Kojima Productions revealed the first teaser trailer for the Death Stranding Isolations anime at the studio’s 10th-anniversary event in Tokyo on October 30, 2026, alongside key staff and story details. The hand-drawn, 2D-animated series is set in the universe of Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding games and is scheduled to premiere on Disney+ in 2027.
Quick TakeArticle at a glance
- Kojima Productions revealed a teaser trailer, key visual and new staff for Death Stranding Isolations at its 10th-anniversary event in Tokyo on October 30, 2026.
- The series is an original, hand-drawn 2D anime set in the Death Stranding universe but tells a new story, not a retelling of the games.
- Hideo Kojima is showrunner and executive producer; novelist Tow Ubukata writes the series composition and screenplay; Takayuki Sano directs.
A New Story, Not a Retelling
Death Stranding Isolations is produced by Kojima Productions alongside Japanese animation studio E&H Production. Rather than adapting the plot of either Death Stranding game, the series follows a young man and woman on their own journey through the same fractured, post-apocalyptic America — a connected but standalone story inside the franchise’s universe. Kojima Productions announced the project during its 10th-anniversary celebration at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo on October 30, 2026, a milestone event for the studio Kojima founded in December 2015 after leaving Konami. Kojima Productions’ official announcement and Anime News Network both confirmed the full staff list and story premise.
Who’s Making It
Kojima serves as showrunner and executive producer. Director Takayuki Sano is overseeing the animation, and novelist and screenwriter Tow Ubukata — known for Mardock Scramble and Fafner in the Azure — is writing the series composition and screenplay. Character designs come from Ilya Kuvshinov, the Russian-Japanese illustrator whose work has shaped the visual identity of the Death Stranding games themselves.
One of the unique abilities of entertainment is its power to enhance the spirituality of those who consume it, and I think this is something that Mr. Kojima’s works have always achieved. As a result, I approached this production with an exceptionally strong sense of duty and responsibility.
Takayuki Sano, director of Death Stranding Isolations
Why It Matters for Death Stranding Fans
Death Stranding, which launched in 2019, and its 2025 sequel Death Stranding 2: On the Beach have built one of the most distinct worlds in modern gaming, but Kojima has kept the franchise almost entirely inside the medium of games until now. An anime adaptation, especially one told as an original story rather than a direct retelling, signals Kojima Productions treating Death Stranding as a multimedia property on the same footing as the live-action film version in development at A24, directed by Michael Sarnoski. The franchise has the audience to support it: the original Death Stranding had sold more than 10 million copies across PS4, PS5 and PC as of 2026, up from the 5 million it had reached by March 2021, since its November 2019 release. No premiere date beyond “2027” has been confirmed for the anime.
What to Watch
| Title | Format | Where to watch | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Death Stranding Isolations | 2D anime series | Disney+ | 2027, teaser released |
| Death Stranding | Video game | PS5, PS4, PC | Released 2019 |
| Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | Video game | PS5 | Released 2025 |
Kojima Productions isn’t slowing down elsewhere either: see our coverage of Bill Skarsgård’s casting in Kojima’s next game, PHYSINT, and the story of how Xbox stepped in to publish PHYSINT after PlayStation ended its partnership with Kojima Productions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Death Stranding Isolations a retelling of the games?
No. Kojima Productions says the anime tells a new, original story about a young man and woman, set in the same universe as the Death Stranding games rather than adapting their plots.
When does Death Stranding Isolations release?
Kojima Productions has confirmed a 2027 premiere on Disney+. No specific date has been announced yet.
Who is writing Death Stranding Isolations?
Novelist and screenwriter Tow Ubukata is handling the series composition and screenplay. Hideo Kojima is showrunner and executive producer, and Takayuki Sano is directing.
Who is the character designer for Death Stranding Isolations?
Ilya Kuvshinov, the illustrator behind the character designs in the Death Stranding video games, is also designing characters for the anime.
Where was Death Stranding Isolations announced?
Kojima Productions revealed the teaser, key visual and staff at its 10th-anniversary event at Azabudai Hills Gallery in Tokyo on October 30, 2026.
