Kingdom Hearts 4: Why Zootopia Deserves Its Own World

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The hotly anticipated video game titled Kingdom Hearts 4, initially revealed during the franchise’s 20th-anniversary stream back in 2022, has been a subject of great curiosity within the gaming industry ever since Square Enix shared little information about it. With no further updates from the publisher, fans have started to imagine where the game’s narrative might head as it will kick off the “Lost Master” series, following the end of the “Dark Seeker” saga that was concluded in 2019’s Kingdom Hearts 3.

It’s been a topic of much discussion about Kingdom Hearts 4 – which Disney movies might be included in the game. Given that this series combines elements from both the Final Fantasy and Disney universes, it’s always intriguing to see which Disney films will make an appearance. For Kingdom Hearts 4, there’s a strong possibility Square Enix could introduce one of the most recent hits from Walt Disney Animation Studios: Zootopia.

Zootopia Is Primed For An Appearance In Kingdom Hearts 4

Nomura’s Previous Kingdom Hearts 4 Teases Fit Well For Zootopia

In the context of Kingdom Hearts 4, the vibrant and realistic world of Zootopia seems an ideal fit. This is due to its diverse population of animals living in a bustling city, yet retaining a sense of realism. The urban landscape syncs well with Kingdom Hearts 4’s objectives, as series director Tetsuya Nomura has hinted that the game will delve deeper into Sora’s everyday life. Placing Sora within Zootopia could provide players with glimpses of his daily routines, and demonstrate how he adapts those habits to an animal-populated city.

Placing Sora within the realm of Zootopia could give the creators an opportunity to transform him into an animal, thereby introducing distinctive gameplay features to this particular universe. Since Sora has previously transformed into animals while exploring various Disney worlds in Kingdom Hearts games, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to do so again here. Considering the vast array of inhabitants within Zootopia, Square Enix would have ample opportunity to explore and decide which animal type would best suit Sora.

Zootopia’s Popularity Makes it Appropriate to Appear

It’s quite likely that the fact that Zootopia is a highly acclaimed movie, which has increased its likelihood of being featured in Kingdom Hearts 4. Given that during its initial release, Zootopia earned over $1 billion and ranks among the highest-grossing films in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ history, it’s no surprise that popularity plays a role. Although popularity doesn’t guarantee a film will be part of Kingdom Hearts, it definitely bolsters Zootopia’s argument for inclusion.

Noteworthy is the observation that “Zootopia” has gained significant popularity in the homeland of its developer/publisher, Square Enix, Japan. In countries outside the U.S., Japan was the second-largest international market for “Zootopia,” generating $70.1 million due to strong box office holds following its premiere and a widely shared Japanese adaptation of the theme song “Try Everything.” The film’s cultural impact necessitates that Nomura and his team pay close attention to it, and the movie’s success in Japan may well influence the likelihood of “Zootopia” playing a more prominent role in “Kingdom Hearts 4.

Zootopia 2’s Arrival Only Benefits Kingdom Hearts 4

It’s an intriguing idea that Square Enix could incorporate the world of Zootopia into Kingdom Hearts 4, given that Disney is planning to release Zootopia 2 later this year. If Kingdom Hearts 4 is scheduled around the same time as the movie, it could be marketed as a sort of spin-off tie-in. Even if Kingdom Hearts 4 isn’t due out for a few more years, the launch of Zootopia 2 would provide Square Enix with additional material to enrich the game’s environment.

It’s clear that Kingdom Hearts 4 will feature fresh Disney representations since Square Entertainment has a wealth of material to draw from, including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, and potentially even Marvel and Star Wars. Combining these elements, Zootopia appears to be an ideal film to incorporate into Kingdom Hearts 4, perhaps as a new world. As Zootopia 2 is slated for release later this year, let’s cross our fingers that Square Enix will make every effort to bring characters like Sora, Donald, and Goofy together with Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps in the world of Zootopia. They might even have to “Try Everything” to achieve this!

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2025-03-14 17:08