Tetsuya Nomura Is Working on the KINGDOM HEARTS Anime and Tells Fans “Let Your Imaginations Run Wild”
Disney is officially opening another door into the wonderfully complicated world of Kingdom Hearts, and this time we won’t need a controller to go through it.
As we previously reported, a Kingdom Hearts anime series is coming to Disney+, and the project has some serious creative muscle from the games involved.
Tetsuya Nomura, co-creator of the franchise and frequent director of the games, is working with the anime’s scenario team, while members of the Kingdom Hearts 4 development team are contributing new designs created specifically for the series.
Disney announced the anime during its D23 Disney Entertainment Showcase, confirming that it will tell an original story set within the universe-hopping mythology of Kingdom Hearts. Beyond that, Disney and Square Enix are keeping most of the good stuff locked away for now.
Nomura acknowledged the surprise announcement on social media, and he offered just enough information to spaerk more excitement.
"The production of a Kingdom Hearts animated series has been confirmed," he writes. "I imagine you're surprised by this sudden announcement. Some of you may be wondering, 'What will it be about?'"
That’s the big question, and Nomura isn’t ready to answer it yet. He explained that he can’t reveal concrete story details, though he has been "in close discussions with the scenario team" working on the anime.
It was also revelaed that the game’s art team has produced "multiple new character designs specifically for this project," suggesting the series is getting characters and visual material built expressly for its original story rather than simply adapting something we’ve already played.
Nomura then said: "I can't say anything more right now, but the hint is in the single piece of key art that's been revealed. Please let your imaginations run wild while you await further updates.”
Telling Kingdom Hearts fans to let their imaginations run wild is basically an invitation to get excited about all the wild possibilities this new story could explore.
And there’s plenty of room for speculation. The Kingdom Hearts universe has accumulated an enormous amount of history across its games, characters, worlds, Keyblade wielders, ancient conflicts, and various battles against darkness.
An original anime doesn’t necessarily have to follow Sora, Donald, and Goofy or retell one of their existing adventures. I’m sure a lot of fans hope it will, though!
The Disney+ anime could jump far back in the timeline and explore an era before Sora and his friends were born. It could introduce another Keyblade wielder facing a threat connected to the darkness that consumed Sora’s island.
It could also head somewhere completely unexpected, which would be pretty appropriate for a franchise where seemingly minor details have a habit of becoming extremely important several games later.
For now, Disney and Nomura clearly want the mystery to be part of the fun.