An original anime series based on the long-running video game franchise Kingdom Hearts has been ordered for both Disney+ and Disney Channel. The project was revealed by actor Benjamin Bratt during the Disney Entertainment Showcase panel at the company’s D23 fan event in Anaheim on Friday night. Bratt also shared that he will voice his Coco character Ernesto de la Cruz in the forthcoming Kingdom Hearts IV game, currently scheduled for a late 2027 release from Square Enix.
The series is being developed in close collaboration with creator Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix. Under its current working title Kingdom Hearts, the adaptation will present an entirely original story that builds upon the established world while honoring the characters who have defined the series for global audiences over more than two decades.
No further information about cast, episode count, or premiere window has been shared at this time. The sole visual released so far is a first-look image that prominently features series protagonist Sora standing with his signature Keyblade.
“Kingdom Hearts has captivated gamers everywhere with its unique blend of adventure and imagination,” said Ayo Davis, president, Disney Kids & Family. “There’s something really exciting about taking a world fans have spent years exploring through the games and bringing it to life in a completely new way. And with a creative team that is working closely with the legendary Tetsuya Nomura, our new series will be unmistakably Kingdom Hearts, while giving fans a whole new way to experience the world they love.”
The Kingdom Hearts franchise first launched in March 2002 as a PlayStation 2 exclusive that blended original characters with iconic Disney worlds and Final Fantasy elements under Nomura’s direction. What began as a single title quickly expanded into a sprawling multi-platform saga that now includes more than a dozen mainline, spin-off, and remastered entries spanning handheld systems, consoles, and mobile devices.
With more than 39 million units sold across two decades of interconnected stories, the series has carved out a rare space where Disney magic and Square Enix’s signature storytelling collide. The new anime now steps into that same universe, arriving alongside other fresh Disney+ animated projects such as Messi and the Giants, Warrior Cats, and Journey.
Source: Disney
