A new piece of Halloween-themed artwork by Tetsuya Nomura, the director of the Kingdom Hearts series, has stirred excitement and speculation among fans. The official Kingdom Hearts social media account shared the illustration, wishing fans a happy Halloween from Sora, Donald, and Goofy, with the caption clearly noting the art as being drawn by Nomura himself. However, what initially appeared to be a festive celebration might actually be concealing a subtle teaser for Kingdom Hearts 4.
In the artwork, Sora and his companions are shown wearing their Halloween Town outfits from The Nightmare Before Christmas, a familiar setting for long-time players of the series. Yet, upon closer inspection, fans noticed that Sora’s Keyblade design is entirely new. The weapon’s tip appears to feature an animal that bears a striking resemblance to Sparky, the beloved dog from Tim Burton’s 2012 film Frankenweenie. This observation has prompted speculation that the artwork could be hinting at the introduction of a Frankenweenie-inspired world in the next major entry of the franchise.
While Frankenweenie has never been featured in any previous Kingdom Hearts titles, its macabre yet heartfelt tone could make it an ideal fit for the series’ recurring Halloween themes. The film, directed by Tim Burton and released by Walt Disney Pictures, tells the story of a young boy named Victor Frankenstein who resurrects his deceased pet dog, Sparky, leading to unintended and chaotic consequences in his town. Known for its stop-motion animation and monochrome visuals, Frankenweenie carries the same whimsical darkness found in other Burton classics already represented within the Kingdom Hearts universe.
Kingdom Hearts 4 remains one of the most anticipated projects from Square Enix. The game will continue Sora’s journey in the “Lost Master” arc, which begins in the mysterious city of Quadratum, a hyper-realistic world reminiscent of modern Tokyo. Built with Unreal Engine 5, the title promises refined visuals and fluid combat, marking a new era for the long-running action RPG series. Although no official release date has been provided, speculation suggests a launch window between 2026 and 2027 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
