Kingdom Hearts Announces First Anime Series Adaptation, Original Story and Involvement From Creator Tetsuya Nomura

Kingdom Hearts is officially getting its first original anime series adaptation. Disney Kids & Family and Square Enix are co-producing the project, which is currently titled Kingdom Hearts and will air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+ (Disney Plus).

The announcement was made at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 in Anaheim, California. The anime will feature a completely new story. Kingdom Hearts creator and game director Tetsuya Nomura is involved in the production, alongside Square Enix’s creative team. The first teaser visual was also revealed, featuring a boy holding a Keyblade.

Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, commented on the project:

“Kingdom Hearts has captivated gamers around the world with its unique world where adventure and imagination come together. We are incredibly excited to bring the worlds that fans have journeyed through for years through the games to the screen in a new form.

“Created by a creative team working closely with Tetsuya Nomura, this series will be unmistakably Kingdom Hearts, while allowing fans to experience the worlds they love in an entirely new way.”

First launched in 2002 through a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, the Kingdom Hearts franchise combines original characters with worlds and characters from Disney properties. Over the past two decades, the series has expanded over numerous console and handheld releases, selling more than 38 million copies worldwide and becoming one of Square Enix’s most successful franchises.

The most recent numbered installment, Kingdom Hearts III, concluded the long-running Dark Seeker Saga centered on Xehanort, while Kingdom Hearts IV will mark the beginning of a new story.

Source: Disney Plus Dream Land Anime
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Source: Dream Land Anime