSoulless Nobody]] puts his LackOfEmpathy in a new context without undermining his villainy.]]

** [[spoiler:[[KillEmAll The entire cast save for Kairi]]]] being killed off by the [[WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}} Cyclops Titan]], though [[DisneyDeath they're revealed to be alive not long after]].

** As Sora is about to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice himself to revive Kairi]] like in the [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts original game]], he and Riku decide to have one last sparring match using their wooden toy swords. While the scene is [[TearJerker emotional]], its somewhat undercut by the fact that Sora pulls the two wooden swords [[HammerSpace out of his pockets]], with the implication that he kept them in there throughout the entire story.

** As Sora is about to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice himself to revive Kairi]] like in the [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts original game]], he and Riku decide to have one last sparring match using their wooden toy swords. While the scene is [[TearJerker emotional]], its somewhat undercut by the fact that Sora pulls the two wooden swords out of his pockets, with the implication that [[HammerSpace he kept them in there throughout the entire story]].

** As Sora is about to [[HeroicSacrifice sacrifice himself to revive Kairi]] like in the [[VideoGame/KingdomHearts original game]], he and Riku decide to have one last sparring match using their wooden toy swords. While the scene is [[TearJerker emotional]], its somewhat undercut by the fact that Sora pulls the wooden swords out of his pockets, as well as the implication that [[HammerSpace he kept them in there throughout the entire story]].