Kingdom Hearts Anime Series Announced at D23 With Tetsuya Nomura Involved
The anime is positioned to expand the Kingdom Hearts franchise beyond video games, with Nomura's direct involvement signaling that the new story will be treated as canon-adjacent rather than a loose adaptation.
Key Facts
- Kingdom Hearts anime series was announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 in Anaheim, California, on August 14, 2026.
- The series is co-produced by Disney Kids & Family and Square Enix, and will air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+.
- Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts creator and game director, is involved in the production alongside Square Enix's creative team.
- The anime will feature an original story set within the Kingdom Hearts universe, not a retelling of the games.
- The Kingdom Hearts franchise has sold more than 38 million copies worldwide since its 2002 debut.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime Corner, OtakuKart Anime.
Disney Kids & Family and Square Enix are co-producing an anime series based on Kingdom Hearts, announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 in Anaheim, California. The project, currently titled Kingdom Hearts, will air on Disney Channel and stream on Disney+. The series will feature an original story set within the Kingdom Hearts universe, not a retelling of the games. Tetsuya Nomura, creator and game director of Kingdom Hearts, is involved with the production alongside Square Enix's creative team. A teaser visual was revealed showing a boy holding a Keyblade. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, said the series will be "unmistakably Kingdom Hearts" while allowing fans to experience the worlds they love in a new way. The franchise began in 2002 as a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney, and has sold more than 38 million copies worldwide. The most recent numbered game, Kingdom Hearts III, concluded the Dark Seeker Saga, while Kingdom Hearts IV is set to begin a new story. Disney has not announced a release date, episode count, voice cast, or detailed story information.
The announcement came during the D23 fan event, where Disney also highlighted other original animated projects for Disney+ such as Messi and the Giants, Warrior Cats, and Journey. The Kingdom Hearts series is described as a working title, and Disney has not yet confirmed a release date, episode count, or voice cast.
Nomura's role is central to the project, with Disney stating that the creative team will work closely with him to ensure the series remains connected to the games. The teaser visual, featuring a boy with a Keyblade, offers the first look at the anime's aesthetic, though no footage has been shown.
The franchise's history is notable: since 2002, Kingdom Hearts has combined original characters with Disney worlds and characters, selling over 38 million copies across numerous console and handheld releases. The games have followed a multi-arc narrative, with Kingdom Hearts III ending the Dark Seeker Saga centered on Xehanort, and Kingdom Hearts IV expected to start a new storyline. The anime's original story will not simply retell these events, but will expand the universe for a new audience.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.