Disney's D23 fan convention hosted a special panel dedicated to the Kingdom Hearts series, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the franchise's development. The panel, titled ‘DEEP DIVE into KINGDOM HEARTS,’ featured insights from creative minds, voice actors, and development leads.
Guests included Nana Gadd, director of games at Walt Disney Company's Japan branch; Tai Yasue from Square Enix and co-director of Kingdom Hearts IV; and Tetsuya Nomura, a key figure in the series' development, who appeared as a surprise guest. Haley Joel Osment (Sora) and David Gallagher (Riku), along with voice actors for several Disney characters, also participated.
This event follows a recent gameplay reveal at D23, where Sora was shown battling Heartless in a setting inspired by Disney's Coco. Additionally, a Kingdom Hearts animated series was announced for Disney+.
The panel was hosted by actor Khleo Thomas, known for his role in "Holes." Thomas expressed his enthusiasm for the series before introducing the panelists. Nomura, speaking through a translator, shared his excitement about attending the event after a multi-year absence.
Discussions during the panel focused on the making of the games and provided glimpses into the future of the Kingdom Hearts saga, with anticipation high for further details on Kingdom Hearts 4 and subsequent entries in the series.