Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep (キングダム ハーツ バース バイ スリープ Kingudamu Hātsu Bāsu Bai Surīpu) is a Japanese anime series animated by A-1 Pictures and Madhouse, based on the Kingdom Hearts video game series creator and directed by Tetsuya Nomura. This series uses very little of the original game art cover, instead loosely changing disney characters drawn by Shiro Amano and followed up by a sequel called Kingdom Hearts (2015 TV series).
Unlike the game itself, which are rated CERO A, the anime is far more adult oriented while still being considered friendly appropriate for adolescent audiences.
Plot synopsis[]
The story focuses primarily on Terra, Aqua, and Ventus, three young Keybearers from before Sora's generation. Also, it will give focus on the origins of Sora and Xehanort, delving deep into the mysteries of Xehanort's bleak past and forgotten memories as well as how Sora and Riku came to wield the Keyblade in the first place.
List of Characters[]
Protagonists[]
- Terra
- Aqua
- Ventus
- Eraqus
- Mickey Mouse
- Yen Sid
- Donald Duck
- Goofy
- Iron Man (Tony Stark)
- Wolverine (Logan)
- Leina
- Tomoe
Antagonists[]
- Xehanort
- Vanitas
- Minister of Defense Kuroda
- Iron Man Dio (Ho Yinsen)
- Shingen Yashida
- Hideki Kurohagi
- Aldra
Cast[]
Japanese[]
| Voice Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Hiroaki Iwanaga | Terra |
| Kaho Kōda | Aqua |
| Akio Suyama | Ventus |
| Makio Inoue | Erapus |
| Takashi Inagaki | Yen Sid |
| Takashi Aoyagi | Mickey Mouse |
| Keiji Fujiwara | Iron Man (Tony Stark) |
| Takako Honda | Dr. Chika Tanaka |
| Shizuka Itō | Nanami Ota |
| Jin Yamanoi | Captain Nagato Sakurai |
| Rikiya Koyama | Wolverine (Logan) |
| Fumiko Orikasa | Mariko Yashida |
| Romi Park | Yukio |
| Masato Hagiwara | Kikyo Mikage |
| Misato Fukuen | Min |
| Iemasa Kayumi | Koh |
| Masaki Terasoma | Tesshin Asano |
| Ayako Kawasumi | Leina |
| Mamiko Noto | Tomoe |
| Aya Hirano | Nanael |
| Akio Ōtsuka | Xehanort |
| Noriaki Sugiyama | Vanitas |
| Hōchū Ōtsuka | Braig |
| Unshō Ishizuka | Minister of Defense Kuroda |
| Hiroaki Hirata | Iron Man Dio (Ho Yinsen) |
| Hidekatsu Shibata | Shingen Yashida |
| Kazuki Yao | Hideki Kurohagi |
| Rie Kugimiya | Melona |
| Yuko Goto | Menace |
| Kanae Itō | Airi |
| Miyū Takeuchi | Aldra |
English[]
| Voice Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Marc Diraison | Terra |
| Cricket Leigh | Aqua |
| Jack DeSena | Ventus |
| Mark Hamill | Eraqus |
| Corey Burton | Yen Sid |
| Bret Iwan | Mickey Mouse |
| Adrian Pasdar | Iron Man (Tony Stark) |
| Laura Bailey | Dr. Chika Tanaka |
| Eden Riegel | Nanami Ota |
| Travis Willingham | Captain Nagato Sakurai |
| Milo Ventimiglia | Wolverine (Logan) |
| Gwendoline Yeo | Mariko Yashida |
| Kate Higgins | Yukio |
| Steven Blum | Kikyo Mikage |
| Angora Deb | Leina |
| Jessica Paquet | Risty
Menace |
| Michele Knotz | Tomoe
Airi |
| Kenzie Brooke | Alleyne
Aldra |
| Jessica Calvello | Nanael |
| Christopher Lloyd | Xehanort |
| Yuri Lowenthal | Vanitas |
| Neil Kaplan | Minister of Defense Kuroda |
| Kyle Hebert | Iron Man Dio (Ho Yinsen) |
| Fred Tatasciore | Shingen Yashida |
| Vic Mignogna | Hideki Kurohagi |
| Darla Chaney | Melona |
Episodes[]
Main article: List of Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep episodes
Music[]
Japanese Opening Themes[]
| # | Title | Performer | Episodes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Get Up | "Hemenway" | 1-22 | 4:00 |
| 2 | Rising Star | "SCANDAL" | 23-36 | 3:32 |
Japanese Ending Themes[]
| # | Title | Performer | Episodes | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Light (光, Hikari) | "FLOW" | 1-12 | 4:22 |
| 2 | Across the Times | "Flumpool" | 13-24 | 5:20 |
| 3 | Beyond Time (時を越えて, Tokiwo Koete) | "Fumika" | 25-36 | 5:55 |
English Opening Themes[]
| # | Title | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Activation | 1-12 |
| 2 | Feel My Claws | 13-22 |
| 3 | Reassembly | 23-36 |
| 4 | Slashing Through The Night | 37-38 |
English Ending Themes[]
| # | Title | Episodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Fight Never Ends | 1-12 |
| 2 | Another Day of Battles | 13-22 |
| 3 | Fighting for Peace, Fighting for All | 23-36 |
| 4 | Between Darkness & Sanity | 37-38 |
Trivia[]
- Between Japanese and English versions, some alterations are made: dialogue changes, cuts or additions of mentions to characters and items, and even changes in plot details.
- This will be the first anime collaboration between Square-Enix, Disney, and Marvel.