Disney develops original Kingdom Hearts anime series with Square Enix
Developed over time first seen 2 months ago
Disney and Square Enix are developing an original anime series set in the Kingdom Hearts universe, announced at Friday's D23 Entertainment Showcase alongside a Kingdom Hearts 4 release window and a Coco world reveal. The show, currently untitled beyond the working name "Kingdom Hearts", marks the first television adaptation of the franchise in its nearly 25-year history and will tell a new story rather than directly retell the games' plots.
The series is being made in partnership with franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix's creative team, and will air on Disney Channel and Disney+. It was unveiled on stage by actor Benjamin Bratt, who voices Ernesto de la Cruz in Kingdom Hearts 4, alongside a teaser image showing protagonist Sora with his Keyblade; no cast, episode count or release date has yet been confirmed. Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said the show aims to stay "unmistakably Kingdom Hearts" while welcoming new fans, and the announcement came the same day Kingdom Hearts 4 was given a late 2027 release window for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Nintendo Switch 2.
- Disney and Square Enix are making a Kingdom Hearts anime series.
- It's the franchise's first-ever TV adaptation, for Disney Channel/Disney+.
- No cast, episodes or date confirmed yet; Kingdom Hearts 4 lands late 2027.
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Kingdom Hearts is a fantasy adventure series made by the Japanese games company Square Enix in partnership with Disney. It follows Sora, a boy who travels between worlds inspired by Disney films, using a weapon called a Keyblade to fight creatures known as the Heartless. The games combine original characters with figures such as Donald Duck, Goofy and Mickey Mouse.
The first game was released in 2002 and the series has since grown into a long-running, interconnected story across several games. Tetsuya Nomura is the creator most closely associated with its characters and overall story. The franchise matters to both companies because it is an unusual and enduring collaboration between one of Japan’s biggest game makers and Disney’s catalogue of characters and settings.
More coverage
- Engadget — A Kingdom Hearts anime is coming to Disney+
- Push Square — A Kingdom Hearts Animated Series Is 'Coming Soon' to Disney Channel, Disney Plus
- GamesRadar+ — "Please let your imaginations run wild" – The Kingdom Hearts 4 team and Tetsuya Nomura are involved in the new Disney Plus anime
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Originally published by Eurogamer as “Kingdom Hearts is getting its own anime series on Disney+ and Disney Channel”.