Disney, TikTok strike deal to let creators use Disney characters in videos
The Walt Disney Company and TikTok announced a brand-new deal on Wednesday, allowing fans to create videos using Disney characters.
The new deal will give social media creators on TikTok access to "memorable scenes and moments from Disney movies and shows" to create content, according to a release.
The content, which will live on TikTok and Verts -- the new Disney+ vertical video feed -- will feature "characters and stories from across Disney's brands including Pixar, Marvel, 'Star Wars,' FX and more."
"TikTok will offer their creators access to assets related to hundreds of films and series from Disney's vast library of enduring franchises and beloved IP," the release read. "Fans will enjoy a shared Disney experience with TikTok videos that 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+."
According to Disney, the new agreement will launch in the U.S. in the coming months, "with the intention of other markets to follow."
Creators who opt into the program will see their short-form content featured on both TikTok and Verts on Disney+.
Asad Ayaz, chief marketing and brand officer at The Walt Disney Company, celebrated fans' ability to tell stories in a statement included in Wednesday's release.
"The best storytellers are fans first," Ayaz said. "That has always been true at Disney, and today, fans are celebrating our stories in entirely new ways. This collaboration creates a new bridge between the stories we tell and the creativity they inspire, giving creators a bigger stage to share what they've made, and audiences more to discover on Disney+ every day."
Dawn Yang, TikTok's global head of entertainment, added that the deal brings "the authentic creator expression of the TikTok community to Disney+."
"Creators are at the heart of everything we do at TikTok," Yang said in a statement included in the release. "Their creativity extends the life of films and shows into conversations that fans discover and share."
Wednesday's release also highlighted the Disney Creator Ambassador Program, a joint program run by Disney and TikTok, through which Disney said it would "enable best-in-class creators to unlock special rewards and provide them with increased visibility, access to exclusive events and career development pathways."
"This tiered program reflects Disney's commitment to building relationships with the next generation of creative talent in partnership with TikTok, who has a unique attention and care for its creator community," the company said.
The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of ABC News.
