- Primary Subject: Kingdom Hearts (Franchise / Animated Series)
- Key Update: Disney confirmed at D23 that an original Kingdom Hearts anime series is currently in development for Disney+ alongside Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 17, 2026
- Quick Answer: Disney is making a Kingdom Hearts anime for Disney+, offering new fans a way to catch up on decades of lore without playing every game.
During D23, Disney confirmed that a Kingdom Hearts original anime series is being developed in partnership with Square Enix.
The series will stream on Disney+ and is heralded by franchise creator Tetsuya Nomura and several members of the game's creative team. Currently, there are no confirmed release dates, voice cast, or information on a specific arc they're planning to tackle.
Though I haven't played much of the mainline Kingdom Hearts games, I am still ecstatic about the series. Why? Because it's finally going to allow me to dive into the lore without investing too much time in all four mainline games.
The Kingdom Hearts Anime Is the Perfect Gateway for Newbie Fans
The first Kingdom Hearts game came out when I was 2 years old - I was barely sentient. The second came out when I was 5, and the third when I was 19. By the time I knew about the series, there was already a decade's worth of lore I had missed out on, and I was too intimidated to dive in head-first.
For years, my experience with the franchise was with a single handheld title: Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance. I loved the gameplay, the whimsical movement flow, and the charm of exploring those worlds on 3DS. And yet it still never spurred me to play the mainline games. It just felt like too much pressure.
So when Disney announced that a Kingdom Hearts anime was in the works, I didn't just feel excitement - I felt relief. Finally, there's going to be a way for me to genuinely learn and digest the Kingdom Hearts lore without feeling pressured to purchase, grind, and play through every single entry in the backlog. I can just relax and watch the plot unfold without worrying if I missed a crucial plot point.
I know I’m not the only one who felt intimidated by how many games there are in the Kingdom Hearts franchise. And while the anime was probably made for hardcore fans, I also believe this is a great way to bridge the gap between newbie players and the franchise.
It takes a complex, multi-game universe and turns it into an inviting, bingeable experience. Letting people catch up on the lore through an anime gives players like me the context we've always wanted without feeling overwhelmed.
Of course, this will only ring true if the anime stays faithful to the games. That's something we have no info on yet, so fingers crossed they do a retelling of the game rather than branching off into a different story altogether.
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