Disney's Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation from video game to animated series

October 10, 2025

Let's face it: how many times have we watched a Disney classic and wondered what would happen if the bad guys had won? Well, Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation It doesn't exactly answer this question, but it does take us into a world where villains have become revered legends. And trust me, the result is quite interesting.

The anime series debuts on 29 October Exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu, it's based on the mobile game of the same name that was a huge hit in Japan—over 4,8 million downloads there alone. The game was released in Japan in 2020 and in North America in 2022, gaining a significant following.

The Foreword: Welcome to Night Raven College

The story catapults us into the world of Twisted Wonderland, where seven legendary figures known as the "Great Seven" are revered as heroes. And who are these heroes? Well, they're basically reimagined versions of the most iconic Disney villains: the Queen of Hearts, the King of the Beasts (Scar), the Sea Witch (Ursula), the Sand Wizard (Jafar), the Fairest Queen (the Evil Queen), the King of the Underworld (Hades), and the Thorn Fairy (Maleficent).

These characters inspired the creation of seven magical dormitories at Night Raven College, an elite academy for budding wizards. Already here you understand that we're not in the usual Disney territory of rainbows and nursery rhymes.

Our unfortunate hero is Yuken Enma, a perfectly normal Tokyo high school student who suddenly finds himself thrown into Night Raven College without warning. And things couldn't get worse: he can't use magic, he doesn't understand the rules of the place, and he immediately manages to alienate practically everyone. In short, a classic nightmare start.

The Protagonist: A Fish Out of Water

Yuken's mission is simple on paper: find a way home. In practice? Much less so. Especially considering he constantly finds himself embroiled in absurd adventures with two equally troublesome new classmates: Ace and Deuce. And as if that weren't enough, he also has to avoid falling into the crosshairs of the Red-Rose Tyrant—a certain Riddle Rosehearts who seems to have a bit of an anger management problem.

Who's Behind It?

The project has a team of people who know what they're doing. Production is being handled by Yumeta Company and Graphinica, in collaboration with Aniplex and Walt Disney Animation Japan. But the name that stands out is Yana Toboso, the creator of Black Butler, responsible for the original concept, scenarios, and character design. If you're familiar with his work, you already know that the aesthetic will be meticulously crafted and the tone will likely be darker than you'd expect from a Disney product.

Shin Katagai is directing the game, with Takahiro Natori serving as chief director, also supervising the scripts alongside Yoichi Kato. The music is composed by Takumi Ozawa, who reprises his role from the original game.

What to Expect

Judging from the synopsis and the premise, Twisted Wonderland It seems to blend elements of school anime with a fantasy setting that turns Disney's conventions on their head. The idea of a world where villains are revered as heroes is intriguing in itself, and the fact that the protagonist is completely out of place adds that touch of fish-out-of-water comedy that always works.

The series will be part of Disney+'s expanding anime catalog, which has recently welcomed titles such as Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 and, for those who have the bundle subscription with Hulu, also Murai in Love, The Fable e Go! Go! Loser Ranger!.

A nice detail: the opening theme is "Piece of My World" by Night Ravens, the same one used for the game, while the ending theme is "Obedience" performed by Heartslabyul Dorm Mates. Those familiar with the game will definitely appreciate this continuity.

Verdict

Whether you're a fan of the mobile game or just curious to see what happens when Disney decides to put its villains center stage, Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation It's worth at least a look. The setting is original, the cast of characters seems promising, and the idea of a magical academy inspired by Disney villains has enormous potential.

Join us on October 29th on Disney+ to find out if Yuken can survive this world of magic and chaos. Spoiler: Probably not, but it'll be fun to watch him try.