Disney Unveils 'Kingdom Hearts The Series' Anime for Disney+ and Disney Channel
The gaming franchise expands into television with a brand-new story designed to grow the existing universe.
Disney has officially announced an original anime series based on the Kingdom Hearts video game franchise. The project, titled "Kingdom Hearts The Series," was unveiled during the D23 Entertainment Showcase on August 14, 2026, marking a major leap for the IP into a new medium.
The series is greenlit for release on both Disney+ and the Disney Channel. According to the official D23 announcement, the show will feature a "brand-new story that will expand the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters that have captured the hearts of millions of fans throughout the world." The production is a collaborative effort between Disney and Square Enix.
A Legacy of Collaboration
Kingdom Hearts first launched in 2002 as a unique partnership between Disney and Square Enix, blending iconic Disney characters with the role-playing game mechanics of the Final Fantasy series. For over two decades, the franchise has grown into a complex saga of light and darkness, primarily told through a series of console games. This move into long-form animation represents the first full-length television series for the franchise, shifting the narrative from interactive gameplay to a cinematic format.
Strategic Market Expansion
By distributing the series across both a streaming platform and a linear cable network, Disney is pursuing a dual-track audience strategy. The presence on Disney+ allows the company to target the dedicated core gaming fanbase, many of whom have followed the intricate plot for years. Simultaneously, the Disney Channel release aims to introduce the world of Kingdom Hearts to a broader youth audience who may not be active gamers but are familiar with the Disney brand.
The Road to Kingdom Hearts IV
The anime announcement arrived alongside critical updates for the franchise's next major gaming milestone. Disney confirmed that Kingdom Hearts IV is currently slated for a late 2027 release. As part of the game's reveal, it was disclosed that the upcoming title will feature a world based on the Disney and Pixar film "Coco," continuing the series' tradition of integrating diverse animated properties into its overarching plot. Observers will now be watching to see how the timeline of the new anime series intersects with the events of the fourth game.