Disney Signs Webtoon Deal with Emerging Platform Comixit! Just Days After Ending Partnership with Sora
According to the CinemaDrame News Agency, Disney’s partnership with the Sora platform may have ended even before its official launch, but the iconic Mouse House has pursued a completely different type of collaboration for its characters.
Disney is teaming up with the emerging platform Comixit! to bring webtoons to fans across the EMEA region.
Comixit!, founded last year by Michael Nakan, CEO of Envision Entertainment, and presenting itself as the UK’s first webtoon platform and one of the first in Europe, plans to produce digital comics based on over 100 properties from Disney, Pixar, and 20th Century Studios, including new works like Zootopia 2. Webtoons currently available include the mini-series Olaf’s Comic Collection from Zootopia and the graphic novel series Agent Stitch, with plans to release new content throughout the year.
Comixit! is accessible across the EMEA region, and its vertical scrolling format is designed to make reading easier and more engaging for younger audiences, as vertical micro-dramas are becoming increasingly popular in Hollywood, Europe, and Asia.
Michael Nakan said, “Only one in three children currently enjoys reading, which is the lowest level in decades. However, research from the National Literacy Trust shows that children who read comics are twice as likely to enjoy reading as others. Disney has shaped children’s imaginations for generations, and bringing its beloved and well-known characters into a modern, mobile-first comic format allows us to meet children where they are and turn screen time into something parents can be proud of. Our goal is simple: to make reading exciting, engaging, and a habit again.”
Nakan founded Comixit! last year, and his independent company, Envision, continues to operate, with day-to-day management handled by David Baron.
This news comes following the high-profile end of Disney’s partnership with Sora, just months after its launch. The deal was meant to bring 250 Disney characters to the OpenAI platform, but with Sora shutting down, it is now on hold. The agreement was also expected to include a $1 billion investment by Disney in OpenAI.
