T, today is Kingdom Hearts' 19th birthday. The game has been around since March 28, 2002, and is one of the few times Disney has allowed another company to use their iconic characters. The Kingdom Hearts series was created by Shinji Hashimoto and Tetsuya Nomura and has become one of the most beloved video games in existence.
The most recent main game to release was Kingdom Hearts 3, which dropped in 2019. While Square Enix has told fans not to expect a Kingdom Hearts 4 anytime soon, fans are expecting big things next year. Creator Nomura has promised big things for the 20th anniversary but has not shared too many specifics. So far information on the next Kingdom Hearts installment suggests it will resolve some outstanding character mysteries and change up the traditional Kingdom Hearts format.
Now, however, fans are content to celebrate the releases they have throughout the 19th anniversary. Fans are already sharing gorgeous artwork all over Twitter under “#KingdomHearts.” Many fans are taking the time to thank the series and its creators for its impact on them. The Kingdom Hearts official Twitter has shared a special message thanking its fans in return for their engagement with the series. One fan has even shared a video of their ballet choreography to Roxas’ theme. Some fans are sharing cosplays while others are taking pictures of themselves with all their Kingdom Hearts memorabilia.
There have been a few notable franchise birthdays lately. The Legend of Zelda celebrated its birthday about a month ago, as did Pokemon. The franchises turned 35 and 25 years old, respectively. Super Mario is wrapping up its big birthday bash in only 2 days. Resident Evil also has its 25th anniversary coming soon in April. Just yesterday there was also the birthday of the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo celebrated by posting to Twitter and asking fans their favorite 3DS games.
The outpour of love for Kingdom Hearts is certainly moving. Fans who do not have any artwork or photos to share can also participate by making a tweet. The hashtag is currently filled with art, personal stories, and videos, making today a lovely day for fans.
Though most fans will no doubt be over the moon, some could be wondering what the fuss is about. After all, in the grand scheme, a 19th anniversary is not exactly a milestone, despite how beloved the series is. However, most fans likely think it is never a bad day for Kingdom Hearts fan art.
Kingdom Hearts 3 is available now on PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.