Kingdom Hearts has taken players to several of the most famous worlds Disney has created, but one of the series' biggest omissions to date is Winnie the Pooh's Hundred-Acre Wood as a proper level. Most of Disney's most iconic properties have had their turns at being invaded by the Heartless and in turn protected by Kingdom Hearts' hero Sora, and that is arguably the most memorable aspect of the series despite its own set of original characters driving the plot. Winnie the Pooh may sound like an odd choice for an action game, but it could inspire a fantastic level.
While the story of the Kingdom Hearts series has allowed players to visit the Hundred-Acre Wood in the past, the Heartless have never actually appeared there. In all of its previous appearances in the series, the player has only had to play a few mini-games rather than fight anything there. While this can be justified due to Winnie the Pooh being among the least violent and dramatic franchises in Disney's history, it has the side effect of making the world feel underused despite appearing in multiple games. Setting a proper level in the Hundred-Acre Wood could make it feel like a more important part of the Kingdom Hearts universe.
The Hundred-Acre Wood Has Thus Far Avoided Kingdom Hearts' Heartless
The Hundred-Acre Wood is an iconic location, and the amazing worlds of Kingdom Hearts have been crafted from places with less history in the past. Pooh and his friends would likewise be delightful characters to interact with, especially if Pooh's classic voice actor Jim Cummings returns for the game. In fact, the Hundred-Acre Wood being so classic and beloved would theoretically make it a perfect target for Kingdom Hearts' Heartless. The only obstacles would be finding appropriate villains and allies for such a peaceful location. Both of these issues could be solved much easier than one may assume, though.
Of course, Pooh and his friends would be likely to ally with Kingdom Hearts' storied protagonist Sora, but the real question comes in whether any of them would be able to fight alongside Sora. After all, the Winnie the Pooh franchise is non-violent. However, there are still a couple of potential options for the role. The most obvious choice is Tigger, who is already the most action-oriented member of the Hundred Acre Wood, although he is more of a stuntman than a fighter. As for villains, it's possible that the Heartless could create their own terrifying version of Winnie the Pooh's Heffalumps or Woozles.
Since the Hundred-Acre Wood has been one of the most peaceful worlds in the Kingdom Hearts universe up to this point, seeing it under siege would be a shock. At the same time, having arguably the most peaceful place in the Kingdom Hearts universe under siege would be an excellent way to raise the stakes. In that sense, the Hundred-Acre Wood would be a perfect location for a Kingdom Hearts level.
The Kingdom Hearts games have made many Disney locations into worlds of adventure, and the Hundred-Acre Wood could serve as one of Kingdom Hearts 4's most unique worlds. It's already an established part of the Kingdom Hearts universe, and one of the most prominent areas that has yet to be the scene of a battle in the series. In a way, it almost seems odd that it has managed to avoid any real conflict despite its origins. That history would make an eventual Heartless attack on the Hundred-Acre Wood more dramatic if one were to take place in the next Kingdom Hearts.
Kingdom Hearts 4 has been announced.