Disney is actively expanding its anime and mobile game portfolio while preparing several theatrical releases, but faces a mobile game closure and a legal discovery dispute over AI training data.
Disney's anime strategy is growing but remains unevenly marketed. Through a long-term output deal with Kodansha, Disney has secured exclusive streaming rights to roughly 2-3% of new anime production, yet marketing for these titles is heavily concentrated in Asia. The upcoming series 'Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation,' a wholly Japanese-produced original anime featuring multiple Disney intellectual properties, was announced nearly four years ago and had a major presence at AnimeJapan 2025 in Tokyo, but Disney only recently confirmed its global streaming availability two months before its premiere. Other titles like 'Bullet/Bullet' from 'Jujutsu Kaisen' director Sunghoo Park received English-language promotion only from the Disney+ Singapore YouTube channel. Fans have described anime on Disney+ as being in 'Disney Jail.'
On the theatrical side, Disney Animation and Pixar have two new films on the horizon. 'HEXED,' from Walt Disney Animation Studios, follows a teenage girl named Billy who discovers magical powers and enters the witch world of Hexe, teaming up with her mother Alice. Directed by Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand and starring Hailee Steinfeld, it is set for a November 25, 2026 release. Pixar's 'Nero of the Water City,' directed by Enrico Casarosa, is a cat-led feature set in Venice, Italy, blending hand-drawn painting with 3DCG, and is slated for spring 2027 in Japan. 'Toy Story 5' opens July 3, 2026, with 11 screening formats and a themed theater event in Japan featuring the full Japanese voice cast.
In mobile gaming, coly's 'Disney Sparklink Stars' is in pre-registration, with Neo Michelle revealed as the leader of the UPbeats! group. Meanwhile, GungHo Online Entertainment's 'Disney Pixel RPG' will end service on September 30, 2026, after roughly two years, with no reason given for the closure. Paid item sales ended July 1, and gacha draws will end August 19. Unused paid currency will be refunded. Separately, Midjourney is demanding Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery disclose details of their own AI development and use, arguing that if the studios are training models internally, it would support Midjourney's fair-use defense in a copyright fight. A hearing is set for August 17, 2026.
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coly has revealed the character Shu Ayakashi (voiced by Daiki Hamano) for the mobile game Disney Sparklink Stars. He is the leader of the group aMazINC., a team of monsters inspired by Monsters, Inc. and described as gentle despite his imposing appearance. Two of the group's three silhouettes have now been announced.
Disney's live-action Moana has announced additional Japanese dub cast members, including Midoriko Kimura as Gramma Tala, Shoichi Fukui as Tui, Haruka Manase as Sina, ROLLY reprising Tamatoa, and Ema Kurata as Baby Moana. A dubbed trailer has also been released.
Coly revealed Ranka Manku, the youngest member of the UPbeats! unit in the smartphone app Disney Sparklink Stars, on July 6. Voiced by Gen Sato, Ranka is an easygoing character who often pranks with previously revealed Raska Moncrief. The two wear acorn earrings, suggesting they are based on Chip and Dale. Didi Cedric Bird, voiced by Yuya Hirose and modeled after Donald Duck, was revealed on July 4.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced that the smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, roughly two years after its October 2024 launch. The reason was not disclosed. Paid item sales ended July 1, and gacha draws will end August 19. Unused paid currency will be refunded.
Midjourney is demanding Disney, Universal, and Warner Bros. Discovery reveal details of their own AI development and use, arguing that if the studios are training models internally, it would support Midjourney's fair-use defense. The company has appealed a magistrate judge's ruling that limited discovery to consumer-facing images and videos. A hearing is set for August 17, 2026.
Sano Yuto, who voices Smarty Pants in the Japanese dub of Toy Story 5, made a surprise appearance at Tokyo Disneyland on July 3. He rode in an omnibus with fellow cast members Karasawa Toshiaki and Tokoro George, greeting fans during a special evening parade celebrating the film's release.
On July 2, coly revealed Neo Michelle, the leader and center of the UPbeats! group, for the smartphone app Disney Sparklink Stars. Voiced by Shoya Chiba, Neo Michelle is described as a bright and positive mood maker. The character's jacket features Mickey Mouse motifs. The UPbeats! group has five members, with silhouettes released on July 1 and characters being revealed sequentially.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced on July 1 that its smartphone RPG Disney Pixel RPG will end service on September 30, 2026, at 11:00 JST. The game launched on October 7, 2024, and will run for about two years. The announcement came via the game's official X account and a notice on the official website. Until the service ends, the developer plans to add more main story content and run various in-game events. Sales of paid items stopped on July 1. Sales of Red Crystal payment items, gacha using Red Crystals, and stamina recovery will end on August 19 at 11:00 JST. Blue Crystals will remain usable until the service termination. Unused Red Crystals will be refunded through a dedicated form after the service ends; players are advised to keep their in-game ID and inquiry code. The official website and customer support are scheduled to close on January 13, 2027. The game is a command battle RPG featuring Disney characters in pixel art, including Mickey Mouse, Pooh, Baymax, Stitch, and Maleficent in themed costumes.
Disney+ and Yoshimoto Kogyo collaborate on 'THE ONE SHOT', a variety show where eight comedians selected by Chidori's Daigo write, direct, and produce a short film with a single punchline. The winner becomes the first 'GOLDEN ONE SHOT' champion. All eight episodes stream from August 12. The participants have not been revealed.
coly announced the official website for its new smartphone game Disney Sparklink Stars on June 23, 2026, and began accepting pre-registration via the game's official X account and YouTube channel. The game is described as a "Spark Rider Training Adventure that makes dreams come true" and will be free-to-play with in-app purchases on iOS and Android. A teaser visual was also released, showing a blonde young man in a prince-like outfit. To commemorate pre-registration, a double follow and repost campaign is running until July 7, with 10 winners receiving a 5,000 yen Disney Store gift card. coly, known for titles such as Mahoyaku and Stand My Heroes, is developing the game in collaboration with Disney. No release date has been announced yet. The official website includes the tagline "This is a story where everyone's dreams come true." Pre-registration is conducted by following the official X account and subscribing to the official YouTube channel, rather than through app store pre-orders.
Disney and Pixar's Toy Story 5 will screen in 11 versions including IMAX, 4DX, and ScreenX. A themed Toy Story Theater event runs July 3-20 at eight Japanese theaters, featuring character seat decorations and a greeting video from the Japanese voice cast. The film opens July 3.
Walt Disney Animation Studios announced its new film 'HEXED' on June 17, 2026, with a theatrical release set for November 25, 2026. The story follows a bored teenage girl named Billy who discovers magical powers and enters the witch world of Hexe, teaming up with her cautious mother Alice to uncover a family secret. Hailee Steinfeld voices Billy. Directors are Fawn Veerasunthorn and Jason Hand.
The Television Critics Association announced nominees for its 42nd Annual TCA Awards on Friday. Disney Twisted-Wonderland The Animation received a nod in Outstanding Achievement in Family Programming. Two live-action series based on Japanese stories, Drops of God and Last Samurai Standing, were nominated in the new Outstanding International Series category.
Disney and Pixar announced Nero of the Water City, a new animated feature set in Venice, Italy, about a black cat named Nero. The film is directed by Enrico Casarosa, who directed Luca, and blends hand-drawn painting with 3DCG. It is the studio's first animated feature with a cat protagonist. A teaser poster and trailer were released alongside the announcement.
GungHo Online Entertainment announced a limited-time event for Disney Pixel RPG called "Rescue Signal: Winnie the Pooh Forest Baseball," running until June 17. The event features new characters like Batter Pooh EX and Pitcher Christopher Robin EX, and rewards include Catcher Tigger. The baseball theme has sparked player memories of a past Winnie the Pooh baseball game.
Bandai Spirits will release the Ichiban Kuji Disney World of Imagination lottery on June 5, 2026, at Seven-Eleven and other retailers. Prizes include scene figures of Rapunzel and Ariel, a Peter Pan light, and a Last One prize Mickey and Minnie figure in original costumes. Each draw costs 790 yen.
Disney is expanding its anime library, securing exclusive streaming rights to roughly 2-3% of new anime production through a long-term output deal with Kodansha. However, the company's marketing and promotion for these titles remains heavily concentrated in Asia, leaving global audiences largely unaware of the expansion. The upcoming series "Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation," a wholly Japanese-produced original anime featuring multiple Disney intellectual properties, exemplifies this strategy. Despite being announced nearly four years ago and having a major presence at AnimeJapan 2025 in Tokyo, Disney only recently confirmed its global streaming availability to outlets like Variety and Deadline, just two months before its premiere. Other titles, such as "Bullet/Bullet" from "Jujutsu Kaisen" director Sunghoo Park, received English-language promotion only from the Disney+ Singapore YouTube channel. Disney+ monthly release calendars in July detailed numerous documentaries and resort walkthroughs but omitted anime titles. On Hulu, anime remains a tertiary focus within the Animayhem brand. This limited marketing has led fans to describe anime on Disney+ as being in "Disney Jail."
Disney Animation's Zootopia 2 Blu-ray and DVD set released in Japan on May 20, 2026. A previously unseen scene from the film was revealed, showing Nick and Judy on an undercover operation at an airport posing as a married couple. A special interview with Tomoyuki Morikawa, who voices Nick Wilde, was also published to mark the home video launch.