The combination of magic, nostalgia, and epic battles is about to make its definitive leap to television. During the Disney Entertainment Showcase panel at the D23 convention, it was officially announced that an anime original based on the legendary Kingdom Hearts franchise from Square Enix is currently in development and will arrive exclusively on Disney Channel and Disney+.

This new TV project features direct collaboration from the series creator, Tetsuya Nomura, alongside the creative team from the Japanese developer. The series will offer a completely new narrative that expands the franchise’s multiverse while paying homage to its iconic characters. A first promotional image was shown during the presentation, revealing a mysterious young man with his back turned, holding a Keyblade over his shoulder with an artistic style very different from the interactive entries. Nomura commented that the writing and art team has designed multiple original characters for this journey, inviting fans to let their imaginations run wild as more details are revealed.

In addition to the animated project announcement, the event also served as the stage for revealing important news about Kingdom Hearts IV. The anticipated title will hit the market at the end of 2027 and will launch simultaneously on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. An official trailer was presented confirming that the game will include a world based on the Disney and Pixar film Coco, where actor Benjamin Bratt will reprise his voice role as Ernesto de la Cruz.

Given that the franchise has captivated millions of players for over two decades with its complex narrative, do you think the animated series will adapt the convoluted mythology of the Keyblades clearly or leave us with more existential doubts in true Nomura style?