April 1, 1928A peculiar visitor befriends American film producer and animator Walt Disney. The visitor shares secrets of the existence of other worlds and mystical keys that can unlock unseen doors. Later that year, Disney develops animated short films
Plane Crazy and
Steamboat Willie, starring his company's new mascot Mickey Mouse. The visitor then vanishes without a trace, but not before vowing to return at an unknown time.
Spring 1932 Two other visitors, claiming to be friends of the first, meet Walt Disney. They leave as soon as they find out that
"the King isn't here." Walt later introduces Goofy and Donald Duck into the company's collection of animated characters.
February 2000 Kingdom Hearts, an action roleplaying game featuring Disney and Final Fantasy characters, begins development. Months prior, the game's developer Tetsuya Nomura receives a surprise visit from Walt Disney's secret friend.
Kingdom Hearts is released in 2002.
March 2012 Manchac Swamp, Louisiana, USA: Several eyewitnesses claim to have seen
"large dark amphibians with glowing yellow eyes," thought to be a new species of gargantuan frogs. Days later, the same mysterious creatures begin appearing in several parts of the globe, especially in heavily forested areas and locations of frequent civil strife. Reluctantly identified as "Heartless" by authorities, due to their uncanny resemblance to the creatures of the same name in the
Kingdom Hearts video games. The emergence of Heartless creates a worldwide sensation, baffling scientific minds and startling religious leaders.
December 19, 2012Nomura disappears without a trace.
December 21, 2012 Without warning, the Heartless, who at first avoided human contact, begin a full-scale attack. Cities and locations with heavy population were the primary targets. Many of the victims were inexplicably "dematerialized," when their hearts were consumed, while others were killed in the ensuing chaos and destruction. The
First Wave, the initial world-wide offensive on the human race, results in a tragic decrease of the global population.
February 2013 In the aftermath of the First Wave, some begin to develop superhuman and magical abilities. The United States Department of Defense takes special interest in these individuals and recruits them into a counterstrike force against the Heartless. The
Second Wave of Heartless occurs, this time outmatched by humans around the world that have demonstrated unnatural power.
September 2014The HEART Academy opens as a higher-learning institute dedicated to training students against the Heartless threat. However, admission is by invitation only. All students have superhuman or supernatural abilities.
