Kingdom Hearts Anime Coming

A Kingdom Hearts anime series is coming to Disney+ and Disney Channel, with a brand new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts. The anime series is being developed in partnership with series creator Tetsuya Nomura and the wider Square Enix creative team.

The anime series will not directly adapt the games, but will tell a new story set within the existing Kingdom Hearts universe. This move is part of the franchise's 25th-anniversary celebrations, which also include the release of Kingdom Hearts 4 in late 2027.

Kingdom Hearts 4 will be released on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. A new trailer for the game confirms that one of the Disney worlds featured in the game will be based on Coco. The game kicks off a new story arc, the Lost Master Arc, picking up after the events of Kingdom Hearts 3 and set primarily in Quadratum, a large, realistic hub city with a distinctly Tokyo-like feel.

The Kingdom Hearts franchise is one of Disney's billion-dollar franchises, and the new anime series is expected to further expand its reach. Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis said in a statement that the new series is being built to ensure it is "unmistakably Kingdom Hearts" while giving new fans a fresh way to experience the world.

## What it means The announcement of the Kingdom Hearts anime series and the release window for Kingdom Hearts 4 marks a significant milestone for the franchise. With its 25th anniversary celebrations underway, the franchise is looking to expand its reach and attract new fans. The anime series and the new game are expected to provide a fresh perspective on the Kingdom Hearts universe, while still maintaining the core elements that have made the franchise so popular.

The partnership between Disney and Square Enix has been instrumental in the success of the Kingdom Hearts franchise, and the new anime series is a testament to the strength of this partnership. With the franchise's billion-dollar status and its dedicated fan base, the Kingdom Hearts anime series and Kingdom Hearts 4 are expected to be major hits, and will likely pave the way for further expansions of the franchise in the future.