OrpheusJoshua

The artist for the Kingdom Hearts series' numerous manga adaptions, Shiro Amano, recently shared new artwork via their Twitter account that crosses over Sora, Donald, and Goofy from Kingdom Hearts with a more niche Square IP, Parasite Eve.
For those wondering why Amano would illustrate a piece connecting to Parasite Eve, of all things, it's because they have quite a personal history with the title, as they discussed in their Twitter thread. 
Our team’s Ryuji translated Amano’s statements:
You can view Shiro Amano's artwork of Kingdom Hearts and Parasite Eve below:
 

View full article

Square Enix has revealed new Kingdom Hearts plushes set to appear throughout Japan via Sega Plaza crane games. The new characters depicted as plushes are the Kingdom Hearts I appearances of Kairi and Riku, as well as King Mickey in his coat attire. 
Additionally, the second volume of muffler towels was revealed, showcasing Terra, Aqua, Ventus, Roxas, Xion, and Axel.
Aitai Kuji has the Kairi, Riku, and King Mickey plushes available for pre-order for ¥3,500 each, with estimated March 2023 shipping times. 
You can view each of these items via our galleries below:
 
 
 
 

View full article

Recently, content creator Shesez uploaded a new video in his Boundary Break series, where he takes the camera anywhere he wants to discover secrets in various games. 
This time, Shesez tackled the first Kingdom Hearts entry, showcasing several intriuging finds, such as viewing angles that players would never see throughout their playthroughs, zoom-ins on models and areas, and more. 
Although, perhaps the most major part of this specific Boundary Break is fully seeing Sora’s room which is only ever partially seen otherwise. Unused elements in the Halloween Town world are also shown off. 
You can view the Boundary Break video for the first Kingdom Hearts game below or you can check it out on his Youtube Channel. The version he used is not the original PlayStation 2 release, but one of the HD re-releases. 
Shesez did a similar video for Kingdom Hearts II roughly four years ago. 
 

View full article

Disney and Square Enix have listed the soundtracks for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX on streaming services, including Spotify and Apple Music. Both albums are scheduled to launch on February 8, 2023.
The streaming service playlists for Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 ReMIX, comprising 84 songs lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes, are listed below:
Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music The full tracklist, spread across three discs, is listed below:
Disc 1
Dearly Beloved - SIMPLE AND CLEAN - KINGDOM Orchestra Instrumental Version-  Dive into the Heart -Destati- Destiny Islands Bustin' Up on the Beach Mickey Mouse March Treasured Memories  Strange Whispers Kairi I It Began with a Letter A Walk in Andante Night of Fate Destiny's Force Where is This? Traverse Town The Heartless Has Come Shrouding Dark Cloud Blast Away! - Gummi Ship I- Tricksy Clock Welcome to Wonderland To Our Surprise Turning the Key Olympus Coliseum Road to a Hero Go for It! No Time to Think Deep Jungle Having a Wild Time Holy Bananas! Squirming Evil Hand in Hand Kairi II Merlin's Magical House Winnie the Pooh Bounce-O-Rama Just an Itty Bitty Too Much Once Upon a Time Shipmeisters' Humoresque Precious Stars in the Sky Blast Away! - Gummi Ship II- Disc 2
A Day in Agrabah Arabian Dream Villains of a Sort A Very Small Wish Monstrous Monstro Friends in My Heart Under the Sea An Adventure in Atlantica A Piece of Peace An Intense Situation The Deep End This is Halloween Spooks of Halloween Town Oopsy-Daisy Captain Hook's Pirate Ship Pirate's Gigue Never Land Sky Kairi III Blast Away! - Gummi Ship III -  Hollow Bastion Scherzo Di Notte Forze Del Male HIKARI - KINGDOM HEARTS Instrumental Version- Miracle One-Winged Angel from FINAL FANTASY VII End of the World Fragments of Sorrow A Night on the Bare Mountain Guardando nel buio Beyond the Door Always on My Mind March Caprice - for Piano and Orchestra Disc 3
Disappeared Another Side Hand in Hand -Reprise- Dearly Beloved -Reprise- Having a Wild Time - Previous Version- Destati Lord of the Castle Dearly Beloved - KINGDOM HEARTS 358/2 Days Version- Musique pour la tristesse de Xion At Dusk, I Will Think of You... Vector to the Heavens Another Side - - Battle Ver. - The streaming service playlists for Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 ReMIX, comprising 103 songs lasting 3 hours and 45 minutes, are listed below:
Spotify Apple Music Amazon Music YouTube Music The full tracklist, spread across four discs, is listed below:
Disc 1
Dearly Beloved - KINGDOM HEARTS II Version-  Passion - KINGDOM HEARTS Orchestra Instrumental Version- Lazy Afternoons Sinister Sundown The Escapade Dive into the Heart -Destati- Fragments of Sorrow Tension Rising Kairi Missing You The 13th Struggle Roxas Sora The Afternoon Streets Working Together Friends in My Heart Magical Mystery  A Twinkle in the Sky Reviving Hollow Bastion Scherzo Di Notte Laughter and Merriment Desire For All That Is Lost Organization XIII Disc 2
Gearing Up Shipmeisters' Shanty Blast Off! Aestroid Attack Crossing the Finish Line Waltz of the Damned Dance of the Daring Hesitation Dance to the Death Beauty and the Beast The Home of Dragons Fields of Honor Apprehension Vim and Vigor Cloudchasers Olympus Coliseum Road to a Hero The Underworld What Lies Beneath Villains of a Sort Beneath the Ground Rowdy Rumble Mickey Mouse March A Walk in Andante Monochrome Dreams Old Friends, Old Rivals Floating in Bliss Winnie the Pooh Bounce-O-Rama Bounce-O-Rama - Speed up ver. Disc 3
Isn't It Lovely? Let's Sing and Dance Swim This Way Part of Your World Under the Sea Ursula's Revenge A New Day is Dawning Any Time Any Place Nights of the Cursed He's a Pirate The Corrupted Hazardous Highway A Day in Agrabah Arabian Dream Arabian Daydream This is Halloween Spooks of Halloween Town What A Surprise?! Happy Holidays! Adventures in the Savannah Savannah Pride The Encounter Space Paranoids Byte Bashing Byte Striking Cavern of Remembrance Deep Anxiety The 13th Reflection Sinister Shadows The 13th Dilemma Disc 4
Showdown at Hollow Bastion One-Winged Angel from FINAL FANTASY VII Battleship Bravery Sacred Moon Deep Drive The Other Promise Riku Courage Disappeared A Fight to the Death Darkness of the Unknown Fantasia alla marcia for piano, chorus and orchestra Destiny Islands Hand in Hand Sunset Horizons Dearly Beloved -Reprise- Rage Awakened Fate of the Unknown Keyblade Graveyard Horizon Dismiss UPDATE 2/14/2023: Disney has made an official announcement regarding the arrival of these playlists. Additionally, the company has created a public playlist housing Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts III soundtracks, comprising 354 songs lasting 17 hours and 50 minutes. 
The streaming services containing this playlist are listed below:
Apple Music LINE Music Spotify YouTube UPDATE 2/19/2023: Connecting your Spotify or Apple Music accounts will grant the following smartphone wallpaper:
 

View full article

The ARTNIA cafe, a locale often used for video game-themed collaborations, has teased new artwork for their tenth anniversary. One such illustration by Tetsuya Nomura depicts Brain from Kingdom Hearts, Jack Garland from Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, and Zack Fair from the Final Fantasy VII series. 
If clearer photos of this illustration are shared, we'll update this article. As of now, it is planned to be displayed at the cafe. 
Twitter user @wandanyan1ban has shared a clean photo of the illustration, viewable below:
 

View full article

Prominent Kingdom Hearts content creator Everglow has resumed work on his Kingdom Hearts Timeline video series, which chronologically places cutscenes seen throughout the franchise.
For those unaware, this was a project Everglow started back in 2018 to catch up and reinform fans of the story before Kingdom Hearts III first launched via valuable recontextualization. The series concluded with the ending of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue. 
However, since that latest video, the franchise has seen considerable developments, such as the completion of Kingdom Hearts Union χ [Cross], Kindom Hearts III + Re Mind, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory, and the entirety of Kingdom Hearts Dark Road. 
So, Everglow has now returned to wholly conclude the Chi saga, aiming to amend the beginning videos of the Timeline. These new uploads will replace the soon-to-be-redundant episodes of the Timeline series that are outdated, as they lack certain scenes that were only revealed following the Timeline's originally finalized state. 
As a result, Union χ [Cross] will comprise 11 episodes, leading to Dark Road starting on episode 12. Everglow has also teased potential plans to include Kingdom Hearts III in the Timeline, viewable via the new first episode's video description. 
For now, you can check out the modified first episode of the Kingdom Hearts Timeline below. A playlist of all currently completed episodes is accessible, too, though keep in mind that the earlier ones are in the midst of being modified.
Lastly, I should note something that Everglow himself states in the video description; this project is not the ideal way for newcomers to first experience the story. Going through the games by release date is arguably the best way to view them initially.
This Timeline series is best used by fans familiar with the source material, so they can grasp new details and appreciate differing perspectives for certain events. 
 

View full article

Square Enix has revealed that the ever-elusive Kingdom Hearts III Alba & Ater Chess Set has been delayed across all regional storefronts.
Each delayed date is listed below:
Square Enix JP Store - August 27th, 2022 (Initially April 30th, 2022) Square Enix EU Store - November 18th, 2022 (InitiallyJuily 29th, 2022) Square Enix NA Store - October 2022 Release Window (Initially July 2022) We'll be sure to keep you all contintually updated regarding the shipment status of this Chess Set.
View our announcement coverage.  You can view images of this upcoming product via our gallery below:
Thanks to prominent Kingdom Hearts community member Churro for sharing this significant information.

View full article

Ben Hanson of MinnMax recently conducted a lengthy interview with Pixar's Creative Director of Theme Parks, Tasha Sounart, about a vast variety of topics. One of these detailed discussions regarded the development of the Toy Box world in Kingdom Hearts III.
Sounart first talked about how the D23 fan reactions to the Toy Box world were immensely positive, fueling her with a genuine sense of accomplishment and relief considering the stigma of negativity that gaming communities are generally perceived to have. 
As for how this Pixar collaboration for Kingdom Hearts III even came about, Sounart was an integral voice in making it happen. She talked to the Pixar executives hesitant about the idea, forever altering the initially shaky prospect of Toy Story's utilization. Other topics she speaks about are cultural differences with Square Enix's team and the difficulties finalizing the Toy Box casts' animations with English voice work to make it all feel natural. 
Lastly, she reveals her dream ideas of how Kingdom Hearts implementation would work in Disneyland. 
You can listen to the full Tasha Sounart interview below, with helpful timestamps specifically labeling the Kingdom Hearts segments:
Additionally, Tasha Sounart has previously shared several comments about Pixar's involvement in Kingdom Hearts III over the years. Our prior articles containing those instances are listed below:
Toy Box World Reveal Remy Cooking Minigame Several comments pertaining to Disney incorporation Tasha Sounart informing Pixar Animation Studios Story Supervisor about Kingdom Hearts
View full article

Ben Hanson of MinnMax recently conducted a lengthy interview with Pixar's Creative Director of Theme Parks, Tasha Sounart, about a vast variety of topics. One of these detailed discussions regarded the development of the Toy Box world in Kingdom Hearts III.
Sounart first talked about how the D23 fan reactions to the Toy Box world were immensely positive, fueling her with a genuine sense of accomplishment and relief considering the stigma of negativity that gaming communities are generally perceived to have. 
As for how this Pixar collaboration for Kingdom Hearts III even came about, Sounart was an integral voice in making it happen. She talked to the Pixar executives hesitant about the idea, forever altering the initially shaky prospect of Toy Story's utilization. Other topics she speaks about are cultural differences with Square Enix's team and the difficulties finalizing the Toy Box casts' animations with English voice work to make it all feel natural. 
Lastly, she reveals her dream ideas of how Kingdom Hearts implementation would work in Disneyland. 
You can listen to the full Tasha Sounart interview below, with helpful timestamps specifically labeling the Kingdom Hearts segments:
Additionally, Tasha Sounart has previously shared several comments about Pixar's involvement in Kingdom Hearts III over the years. Our prior articles containing those instances are listed below:
Toy Box World Reveal Remy Cooking Minigame Several comments pertaining to Disney incorporation Tasha Sounart informing Pixar Animation Studios Story Supervisor about Kingdom Hearts
View full article

Final Fantasy VII Remake has received many unique mods, comprising cosmetic alterations to gameplay changes. Recently, one standout mod that can be seen as a fusion of both umbrella avenues is by user ColossalCake, depicting protagonist Cloud Strife with the iconic Kingdom Key.

This weapon was actually made from scratch to fit Final Fantasy VII Remake's world better, as its size should reflect. In fact, the sheer difference in size between this recreation and the Kingdom Key in Kingdom Hearts proper has to do with it mimicking the hitboxes of Cloud's weapons in-game. However, the sound effects emitted from the Kingdom Key here are cleverly taken from Kingdom Hearts III.
Regarding gameplay incorporations, the Kingdom Key houses four unique Materia slots, which, for those unaware, are essentially ways to customize weapon builds. Additionally, it can replace either the Buster Sword or Mythril Blade weapons for Cloud.

Lastly of note is that aside from ColossalCake performing the mod's texture and modeling work, the following individuals also provided noteworthy contributions of their own:
matyalatte for their FF7R-mesh-importer, FF7R-DDS-tools, and Blender-Uasset-Add-on tool. Yoraiz0r for their AudioMog tool. spiritovod for their Umodel tool. FluffyQuack for their unrealpak tool. If you'd like to download this impressive mod and/or view additional screenshots, check out its dedicated Nexus Mods page. 

View full article

Shinji Hashimoto, the former Kingdom Hearts producer who recently retired from Square Enix after 27 years, has announced that he has become a senior advisor at Sony Music Entertainment and a board member at their subsidiary, Forward Works.
In a recent message he posted via his Twitter account, Hashimoto stated that he wants to continue pursuing the creation of entertainment and that "it might be a bit of time before [he] can share exactly what [he is] working on in these roles."
Good luck! We're rooting for you!
You can view Hashimoto's new message below:
 

View full article

Game Informer recently interviewed Tetsuya Nomura regarding Kingdom Hearts IV, the series' future, and other related aspects. 
Firstly, Nomura states how some of his favorite fan reactions are to the original Kingdom Hearts' ending, primarily due to how players at the time weren't sure if the story would continue beyond the first entry. The Luxu reveal reactions in Kingdom Hearts III are another of his collective favorites simply because of its severe implications.
Regarding Kingdom Hearts IV, Nomura states that the story is focused more on Sora's disappearance and that there's uncertainty about whether the team will be able to include more of the original cast, notably the Birth by Sleep and Days crews. Still, he desires to explore them more at later points.
Interestingly, Nomura states how he was the one being picky about Sora's recent inclusion into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, not Disney. The latter party was actually quite eager, while Nomura thought it would clash with the "established lore in Kingdom Hearts and the Disney worlds." The end result ended up being qualitative, though. 
Moving on to antagonists, Nomura says he's quite happy with their handling of Xehanort's character, citing it as a slow burn that tackled each facet of his character with genuine depth. So now, the Foretellers will be the following antagonists, and Back Cover has already shown the types of characters they are. Moreover, "there will be more new characters as well," though specifics have not been mentioned yet.
Sora is reiterated as the only possible main character for the franchise, to the extent that the numbered entries would conclude if he were to stop being the protagonist. Moreover, there will be a "few Disney worlds," so fans won't have to worry about them potentially being absent, even if their inclusion has "slightly" differed from previous entries.
Reaction Commands' return was reiterated due to fan demand after their removal in Kingdom Hearts III. They were initially taken out because Nomura didn't find the mechanic's debut reception in Kingdom Hearts II particularly positive.
Quadratum is reiterated as the game's initial base, with players returning there as the narrative progresses. Sora's daily life will be approached more, such as seeing him go in and out of his room. Realism is a challenging factor the team has been pursuing to see just how far they can take it.
Final Fantasy characters' lacking presence was discussed next, with Nomura stating that their inclusion is not at the core of Kingdom Hearts' identity. Their presence in the first game was a collective device for players to get to know the at-the-time limited original cast. Now, it's difficult to continually include Final Fantasy characters because of how vast the original cast is. There is no word on how Final Fantasy balance incorporation will work in Kingdom Hearts IV.
Finally, Kingdom Hearts Missing-Link is brought up as an entry fans should look forward to, as it sheds light on several mysteries throughout the series. It will even have hints and new information pertaining to Kingdom Hearts IV.
UPDATE: Notable quotes from Nomura; "As far as the graphic qualities ... since with each new title, the specs have been really increasing and there's so much more we can do in terms of graphics, it kind of limits the number of worlds that we can create in a sense."
"Also, some figures that appear in Missing-Link are tied to Kingdom Hearts IV."
You can read the full interview via Game Informer's website.
You can also read the full interview below:
View our Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Recap & Breakdown article.

View full article

Square Enix Japan has revealed more celebratory Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary merchandise; a chic gray and black Monogram Icon Folding Umbrella housing iconic symbols from the series, including the 20th Anniversary logo.
You can view officially provided images of this product via our gallery below:
You can pre-order the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Folding Umbrella via Square Enix Japan's digital storefront for ¥3,860 ahead of its September 24th, 2022 shipment date. 
Do you find yourself purchasing this stylish umbrella? It could potentially be in Quadratum fashion. Well, that'd be kind of weird now that I think about it.

View full article

Kingdom Hearts V-Cast is a game that only a few members of the community are aware of. It's a humorously obscure title that was released for the V-Cast in Japan on October 1st, 2004, and in the United States on February 4th, 2005, via a service hosted by Verizon Wireless. Before sharing this newly revealed footage, let's give some context for what this game even is.
In this title, Sora, Donald, and Goofy find themselves dozing off while the Gummi Ship is on autopilot. However, while this collective nap occurs, a bizarre creature enters Sora's dreams. Afterward, Sora seemingly wakes and finds himself alone on an unfamiliar land known as Swashbuckler's Island. Obviously intending on reuniting with his friends, Sora builds a raft and goes on his way.
Maleficent is the primary antagonist of this title, and there are Disney worlds, namely Wonderland and Agrabah. Still, Kingdom Hearts V-Cast is considered entirely non-canon, and no direct mention of it has been made by Nomura or staff in the years since its inception.
Only some of this game has been archived with footage online alongside screenshots. In fact, our gallery even houses some. 
Recently though, a Youtuber named Negative Space uploaded a video on Youtube showcasing the final stage of Kingdom Hearts V-Cast. It's quite a spectacle to behold, and you can view it below:
In addition, the following galleries hold a few images of this long-lost game:
What are your thoughts on this genuinely unexpected discovery and development? Let us know in the comments below!

View full article

The official Kingdom Hearts Twitter account has finally shared a high resolution, clean version of the series 20th Anniversary art drawn by Tetsuya Nomura!
Numerous characters are gorgeously depicted such as the Guardians of Light, select members of the True Organization XIII, the Master of Masters alongside the Foretellers, and more. 
You can view this stellar artwork via our gallery below:
 
 

View full article

During the March Caprice 2.0 event, several fans shared new creative content ranging from video essays to celebratory anniversary artwork. One of the former that deserves notable acclaim is a video by creator Chrisora that compared the events of the original Kingdom Hearts between its video game releases, manga adaption, and light novel iteration. 
However, at around 28:00 in the video, Chrisora reveals that he got Xemnas' voice actor, Paul St. Peter, to voice the 'Unknown' scenes in Kingdom Hearts Final Mix! For those unaware or have simply forgotten, the Final Mix version of the first Kingdom Hearts added a plethora of new content, including an optional boss battle against who we'd come to know as Xemnas. He is not voiced in either of the two scenes he appears in though, which is what makes this recent revelation truly noteworthy.
Chrisora states that this audio was received via a radio show interview years ago. You can listen to this voicework by Paul St. Peter himself below (timestamped):
It feels oddly cathartic to finally hear these lines voiced by the official voice actor himself. Props to Chrisora for making this happen and check out the rest of the video!

View full article

With today being the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary, I decided to reflect on which scenes in the games impacted me the most. It was a time-consuming process, and my mind will probably change in due time, but each of the following scenes is undoubtedly engraved within my heart.
Of course, there’s nothing objective about this list as it’s primarily dependent on nostalgia and personal impact. Still, there's bound to at least be a few most of us agree on. 
Before beginning the piece proper, I'd like to credit the following individuals:
Regular Pat for creating the handy Wayfinder Project, an amazingly convenient tool for finding most of the cutscenes in the series. Identifying the names of most of the aforementioned scenes would have been truly burdensome if not for this resource.  Damo279, since the Kingdom Hearts Union χ screenshots I used throughout this piece are from his video compiling the game's final scenes.  20. An Unexpected Bond

Re:Coded receives a decent amount of flack, and some of it is justified. However, its Castle Oblivion segment is arguably one of the most underrated finales of any Kingdom Hearts title. Data Sora confronting Data Roxas about accepting his pain, even if it consumes him, is one of the few times I was genuinely moved in this game.
Despite this not being the Sora we’ve come to know and love throughout the series, he still is Sora. Further, Roxas’ lashing out afterward is starkly emotive. Frankly, just seeing an iteration of Roxas acting somewhat antagonistically toward Sora directly is noteworthy, especially in Re:Coded, where it is a spread-out, gradual process. Alas, if only the HD 2.5 movie showcased their fight instead of skipping past it.
19. 7 and 13

Due to its platform and genre, I don’t have as much of a connection to Kingdom Hearts Union χ as I do the other games, but following its plot, despite its sporadic updates, was a thrilling experience. The finale contained a bunch of bombshells, such as the final seen conversation between the Master of Masters and Luxu.
The revelations regarding the truth of the Foretellers’ being trained to unwittingly harbor the willful Darknesses, Luxu’s immediate opposition to it, and the Master’s chilling attitude were immensely memorable, to say the least. As heinous as the Master’s acts are, the gray morality showcased here has me indescribably excited for his future endeavors and Luxu’s actions.
18. Disorder

This is most likely the strangest entry on this list, but this is easily one of the most standout scenes in 358/2 Days and the series as a whole. Roxas finds himself on Destiny Islands and sees Xion in the distance. However, after approaching her, she removes her head and reveals herself to be…Zexion?
From then on, it becomes a disturbing mishmash of Riku’s and Zexion’s final conversation from Chain of Memories, with Roxas morphing into various other figures. After realizing that this is essentially a nightmare of Xion’s comprising her struggling with her identity, its oddities become far clearer. Due to its somber subject matter and the legitimately chilling sound design, this is honestly the most unnerving scene in the franchise, and it will likely always stick with me.
17. Fall to Darkness

Back to Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the finale contained yet another notable scene; the Player’s false betrayal toward Ephemer and Skuld. The sheer shock value of this scene alone, alongside the eventual reveal of Ephemer and Skuld being the final bosses, was jaw-dropping, to put it mildly.
Even as an onlooker of this game, I was amazed by the boldness of this twist, and the eventual reveal of the Player faking it all to deceive the Darknesses makes this initial occurrence even more notable. This scenario reminds me of the classic phrase stating that to deceive your enemies, you must fool your friends first, and while that happens here, it’s severely tragic. Skuld and Ephemer aren’t aware that the Player was not taken over. Moreover, the Player perishes soon afterward. A bitter, sudden farewell for all parties involved.
16. Phantom Promise or Not

Chain of Memories has some of the best showcases of Sora’s characterization, and this scene of him, Donald, and Goofy confronting Marluxia exemplifies it. Marluxia threatens Namine to eliminate Sora’s memories which would lead to his demise due to the inherent connective tissue memories boast in this series.
However, Sora doesn’t fear this at all. In fact, he dares for the erasure to occur. His faith in himself and his friends piecing himself back together displays how selfless and open-hearted he is. Honestly, reflecting on moments like this when Sora’s selflessness and love for others ultimately led to his eventual banishment makes exchanges like this somewhat ominous.
15. Closing the Door

The Kingdom Hearts I ending sequence is classic and its placement shouldn’t require much explanation. Admittedly, I can’t deny that my love for this scene, and many forthcoming ones, primarily stems from nostalgia.
Still, the effectiveness of Sora and Kairi parting ways, the worlds’ restorations, and the beginning of "Simple and Clean" hitting as soon as Sora’s and Kairi’s hands leave each other is such magnificent timing. It’s simply a fantastic ending sequence that undeniably struck many of us since our first viewings.
14. Darkness' Call

Despite its mixed reception, I adore Dream Drop Distance’s endgame for a multitude of reasons. One of those reasons stems from Riku’s final conversation with Ansem, where Riku frankly acknowledges his mistakes, even questioning his fittingness for the Keyblade.
His honesty and lack of fear here say volumes when speaking in front of Ansem Seeker of Darkness himself. Additionally, the revelation of Riku being a Dream Eater is a noteworthy, excellent twist. Riku’s growth is stellar, and seeing it so transparently depicted here is remarkably satisfying.
13. Place to Belong

Days has several impressive scenes, with one of the more memorable ones being Axel’s confrontation with Xion in front of Twilight Town’s mansion. Axel is really the star of this exchange, as his simultaneous adoration and frustration with Xion and Roxas reach a boiling point. “…I’ll always be there to bring you back” is an iconic line, perfectly encapsulating Axel’s fervent desire to keep the three of them together for as long as possible.
12. Vexen's End

Speaking of Axel, him eliminating Vexen in Chain of Memories is, as the kids say, ‘kino.’  Throughout this title, Axel remains a consistent enigma. His true allegiances are shrouded in whatever personal goals he’s pursuing, and it isn’t until this instance that the sheer strength of his determination is showcased.
Personally, I find him burning Vexen in Re:Chain of Memories more brutal than the chakram stab in the GBA version. Regardless, Axel’s absence of hesitation makes this a grim departure, and Sora’s exclamation at who precisely these black-robed fellows are aligned with those of us who experienced this game before Kingdom Hearts II.
11. My Friends Are My Power!

My favorite scene in Dream Drop Distance is right before Sora’s final boss in The World That Never Was. While there is a fair amount of exposition here detailed between Xemnas and Xigbar, I found it to amplify the already present tension emitted from Sora’s shock. It also made the tragedies that took place in Days more prominent in efficacy.
Still, even in the face of these veiled truths, Sora’s cheesy yet effective faith in his friends allows him to strive further, even taking Xigbar aback. That visual alone of Sora with the other central cast members makes this scene a top pick.
10. Kairi Awakens

Of all the moments in the original Kingdom Hearts, Sora’s Sacrifice is the most emotionally impactful. Even when removing all context, the imagery of Sora stabbing himself to restore the Princess’ hearts is astounding. The musical choice here is also notable, resulting in this scene being one of the first I think of in relation to this title. Roxas’ and Namine’s eventual creation also stems from this sacrifice, making it truly hallmark.
9. Dreams Connected

Putting an opening here may be cheating somewhat, but this is my favorite visual sequence for any Kingdom Hearts introduction. The well-timed musical beats with the imagery are sublime. It also excellently recaps the previous two games in engaging, distinct ways.
8. Light Expires

The Guardians of Light all falling was an appalling sight. From Donald’s Zettaflare to Riku’s final stand, everything here was a bombardment of surprise. However, what elevates this scene for me above all else, is Sora’s emotional breakdown, highlighting his disconcerting sense of self-worth.
As it turns out, his reliance on others granting him strength has been too severe, tainting his self-image. Ultimately, seeing Sora, of all characters, lose himself in such a state exemplifies the bleakness of this tragedy.  
7. You Admit it / Candid Words

The Days trio reuniting provided an indescribable sense of catharsis that few pieces of media have managed to make me feel. Roxas, Axel, and Xion are my favorite of the trios, primarily due to how 358/2 Days' pacing was handled. Its slow-burn focused on the growing friendship between these three, and it was heart-wrenching to see it all ripped away by the end. Honestly, just seeing these three crying and laughing together brought me to tears.
6. Lost Masters

The Kingdom Hearts III Epilogue remains one of the most startling sequences in the series, especially with added retrospect from Kingdom Hearts Union χ. Xigbar being Luxu puts so many prior oddities into newer, wilder contexts, and several scenes make inestimable more sense. I still vividly remember my shock when seeing Luxu pull off his hood and my mind scrambling to arrange puzzle pieces into their proper place.
5. Birth by Sleep

This is an unoriginal and almost cheesy pick, but the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix still amazes me. It’s a visual treat boasting intense combat and the masterful “Fate of the Unknown.” When I was younger, I viewed this scene on YouTube countless times, transfixed by what this breathtaking cinematic alluded to in the future, or as we’d come to learn, the past.
4. Blank Points

Blank Points needs no words. It expertly weaves in prior series elements, culminating in a tear-jerking finale where the burden Sora bears is evident. The swapping between multiple perspectives and times amplifies the weight Sora carries. Following the melancholic atmosphere Birth by Sleep tends to embrace, Blank Points provides a profound sense of hope for the future.
3. I've Been Having These Weird Thoughts Lately

Yozora remains an enigmatic existence. Still, the Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind Secret Episode gave us a decent lens regarding his personality and what to potentially expect from the future. And, the scene when losing against Yozora probably gave us more than what any of us expected.
Between Sora’s crystallization and Yozora waking in a recreated shot from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I was quite literally speechless for longer than I’d like to admit. Then, of course, the addition of the original Kingdom Hearts opening quotes was the cherry on top, ultimately providing a distinct sensation reminiscent of my childhood memories of magical wonder with the series.
2. Tears

If there’s one scene that made me cry unrestrained, it was this one. Xion’s acceptance of her fate, combined with the fading memories and Roxas’ mystification at the events before him, is almost too much to bear. Further, Xion’s hopeful grasping for Roxas to fulfill her wishes despite the memory conundrum is endearing amidst all the grief.
A scene is undeniably effective if it still impacts you after dozens of viewings, and this cleanly fits that bill. The updated scene in HD 1.5 with the shown battle between the two is also very much appreciated. 
1. Kingdom Hearts III Ending

Kingdom Hearts III’s ending managed to make me feel what I thought was impossible with an entry this long-awaited; simultaneous satisfaction and yearning. The sheer sight of the vast cast playing together on Destiny Islands always causes me to have a joyous smile when combined with the phenomenal “Don’t Think Twice.”
Furthermore, the updated visuals near the launch of Re Mind only enhanced my appreciation for this segment. Finally, and most notably, Sora’s fading by the end left me hooked. While I completely understand the distaste for this final shot, I've remained enthralled by its implications and what the future will be like with this altered cast.
 
With the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event arriving April 10th, 2022, us fans will certainly have a whole new era of Kingdom Hearts to look forward to. I, for one, can not wait, and am eagerly looking forward to making more memories with this franchise. 
Which Kingdom Hearts scenes are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

View full article

With today being the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary, I decided to reflect on which scenes in the games impacted me the most. It was a time-consuming process, and my mind will probably change in due time, but each of the following scenes is undoubtedly engraved within my heart.
Of course, there’s nothing objective about this list as it’s primarily dependent on nostalgia and personal impact. Still, there's bound to at least be a few most of us agree on. 
Before beginning the piece proper, I'd like to credit the following individuals:
Regular Pat for creating the handy Wayfinder Project, an amazingly convenient tool for finding most of the cutscenes in the series. Identifying the names of most of the aforementioned scenes would have been truly burdensome if not for this resource.  Damo279, since the Kingdom Hearts Union χ screenshots I used throughout this piece are from his video compiling the game's final scenes.  20. An Unexpected Bond

Re:Coded receives a decent amount of flack, and some of it is justified. However, its Castle Oblivion segment is arguably one of the most underrated finales of any Kingdom Hearts title. Data Sora confronting Data Roxas about accepting his pain, even if it consumes him, is one of the few times I was genuinely moved in this game.
Despite this not being the Sora we’ve come to know and love throughout the series, he still is Sora. Further, Roxas’ lashing out afterward is starkly emotive. Frankly, just seeing an iteration of Roxas acting somewhat antagonistically toward Sora directly is noteworthy, especially in Re:Coded, where it is a spread-out, gradual process. Alas, if only the HD 2.5 movie showcased their fight instead of skipping past it.
19. 7 and 13

Due to its platform and genre, I don’t have as much of a connection to Kingdom Hearts Union χ as I do the other games, but following its plot, despite its sporadic updates, was a thrilling experience. The finale contained a bunch of bombshells, such as the final seen conversation between the Master of Masters and Luxu.
The revelations regarding the truth of the Foretellers’ being trained to unwittingly harbor the willful Darknesses, Luxu’s immediate opposition to it, and the Master’s chilling attitude were immensely memorable, to say the least. As heinous as the Master’s acts are, the gray morality showcased here has me indescribably excited for his future endeavors and Luxu’s actions.
18. Disorder

This is most likely the strangest entry on this list, but this is easily one of the most standout scenes in 358/2 Days and the series as a whole. Roxas finds himself on Destiny Islands and sees Xion in the distance. However, after approaching her, she removes her head and reveals herself to be…Zexion?
From then on, it becomes a disturbing mishmash of Riku’s and Zexion’s final conversation from Chain of Memories, with Roxas morphing into various other figures. After realizing that this is essentially a nightmare of Xion’s comprising her struggling with her identity, its oddities become far clearer. Due to its somber subject matter and the legitimately chilling sound design, this is honestly the most unnerving scene in the franchise, and it will likely always stick with me.
17. Fall to Darkness

Back to Kingdom Hearts Union χ, the finale contained yet another notable scene; the Player’s false betrayal toward Ephemer and Skuld. The sheer shock value of this scene alone, alongside the eventual reveal of Ephemer and Skuld being the final bosses, was jaw-dropping, to put it mildly.
Even as an onlooker of this game, I was amazed by the boldness of this twist, and the eventual reveal of the Player faking it all to deceive the Darknesses makes this initial occurrence even more notable. This scenario reminds me of the classic phrase stating that to deceive your enemies, you must fool your friends first, and while that happens here, it’s severely tragic. Skuld and Ephemer aren’t aware that the Player was not taken over. Moreover, the Player perishes soon afterward. A bitter, sudden farewell for all parties involved.
16. Phantom Promise or Not

Chain of Memories has some of the best showcases of Sora’s characterization, and this scene of him, Donald, and Goofy confronting Marluxia exemplifies it. Marluxia threatens Namine to eliminate Sora’s memories which would lead to his demise due to the inherent connective tissue memories boast in this series.
However, Sora doesn’t fear this at all. In fact, he dares for the erasure to occur. His faith in himself and his friends piecing himself back together displays how selfless and open-hearted he is. Honestly, reflecting on moments like this when Sora’s selflessness and love for others ultimately led to his eventual banishment makes exchanges like this somewhat ominous.
15. Closing the Door

The Kingdom Hearts I ending sequence is classic and its placement shouldn’t require much explanation. Admittedly, I can’t deny that my love for this scene, and many forthcoming ones, primarily stems from nostalgia.
Still, the effectiveness of Sora and Kairi parting ways, the worlds’ restorations, and the beginning of "Simple and Clean" hitting as soon as Sora’s and Kairi’s hands leave each other is such magnificent timing. It’s simply a fantastic ending sequence that undeniably struck many of us since our first viewings.
14. Darkness' Call

Despite its mixed reception, I adore Dream Drop Distance’s endgame for a multitude of reasons. One of those reasons stems from Riku’s final conversation with Ansem, where Riku frankly acknowledges his mistakes, even questioning his fittingness for the Keyblade.
His honesty and lack of fear here say volumes when speaking in front of Ansem Seeker of Darkness himself. Additionally, the revelation of Riku being a Dream Eater is a noteworthy, excellent twist. Riku’s growth is stellar, and seeing it so transparently depicted here is remarkably satisfying.
13. Place to Belong

Days has several impressive scenes, with one of the more memorable ones being Axel’s confrontation with Xion in front of Twilight Town’s mansion. Axel is really the star of this exchange, as his simultaneous adoration and frustration with Xion and Roxas reach a boiling point. “…I’ll always be there to bring you back” is an iconic line, perfectly encapsulating Axel’s fervent desire to keep the three of them together for as long as possible.
12. Vexen's End

Speaking of Axel, him eliminating Vexen in Chain of Memories is, as the kids say, ‘kino.’  Throughout this title, Axel remains a consistent enigma. His true allegiances are shrouded in whatever personal goals he’s pursuing, and it isn’t until this instance that the sheer strength of his determination is showcased.
Personally, I find him burning Vexen in Re:Chain of Memories more brutal than the chakram stab in the GBA version. Regardless, Axel’s absence of hesitation makes this a grim departure, and Sora’s exclamation at who precisely these black-robed fellows are aligned with those of us who experienced this game before Kingdom Hearts II.
11. My Friends Are My Power!

My favorite scene in Dream Drop Distance is right before Sora’s final boss in The World That Never Was. While there is a fair amount of exposition here detailed between Xemnas and Xigbar, I found it to amplify the already present tension emitted from Sora’s shock. It also made the tragedies that took place in Days more prominent in efficacy.
Still, even in the face of these veiled truths, Sora’s cheesy yet effective faith in his friends allows him to strive further, even taking Xigbar aback. That visual alone of Sora with the other central cast members makes this scene a top pick.
10. Kairi Awakens

Of all the moments in the original Kingdom Hearts, Sora’s Sacrifice is the most emotionally impactful. Even when removing all context, the imagery of Sora stabbing himself to restore the Princess’ hearts is astounding. The musical choice here is also notable, resulting in this scene being one of the first I think of in relation to this title. Roxas’ and Namine’s eventual creation also stems from this sacrifice, making it truly hallmark.
9. Dreams Connected

Putting an opening here may be cheating somewhat, but this is my favorite visual sequence for any Kingdom Hearts introduction. The well-timed musical beats with the imagery are sublime. It also excellently recaps the previous two games in engaging, distinct ways.
8. Light Expires

The Guardians of Light all falling was an appalling sight. From Donald’s Zettaflare to Riku’s final stand, everything here was a bombardment of surprise. However, what elevates this scene for me above all else, is Sora’s emotional breakdown, highlighting his disconcerting sense of self-worth.
As it turns out, his reliance on others granting him strength has been too severe, tainting his self-image. Ultimately, seeing Sora, of all characters, lose himself in such a state exemplifies the bleakness of this tragedy.  
7. You Admit it / Candid Words

The Days trio reuniting provided an indescribable sense of catharsis that few pieces of media have managed to make me feel. Roxas, Axel, and Xion are my favorite of the trios, primarily due to how 358/2 Days' pacing was handled. Its slow-burn focused on the growing friendship between these three, and it was heart-wrenching to see it all ripped away by the end. Honestly, just seeing these three crying and laughing together brought me to tears.
6. Lost Masters

The Kingdom Hearts III Epilogue remains one of the most startling sequences in the series, especially with added retrospect from Kingdom Hearts Union χ. Xigbar being Luxu puts so many prior oddities into newer, wilder contexts, and several scenes make inestimable more sense. I still vividly remember my shock when seeing Luxu pull off his hood and my mind scrambling to arrange puzzle pieces into their proper place.
5. Birth by Sleep

This is an unoriginal and almost cheesy pick, but the secret ending of Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix still amazes me. It’s a visual treat boasting intense combat and the masterful “Fate of the Unknown.” When I was younger, I viewed this scene on YouTube countless times, transfixed by what this breathtaking cinematic alluded to in the future, or as we’d come to learn, the past.
4. Blank Points

Blank Points needs no words. It expertly weaves in prior series elements, culminating in a tear-jerking finale where the burden Sora bears is evident. The swapping between multiple perspectives and times amplifies the weight Sora carries. Following the melancholic atmosphere Birth by Sleep tends to embrace, Blank Points provides a profound sense of hope for the future.
3. I've Been Having These Weird Thoughts Lately

Yozora remains an enigmatic existence. Still, the Kingdom Hearts III Re Mind Secret Episode gave us a decent lens regarding his personality and what to potentially expect from the future. And, the scene when losing against Yozora probably gave us more than what any of us expected.
Between Sora’s crystallization and Yozora waking in a recreated shot from Final Fantasy Versus XIII, I was quite literally speechless for longer than I’d like to admit. Then, of course, the addition of the original Kingdom Hearts opening quotes was the cherry on top, ultimately providing a distinct sensation reminiscent of my childhood memories of magical wonder with the series.
2. Tears

If there’s one scene that made me cry unrestrained, it was this one. Xion’s acceptance of her fate, combined with the fading memories and Roxas’ mystification at the events before him, is almost too much to bear. Further, Xion’s hopeful grasping for Roxas to fulfill her wishes despite the memory conundrum is endearing amidst all the grief.
A scene is undeniably effective if it still impacts you after dozens of viewings, and this cleanly fits that bill. The updated scene in HD 1.5 with the shown battle between the two is also very much appreciated. 
1. Kingdom Hearts III Ending

Kingdom Hearts III’s ending managed to make me feel what I thought was impossible with an entry this long-awaited; simultaneous satisfaction and yearning. The sheer sight of the vast cast playing together on Destiny Islands always causes me to have a joyous smile when combined with the phenomenal “Don’t Think Twice.”
Furthermore, the updated visuals near the launch of Re Mind only enhanced my appreciation for this segment. Finally, and most notably, Sora’s fading by the end left me hooked. While I completely understand the distaste for this final shot, I've remained enthralled by its implications and what the future will be like with this altered cast.
 
With the Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary event arriving April 10th, 2022, us fans will certainly have a whole new era of Kingdom Hearts to look forward to. I, for one, can not wait, and am eagerly looking forward to making more memories with this franchise. 
Which Kingdom Hearts scenes are your favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

View full article

This is a wonderful list of impactful scenes from throughout the series. Reading through this was an inspirational and chilling trip down memory lane. Thank you for putting this together. 
 
One other scene that I found to be really impactful was the scene in Kingdom Hearts III when Ventus whispers, “Terra, I kept my promise.” Then, Terra is finally given the catalyst he needed to break free of his bonds and save his friends from death. It was surprising to me to see that Terra had taken the form of the heartless like being attached to Terra-Xehanort (I don’t quite remember what that being was called). That entire scene throughout, as well as the Birth By Sleep trio finally reuniting and hugging while in tears was just so beautiful and powerful to me. I felt like that scene in particular was one of the most impactful scenes in Kingdom Hearts III (and there were a lot of impactful scenes in my opinion). 

Square Enix and Bandai Japan have unexpectedly announced that Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Tamagotchi will be available for pre-order from March 28th and end on May 5th, with a planned shipment window of October 2022. Details of this Tamagotchi release have been summarized by our team's Ryuji, viewable below:
General Information
Two types of the egg shell exist. In the example image posted below, Sora is Dark Mode, Kairi is Light Mode. Whichever you choose is up to your own personal preference.
There will be over 20 characters to play as, but the way it works is that if you buy the Tamagotchi, it will start off with KH1 Sora, and have the chance to randomly grow up into another. 
Kingdom Hearts Tamagotchi - How To Play
You can feed the character Paopu Fruit or Sea-Salt Ice Cream. Sometimes Heartless will appear on the screen, and you can defeat them.
You can view the official images of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts 20th Anniversary Tamagotchi below:
You can pre-order the Dark Mode and Light Mode Tamagotchis via Aitai Kuji for ¥3,100. More information regarding these products can be viewed via Bandai Japan's official website.
UPDATE 12/3/2022: The Dark Mode and Light Mode Tamagotchis are available for purchase via Amazon for $24.99.
This merchandise is certainly unconventional, but undeniably appealing for particular crowds. Do you intend on purchasing this item? Let us know in the comments below!

View full article

The official Japan Kingdom Hearts Twitter account has shared an update from series director Tetsuya Nomura, stating that he does not have a celebratory piece of artwork ready just yet, as he began illustrating yesterday. However, he hopes to finish the art in time for the anniversary event on April 10th.
Additionally, this tweet houses a teaser for what to expect from the full illustration!
You can view the official teaser image via our gallery below:
A translation of Nomura's message has been provided by our team's Ryuji, viewable below: UPDATE (03/28/2022): The English Kingdom Hearts Twitter account has provided an official translation of Nomura's message, viewable below:
 

View full article

The official Kingdom Hearts social media accounts have announced that the franchise's 20th-anniversary event will be taking place on April 10th in Tokyo. Fans can look forward to a Q&A with the development team, a mini-concert, an exhibition, and other unspecified features.
A video of the event is stated to be provided at a later date. More details on this anniversary event will be provided soon. You can view the event's official website here.

View full article

The official Kingdom Hearts social media accounts have announced that the franchise's 20th-anniversary event will be taking place on April 10th in Tokyo. Fans can look forward to a Q&A with the development team, a mini-concert, an exhibition, and other unspecified features.
A video of the event is stated to be provided at a later date. More details on this anniversary event will be provided soon. You can view the event's official website here.

View full article

Square Enix has added silver and gold variants of Kingdom Hearts necklaces adorned with the iconic heart and crown imagery onto their Japanese digital storefront. The golden necklaces are ¥85,800 (approximately $746.66), while the silver ones are ¥19,800 (approximately $172.31). Each necklace is stated to release on June 11th, 2022.
Additionally, a character representative stone can be chosen alongside a single necklace, with the following characters being options:
Sora: Blue Topaz Riku: Blue Sapphire Kairi: Pink Tourmaline Roxas: Orange Sapphire Axel: Red Garnet Xion: Black Diamond Naminé: Diamond Terra: Citrine Aqua: Aquamarine Ventus: Peridot The necklaces' store pages have more info on the material of each stone. And, speaking of the store pages, each one is linked below alongside our own galleries depicting each product. 
Kingdom Hearts Silver Crown Necklace
Kingdom Hearts Gold Crown Necklace
Kingdom Hearts Silver Heart Necklace
Kingdom Hearts Gold Heart Necklace
Do you intend on purchasing any of these necklaces to give your wardrobe some classy Kingdom Hearts flair? Let us know in the comments below!
UPDATE: Each of these necklaces are currently available to pre-order from the North American Square Enix store! The silver variants are $179.99 while the gold versions are $779.99. Additionally, each necklace has a July 2022 release window.
Their store pages are listed below:
Gold Crown Necklace Gold Heart Necklace Silver Crown Necklace Silver Heart Necklace
View full article

Thank you so much for posting the article @OrpheusJoshua. I had to contribute and share the news of Sayaka Kanda's passing since it wasn't posted on the site until now.

Seeing this news made me shocked considering how talented she is as a singer and voice actress and I feel really sorry for her family right now.
Now she is the 6th Japanese voice actor from Kingdom Hearts III to pass away after Koji Tsujitani (Woody), Yuu Shimaka (Goofy), Makio Inoue (Master Eraqus), Keiji Fujiwara (Axel/Lea), and Genzo Wakayama (Ansem the Wise).

Rest in Peace, Kanda-san (Princess Anna of Arendelle).