Disney has ordered a Kingdom Hearts anime series for Disney+ and Disney Channel. The announcement came from actor Benjamin Bratt at the Disney Entertainment Showcase panel at D23 on Friday.
Kingdom Hearts anime series: what we know
Developed in partnership with series creator Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix, the show “reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters that have captured the hearts of millions of fans around the world.” It will feature original Kingdom Hearts characters alongside Disney favourites. Disney has called the franchise a billion-dollar property, per IGN.
“Kingdom Hearts has captivated gamers everywhere with its unique blend of adventure and imagination. There’s something really exciting about taking a world fans have spent years exploring through the games and bringing it to life in a completely new way. And with a creative team that is working closely with the legendary Tetsuya Nomura, our new series will be unmistakably ‘Kingdom Hearts,’ while giving fans a whole new way to experience the world they love.”
Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family
This is not the first time Disney and Square Enix have tried. A Kingdom Hearts animated series was greenlit shortly after the 2002 original and scrapped before it ever aired; the 11-minute “Agrabah” animatic, dug up by animator Seth Kearsley, finally surfaced online in 2022, via Gizmodo.
Kingdom Hearts IV arrives in late 2027
The panel also brought fresh Kingdom Hearts IV news. The game is now targeting a late 2027 release across PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC, and its new trailer introduced a Pixar Coco world — with Bratt reprising his role as Ernesto de la Cruz. It is the same game that surprised audiences at Nintendo Direct in June.
No premiere date for the anime has been announced. When it arrives, it will stream on Disney+ in the UAE, where the service has been available since 2022 — including through the Shahid and OSN+ bundle — and air on Disney Channel.
Where can I watch the Kingdom Hearts anime series in the UAE?
The series will stream on Disney+, which has been available in the UAE since 2022, and air on Disney Channel. A premiere date has not been announced.
Who is Tetsuya Nomura?
Nomura is the creator of Kingdom Hearts and a long-time Square Enix designer known for Final Fantasy VII. He is developing the anime series alongside Square Enix.
What is Kingdom Hearts?
Kingdom Hearts is a Disney and Square Enix crossover action RPG that began in 2002, following Sora, Donald and Goofy across worlds based on Disney films.
