Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding is Becoming a 2D Anime Series on Disney+

In a surprising move that expands one of gaming’s most ambitious universes, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima announced a new animated series based on his hit franchise, Death Stranding. Titled DEATH STRANDING ISOLATIONS (working title), the series is set to premiere exclusively on Disney+ in 2027.

The announcement was made by Kojima himself at the Disney+ Originals Preview event in Hong Kong, confirming his first-ever partnership with a global streaming platform for an original project.

Series Details and Creative Team

Unlike the live-action aesthetic of the games, the series will be presented in a traditional, hand-drawn 2D animation style, a notable choice that will bring a fresh visual perspective to the post-apocalyptic world.

• Executive Producer: Hideo Kojima
• Director: Takayuki Sano (known for his work on Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and as an animation director on Attack on Titan Final Season and JUJUTSU KAISEN).
• Animation Production: E&H Production, a top-tier Japanese studio.
• Original Character Design: Ilya Kuvshinov, who previously worked on Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045.

Plot and Theme

DEATH STRANDING ISOLATIONS will tell a completely new story that runs parallel to the main events of the video games, which follow porter Sam Bridges (portrayed by Norman Reedus in the games) as he attempts to reconnect a fractured America.

The animated series will focus on a new cast of characters, specifically a young man and woman who embark on their own adventure in a world where humanity is isolated and facing extinction. According to the official synopsis, the series will explore the foundational concepts of the franchise:

“Lonesome souls of the dead manifest in the physical world, reaching in search of the living… People who remain are now isolated, withdrawn, and without connections… [The series] follows in the footsteps of the original in spirit and ideas and depicts the world of Death Stranding through a bold and yet subtle touch.”

Kojima stated that his motivation for the series was to share the world of Death Stranding with a wider audience who may not typically play video games.