Disney is expanding its anime and streaming catalog, with the Twisted-Wonderland anime entering its second season and launching on Disney+ in December 2026, while also pushing forward with a Kingdom Hearts anime series and a late-2027 video game release, despite mixed box office performance for The Mandalorian & Grogu and the shutdown of Disney Pixel RPG.
Disney's anime presence is front and center in 2026. The Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation series, a co-production with Yumeta Company and Graphinica, is moving through its planned three-season run. The first season, Episode of Heartslabyul, debuted on Disney+ in October 2025, and the second, Episode of Savanaclaw, begins streaming in December 2026, with a new protagonist, Yuuka Hirasaka, voiced by Fairouz Ai. The anime received a TCA Award nomination in June, a rare accolade for an anime adaptation in a North American critics' body. Disney's anime investment, however, remains uneven: a long-term output deal with Kodansha gives Disney exclusive rights to a slice of new anime production, but marketing is largely confined to Asia, a gap that has drawn fan complaints about titles being in "Disney Jail."
At D23 in August 2026, Disney announced its first original Kingdom Hearts anime series, Kingdom Hearts The Series, for Disney Channel and Disney+, with a new story and involvement from franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura. The company also confirmed Kingdom Hearts IV for the latter half of 2027, bringing the game to a wide range of platforms including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The same D23 event produced a digital version of Disney Lorcana and a romantasy webtoon initiative, Disney Cursed Love.
Elsewhere, Disney+ launched its first original Japanese variety program, THE ONE SHOT, in August. The live-action Moana opened in Japan with a dub featuring a crossover end song between animated and live-action Moana voice actresses. On the theatrical side, Toy Story 5 is screening in 11 formats, and Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu hit streaming in September, after Disney's CEO publicly acknowledged its box office underperformance. Not everything is expanding: Disney Pixel RPG ends service on September 30, 2026, about two years after launch, with refunds planned for unused paid currency.
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Disney characters have been released as "Kyara Maro" plush mascots with a marshmallow-like look. The lineup includes Minnie Mouse, Vanellope, Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, Alien, and Lotso. Each plush features soft colors, sugar-coated or jelly styles, and an elastic band for wearing. The items launch on August 27, 2026, at 2,530 yen each.
Disney+ presented a teaser promotional video for Episode of Savanaclaw, the second season of the Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation series, on Thursday. The teaser introduces Fairouz Ai as the voice of Yuuka Hirasaka, a high school student who excels at judo and the protagonist of the second season. On the way home from a judo tournament, she encounters a mysterious carriage that whisks her away to Twisted-Wonderland. Episode of Savanaclaw will begin streaming exclusively on Disney+ in December 2026. The first season, Episode of Heartslabyul, debuted exclusively on Disney+ in October 2025, and the overall anime will run for three seasons. The seasons adapt the original game's accompanying manga under the titles Episode of Heartslabyul, Episode of Savanaclaw, and Episode of Octavinelle. The anime's English dub debuted on Disney+ and Hulu on the same day the anime premiered. Takahiro Natori is serving as chief director and series script supervisor, and Shin Katagai is directing at Yumeta Company and Graphinica. Yoichi Kato is credited as the main writer. Hanaka Nakano and Akane Sato are designing the characters. Takumi Ozawa, the composer of the game, is also composing the music in the anime itself.
Walt Disney Japan announced that the movie Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu will stream exclusively on Disney+ starting September 2. The film opened in Japan and the U.S. on May 22, topped weekend charts domestically and worldwide, and finished its theatrical run with over 3.6 billion yen and 2.1 million attendees.
Disney Publishing announced Disney Cursed Love, a romantasy initiative inspired by its classic love stories, at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 on August 14. The initiative launches with The Curse of a Forsaken Heart, a webtoon by Emily McIntire and artist Samairu, debuting on WEBTOON before print in 2027. Seven additional titles were also announced.
Disney and Square Enix announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 that Kingdom Hearts IV will release in the latter half of 2027. The game is planned for PC (Steam, Epic Games Store, Microsoft Store on Windows), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The announcement ends a long silence that had stretched since the game was first revealed in April 2022. Director Tetsuya Nomura has stated there will be no delays and the game will arrive in 2027. The new entry begins the Lost Master arc, following the conclusion of the Dark Seeker saga in Kingdom Hearts III. The story opens with protagonist Sora waking up in Quadratum, a world similar to but different from modern-day Tokyo, while Donald and Goofy search the underworld for clues about him. In response to the concrete release window, players have been returning to older entries on Steam. Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX, Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue, and Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind have all set new concurrent player records. The series is also on sale at 70 percent off until August 21, with the three-game bundle priced at 5,148 yen including tax.
Disney announced at D23 on August 15 that Kingdom Hearts is being adapted into an original anime series, titled Kingdom Hearts The Series, for Disney Channel and Disney+. The project is a co-production between Disney Kids & Family and Square Enix, with franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura and the Square Enix creative team involved. The series will feature a completely new story, not a direct adaptation of any game narrative, and will expand the Kingdom Hearts universe while bringing back established characters. The announcement did not reveal the animation studio, voice cast, or release date. A teaser visual shows a mysterious boy holding a Keyblade in a design that evokes Japanese animation. Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said the series will be "unmistakably Kingdom Hearts" while allowing fans to experience the worlds they love in a new way. The announcement follows a previous attempt at a Kingdom Hearts animated series in the early 2000s, which was shelved. The game franchise has shipped over 39 million units worldwide since its 2002 debut.
Ravensburger announced a digital version of Disney Lorcana Trading Card Game during a stage event at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event 2026 in Anaheim. The announcement follows the 2024 shutdown of the fan-made Pixelborn client and years of requests for an official online play option. Release timing and language support were not disclosed.
Takara Tomy Arts is adding Disney Princesses to its gacha figure series "Shoulder Lean Fig.," a concept line where characters lean onto another's shoulder and appear to have fallen asleep. The new capsule product includes five types: Jasmine, Belle, Rapunzel, Moana, and Ariel. Each figure measures approximately 3.9 to 4.2 centimeters in total length. The price is 400 yen per play, tax included, with a scheduled release in late August 2026. The figures are palm-sized and designed to be displayed together, creating a chain of shoulder leans that extends across different Disney animated films. Photos of the products are samples under development, and actual products may differ in some respects. The series is copyrighted by Disney.
Walt Disney Company CEO Josh D'Amaro acknowledged that Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu underperformed at the box office. The film, the first theatrical Star Wars movie in seven years, took $345 million worldwide against an estimated $165 million production budget. D'Amaro said the film still generated value through retail sales, theme park attendance, and gaming. Disney now looks to Star Wars: Starfighter, set for May 28, 2027.
The Walt Disney Company and TikTok announced a global agreement on August 5. The deal will allow content creation using iconic Disney film scenes on TikTok, with selected fan-made content distributed to Disney+. The service will pilot in the United States within the next few months before expanding to other regions.
coly announced that pre-registration for Disney Sparklink Stars is now open on the App Store and Google Play. The free-to-play smartphone game is a Spark Rider training adventure set on Sparkle Islands Lumina Stear. Players act as Conductors, producing Spark Riders through a 3-match puzzle and aiming for first place in Spark Ride. The main visual and world and system pages have been released.
Disney+ revealed the teaser visual and December streaming debut for Episode of Savanaclaw, the second season of the Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation series. The announcement was made on Monday, July 27, coinciding with the birthday of Savanaclaw Dorm head Leona Kingscholar. The first season, Episode of Heartslabyul, debuted in October 2025.
The Japanese end song for the live-action Moana film, titled '旅立とう ～Along The Way～', will be performed by TSUZUMI (live-action Moana voice), Matsuya Onoe (live-action Maui voice), and Chinatsu Yabiku (animated Moana voice). The film opens July 31. A special video shows the US cast recording the same song.
Coly released details on Nicola Vaniteel, the leader of Endelore in the mobile game Disney Sparkle Link Stars. Voiced by Yuga Sato, Nicola is an absolute self-confident person who considers childhood friend Rize Courage a special existence. The character reveal uses the hashtag #BeautyAndTheBeast, suggesting Nicola is based on Gaston from the Disney film.
coly has revealed the character Shu Ayakashi (voiced by Daiki Hamano) for the mobile game Disney Sparklink Stars. He is the leader of the group aMazINC., a team of monsters inspired by Monsters, Inc. and described as gentle despite his imposing appearance. Two of the group's three silhouettes have now been announced.
Disney's live-action Moana has announced additional Japanese dub cast members, including Midoriko Kimura as Gramma Tala, Shoichi Fukui as Tui, Haruka Manase as Sina, ROLLY reprising Tamatoa, and Ema Kurata as Baby Moana. A dubbed trailer has also been released.
Coly revealed Ranka Manku, the youngest member of the UPbeats! unit in the smartphone app Disney Sparklink Stars, on July 6. Voiced by Gen Sato, Ranka is an easygoing character who often pranks with previously revealed Raska Moncrief. The two wear acorn earrings, suggesting they are based on Chip and Dale. Didi Cedric Bird, voiced by Yuya Hirose and modeled after Donald Duck, was revealed on July 4.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced that the smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, roughly two years after its October 2024 launch. The reason was not disclosed. Paid item sales ended July 1, and gacha draws will end August 19. Unused paid currency will be refunded.
Midjourney is demanding Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery reveal details of their own AI development and use, arguing that if the studios are training models internally, it would support Midjourney's fair-use defense. The company has appealed a magistrate judge's ruling that limited discovery to consumer-facing images and videos. A hearing is set for August 17, 2026.
Sano Yuto, who voices Smarty Pants in the Japanese dub of Toy Story 5, made a surprise appearance at Tokyo Disneyland on July 3. He rode in an omnibus with fellow cast members Karasawa Toshiaki and Tokoro George, greeting fans during a special evening parade celebrating the film's release.
On July 2, coly revealed Neo Michelle, the leader and center of the UPbeats! group, for the smartphone app Disney Sparklink Stars. Voiced by Shoya Chiba, Neo Michelle is described as a bright and positive mood maker. The character's jacket features Mickey Mouse motifs. The UPbeats! group has five members, with silhouettes released on July 1 and characters being revealed sequentially.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced on July 1 that its smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, at 11:00 JST. The game launched on October 7, 2024, and will run for about two years. The announcement came via the game's official X account and a notice on the official website. Until the service ends, the developer plans to add more main story content and run various in-game events. Sales of paid items stopped on July 1. Sales of Red Crystal payment items, gacha using Red Crystals, and stamina recovery will end on August 19 at 11:00 JST. Blue Crystals will remain usable until the service termination. Unused Red Crystals will be refunded through a dedicated form after the service ends; players are advised to keep their in-game ID and inquiry code. The official website and customer support are scheduled to close on January 13, 2027. The game is a command battle RPG featuring Disney characters in pixel art, including Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Baymax, Stitch, and Maleficent in themed costumes.
Disney+ and Yoshimoto Kogyo collaborate on 'THE ONE SHOT', a variety show where eight comedians selected by Chidori's Daigo write, direct, and produce a short film with a single punchline. The winner becomes the first 'GOLDEN ONE SHOT' champion. All eight episodes stream from August 12. The participants have not been revealed.
coly announced the official website for its new smartphone game Disney Sparklink Stars on June 23, 2026, and began accepting pre-registration via the game's official X account and YouTube channel. The game is described as a "Spark Rider Training Adventure that makes dreams come true" and will be free-to-play with in-app purchases on iOS and Android. A teaser visual was also released, showing a blonde young man in a prince-like outfit. To commemorate pre-registration, a double follow and repost campaign is running until July 7, with 10 winners receiving a 5,000 yen Disney Store gift card. coly, known for titles such as Mahoyaku and Stand My Heroes, is developing the game in collaboration with Disney. No release date has been announced yet. The official website includes the tagline "This is a story where everyone's dreams come true." Pre-registration is conducted by following the official X account and subscribing to the official YouTube channel, rather than through app store pre-orders.
Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 will screen in 11 versions including IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX. A themed Toy Story Theater event runs July 3-20 at eight Japanese theaters, featuring character seat decorations and a greeting video from the Japanese voice cast. The film opens July 3.
Walt Disney Animation Studios announced its new film 'HEXED' on June 17, 2026, with a theatrical release set for November 25, 2026. The story follows a bored teenage girl named Billy who discovers magical powers and enters the witch world of Hexe, teaming up with her cautious mother Alice to uncover a family secret. Hailee Steinfeld voices Billy. Directors are Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand.
The Television Critics Association announced nominees for its 42nd Annual TCA Awards on Friday. Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation received a nod in Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming. Two live-action series based on Japanese stories, Drops of God and Last Samurai Standing, were nominated in the new Outstanding International Series category.
Disney and Pixar announced Nero of the Water City, a new animated feature set in Venice, Italy, about a black cat named Nero. The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa, who directed Luca, and blends hand-drawn painting with 3DCG. It is the studio's first animated feature with a cat protagonist. A teaser poster and trailer were released alongside the announcement.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced a limited-time event for Disney Pixel RPG called "Rescue Signal: Winnie the Pooh Forest Baseball," running until June 17. The event features new characters like Batter Pooh EX and Pitcher Christopher Robin EX, and rewards include Catcher Tigger. The baseball theme has sparked player memories of a past Winnie the Pooh baseball game.
Bandai Spirits will release the Ichiban Kuji Disney World of Imagination lottery on June 5, 2026, at Seven-Eleven and other retailers. Prizes include scene figures of Rapunzel and Ariel, a Peter Pan light, and a Last One prize Mickey and Minnie figure in original costumes. Each draw costs 790 yen.
Disney is expanding its anime library, securing exclusive streaming rights to roughly 2-3% of new anime production through a long-term output deal with Kodansha. However, the company's marketing and promotion for these titles remains heavily concentrated in Asia, leaving global audiences largely unaware of the expansion. The upcoming series "Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation," a wholly Japanese-produced original anime featuring multiple Disney intellectual properties, exemplifies this strategy. Despite being announced nearly four years ago and having a major presence at AnimeJapan 2025 in Tokyo, Disney only recently confirmed its global streaming availability to outlets like Variety and Deadline, just two months before its premiere. Other titles, such as "Bullet/Bullet" from "Jujutsu Kaisen" director Sunghoo Park, received English-language promotion only from the Disney+ Singapore YouTube channel. Disney+ monthly release calendars in July detailed numerous documentaries and resort walkthroughs but omitted anime titles. On Hulu, anime remains a tertiary focus within the Animayhem brand. This limited marketing has led fans to describe anime on Disney+ as being in "Disney Jail."
Disney Animation's Zootopia 2 Blu-ray and DVD set released in Japan on May 20, 2026. A previously unseen scene from the film was revealed, showing Nick and Judy on an undercover operation at an airport posing as a married couple. A special interview with Tomoyuki Morikawa, who voices Nick Wilde, was also published to mark the home video launch.