‘Death Stranding Isolations’ is coming to Disney+ in 2027, and the first teaser is already heartbreaking
“My mom became a crater.”
Hideo Kojima’s strangest franchise is about to get stranger. The first teaser for Death Stranding Isolations, the hand-drawn animated series headed to Disney+, has arrived, and it opens with the haunting line “My mom became a crater.”
If you’re hoping to watch Sam Porter Bridges haul packages for eight episodes, adjust your expectations. The series follows an original story about a young man and a young woman, set in North America shortly after Sam reconnects the continent through the Chiral Network. Connection has been restored, but the changes bring new problems for people trying to rebuild their lives. That’s a fitting angle for a franchise that has always asked what connection actually costs us.
The teaser also shows a team that seems to understand the assignment. With a stacked creative lineup and a hand-drawn look, this is shaping up to be more interested in the people left behind than in the people who saved the world. Here’s what we know so far.
Kojima brings the weirdness to Disney+
Kojima Productions debuted the teaser and new story details during its 10th anniversary celebration at Azabudai Hills in Tokyo. The series was first announced in Hong Kong at a Disney+ event, alongside director Takayuki Sano. It streams exclusively on Disney+ in 2027, and the title is still marked as a working one, so expect possible tweaks.
Everyone’s lonely, and everyone’s connected
The cast of characters sounds like a good one. One is a young girl who has grown used to living alone after the Death Stranding, and her situation shifts after a series of unexpected encounters. The others include an elderly man who connects people through unconventional methods, a female soldier stuck in recurring conflict, and a boy struggling with his own circumstances. A soldier trapped in a loop of conflict is a very Kojima idea, and we’re here for it.
Hand-drawn, high-pedigree, and very on brand
Sano directs, and Tow Ubukata, whose credits include Mardock Scramble, handles series composition and screenplay. Ilya Kuvshinov is responsible for original character designs, and Kojima is executive producer. Kuvshinov’s soft, moody style should suit a story about isolation.
The animation comes from E&H production, the studio behind Ninja Kamui and Bullet/Bullet. After years of 3D-heavy game adaptations, a 2D look gives this world a distinct visual identity. Sano says he approached the project with “an exceptionally strong sense of duty and responsibility,” knowing he had to match the spiritual impact of Kojima’s work.
One more piece of the Kojima puzzle
The anime joins a growing Death Stranding universe. An animated film, Death Stranding: Mosquito, is also in the works, directed by Hiroshi Miyamoto and written by Aaron Guzikowski. A live-action adaptation from A24 is in development as well.
There’s no exact premiere date, episode count, cast, or confirmation of which characters from the games might appear. Disney+ has only given a 2027 window for now.
Given how that teaser opens, we can’t wait to see how it plays out.
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