Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation

Disney Twisted-Wonderland: The Animation began as a hugely popular phone game from Japan. Yana Toboso, the creator of Black Butler, came up with the idea, the story, and the character designs. The game came out in Japan in March 2020 and reached English-speaking players in January 2022. The anime is made as an original net animation, which means it is made for streaming and not for TV. The first season, called Episode of Heartslabyul, has eight episodes. They were released on Disney+ and Hulu every week from late October to mid-December 2025.

The story takes place at Night Raven College. This is a school for young mages, which means people who can use magic. Students are chosen by a magic mirror, and the school has seven dorms. Each dorm is based on a famous Disney villain. This season focuses on Heartslabyul, the dorm inspired by the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. Its students follow many strict rules, and the mood there can be tense.

Our main character is a young person who is pulled from the normal world by the mirror. In the anime, this character is named Yuuken. Yuuken has no magic at all, and there is no way home. The headmaster, Dire Crowley, lets Yuuken stay in Ramshackle Dorm. It is an old, run-down building that people say is haunted. Yuuken is not alone there. Grim is a small monster cat who breathes fire and wants very much to become a great mage.

Soon Yuuken and Grim meet two first-year students, Ace Trappola and Deuce Spade. The two boys argue a lot, but they become important friends. Things go wrong when the group causes trouble. They end up facing Riddle Rosehearts, the strict leader of Heartslabyul. Riddle believes in rules above everything. His anger and his pride become a big part of the story.

The series also shows a danger that the school's mages must fear. When a mage uses too much magic, dark stain builds up in the magic stones they carry. If it grows too much, the mage can lose control in a wild state called Overblot. The school is a fun place, but this threat gives the story real tension.

The show is a mix of light school comedy and darker moments. There are jokes about dorm rivalry, lunch, and teenage pride. There are also scenes about fear, pressure, and what it means to be kind to a friend who is hurting. The animation uses CGI, and the large cast is a big part of the charm. The episode of Heartslabyul was directed by Shin Katagai, with Yumeta Company and Graphinica making the animation. It was nominated for Best Isekai Anime at the Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2026. An isekai is a story where someone is taken to another world.

Fans of the game will enjoy seeing the dorms and characters move. New viewers can enjoy it too, because it starts with Yuuken's first day and explains the world step by step.