Disney and Square Enix announce Kingdom Hearts anime series

Disney and Square Enix are collaborating on an original anime series based on the Kingdom Hearts franchise, intended for Disney+ and Disney Channel. The project will feature an original story rather than a direct, scene-by-scene adaptation of the video games, aiming to provide an accessible entry point for new viewers.

Tetsuya Nomura, the creator of the franchise, is involved in the production and is part of the writing team. Nomura has indicated that new character designs have been created specifically for this project and suggested that the first promotional image contains a clue regarding the series' direction.

Nana Gadd, Director of Disney & Pixar Games, described the anime announcement as “just the first step” in a broader strategy to expand the Kingdom Hearts brand into an ecosystem of different media formats. While specific details regarding the release date, voice cast, and episode count remain unannounced, the move signals Disney's intent to leverage gaming properties across multiple platforms.