An animatic for a planned Kingdom Hearts series is released on YouTube by animator Seth Kearsley, who worked on the series before it was canceled by Disney. The oft-forgotten adaptation attempt was held under wraps for years until Kearsley broke his silence on the Kingdom Hearts series, announcing he would release the fully finished pilot to his Youtube channel once he figures out how to transfer the footage. Kearsley blamed Disney's handling of the project and a lack of concrete vision for the show's cancelation.
Kingdom Hearts, known for its video games, follows Sora and his friends Goofy and Donald Duck, as they travel across the universe clashing with the Heartless, meeting a multitude of Disney and Pixar characters along the way. The series is known for its impressive visuals, enchanting music, and complex plot. Kearsley also revealed recently that Kingdom Hearts would have taken a more episodic approach to its story, with the pilot taking place in the world of Aladdin.
On Kearsley's personal Youtube page, he uploads the eleven-minute animatic for the first episode of the Kingdom Hearts series. The short features Sora meeting Donald and Goofy as they travel to Agrabah, the city from Aladdin, to find Sora's friend Riku. The animatic ends with the trio regrouping on their ship and promising to visit other worlds to fight the Heartless.
What The Animatic Could Mean For Kingdom Hearts' Future
It's worth noting the video is not the fully finished pilot, but instead, an animatic used to map out the timing and movement of the animation, an essential tool for the process. It's unknown when Kearsley might be able to release the full Kingdom Hearts pilot, but with the animatic's release, fans can assume it could happen very soon. The release could also bolster support for the new Kingdom Hearts series that's currently being developed for Disney+.
Fans were understandably disappointed when the Kingdom Hearts series didn't produce a full season, but with Kearsley's new releases, they'll be able to see what it could've been like and re-live a forgotten part of Disney history. Kearsley, unfortunately, had to keep work he's proud of a secret for nearly 20 years, but the important thing is that it's now out for the world to see. Though Kearsley isn't involved in the upcoming series, his vision for a Kingdom Hearts series is now available to the public, and that's a victory for Disney fans and art preservationists everywhere.
Source: Seth Kearsley