Wednesday, 14 October 2026
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Disney

Disney's licensed game and streaming slate is in wait-and-see mode: the Twisted-Wonderland anime's second season streams from December 2026, Disney Sparklink Stars is delayed to November 2026 with pre-registrations past 600,000, and Disney+ and Hulu have raised U.S. prices again.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 1d ago

Disney's presence in the games and anime tracking beat sits mostly with licensed titles rather than in-house productions. Disney Twisted-Wonderland drives the most activity: Aniplex ran the limited-time web game EVOLVE RACER from September 24, and a Master Chef-themed cafe opens at OH MY CAFE in Omotesando from October 24. The anime adaptation's second season, Episode of Savanaclaw, streams on Disney+ from December 2026, with Fairouz Ai voicing new protagonist Yuuka Hirasaka and Takahiro Natori as chief director and series script supervisor, Shin Katagai directing at Yumeta Company and Graphinica.

The other Disney-licensed game in motion is Disney Sparklink Stars. coly moved the service start to November 2026 and said the date may shift again depending on development progress. Pre-registrations have passed 600,000 across the official website, App Store, Google Play, the official YouTube channel, and official LINE. Epic Mickey: Rebrushed, meanwhile, has spread across platforms: a Switch 2 version with Joy-Con 2 mouse controls arrived October 8 at 5,170 yen, and iOS and Android ports followed in September at 2,000 yen.

On streaming, Disney raised U.S. monthly prices for Disney+ and Hulu. The ad-supported tier for both moved from US$11.99 to US$12.49, the ad-free tier from US$18.99 to US$21.49, and the ad-free bundle from US$19.99 to US$21.99. Existing subscribers see the change on or after October 21. Disney cited no reason in the story. In Japan, Shueisha ended its Walt Disney Japan contract for Marvel comics adaptations as of September 30.

Key facts

Twisted-Wonderland anime season 2
Episode of Savanaclaw streams on Disney+ from December 2026; Fairouz Ai voices Yuuka Hirasaka; Takahiro Natori is chief director and series script supervisor, Shin Katagai directs at Yumeta Company and Graphinica. ↗
Twisted-Wonderland web game
Aniplex released EVOLVE RACER for Disney Twisted-Wonderland on September 24, 2026, for a limited time, with 8 stages. ↗
Twisted-Wonderland cafe
A limited-time cafe tied to the in-game Master Chef event runs at OH MY CAFE in Omotesando, Tokyo, from October 24, 2026. ↗
Disney Sparklink Stars delay
coly moved the planned service start to November 2026 and said the date may shift again depending on development progress. ↗
Disney Sparklink Stars pre-registrations
Pre-registrations have surpassed 600,000; sign-ups are open on the official website, App Store, Google Play, the official YouTube channel, and official LINE. ↗
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed on Switch 2
The Switch 2 version released on the Nintendo Store on October 8, 2026, at 5,170 yen with tax, adding high-resolution visuals, an improved frame rate, and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls. ↗
Epic Mickey: Rebrushed on mobile
THQ Nordic Japan released the game for iOS on September 16, 2026, and Android on September 17, 2026, at 2,000 yen, with touch controls added. ↗
Disney+ and Hulu U.S. price increase
The ad-supported tier for both moved from US$11.99 to US$12.49, the ad-free tier from US$18.99 to US$21.49, and the ad-free bundle from US$19.99 to US$21.99; existing subscribers see the change on or after October 21. ↗
Shueisha contract termination
Shueisha terminated its Walt Disney Japan contract for Marvel comics adaptations as of September 30, 2026. ↗
ZEPETO Disney content end
ZEPETO's Disney content ends on September 26, 2026, with the Disney Thanks Festival and a Collectem 2xUP event running through that date. ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
Raised monthly subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu in the United States · 2026-10-03
Noted
Disney characters have been released as 'Kyara Maro' plush mascots with a marshmallow-like look. · 2026-08-29
Noted
The lineup includes Minnie Mouse, Vanellope, Stitch, Winnie the Pooh, Alien, and Lotso. · 2026-08-29
Noted
Each plush features soft colors, sugar-coated or jelly styles, and an elastic band for wearing. · 2026-08-29
Noted
The items launch on August 27, 2026, at 2,530 yen each. · 2026-08-29
Noted
The release applies the Kyara Maro skewer-and-strap format to Disney characters, letting fans mix six familiar designs into custom plush combinations on a stick. · 2026-08-29
Noted
selected fan-made content distributed to Disney+ · 2026-08-08
Noted
The service will pilot in the United States within the next few months · 2026-08-08

Connections

Produces
disney new shooter, disney halloween 2026 happy kuji, cursed love, the one shot, kingdom hearts, hexed, twisted wonderland the animation

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/disney. CC BY 4.0.

Claim activity

When a claim about Disney was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed Raised monthly subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu in the United States Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed Disney produces twisted wonderland the animation Sep 12 · source

All coverage

1d ago

Epic Orders AI-First Development On Disney Shooter

Epic Games has told developers on its unannounced Disney collaboration shooter to adopt an AI-first production setup, according to a Bloomberg report by Jason Schreier citing people familiar with the project. The game, which features Marvel and Star Wars characters, was scheduled for March 2027 and has been delayed with no new date announced. Internal messages reviewed by Bloomberg included a director's instruction of "No more hand-written code" and a directive that all in-game art be generated through a complete AI workflow using tools such as Anthropic's Claude, with humans managing and directing the output. The policy was conveyed in a video conference, and some developers were left stunned. Epic Games communications director Jake Jones told Bloomberg the company is embracing AI-accelerated development, with Epic's developers leading the way and setting the vision.

4d ago

Disney Bonbon Drop Seal Adds Churukira Design In Late October

The official Bonbon Drop Seal X account announced a new churukira design for the Disney series, set for sequential release from late October. Eight types are in the lineup: Winnie the Pooh, Young Oyster, 101 Dalmatians, Stitch, Baymax Heart, Baymax Powered Suit, Zootopia, and Alien. Each costs 605 yen including tax. The design uses an aurora finish that sparkles depending on the angle.

5d ago

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Launches On Switch 2 With Joy-Con 2 Mouse Controls

The Nintendo Switch 2 version of Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed released on the Nintendo Store on October 8, 2026. It adds high-resolution visuals, an improved frame rate, and mouse controls using Joy-Con 2. Players who own the Switch version can carry save data over with a free update on the Switch 2 console. The game costs 5,170 yen with tax included.

6d ago

Disney Sparklink Stars Pre-Registrations Pass 600,000

Pre-registrations for Disney Sparklink Stars have surpassed 600,000, with sign-ups open on the official website, App Store, Google Play, the official YouTube channel, and official LINE. Registration rewards include a three-piece Spark Rider growth item set (Dance Charge S, Sing Charge S, Act Charge S), 10 Offer Letters, a Steiff Disney Mickey Mouse, plus social media icons and headers, one set per account.

6d ago

Disney Christmas Ornament Kuji 2026 Sells at FamilyMart From November 7

Sunny Side Up will release Happy Kuji "DISNEY Christmas Ornament Kuji 2026" at FamilyMart stores starting at 10:00 on November 7, 2026. Each draw costs 880 yen including tax. The theme for the 2026 edition is "Christmas Dress Up," and the lineup centers on Mickey and Friends in party outfits, red dresses and tuxedos, drawn for the project. Characters from film titles join them. The set has four prize tiers plus a Last Prize. A new Year Ornament Prize debuts, with one type showing Mickey Mouse beside a tree carrying the year 2026. The Figure Ornament Prize covers 25 characters, the most for the tier. All figure ornaments include a base, so they work as room figures besides tree decorations. The Special Complete BOX Prize has six types grouped by series. The Acrylic Ornament Prize returns with 10 types, glitter included. The Last Prize is a BIG! Standing Plush of Mickey Mouse in a newly drawn outfit, about 65 cm tall. Availability varies by store, so the Happy Kuji official website carries the details.

Oct 6

Twisted-Wonderland Master Chef Cafe Opens At OH MY CAFE In October

A limited-time cafe tied to the in-game event "Master Chef" from Disney Twisted-Wonderland runs at OH MY CAFE in Omotesando, Tokyo, starting Saturday, October 24, 2026. The menu covers dishes credited to Riddle Rosehearts, Leona Kingscholar, Azul Ashengrotto, Kalim Al-Asim, Vil Schoenheit, Idia Shroud and Malleus Draconia, each arranged in the dorm's colors with sweets and drinks.

Oct 6

Pandora Launches 8 Disney Jewelry Pieces For Halloween

Pandora released eight new jewelry pieces under its Disney collaboration, the collection spans Lilo & Stitch, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Cinderella, The Lion King, and Toy Story 3. Three charms come from Lilo & Stitch, a ring features Jack Skellington and Sally, and charms depict Lotso at 15,950 yen, Lucifer at 15,950 yen, and Scar at 18,700 yen. All items are on sale at stores nationwide and the official online store.

Oct 6

Disney's Bonbon Drop Stickers Adds Eight-Design Churukira Lineup

The Bonbon Drop Stickers official X account announced a new Disney design line called churukira, releasing sequentially from late October. The lineup has eight types: Winnie the Pooh, Young Oyster, 101 Dalmatians, Stitch, Baymax Heart, Baymax Powered Suit, Zootopia, and Alien. Each sticker is 605 yen including tax. The design uses an aurora finish that changes how it sparkles depending on the viewing angle.

Oct 6

Happy Kuji Disney Halloween 2026 Goes On Sale October 2

Sunny Side Up will release Happy Kuji "Disney Halloween 2026" on October 2, 2026, with a Sweets Party theme. The lineup spans 10 prize tiers plus a Last Prize, from a big Stitch Halloween Plush to eco bags and smartphone straps. Draws cost 850 yen with tax and go on sale at Lawson, bookstores, hobby shops, and elsewhere.

Oct 5

Happy Kuji Disney IDOL ON STAGE Goes On Sale September 26

Sunny Side Up will release Happy Kuji "Disney IDOL ON STAGE" from September 26 at Seven-Eleven, Ito-Yokado, and Youme Town. The lottery line imagines Disney characters as idols and uses newly drawn designs across ten prize tiers plus a Last Prize, covering figures, plush charms, tote bags, pouches, card sets, acrylic stands, keychains, and rubber items. The Last Prize details will be posted later.

Oct 4

Shueisha Ends Marvel Manga Sales As Disney Japan Contract Expires

Shueisha will terminate its contract with Walt Disney Japan for comics adaptations of Marvel characters as of September 30, 2026. Distribution stops sequentially on each e-book site between September 28 and 30, and physical sales end as well. Already purchased items stay viewable. Deadpool: Samurai and SECRET REVERSE, handled by Yu-Gi-Oh! creator Kazuki Takahashi, are among the works affected.

Oct 4

Twisted-Wonderland Launches EVOLVE RACER Web Game For A Limited Time

Aniplex released the web game EVOLVE RACER for the smartphone title Disney Twisted-Wonderland on September 24, 2026, for a limited time. Players switch between three lanes to dodge obstacles, collect items, and build score across 8 stages, with the background and BGM changing per stage. Filling the ENERGY gauge triggers Energy Fever, which nullifies obstacles and raises the score multiplier.

Oct 4

Happy Kuji 101 Dalmatians Brings Pongo and Perdita Plush to FamilyMart

Sunny Side Up will release Happy Kuji "Disney 101 Dalmatians" at FamilyMart stores from 10:00 on October 17, 2026, at 880 yen including tax per draw. The lottery, tied to Dog Day on November 1, guarantees original goods built around Dalmatian patterns and red accents across 11 prize tiers plus a Last Prize. The A Prize is a big plush of the parent dogs Pongo and Perdita at adult-dog size, about 60cm in total length. The B Prize is a blanket, the C Prize is a tote bag in six designs, the D Prize is a kinchyaku pouch in nine designs, and the E Prize is a scarf in nine designs. Lower tiers include fur charms, canvas art, picture-matching cards, tin mirrors, multi cases, and sticker sets. The Last Prize, given to whoever draws the final ticket, is a plush set of the puppies Lucky, Rolly, and Patch. Availability may differ by store.

Oct 3

Disney+ And Hulu Raise U.S. Prices Again

Disney raised monthly subscription prices for Disney+ and Hulu in the United States on Wednesday. The ad-supported tier for both services moved from US$11.99 to US$12.49, and the ad-free tier from US$18.99 to US$21.49. The ad-supported Disney+ and Hulu bundle stays at US$12.99, while the ad-free bundle rose from US$19.99 to US$21.99. The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN Select bundle rose from US$19.99 to US$21.99, and its premium version from US$29.99 to US$32.99. New subscribers pay the new rates immediately. Existing subscribers see the change on or after October 21. Disney last raised these prices in October 2025, and before that in October 2024. The two services are set to be folded into a single app in 2026, though each will remain available on its own.

Sep 28

MFC STORE Introduces First Disney Tee With Lei-Clad Mickey

MFC STORE has released its first Disney collection item, a Hawaii-themed T-shirt called "Disney / MFC STORE ALOHA Tee." The design features Mickey Mouse in a lei, with the store's original font. It sold in advance at the MFC STORE booth at "Hula choose you." in Fujimi Park, Kawasaki City on September 27, 2026. The shirt costs 8,800 yen in WHITE and BLACK, sizes XS to XXL. Post-event availability will be announced on the store's website and Instagram.

Sep 20

Disney Halloween 2026 Happy Kuji Goes on Sale October 2

Happy Kuji 'Disney Halloween 2026' goes on sale Friday, October 2, 2026, at Lawson, bookstores, hobby shops, and other locations, at 850 yen per draw including tax. The lineup runs from A Prize to a Last Prize, all 10 ranks. Prizes include a 40cm Stitch plush emerging from a removable pumpkin, a Mickey and Minnie plush pouch, an eco bag that converts to a crossbody bag, a smartphone strap, a pumpkin plate, magnets, sweets-package pouches, icing-cookie charms, and deco cards with clear stickers, with a seated Mickey plush as the Last Prize.

Sep 20

HOTSOX Final Frame Series Socks Go on Sale at Kyoto Isetan Disney Market

HOTSOX is selling its Final Frame Series socks at JR Kyoto Isetan's Disney THE MARKET 2026 from September 16 to October 5, 2026. The designs turn scenes from Snow White, Fantasia, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and The Aristocats into sock art. Sizes and prices are 23-25cm for 2,530 yen including tax and 25-27cm for 2,750 yen including tax, made of polyester and polyurethane. Sales are set to expand to each Disney The Market venue and the HOTSOX official online store.

Sep 19

Disney And Pandora Add Eight Fall Jewelry Pieces From August 27

The Disney x Pandora fall jewelry line rolls out at stores nationwide and the official online store from Thursday, August 27, 2026. The lineup has eight types: six charms and two rings. Themes include Stitch in a Halloween costume and riding a rocket, Jack Skellington and Sally rings, Lucifer, Scar, and a scented Lotso Bear charm. Prices run from 13,200 to 18,700 yen including tax.

Sep 19

NHN PlayArt Returns to Tokyo Game Show with Seven Titles

NHN PlayArt is exhibiting at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held from September 17 to September 21, for the first time in eight years. The booth gathers seven titles, among them LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum, Yo-kai Watch Puni Puni, #Compass Combat Providence Analysis System and DISSIDIA DUELLUM FINAL FANTASY, plus the upcoming Touken Ranbu Pazugiri, Gensou Sekai no Puchi Poyon and OVER RUSH. Trial play areas, photo spots, stage events and a stamp rally fill the space.

Sep 18

Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed Lands On iOS And Android

THQ Nordic released Disney Epic Mickey: Rebrushed for mobile devices in September 2026. The iOS version arrived on September 16 and the Android version followed on September 17, after technical issues delayed the second release by a day. Both versions sell for 2,000 yen. The game is a remaster of the 2010 Wii title Disney Epic Mickey: Mickey Mouse and the Magic Brush, and it follows Mickey Mouse through Wasteland, a setting populated by forgotten Disney characters. Players use a magic brush to paint footholds or erase parts of the environment. The mobile port adds touch controls, with a virtual pad at the bottom of the screen and gauges moved to the top, and the brush actions were readjusted for phones. It also supports dashing, sprinting, and ground pounding. THQ Nordic Japan handled the mobile release.

Sep 17

Disney 101 Dalmatians Happy Kuji To Go On Sale At FamilyMart On October 17, 2026

Sunny Side Up will release the Happy Kuji "Disney 101 Dalmatians" at FamilyMart from 10:00 on Saturday, October 17, 2026. A single draw costs 880 yen including tax. The lottery lines up 11 prize tiers plus a LAST Prize, built around Dalmatian patterns with red accents. The A Prize is a set of big plush toys in two types, shaped as the parent dogs Pongo and Perdita at roughly 60 cm in total length. The rest of the tiers run from a blanket and six types of tote bag through drawstring bags, scarves, fur charms, canvas art, picture-matching cards, can mirrors, multi cases, and sticker sets. The LAST Prize, handed to whoever draws the final kuji, is a plush toy set of the three puppies Lucky, Rolly, and Patch, each about 25 cm long. Sunny Side Up announced the release to mark Dog Day on November 1. Availability may differ by store.

Sep 15

Tokyo Disneyland Opens Disney Halloween With Villains Parade

Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea begin the special event Disney Halloween on Wednesday, September 16. At Tokyo Disneyland, the parade The Villains Halloween 'Into the Frenzy' returns, led by Doctor Facilier from The Princess and the Frog with dancers. New photo spots open at the entrance and in Toontown. Tokyo DisneySea holds Lazos de la Familia, themed to Coco, in an expanded area, through Monday, November 2.

Sep 11

Disney Sparklink Stars Delayed To November 2026

coly announced on September 11 that the planned service start for Disney Sparklink Stars, its smartphone game using Disney IP, has moved to November 2026. The developer said it extended the development period to deliver a higher-quality experience. The date may shift again depending on development progress. The training adventure game casts players as a Conductor training 15 Spark Riders, and is planned for iOS and Android as a free-to-play title with pre-registration open.

Sep 10

Happy Kuji Disney Halloween 2026 Sells From October 2 At 850 Yen Per Draw

Sunny Side Up will release Happy Kuji "Disney Halloween 2026" on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Lawson, bookstores, hobby shops, and other retailers. Each draw costs 850 yen including tax. The theme is a sweets party, with Mickey & Friends and other Disney characters dressed for Halloween in pumpkin and candy motifs across ten prize grades plus a Last Prize. The headline item is the A Prize Stitch Halloween Plush, roughly 40 centimeters tall, shown as if bursting out of a pumpkin, with the pumpkin shell removable. The Last Prize, a Pumpkin Mickey sitting plush, also stands about 40 centimeters and goes only to whoever draws the final ticket, dressed in a pumpkin hat and cape. Rounding out the set are a B Prize plush pouch in five designs, a two-way C Prize eco bag, a D Prize bead smartphone strap, a pumpkin-shaped E Prize plate, F Prize magnets, G Prize sweets-package-style pouches, H Prize icing-cookie-style charms, and an I Prize deco card and sticker set. Handling varies by store.

Sep 9

ZEPETO Runs Disney Thanks Festival as Disney Content Ends September 26

ZEPETO is running the Disney Thanks Festival as its Disney content ends on September 26, 2026. The centerpiece is Disney Wish Festival, a bingo event running September 11-24 where users register wishes from over 1,600 Disney items and gift them to other users to fill cards. Pre-registration opens September 9. A separate Collectem 2xUP event doubles rare item rates on five Disney themes through September 26.

Sep 6

Disney Villains OH MY CAFE Opens for Halloween in Omotesando

The Disney Villains OH MY CAFE opens September 17, 2026, in Omotesando, Tokyo, for a limited run timed to Halloween. The themed cafe offers food and drinks inspired by Disney villains including Maleficent, Scar, Ursula, Jafar, Hades, the Queen, and the Queen of Hearts, with a banquet concept.

Sep 5

Disney Characters Become Idols in New Happy Kuji Lineup

Happy Kuji's "Disney IDOL ON STAGE" lottery launches at Seven-Eleven, Ito-Yokado, and Youme Town stores on September 26, 2026. It imagines Disney characters as idols, featuring newly drawn designs across nine prize tiers plus a grand prize Mickey figure. The Last Prize details will be announced later on Happy Kuji's social media.

Sep 4

Disney Princess Ichiban Kuji Lineup Puts Beauty and the Beast Figures at Top

BANDAI SPIRITS revealed the full lineup for Ichiban Kuji Disney Princess Enchanted Glow, a no-loser lottery. The A and B prizes are Beauty and the Beast figures recreating the ballroom scene where Belle and Beast's gazes meet. C prize is a Charm Collection BOX with a rose metal charm. D through F are goblet-style glasses for Belle, Rapunzel, and Ariel. G through K cover mini figures, mini canvas boards, can mirrors, rubber and sticker collections. The Last One prize is a stained-glass light. Release is September 5 at 781 yen.

Sep 3

Disney IDOL ON STAGE Happy Kuji Lottery Launches September 26

Sunny Side Up will release the Happy Kuji lottery "Disney IDOL ON STAGE" starting September 26 at Seven-Eleven, Ito Yokado, and Youme Town stores. Each draw costs 850.30 yen including tax. The lottery imagines a world where Disney characters have become idols, with all-newly drawn designs that are only available through this Happy Kuji lineup. The grand prize is a "Mickey" On Stage Figure depicting Mickey Mouse making a heart pose as fan service, standing approximately 20 cm tall. The A prize is a Figure Collection of eight characters, including Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Max, Chip & Dale, and Clarice. Additional prizes include plush charms, tote bags, two-way pouches that can double as plush pouches, card holders with card sets, acrylic stand props, silver tape-style keychains, rubber collections, and character signature card and sticker sets. The full lineup spans ten prize grades plus a Last Prize, with details for the Last Prize to be announced later on Happy Kuji's official social media accounts.

Aug 29

Kyara Maro Disney Turns Minnie, Stitch, and Lotso Into Marshmallow Plush Mascots

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.

Aug 20

Disney Twisted-Wonderland Anime Teaser Adds Fairouz Ai as Yuuka

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.

Aug 18

Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu Streams on Disney+ From September 2

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.

Aug 17

Disney Announces Cursed Love Romantasy Webtoon Initiative

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.

Aug 17

Kingdom Hearts IV Gets Late 2027 Window, Older Steam Games Hit Record Player Counts

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.

Aug 15

Kingdom Hearts Gets First Anime Series, Original Story With Tetsuya Nomura

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.

Aug 15

Disney Lorcana Digital Version Officially Announced at D23 2026

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.

Aug 11

Disney Princesses Join Takara Tomy Arts' Shoulder Lean Fig. Gacha Line

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.

Aug 8

Disney CEO Admits 'The Mandalorian & Grogu' Underperformed at Box Office

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.

Aug 8

Disney and TikTok Sign Global Deal for Fan-Made Content

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.

Aug 6

Disney Sparklink Stars Opens Pre-Registration on App Store and Google Play

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.

Jul 27

Disney Twisted-Wonderland Anime's Episode of Savanaclaw Debuts in December

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.

Jul 14

Animated and Live-Action Moana Voice Actresses Join for End Song

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.

Jul 14

Disney Sparkle Link Stars Reveals Nicola Vaniteel Voiced by Yuga Sato

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.

Jul 9

Disney Sparklink Stars Reveals Shu Ayakashi, Leader of aMazINC.

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.

Jul 6

Coly Reveals Ranka Manku, Third Upbeats! Member in Disney Sparklink Stars

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.

Jul 6

Disney Pixel RPG to End Service in September 2026

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.

Jul 6

Midjourney Demands Hollywood Studios Disclose Internal AI Usage in Copyright Fight

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.

Jul 3

Sano Yuto Joins Toy Story 5 Parade at Tokyo Disneyland

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.

Jul 2

Neo Michelle Revealed as Leader of UPbeats! in Disney Sparklink Stars

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.