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Disney is on the lookout for content that fits its five key pillars: Stories that matter; comedy with heart; authentic points of view told through inclusive storytelling; relatability, with an extraordinary twist; and a little bit of wish fulfillment.
Character-driven comedies in the vein of original Disney series Big City Greens from comic book writers and brothers Chris and Shane Houghton (Harvey Beaks), or adventure-comedy show Amphibia from Gravity Falls alum Matt Braly are good bets, says Elizabeth Waybright Taylor, director of development for Disney Television Animation.
Waybright Taylor has a particular fondness for Amphibia because its main teen character is an imperfect girl with nuance, and the things she learns about friendship show a truthful side to kids’ relationships that the audience can empathize with.
Disney TVA is open to any pitches within its guidelines (so no preschool or live action) as long as creators are passionate and the shows come from a personal and authentic place. People with a unique point of view on how they want to execute their ideas are preferred. Inclusive storytelling is also key to greenlights, but it’s not enough to “paint a character brown and say, it’s diverse.”
Over on the acquisition side, Disney Channel is on the hunt for repeatable, live-action content that isn't serialized. Hyper-focused on the six-to-11 girl, content needs to be reflective of the growing diverse population of kids growing up in the US.
"We're not meeting kids where they are," says Jane Gould, EVP of content research, insights and scheduling at Disney General Entertainment. Diversity also increasingly means intersectional representation—recognizing that it is equally important to represent kids across different religions, families with political bias, abilities, gender norms and, of course, race, on screen.
Team
Elizabeth Waybright Taylor VP of Development, Disney Television Animation
Emily Hart SVP of Development, Disney Television Animation
Demographic
Six to 11 years old, with a skew towards girls
Format
2D Animation
3D Animation
CG Animation
Live Action
How to Pitch
Disney TVA does not accept unsolicited materials. Please submit materials through a franchised agent or a recognized entertainment attorney to: Disney Channels Worldwide, 3800 West Alameda Avenue, Suite, 1632, Burbank, CA 91505.
