It might come as a bit of a shocker to some as a game developed by Square that primarily focuses on its original characters, butKingdom Heartsis actually owned by Disney. This includes the likes of Sora and other elements of the series, in additions to the dozens of Disney characters that show up in the games. Indeed, despite some criticism from fans, the Disney side ofKingdom Hearts’ identity has always been a key selling point, and is here to stay. Disney’s ownership ofKingdom Heartsguarantees the longevity of Disney contentbeyond the basics like Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, Yensid, and Jiminy Cricket’s notebook.
WithKingdom Hearts 4on the way, fans will inevitably talk about which worlds should be included in the game, especially new ones. Talks aboutStar Warsor Marvel representation are already occurring, potentially steeringKingdom Heartsaway from “original” Disney works, which are what the series has traditionally represented.Kingdom Hearts 3showed an interest in the series diverging from its representational habits, if only a little. Due to this,Kingdom Hearts 4should pursue this interest and develop it, specifically by introducing Disney animated series to the franchise.
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The Evolution of Disney Worlds in Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Heartswas made before Disney became infamous for its interest in IP acquisition in the American entertainment industry. Before The Walt Disney Company was able to relyon the Marvel Cinematic Universeand countlessStar Warsprojects, it was comfortable promoting its brand with what made it famous to begin with. It was only a couple of decades ago when Disney was well-known for its classic Golden Age shorts and the films by Walt Disney Animation Studios, instead of everything it subsequently acquired sharing the spotlight.
Kingdom Heartssought to represent that part of Disney’s identity. As a result, the Disney characters with major roles are either from the classic shorts,like Donald, Goofy, King Mickey, and Chip ‘n Dale, or the breakout characters of their respective movies, like Jiminy Cricket or Maleficent. In the originalKingdom Hearts, most of the Disney worlds were from the company’s “traditional” movies.
The sole exception was Halloween Town,representingThe Nightmare Before Christmas. Even then, despite being a Touchstone production,Nightmareis marketed with the Disney brand nowadays, so its status as a “very special” world is almost unwarranted.Pirates of the CaribbeanjoinedNightmareinKingdom Hearts 2and remained the only other outlier.
ByKingdom Hearts 3,Pixar movieswere finally getting representation. Specifically,Toy Story,Monsters, Inc., andRatatouillewere represented in some capacity. This shows that the series is willing to move away from its rigid definition of Disney, albeit within the media that Disney has always worked on without buying it beforehand. With the classic cartoons, Disney Animated Canon, Pixar, the parks (thanks toPirates), and Touchstone (thanks toNightmare) being inKingdom Hearts, the only “original” Disney media that have yet to get representation in the series are some live action works, likeMary Poppins, and Disney’s animated series.
For most of the Disney Channel’s lifespan, the cartoons were either spin-offs of existing movies and characters, or edutainment. The late 2000s changed this idea thanks toPhineas and Ferb, one of the few animated Disney shows to actually show up in some Disney-themed crossovers, such as activities in the parks. The 2010s were a stepping stone in the Disney animated program, withGravity Fallsimpacting the entire medium.
DespiteGravity Falls’ creator Alex Hirsch openly criticizing Disney’s policies, the show is arguably the most popular Disney TV show of all time, even almost a decade after its debut. It lacks the merchandise that carries the advertising for most Disney successes, butGravity Fallsshares a significant portion of its fanbase, at least demographically,withKingdom Hearts.
It might not have the mainstream status of somethinglikeToy Story, but its cult following warrants Square and Disney giving it a chance for an appearance inKingdom Hearts.Gravity Falls’ success led to other shows with similar storytelling techniques, such asAmphibiaandThe Owl House, being greenlit and premiered to similar levels of success.
Most Disney shows are watered down versions of their films or relics of a nostalgic past. Some of them, likePhineas and Ferb,Gravity Falls, and the previously unmentionedThe Proud Familystood the test of time. More original programming has been coming out of Disney in the 2010s, with this decade hopefully being a continuation. If something huge like the aforementioned shows were to be included, it will open the doors for most representation of works that are otherwise barely acknowledged by Disney.
Kingdom Hearts 4is in development.
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