Kingdom Hearts Heads to Disney+ with a Brand New Anime Series
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Disney and Square Enix are expanding the Kingdom Hearts franchise with an original anime series on Disney+ and Disney Channel, set to release alongside the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 4.
Disney and Square Enix are finally bringing one of gaming's most sprawling and unique franchises to television screens. During the recent D23 Entertainment Showcase, Disney confirmed that a brand new Kingdom Hearts anime series is officially in development for Disney+ and Disney Channel. This adaptation marks a major milestone for the nearly twenty-five-year-old series, serving as the first time Sora and company have made the jump to episodic television since the franchise began back on the PlayStation 2.
According to details shared during the showcase, the series is being crafted in close partnership with series creator Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at Square Enix. Rather than simply retelling the events of the games, the project will tell an entirely new story set within the established universe. Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis noted that the production is designed to capture the distinct identity of the franchise while giving both longtime fans and newcomers a fresh entry point into the lore.
This television announcement arrives alongside major news for the next mainline installment, with Kingdom Hearts 4 locked into a late 2027 release window targeting current generation platforms like PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and the anticipated Nintendo Switch successor. While Disney has not yet shared an episode count, voice cast, or premiere date for the show, the combination of a brand new anime and a long-awaited sequel gives the community plenty of momentum heading toward the series' upcoming quarter-century anniversary. Original reporting from Eurogamer highlights the scale of this transmedia expansion as Disney continues to lean deeper into prestige animation for its gaming properties.
For players who have followed the convoluted lore and emotional highs of the series across multiple generations of hardware, the anime offers a low-friction way to pull in new audiences while satisfying longtime fans. As gaming increasingly bridges the gap between interactive play and streaming entertainment, expanding into serialized television feels like a natural evolution for a franchise that has always worn its cinematic heart on its sleeve.
Tags: Kingdom Hearts, Disney+, Anime, Square Enix, Gaming News
Original article: Eurogamer