Kingdom Hearts Anime Confirmed for Disney Plus Alongside New Coco Reveal at D23 2026
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Square Enix and Disney announced a new Kingdom Hearts animated series coming to Disney Plus, with franchise director Tetsuya Nomura teasing fresh lore and new character designs.
Kingdom Hearts is officially making the jump to episodic television. During the D23 2026 Disney Entertainment Showcase, Disney and Square Enix surprised fans by announcing a brand new animated series slated for Disney Plus. Franchise veteran Tetsuya Nomura confirmed his direct involvement in the project, noting that he has been working closely with the scenario and art teams to develop fresh character designs. While an official release date remains under wraps, the initial teaser art features a brand new Keyblade wielding character and a vague coming soon window.
The announcement arrived alongside a fresh look at Kingdom Hearts 4, which included confirmation that Pixar's Coco will be integrated into the upcoming mainline title. Given the series history of notoriously long development cycles, stretching years between numbered entries, this animated project offers a welcome bridge for a community that thrives on deep lore speculation. Nomura himself leaned into the mystery, telling fans on social media to let their imagination run wild and treating the initial key art as a deliberate puzzle for the community to solve.
Bringing Kingdom Hearts to a streaming platform like Disney Plus makes total sense for a franchise that functions as both a gaming titan and a massive cross media powerhouse. As streaming platforms increasingly become primary social hubs where fans gather to watch creators break down lore and theorycraft, an animated series gives the community a fresh space to engage. IGN South Africa reported on the initial reveal, noting that further details could emerge during subsequent D23 panels as fans patiently wait for the 2027 release window of Kingdom Hearts 4.
Tags: Kingdom Hearts, Disney Plus, Square Enix, Anime, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa