Kingdom Hearts: First Anime Series Comes to Disney+, Kingdom Hearts IV to Release at End of 2027
Square Enix and Disney, in an announcement made during D23 Expo 2026, gave Kingdom Hearts fans two big pieces of news at once. The series will come to screens for the first time as an anime adaptation on Disney+. According to Anime Corner and Anime News Network, the project will have an original story involving Tetsuya Nomura. At the same event, it was confirmed via a new trailer that Kingdom Hearts IV will release at the end of 2027 and will feature the world of Pixar's Coco.
The anime series is said to be developed under the Disney Kids banner. This project will not be a direct adaptation of the games but will tell an independent story that expands the universe. It is not yet clear how deeply Tetsuya Nomura, as the series' creator, will contribute to the production, but his name being attached to the project already gives fans confidence. Kingdom Hearts has previously been introduced to animated productions like Kingdom Hearts χ Back Cover, but this is the first time the universe is being explored in a series format.
On the other hand, Kingdom Hearts IV was a long-running project announced in April 2022 during the series' 20th anniversary. With the new trailer, Sora's adventure in the realistic world called Quadratum will now be accompanied by a world based on Pixar's 2017 film Coco. The colorful Land of the Dead and musical themes of Coco will meet the epic storytelling of Kingdom Hearts. This is interpreted as a sign that Pixar productions will once again hold an important place in the Kingdom Hearts universe.
Kingdom Hearts achieved cult status shortly after its first game released for PlayStation 2 in 2002, bringing together characters from Disney and Square Enix in the same universe. Tetsuya Nomura, with his designed characters and direction, is the architect of the series and is also known for the Final Fantasy VII Remake projects. Therefore, the creator-driven development of the anime adaptation is especially meaningful for the long-waiting fan base. Disney+'s investment in original anime content suggests that vast universes like Kingdom Hearts will become even more visible on this platform.
Details about the anime series' release date, number of episodes, and voice cast have not yet been announced. A window like the end of 2027 has been given for Kingdom Hearts IV; the exact release date may become clearer in the coming months. It is safe to say that fans can expect new reveals in the near future on both the anime and game fronts. It seems that 2027 will be a big year for the Kingdom Hearts universe on both fronts.
