Kingdom Hearts anime series announced at D23 — Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix partner with Disney

The Walt Disney Company has approved an original anime series based on the Kingdom Hearts universe, the company announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event. Developed in partnership with Kingdom Hearts series director and character designer Tetsuya Nomura and the creative team at Square Enix, the new project will premiere on Disney Channel and Disney+. No release date has been provided. Kingdom Hearts is an action‑RPG franchise created by Tetsuya Nomura for Square Enix, with the first game launching on PlayStation 2 in 2002. Over the years the series has expanded through sequels, spin‑offs and remastered collections, reaching multiple platforms and introducing millions of players to its crossover of Square Enix and Disney characters. The announcement at D23 marks the franchise’s first confirmed original animated series produced directly in collaboration with Disney’s television and streaming teams. According to the announcement materials, the series will present “a brand‑new story that will expand on the universe of Kingdom Hearts while celebrating the characters” familiar to fans. Nomura followed the D23 reveal with a social media message—translated through Google Translate—confirming production and urging patience. In his message he acknowledged that the announcement may have been unexpected, said he could not disclose plot specifics yet, and noted he has been consulting closely with the series’ scenario and art teams. Nomura also confirmed new character designs were created for the project and suggested that the single key art released with the announcement should be read as an intentional hint for fans. Ayo Davis, president of Disney Kids & Family, framed the series as an opportunity to adapt the game worlds for a new medium. Davis said Kingdom Hearts has long captivated gamers with its mix of adventure and imagination, and that transforming those worlds for television and streaming will give fans a fresh way to experience the franchise while remaining true to Nomura’s creative vision. The collaboration brings together Square Enix’s development legacy and Disney’s storytelling platforms. While specific episode counts, cast, animation studio credits and release windows have not yet been disclosed, the D23 announcement establishes Disney Channel and Disney+ as the series’ home. Fans and industry observers can expect further details in future press updates from Disney, Square Enix and Tetsuya Nomura as production progresses.