Disney once prototyped a Smash Bros-style fighter inspired by Kingdom Hearts

Disney once developed a prototype for a crossover fighting game in the vein of Super Smash Bros, according to former Disney Interactive concept artist Ken Christiansen. The project, which never reached production, was born from the commercial success of the original Kingdom Hearts.

Tentatively titled "Disney's Action Figure Face Off," the game envisioned a combat system where characters from various Disney franchises battled one another. To justify the crossover, the project utilized a "Toy Story" style framing device, casting the combatants as action figures. Christiansen noted that the roster would have included figures from films such as Tarzan, The Lion King, and Treasure Planet, stating, "Then, we can have all these action figures of Disney characters... and it can be this Smash Brothers type of thing."

The Kingdom Hearts Catalyst

The shift toward multi-franchise gaming was driven by the performance of the first Kingdom Hearts on the PlayStation 2. Developed in partnership with Square Enix, the title proved that blending disparate Disney worlds into a single narrative was not only possible but highly profitable. This success fundamentally altered Disney's internal perspective, moving the company away from a strict adherence to individual film silos and toward the exploration of shared universes in interactive media.

Corporate Caution

Despite the creative momentum, "Action Figure Face Off" never progressed beyond the prototype phase. The project was ultimately shelved because Disney leadership decided to prioritize safer, more traditional film tie-in titles. This decision highlights a period of internal corporate tension where the potential of experimental crossover gameplay was weighed against the guaranteed, low-risk returns of games designed to promote specific movie releases.

A Legacy of Crossovers

While the fighting game was cancelled, the conceptual groundwork laid during this era paved the way for Disney's modern gaming strategy. The willingness to merge intellectual properties—first validated by Kingdom Hearts and explored in the "Action Figure Face Off" prototype—eventually manifested in later successful crossover titles. This evolution is evident in the development of Disney Infinity, Disney Speedstorm, and Disney Dreamlight Valley, all of which embrace the multi-IP approach that the company once hesitated to pursue.