Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one – Disney is teaming up with TikTok to let creators make short-form videos using Disney’s brands, including Star Wars, Marvel, and Pixar. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see Mickey Mouse doing the latest TikTok dance trend? It’s a “first-of-its-kind” deal, according to the press release, and it’s going to offer TikTok users Disney assets that can be uploaded and shared on both TikTok and Disney+. The feature will roll out in the United States in the “coming months” and then expand to other countries.
I’m not sure what’s more surprising, the fact that Disney is partnering with TikTok or that they’re actually trying to be cool. I mean, bless their hearts, they’re really trying to get with the times. The deal marks one of the biggest moves for Disney’s new CEO, Josh D’Amaro, who assumed the role in March and is tasked with future-proofing the company. I guess that means he’s trying to make sure Disney doesn’t become the next Blockbuster.
The companies said that content “will be refreshed regularly to engage subscribers more deeply in timely fan conversations, building stronger communities, and ultimately, helping them engage with more story formats across Disney+.” Yeah, because what I really want is to see a bunch of 15-second videos of Mickey Mouse doing dances. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying – I mean, exciting. The deal could help boost usage of Disney+, which has around 130 million global subscribers, but let’s be real, it’s still not going to beat Netflix.
While TikTok has billions of users, I’m not sure how much of an impact this deal will actually have. I mean, people are already making their own Disney-themed content on TikTok, so it’s not like this is a game-changer or anything. But hey, it’s still a big deal, and it’s definitely going to be interesting to see how it all plays out. The deal comes a few months after a partnership between Disney and OpenAI was scrapped, which would have allowed people to use a generative-video platform to make AI videos using Disney content. Yeah, that sounds like a total disaster waiting to happen.
Vertical video has become a priority for major media companies as people shift their attention to TikTok and YouTube. I mean, who needs actual TV shows when you can just watch a bunch of short videos on your phone? It’s the future, folks, and we’re just along for the ride. Netflix, Paramount, HBO Max, and NBC Universal’s Peacock all have introduced vertical video content features to their respective apps in recent months, so I guess Disney is just trying to keep up with the times.
In conclusion, the Disney-TikTok deal is a big move for both companies, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. With the feature rolling out in the United States in the coming months, we can expect to see a lot more Disney content on TikTok. And who knows, maybe Mickey Mouse will even start doing TikTok challenges – wouldn’t that be something? As I finish my coffee, I have to say, this deal is definitely a unique one, and I’m excited to see what kind of content comes out of it.
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
