TheKingdom Heartsseries is one of the more outlandish works in the medium. Twenty years ago, one would have doubted the potential of an action-RPG starring Square Enix and Disney characters. Nowadays, the franchise is one of Square’s biggest hits, and arguably the most successful Disney-related video game series of all time, spawning sequels and spin-offs up toKingdom Hearts 4.The recent announcement ofKingdom Hearts 4is surprising considering how soonKingdom Hearts3came out, but now fans are discussing what might appear in the new installment.
Part of the appeal ofKingdom Heartsis how each title contributes to its crossover premise. It is easy for fans of Disney movies to appreciate what the series has to offer, even if most worlds’ plots are diluted versions of their source material. While most Disney worlds in the games are inspired by “traditional” Disney properties, the series has been branching out with recent installments, and the plethora of IP owned by Disney opens countless doors. Despite this,Kingdom Hearts 4will probably stick to what the series is familiar with.
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Kingdom Heart’s History of Disney Crossovers
The firstKingdom Heartsgame was released a few years afterthe end of the Disney Renaissance, and a decade before the Walt Disney Company’s big shopping spree began. WhenKingdom Heartsstarted, “Disney” worlds included classic shorts starring Mickey and the gang, the Walt Disney animated canon (movies likeThe Lion King, princess films, and literary adaptations), as well as original works likeThe Nightmare Before Christmas,Tron, andPirates of the Caribbean. Pixar movies would not be included in this description of Disney untilKingdom Hearts 3, withToy Story,Ratatouille, andMonsters, Inc.getting representation.
Between the releases ofKingdom Hearts 2and3, Disney made a comeback with its “traditional” movies, and began a controversial habit of buying other properties. In addition to Marvel andStar Wars, Disney ownsThe Muppets(purchased well beforeKingdom Hearts 2),The Simpsons,Ice Age, and more. Due to modernKingdom Heartsdiscourse including predictions surrounding the inclusion of certain Disney worlds, people have been clamoring for these franchises bought by Disney. Whether the requests are serious or ironic,Kingdom Heartscan either rely on popular demand, or stick with what it is familiar with.
Representation is something to consider for how well a series would fitKingdom Hearts.Something like Fox’sFamily Guyis cartoony enough, but the absence of the show’s trademark edgy content would make a potentialKingdom Heartsappearance feel empty. Similarly,Marvel charactersare family friendly enough, but there are “original” Disney films that could represent superheroes likeThe Incredibles. Additionally, there are so many Marvel characters with countless variants that a Marvel world would polarize fans due to leaving out some popular characters. The aforementionedIce Age, as well as movies likeAnastasia, could be uncomfortable due to their history as Disney’s competitors.
Despite the controversy surrounding Disney-made films and the franchise’s own status as a pop culture juggernaut,Star Warsis one of the few seriesnow owned by Disney thatKingdom Hearts 4could reasonably include. The demand is high enough for aStar Warsworld that it wouldn’t just feel like fan service. There is enough material to work with for a cohesive world, and there are just enough iconic characters and set pieces that a “standard” depiction ofStar Warscould be created without seemingly favoring one “era” of films over the rest. Additionally,Star Wars’ fantasy elements and good-versus-evil themes make it a good fit forKingdom Hearts.
There is no way to tell what Square Enix will include inKingdom Hearts 4, but thenew Disney worldswill most likely be influenced by modern audience’s tastes. Nevertheless, with a few exceptions, most of the non-original franchises owned by Disney are likely unfit forKingdom Hearts’ tone, as absurd as it can get. The series will most likely rely on the “Disney animated canon” and Pixar for material, but with how ambitious certain crossovers likeSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatecan be, the game could surprise everyone.
Kingdom Hearts 4is currently in development.
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