11th Anniversary Special: More Worlds that Should Appear in Future Kingdom Hearts games

 

Time flies fast, and my blog is now 11!! Since the last post I did about worlds that should appear in future Kingdom Hearts games, a lot has happened. The long awaited third numbered title came out and contained worlds based on Pixar films, Disney's most recent and popular animated studio films and a couple of old favourites too. The company is still growing at a scary rate with the likes of Marvel, LucasFilm, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures all now part of that company. Plus with the franchise celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, of course we would soon see the next game on the horizon which looks to be the next numbered title and the first in a brand-new saga too. One of the great things we learn from these games is the importance of hearts. That our hearts are connected to the ones that we hold dear in our lives, and darkness should never take hold. That, and it's fun to explore these lessons with our favourite Disney franchises. So rather than do another top 25 or more list like I have done before, I'm just going to name a few franchises from across what Disney has as potential worlds for this and future games. Some I will have mentioned before, but given the amount of new films and stuff that have come out, feels like a good time to do another one of these posts. So let's get to it:

Land of Mythical Creatures (Onward)

So those of you who haven't yet played the two most recent games in the series, Pixar has finally joined the Kingdom Hearts universe with the likes of Toy Story, Monsters Inc. and Ratatoulie making their debuts in III. So this has many of us fans wonder if there will be more Pixar properties coming into it and of those properties, I would really like to see a world based on Onward appear. It's a world where our heroes would have to change appearances and it could work either as a loose retelling of the film or a continuation in which brothers Ian and Barley (who would of course be party members) have lost memories of their father and must go on a journey to find his heart to claim them back. As for a loose retelling, there's a good chance that Sora and Co. could battle those motorbike pixies or even that dragon at the end. Whatever the development team decide to do, a world like this would be fun and heart-warming to have.

Motunui (Moana)

Given that III had 3 worlds based on 3 of Disney's most recent animation canon films (and a character coming from another world, but one that the mobile games have already established existing), there's a high chance we could be seeing more of those films appear in the series. Plus, I'd feel given how Moana has recently been made a Disney Princess, it would make sense to have a world based on Moana appear. However, unlike Onward, I see just a loose retelling of the film working here. Especially as you have two great characters as potential party members and a lot of great boss battles to be had here from coconut people to a giant fourth wall breaking crab and of course Te Fiti whom of which would make a great Heartless boss. Not just that, but Maui is a demigod like Hercules, and we all know how powerful allies can be useful to Sora and his pals. Particularly as Maui can shape-shift.

Zootropolis/Zootopia

I gotta be honest, you can't really name a world based on this film anything else besides the name. Because that's where all the action happens. Now, if we had a new bad guy organization in the games, I see them using the drug that the animals use in the film to experiment on the idea of making new monsters out of the drug that sends the good citizens of Zoo-whatever into their predatorial forms. In other words, it's a world that can have its own story as a possible continuation of the film. That and it would not be the first time Sora and friends would have to become anthropomorphic animals (well Sora more as technically Donald and Goofy are already animals themselves) to keep the world order (though having said that, it would be the first time as animals in clothing for the three of them).

Casa Madrigal (Encanto)

Yes, we are talking about it, so you can stop singing the song. Encanto is a film about family and what ties them together, and a world based on this film would be a great fit for Kingdom Hearts. Most of the family have gifts which could make the party interchangeable in this world and the whole story could take place within the house they live in because well that's where most of the action and magic happens. It could either be a retelling of the film with the family's hearts all trying to reconnect, or another way for a team of bad guys to basically experiment, which would result in the family losing their gifts. Lots of potential for this world, even if the games really have to talk about Bruno for this world to work.

The Axiom (WALL-E)

Among the fandom, there has been much debate as to how a world based on WALL-E could work. My guess is that there isn't a world and instead, much of the action happens on the Axiom. Sora and crew find Wall-E and Eve drifting in the cosmos, and they land in the Axiom, where we discover just how their world got lost in a very loose retelling of the film. Another interesting question would be if Sora and the guys would have to change appearance. But I'm guessing they don't need to unless, to not raise suspicion, they each become a robot like Wall-E somehow.

Kumandra (Raya and the Last Dragon)

It wasn't all that long ago that Raya and the Last Dragon was released and yet more people remember Encanto more than this film and even that wasn't released too long ago. Still, though, a world as massive as the film makes it out to be, would be interesting to see in Kingdom Hearts. Seeing how all the clans are very distant from one another, and yet somehow they bind together in the end to save their world. Hearts are connected and all that, so yeah, I'd like to see this world come to life in Kingdom Hearts.

Kingdom of the Sun (The Emperor's New Groove)

Of all the traditionally animated films to come out since the Disney Renascence, this, Fantasia 2000, Lilo & Stitch and a few listed further on, are in my honest opinion, among the best. The Emperor's New Groove may not have been the success that Disney wanted after trying to rework it from what it was originally, but it has since become a cult classic due to its comedy and festival of memes. For it to work in Kingdom Hearts, I guess it has to once again be a retelling of the film with Pacha and Kuzco being party members. Plus, it would be quite interesting to see enemies trying to turn the llama king into a Heartless due to his self-centred and *ahem* heartless attitude towards his subjects. And it's quite a lush world too, with plenty to do and lots of bad guys to defeat if it became a world. All entirely possible.

Tierra De La Muerte (Coco)

The Kingdom Hearts series has occasionally explored the possibility of an afterlife, usually in the form of the Final World, but never actually address it as the afterlife. Plus, there is also the underworld in Olympus, but technically that's not the afterlife. More a way for Hades to revive long dead Final Fantasy characters if anything else. But here we have Coco, another Pixar film that is worth having in a Kingdom Hearts game for it's big focus on family, idols and of course the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead. Bit of culture added to the series can go a long way and it would work well given how it's all about hearts being connected to the ones we love who are no longer around. Plus it would be pretty cool to see our heroes appear as moving skeletons.

Ant Island (A Bug's Life)

So lots of people actually forgot this Pixar film. It came out at a time when DreamWorks released a very similar film called Antz and thus began the war between Disney and DreamWorks. But I have fond memories of this film more and it could work in the Kingdom Hearts games, but it could also be a very complicated one to work out. Such as how would the heroes appear in this world, who would be in their party besides Flik and if the story should be following the film or do its own thing. Seeing our heroes as bugs wouldn't be a bad thing, but it's figuring out everything else which is where the main problem lies. Still though, would be nice to have a world like this in the games one day.

Endor or Tatooine (Star Wars: Original Trilogy)

It has long been discussed as to how Star Wars could work in Kingdom Hearts. I mean the Force could be a way for hearts to be connected in any world based on the huge franchise and the heroes won't necessarily need to disguise themselves in this world. But the main problem is what to call it and whether a Star Wars world should be the only world in a Kingdom Hearts game just because of the size and scale of the huge franchise that it is. Then again, Sora facing sith lords like Vader, Maul and Sidious wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it?

Radiator Springs (Cars)

Yep, just putting this on here as well because it's bound to be in the games one day. I mean the franchise alone has had more films than Toy Story in terms of main films, spin-off films and short films. But that could all change after Lightyear comes out later this year. As a world, it would have to use car gameplay mechanics and all Heartless or other kinds of enemies would have to be road based too. That or its just a simple minigame world with it bearing no real resemblance to the plot of the games. Would be quite funny to see the heroes as cars though in a way.

Wild Jungle (The Jungle Book)

The series has had an intersting history of unused assets. You may be interested to know that Toy Story and Monsters Inc were considered for the series long before III came out, but a whole world based on the Jungle Book had been made for Birth By Sleep. But it was ultimately left abandoned, presumably for a later game in the series. It would be quite interesting to see how a party of Mowgli, Baloo and Bagheera would work alongside the heroes whom even though wouldn't neccessarily need to change appearances in this world, it would be a bit strange for them to be in their usual attire. Plenty of oppurtunites here in this world, but one question we all want to know is which version will be used bearing it mind there is the beloved animated one and the three live action remakes too. There's also that one non-Disney version too, but unlikely for that one to appear.

Temple of the Red Pandas (Turning Red)

It should be noted that during the long development of III, many things were happening for Disney. Four purchases of major companies and studios and a whole heap of films, TV shows and a streaming service. Going back to Pixar now, I personally would love to see a Turning Red world if only so that we could have a boss battle for Ming's giant red panda form. Not just that, but family plays a big part in connecting hearts and it would be interesting to see how these red pandas fit into all of that. Whether it be their hearts changing there appearance just as dark hearted beings would do and thus become Heartless. Or some other reason. Lots of dynamics here and another one for culture too.

Atlantis (Atlantis: The Lost Empire)

So as I said earlier, many of Disney's own animated films post-Disney Renaissance were not quite as successful as films released in that period. But have over the years become cult classics and beloved by many people. Atlantis: The Lost Empire is one such example which was an attempt by Disney to break away from the norm to give us a more mature but still family friendly film. It was also their most ambitious film at the time of release with many of the things that would've tied in to it, being cancelled as a result of its poor box office returns. It can also be a complex thing to feature in Kingdom Hearts given how much there is in the film. But at the same time, the idea of seeing how the "Heart of Atlantis" is treated in the games would be quite interesting, but would also warrent some unwanted attention from a certain Organization if there do in fact make a return (which is highly unlikely).

Xandar and surrounding planets (Guardians of the Galaxy)

The Guardians of the Galaxy would be a pretty cool team for Sora and company to team up with. A band of misfits with a kick-a** soundtrack and a means to take on the galaxy. But much like with Star Wars, there is that problem of where it should take place as a world or could it just be a simple case of the heroes coming across them in the cosmos between worlds. Regardless, we've already had at least two Marvel games by Square Enix so far, so its very possible we will get a Marvel world in the series one day.

Pandora (Avatar)

Much like with Atlantis, this is another world that is complex, mature and ambitious. Not to mention that it had more success at the box office than Atlantis: The Lost Empire, but doesn't mean its good even with sequels on the way. As far as story is concerned, it would possibly work as an original story that explores how the spiritual beings that protect this world can be connected to the hearts of the natives. Bearing in mind however that the amount of Heartless in this world would be huge due to the hatird many of the humans have towards the Navi. Also be interesting to see Sora, Donald and Goofy as Navi even if its through the same means as one Jake Sully and his group of allies.

Asgard (Thor)

Another interesting Marvel world could be in the form of Asgard. Home to our favourite gods of thunder and mischief (though for most of us, there are only popular because of the attractiveness and muscular bodies of Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston) and another cultural one due to how its largely based on Norse mythology. Would Sora and his friends be worthy to lift the Mjonir? Who knows, but if anything, this too would make a great Marvel world especially with the fourth Thor film on the way very soon.

Frozen Mountains (Ice Age)

It's a known fact that many of us feel that Ice Age needs to stop with the films and the films should have really stopped when Blue Sky shut down. Despite that, it still has a fanbase of sorts and a world based on this well known Fox franchise would be seemingly welcome to Kingdom Hearts. Especially given that its one world largely populated by animals with hardly any humans (in fact humans only appeared in the first one) so again, Sora and the gang would have to change appearances. Plus it could work well as a big explorable world and its story being original rather than be based on any one of the films, would work well for it.

The Museum of Natural History (Night at the Museum)

Now this would be by far a very interesting world. Going to a museum where everything comes to life during the night. Hearts connected to a tablet that makes the exhibits all come to life with Heartless and a whole many of other kinds of enemies lurking within. It would definitley be a world where chaos is the big thing, but it can also work the same way Toy Story worked in which some of the characters become seperated from others. Doubt that Sora and Co. would need to change appearances, but you never know in worlds like this.

Springfield (The Simpsons)

Not a single adult humored animated TV show has appeared yet in Kingdom Hearts and for this kind of world to work, it has to remove all mature references to keep in line with Disney's family friendly policy in this series of games. As for how it could fit in to the series, it could work either as a minigame world, or a world where the Simpsons are the only inhabitants and must find the other residents in a Heartless infested Springfield. Not to mention also that they dysfunctional ideals would make their hearts close to being unconnected which would be an interesting perspective for the series.

Treasure Planet

Treasure Island has had an interesting history with Disney. Three adaptations were made including the Muppet one and this one. The lesser known one in particular is notable for being Disney's first completely live action film and the first adaptation overall to be in colour. But the one most people seem to be familiar with is this one which is basically a more science fiction version of the story. It has a lot of interesting ideas and could work well in the series as another encounter with the heroes in the cosmos between worlds. Plus it's would not be the first time the heroes have done pirates, but would be the first space pirates they encounter so all very interesting ideas here for this one.

The Great Before (Soul)

Another great world that explores some kind of afterlife, this one really pushes the whole darkness thing to the limit and could work well on the connecting hearts front. Very rarely have we seen jazz play a big part in the series except for maybe Melody of Memory and it would be intersting to see how Sora navigates another afterlife like world, even if its a mini world within another world. Speaking of which...

Headspace (Inside Out)

For an Inside Out world to work, it would have to be within one of the characters as a mini world. Maybe someone has an emotional breakdown and Sora and company somehow find their way into the character's "Headspace" to figure out what is going on and work with the living emotions to fix things. Plus if its a character that knows Sora and his friends well, then their appearances would be how the character sees or imagines them which could lead to some clever humor and other stuff too. Mixed emotions all around in this one.

The Bayou (The Princess and the Frog)

Widely known as the last Disney animated film to use traditional hand drawn animation, a world based on The Princess and the Frog could work well. I mean Tiana is a Disney Princess and we know how hearts between lovers can be connected even if its two humans in frog form. Plus it would be interesting to see Sora fighting Dr. Facilier's "friends on the other side" which could also add a bit of texture to how hearts work in this world.

FernGully

And so I end this non-ranking list by giving you another Fox world based on one of the company's most well known animated films, but sadly fell into Disney's shadow. FernGully for all that it is, is a film largely about the enviroment and how deadly gases and what have you, can cause a forest to burn to the ground. Its also quite a dark film with everything that happens in it which would make it an ideal canidate for Kingdom Hearts. Especially as we could have a laugh seeing how Sora copes with being small again or become a fairy alongside his friends.

So yeah that's my up to date and non ranked list of worlds I would love to see in future games whether its IV or in another Kingdom Hearts thing. Agree or disagree and/or have a list of your own to share? Leave it in the comments below and thank you again for helping this blog reach its 11th year. :)