Kingdom Hearts The Series Anime Announced for Disney+ and Disney Channel
The anime is not an adaptation of existing games but an all-new story built specifically for the production, which means it will expand the Kingdom Hearts canon rather than retell it.
Key Facts
- Disney announced the Kingdom Hearts The Series anime at D23 on August 15, 2026, for Disney+ and The Disney Channel.
- The anime is an original series with a brand-new story that expands the Kingdom Hearts universe, co-produced by Disney and Square Enix.
- Tetsuya Nomura, the game's creator, and the Square Enix creative team are involved in the anime's production.
- Kingdom Hearts IV will launch in late 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store.
- Kingdom Hearts IV will include a world based on the film Coco, with Benjamin Bratt reprising his role as Ernesto de la Cruz.
Reporting from 3 sources: Anime News Network, 4Gamer.net, Automaton.
Disney announced at its D23 fan event on August 15, 2026, that an original anime series titled Kingdom Hearts The Series is in development for release on Disney+ and The Disney Channel. The series is a co-production between Disney and Square Enix, with game creator Tetsuya Nomura and the Square Enix creative team involved. Deadline reported that the series reimagines the iconic adventure with a brand-new story that will expand on the Kingdom Hearts universe. The announcement did not reveal which animation studio is producing the series. The panel also revealed that Kingdom Hearts IV, the next mainline game, will launch in late 2027 and will include a world based on the film Coco. Actor Benjamin Bratt will reprise his role as Ernesto de la Cruz in the game. Kingdom Hearts IV will launch simultaneously for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. The Kingdom Hearts franchise has sold over 39 million copies worldwide, according to 4Gamer.net. A dedicated panel, Deep Dive into Kingdom Hearts, is scheduled for Saturday at D23.
The announcement came during the Disney Entertainment Showcase panel at D23 in Anaheim, USA, on August 15, 2026. Disney's official social media post confirmed the series is coming to Disney Channel and Disney+, but no release window was given. Ayo Davis, President of Disney Kids & Family, said in a statement that the series is produced by a creative team working closely with Tetsuya Nomura and will be unmistakably Kingdom Hearts while letting fans experience the world in a new way.
The Kingdom Hearts franchise began with the first game in 2002, created through collaboration between Disney and Square Enix. It has sold over 39 million copies worldwide, and 13 titles have been released, or 20 if Final Mix versions are counted. The series is known for blending Disney worlds and characters with original characters like Sora, who wields a Keyblade. The anime will be an original story, not a direct adaptation of any game.
Alongside the anime, the panel confirmed Kingdom Hearts IV will launch in late 2027 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Microsoft Store, Steam, and Epic Games Store. The game will include a world based on the film Coco, with Benjamin Bratt returning as Ernesto de la Cruz. Disney Games had stated on Thursday that Kingdom Hearts is one of nine billion-dollar game franchises for the company.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.