Death Stranding As New Anime Series For Disney

Disney and Kojima Productions are moving ahead with another expansion of the Death Stranding universe, confirming a new anime series that will stream on Disney+ in 2027. The project, titled Death Stranding Isolations for now, extends the world first introduced in Hideo Kojima’s 2019 game and revisits the themes of isolation, connection, and individual struggle that shaped its tone. The announcement surfaced during the Disney APAC Showcase, marking the latest step in a broader push to invest in Japanese and Korean productions for the platform.

The series returns to the world explored through Sam Bridges, placing him alongside a set of characters who confront the same fractured landscape with their own motives and burdens. An elderly man pursuing a path to salvation, a warrior intent on building a society defined by conflict, a boy carrying a long-standing resentment toward Bridges, and a girl navigating her own loneliness form the core of the new narrative. Their goals and contradictions intersect on what the project describes as a tipping point for humanity. The premise remains close to the game’s central tension — survival measured not by force but by the fragile bonds between isolated groups.

The production will be handled by E&H Production (source: Deadline), a relatively young Japanese animation studio founded in 2021. The series will be directed by Takayuki Sano, known for his work on Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods and for key animation roles across major action series. Sano has positioned the project as a global-facing production that aims to bring in international talent, suggesting an ambition that extends beyond traditional anime pipelines. The artistic approach will rely on 2D hand-drawn animation, distancing the series from digital-heavy adaptations and aligning it more closely with traditional Japanese methods.

Kojima will serve as executive producer, continuing his hands-on approach to the franchise’s expansions. His previous commentary at the showcase underscored personal ties to the medium and to Disney’s platform:

“I grew up loving Japanese anime, and it has shaped my worldview,” said Kojima. “I’ve always been a fan of Disney, since I was small, and I was glad that they showed my documentary on the platform. When they approached me, I decided to work with them.” — Hideo Kojima

The announcement adds to a growing collection of Death Stranding projects. Alongside the anime, a live-action film produced by A24 is still slated for release in 2027. A separate animated feature, Death Stranding: Mosquito, remains without a firm date but has already surfaced in promotional materials, including a brief teaser. Taken together, the projects indicate a long-term effort to establish Death Stranding as a multimedia franchise with varied entry points rather than a one-off prestige game.

The broader strategy aligns with Disney+’s ongoing investments in regional content, as highlighted throughout the APAC Showcase. The platform’s leadership pointed to continued focus on Japanese and Korean markets, tying projects like Isolations to a shift in production priorities and to the company’s interest in long-form, globally adaptable storytelling.

Read also, Kojima Productions’ collaboration with Dynsys has produced the Z1 Exoskeleton Pro, a real-world hiking and climbing assist inspired by Death Stranding 2. Co-designed by Yoji Shinkawa, the device mirrors Sam Porter Bridges’ gear, enhancing balance and endurance to help users tackle longer distances with reduced strain.