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List of Kingdom Hearts references in other media

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This is a list of assorted media references to the Kingdom Hearts games shown outside of the series.

Disney media[edit]

Amphibia[edit]

Amphibia promo referencing the "Heart" artwork
"True Colors" promo.

A number of promotional images for the episode "True Colors" parody various pieces of pop culture. One such promo by series color designer Andy Garner-Flexner mimics the "Heart" Key Art from Kingdom Hearts II.

Chang Can Dunk[edit]

In Chang Can Dunk, the Olympus level from Kingdom Hearts III is being played on a PS5 in the background when Chang gets locked in the basement during a party.[1]

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers[edit]

The Kingdom Key and Sora's hair are both featured amongst the items that have been stolen from the bootlegged characters.[2][3]

Disney Emoji Blitz[edit]

A few Kingdom Hearts characters appear as emojis for the player to collect, namely Sora, Aqua, and Donald and Goofy in their attire from the series. A Shadow was later added as a free collectible in honor of the Kingdom Hearts series' 20th anniversary, though it is unusable in the game itself.

Disney Infinity 3.0[edit]

At the D23 Expo 2015, all attending fans were given a power disc which unlocked Mickey's Kingdom Hearts outfit in the game. The Keyblade appears in the game as the Ultimate Unlock, requiring players to purchase and scan every figure available for that version of the game.

Disney Tsum Tsum[edit]

Two main Kingdom Hearts events were available for a limited time in 2019 and 2023, featuring stages based on worlds from the series. Over 20 collectable Tsum Tsum based on Kingdom Hearts characters have been created, both as part of the special collaboration events and separately.

DuckTales[edit]

In the episode "The Shadow War!", Mrs. Beakley creates a dessert which includes sea-salt ice cream and mentions it being Scrooge's favorite dessert, a homage to the Kingdom Hearts series.[4]

Marvel Heroes[edit]

Deadpool can wield a series of weapons named "Keyblades". However, they do not physically resemble the Keyblade from the Kingdom Hearts series. The in-game description of the Keyblades, "A heart, a heart, my kingdom for a heart", is a reference to William Shakespeare's Richard III, as well as a pun on the Kingdom Hearts series.

Star vs. the Forces of Evil[edit]

In the episode "St. Olga's Reform School for Wayward Princesses", Rat Princess wears a crown shaped exactly like the reoccuring crown motif in the Kingdom Hearts series.

The Ghost and Molly McGee[edit]

In the episode "Game On", the Kingdom Key appears on the weapons selection menu for a video game.[5]

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder[edit]

In the episode "Home School", the character KG can be seen playing a game that looks similar to Kingdom Hearts, with him playing through a section that looks near identical to Dive to the Heart, and the side panels bearing resemblance to Destiny Islands.[6][7]

The Simpsons Game[edit]

  • Comic Book Guy quotes Ansem's "Every light must fade, all hearts return to darkness" in the Big Super Happy Fun Fun level of the game.
  • The Statues of Santa's Little Helper in the Super Happy Fun Fun level of the game have a Keyblade in their mouths.

The Wonderful Spring of Mickey Mouse[edit]

The Kingdom Key D appears amongst the objects in Mickey's house.[8]

Tokyo Disney Resort[edit]

In November 2010, a statue inspired by Kingdom Hearts Re:coded was shown at the Ikspiari complex in Tokyo Disney Resort to promote the release of the game.

Final Fantasy series[edit]

Video Games[edit]

CrossCode[edit]

The "Salty Ice Cream" is a reference to sea-salt ice cream. The item's description reads "Best enjoyed at sunset on top of a clocktower."[9]

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart[edit]

A Wrench and Hammer Swap for the player characters called "Key" is unlockable. This weapon heavily resembles a Keyblade.

Saints Row (2022)[edit]

A skin for the pickaxe called the "Saintsblade" can be unlocked. This weapon strongly resembles a Keyblade, including a keychain, and will generate star-shaped particle effects upon hitting an enemy.

Skullgirls[edit]

A skin for the character Eliza recolors her to be based on Sora, specifically on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts III; her lackeys, Horace and Albus, are additionally respectively recolored to be based on Donald and Goofy, and her Parasite, Sekhmet, is recolored to be based on a Shadow. Additionally, the character Marie, who has appeared in the game as the final boss and will be made playable via DLC, has a recolor based on Ansem, Seeker of Darkness, with her skeletal partner, Hilgard, being recolored to be based on the Dark Figure, and her vacuum being recolored to be based on Soul Eater.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate[edit]

Sora is available as a DLC fighter, based on his appearance in Kingdom Hearts. He comes with alternate outfits of his appearances in Kingdom Hearts II, Dream Drop Distance, and Kingdom Hearts III, as well as his appearance in Timeless River, Valor Form, Wisdom Form, and Ultimate Form. Hollow Bastion and the Dive to the Heart are featured as a stage, several characters are available as Spirits, and numerous songs from the Kingdom Hearts series are featured as music tracks.

Terraria[edit]

A melee weapon called the "Keybrand" can drop from certain enemies. The item bears a strong resemblance to the Kingdom Key and is swung in a similar fashion, hitting enemies with the blunt end of the weapon rather than with the key's teeth.

Undermine[edit]

An item called the "Key Blade" can be obtained. The item's description reads "A sword in the shape of a dull key. Not practical as a key or blade.""[10]

Film and television[edit]

The Big Bang Theory[edit]

In the episode "The Excelsior Acquisition", on the back of a comic that Raj is reading, there is a ad for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days.

Dragon Ball Heroes[edit]

The Key Sword (キーソード Kī Sōdo?) is a weapon that appears in the manga, anime, and game adaptions of Dragon Ball Heroes. Originally created to seal the Demon Realm, Xeno Trunks uses it to combat the Dark Empire. Its name, design, and function are references to the Keyblade.

My Adventures with Superman[edit]

In the episode "Kiss Kiss Fall in Portal", a holographic image of an alternate version of Lois Lane from Earth-24 is shown dressed in clothing similar to Sora's and holding a key that resembles a Keyblade.[11]

Rick and Morty[edit]

In Rick and Morty issue 50 of the tie-in comic, the character of Morty is seen playing a videogame called Imagine Balls, featuring a key-wielding hero of appearance similar to Sora battling alongside a cartoon character, being a clear parody of Kingdom Hearts. Rick criticizes Morty for playing the game because of its premise, but later gets hooked into it, enough to buy a cosplay and changing his hairdo to be close to Sora's.[12]

Robot Chicken[edit]

In the episode "May Cause Numb Butthole", Sora, Donald, Goofy, and Master Xehanort were featured in the skit "Kingdom Hearts' Key Party", alongside other Disney characters.

Hazbin Hotel[edit]

In the final episode of season 1. Keekee, Charlie's pet and key to the hotel, gets transformed by Lucifer into a sword reminiscent of a keyblade to help repair the broken building.

Miscellaneous[edit]

2020 Summer Olympics[edit]

During the 2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, "Olympus Coliseum" and "Hero's Fanfare" played during the Parade of Nations.[13][14]

D23 Expo 2022[edit]

At the 2022 D3 Expo, a poster celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company was available to Gold Members. Said poster contains fifty-eight different references to Disney media, including a silhouette of the Kingdom Key on the left side of Sleeping Beauty's castle, near a TRON Identity Disc.[15]

Notes and references[edit]