Following the surprise announcement of the Kingdom Hearts anime series at D23, Tetsuya Nomura has shared further details regarding new character designs for the project.
Tetsuya Nomura confirmed his deep involvement in the project's development, collaborating with the writing team on the storyline and working with the art team to create several new character designs specifically for the anime.
Tetsuya Nomura stated, "Production of the Kingdom Hearts anime series has been officially confirmed. I understand this sudden announcement took many by surprise, and I'm sure many fans are curious about what this anime will be like."
He explained that while he cannot disclose more details at this time, he has been working closely with the writing team and contributing to the project's new designs. He also hinted that clues about the initiative are hidden in the recently released key visual.
"I can't reveal much more at this stage, but there's a clue hidden in the released key visual. Feel free to speculate and patiently wait for future updates," he added.
The Kingdom Hearts anime was officially announced at the D23 Expo, with Disney confirming that the series is being developed in collaboration with Tetsuya Nomura and Square Enix.
Disney stated that the anime will tell a new story, expanding the Kingdom Hearts universe while showcasing the series' classic characters. No release date or further plot details have been announced yet.
Alongside the anime announcement, Square Enix is preparing the next mainline entry in the series. Kingdom Hearts IV is scheduled for release in late 2027, with Disney and Pixar's Coco confirmed as the first revealed Disney world.
In this title, Sora will embark on a new adventure in the mysterious reality of Quadratum, visiting the Land of the Dead from Coco. Kingdom Hearts IV is now available for wishlist on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
Meanwhile, Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue will launch on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 8, 2026.