Summary
The upcomingKingdom Hearts 4will presumably feature new worlds from across the Disney canon, just as its predecessors have. However, there’s one recent Disney film that could use a new lease on life. Disney’s new filmWishwould do well with a role inKingdom Hearts 4.
Wishjust released forDisney’s centennial celebrationto less than applause. The new animated film has been slammed for having a weak plot and weaker songs. Moreover, the film’s style — CGI animation with a 2D hand-drawn aesthetic, representing Disney’s history — has proven divisive. Whilst some audiences enjoy the unique look, many critics find it disarming or a lackluster attempt to mimic the stylistic innovations of theSpider-Versefilms orPuss in Boots: The Last Wish. Though many audiences have been endeared to characters such as protagonist Asha (played by Ariana DeBose) and villain King Magnifico (played by Chris Pine), the overall reaction has veered toward the negative.
Wish Could Make A Great Kingdom Hearts World
Despite the issues many have with the film, it has a great deal of untapped potential. It brings Disney back to its roots of vibrant fantasy and maniacal villains, something that’s been against the trend of the studio’s modern output. Just asKingdom Hearts 4could uplift unappreciated films, it could give a second wind to a film likeWish. If the dazzling world of light and arcanaWishpresents can become a vessel for exploration, the film might see a new wave of fans.
The art style forWishis controversial, but its effort to separate itself from the rest of Disney’s output wasn’t all for naught. Its watercolor-adjacent backdrops, minimal character texturing, and vibrant lighting give the movie an aesthetic edge. It’s a level of high fantasy that has been far rarer among Disney’s modern animated catalogue (a mix of sci-fi and slice-of-life adventures). This fantastical angle, one thatblends well with Disney’s golden ageor renaissance era, would be a perfect fit for the adventures had throughout theKingdom Heartsfranchise. Throwing the series into a world that is unlike either modern or classic Disney in its design while retaining a classic sense of fantasy would do wonders for the next game.
Another benefit to ropingWishintoKingdom Hearts 4would be involvingmore modern Disney flicks intoKingdom Hearts. The franchise has yet to really tap into the post-2010 era of Disney films. This is, of course, to do with the timeline related to making the games, but it’s also related to the types of films that Disney has produced in recent years. Only three films from 2010 and onwards have made it toKingdom Hearts:
Except forBig Hero 6, the films that have made their way intoKingdom Heartshave been pretty reminiscent of classic, hand-drawn Disney movies. SinceKingdom Hearts 4will have the ability to draw from a newly widened set of IPs (includinglive action renditions of Disney movies), a film that serves as a throwback to an older era would perfectly usher modern Disney pictures into the game series.
Wishdidn’t quite stick the landing with critics and audiences, but that doesn’t mean its ideas are without merit. Since many Disney characters are alreadyconfirmed to return inKingdom Hearts 4, it’s also important for newer animated entries to get a chance in the game series. With a fantastical world that went underused in its own feature,Wishmight become beloved after all with a solid video game portrayal.
