Why a Kingdom Hearts Anime is Long Overdue as the Franchise Hits 25 Years
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
With the Kingdom Hearts franchise approaching its twenty-fifth anniversary, industry observers are asking why Disney and Square Enix have yet to adapt the billion-dollar RPG into an anime series.
As Disney and Square Enix gear up for major celebrations ahead of the franchise's twenty-fifth anniversary, the conversation around the billion-dollar RPG giant naturally turns to what comes next. As Corey Plante over at Polygon points out, the real question is why we still do not have a Kingdom Hearts anime. With the hype cycle for Kingdom Hearts 4 slowly ramping up and major studio collaborations becoming the industry standard, bringing Sora, Donald, and Goofy to television feels like a missed opportunity that is easy to fix.
The case for an animated adaptation is hard to ignore. Modern streaming platforms have repeatedly proven that video game adaptations can dominate cultural conversations. Netflix has turned properties like Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, Castlevania, and Devil May Cry into massive crossover hits, while Square Enix and Disney have already tested the waters with projects like NieR: Automata Ver1.
1a and Star Wars: Visions. Kingdom Hearts practically lives in the medium already, featuring spiky-haired heroes, elaborate weapon designs, and an episodic structure that naturally mirrors classic adventure anime. Beyond the aesthetic appeal, an animated series could solve one of the community's biggest friction points, which is the notoriously complex lore.
A streamlined television format could give casual viewers and younger players a welcoming entry point into the universe without requiring a masterclass in reading order across a dozen spin-off titles. Whether Disney opts for a lavish production with a premier Japanese studio or a more accessible family friendly cartoon, the core ingredients remain intact. The franchise has always balanced earnest emotional beats with cosmic melodrama and classic Disney charm.
After a quarter-century of shaping how players view platform crossovers and digital storytelling, giving Kingdom Hearts its own animated series is the logical next step. You can read the original feature over at Polygon.
Tags: Kingdom Hearts, Square Enix, Disney, Anime, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon