Kingdom Heartshas long been a beloved video game franchise, which debuted in 2002 and has continued to steal the hearts of both Disney and JRPG fans for over two decades. Main character Sora’s journey throughout several different worlds, in which he meets characters from several different properties, has been highly successful for the strange but perfect marriage between Disney and Square Enix. Despite the success, however,the franchise has rarely ever branched out from video games.
That isn’t for a lack of trying, though.Kingdom Heartshas enjoyed several releases in both manga and light novel formats throughout the years, the former being published by Yen Press in the United States. What the franchise has sorely missed, however,is a proper anime or western animation adaptation. Early in franchise history, one was greenlit for the Disney Channel, but it wascanceled shortly after the creation of the pilot animatic. In the years since, little more than rumors about projects in the works have surfaced, but fans shouldn’t give up hope.
Disney Scrapped a Kingdom Hearts TV Series Years Ago
Information Regarding the Show Surfaced in Recent Years
In 2003, following the success of the firstKingdom Heartsgame on the Playstation 2,Disney Channel commissioned a pilot for aKingdom Heartsanimated TV series. Directed by Seth Kearsley, the pilot featured all returning cast members beside Haley Joel Osment, and was initially well-received. Unfortunately, shortly after its creation,the series was scrapped by Disney. Nearly 20 years later, Kearsley uploaded the pilot animatic onto YouTube, sparking discourse from the fan base before Disney requested it be taken down.
Though it was only a small glimpse at what could have been a highly enjoyable entry into the franchise,the pilot left fans wanting an adaptation more than ever before. Rumors have since surfaced about a potential live-action series or theatrical film being in the works for Disney+, though no official confirmation regarding a project has ever been given. News regarding the upcomingKingdom Hearts 4has also been relatively silent since its first reveal, leavingan already hungry fan base in a state of concern.
Fans Shouldn’t Lose Hope for a Kingdom Hearts Adaptation Just Yet
Another Successful Disney Game Is Being Adapted into Anime in 2025
ThoughKingdom Heartsfans are rightfully weary when it comes to holding out hope for the franchise,there is a glimmer of hope that an anime adaptation might be on the horizon.Disney Twisted-Wonderland, a successful mobile gacha game, has already been adapted into a manga series, and isset to air an anime adaptation in October 2025. Depending on the success of the anime series, Disney might become more comfortable lending out their games to talented animation studios moving forward.
10 Things Disney’s Twisted Wonderland Fans Are Anticipating From The Anime
Twisted Wonderland fans are anticipating a lot from the anime adaptation and are excited to see how all of the game’s elements will come together.
AKingdom Heartsanime series would be a dream come true for nearly all fans of the long-running video game franchise, and there are several capable studios that can bring its stylized visuals and energetic combat to life. Now that Disney is comfortable enough to greenlight a show based on another one of its games,Sora and company might be soon to follow. A large portion of the fan base will forever be disappointed the 2003 TV show never came to be, though few would complain about a modern take on the franchise.
