Kingdom Hearts creator Tetsuya Nomura has one message for fans about his mysterious new anime series on Disney+: "Let your imagination run wild.".
The Square Enix and Final Fantasy veteran shared a message with excited fans on X/Twitter following the surprise appearance of the crossover series at yesterday's D23 2026 Disney Entertainment Showcase. Its appearance included not only a first look at how the next mainline installment in the franchise will integrate into the world of Pixar's Coco, but also a teaser for the new Kingdom Hearts series coming to Disney+.
Unfortunately, the presentation revealed very little information about how the anime project will fit into the notoriously confusing Kingdom Hearts timeline. For now, fans can rely only on a few words from Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis and a few cryptic illustrations that appear to depict a new character wielding the Keyblade. Rather than intervene and clarify the situation, Nomura chose to fuel speculation among those who are undoubtedly already theorizing.
The first teaser for Kingdom Hearts on Disney+. Image courtesy of Disney.
«"A Kingdom Hearts animated series has been confirmed," Nomura said in a statement (translated by Google Translate). "I suppose this sudden announcement came as a surprise. You're probably wondering what the series will be about. While I can't share specific details yet, I'm working closely with the writing team—and, if necessary, the art team—and we've even created new character designs specifically for this project.".
«"I can't say anything more at this time, but the only published fragment of the key image serves as a clue. Please let your imagination run wild while you wait for further updates.".
Kingdom Hearts fans are especially adept at filling long waits with theories. With the exception of the occasional spin-off, the franchise has experienced long gaps between releases. Kingdom Hearts 3, for example, came out a full 13 years after Kingdom Hearts 2. By the time Kingdom Hearts 4 arrives, scheduled for 2027 (as recently announced), it will have been approximately eight years since the last numbered installment—assuming no delays.
However, the Kingdom Hearts anime series doesn't actually have a release date, or even a rough timeframe for fans to mark on their calendars. The images merely inform viewers that it's "coming soon" on Disney+.
«"Kingdom Hearts has captured the hearts of gamers around the world with its unique blend of adventure and imagination," Davis said after the presentation. "There's something truly exciting about taking a world fans have explored in games for years and bringing it to life in a completely new way. And with a creative team working closely with the legendary Tetsuya Nomura, our new series will be unmistakably Kingdom Hearts while giving fans a completely new way to experience their beloved world.".
It's unclear when we'll learn more about the series, but it's likely some details will emerge today. Disney will soon be holding a "Kingdom Hearts Deep Dive" panel at D23 this year. We'll be keeping an eye on all the biggest news here. You can learn more about how Kingdom Hearts 4 resurfaced during a Nintendo Direct earlier this year. You can also find out why Disney Animation isn't giving up on the idea of a film based on the series.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer for IGN. He is best known for his work on websites such as The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Follow him on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
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