Higher Ground's Animated Adventure
Disney+ Greenlights 'Journey,' New Original Animated Series From Higher Ground Now in Production
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Key Points
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Disney+ announced on June 15, 2026 that “Journey” was greenlit and is now in production.
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Disney’s announcement repeatedly referenced the project under a working title: “Journey (working title)”.
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In statements, Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis described the show as: “Journey is an epic adventure anchored by a remarkable young heroine whose courage inspires those around her.”
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Higher Ground head of television Jessie Dicovitsky said: “Combining adventure, imagination and music, ‘Journey’ is a true original that takes bold swings.”
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Disney positioned “Journey” as joining Disney+’s kids/family animated lineup alongside specific series including “Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends” and “Big City Greens” (in addition to Bluey, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, and Phineas and Ferb).
Disney+ has greenlit *Journey*, a new music-driven animated fantasy series produced with Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground company, the streamer announced on June 15, 2026. Animation World Network reports the show is already in production at Vancouver's ICON Creative Studio in association with Disney Television Animation.
The series marks Higher Ground's first major production deal since the Obamas ended their eight-year exclusive partnership with Netflix in April 2026. It is also the first project announced under Disney's newly rebranded kids division, now called Disney Kids & Family instead of Disney Branded Television.
A Young Heroine and a City on the Brink
*Journey* follows a girl named Journey whose city's energy shield begins to fail. She crosses into forbidden lands outside the city walls searching for answers. There, she uncovers the truth about her missing father and discovers powerful magic that could save her people. What's On Disney Plus describes the show as a fantasy adventure built around music, resilience, and self-discovery.
Disney Kids & Family president Ayo Davis called it "an epic adventure anchored by a remarkable young heroine whose courage inspires those around her." Higher Ground's head of television, Jessie Dicovitsky, said *Journey* is a "true original that takes bold swings" and called the project a natural fit for the company's goal of telling "meaningful stories for kids and families," according to Animation Magazine.
Obamas Pivot from Netflix to Disney in Bold Move
Higher Ground launched in 2018 with an exclusive Netflix deal. By early 2024, that deal shifted to a first-look agreement. Then in April 2026, Barack Obama announced at a Philadelphia event that Higher Ground would go fully independent, ending the Netflix relationship after eight years, Black Enterprise reported.
*Journey* is the first major deal from that independent chapter. Animation Scoop notes the move signals a shift for Higher Ground, away from educational preschool content like *Ada Twist, Scientist* and toward high-stakes serialized fantasy. Partnering with Disney+ gives Higher Ground access to one of the world's biggest kids platforms, which had 195.7 million combined Disney+ and Hulu subscribers as of late 2025.
Veteran Creators Back the Show's Creative Muscle
Matt Munn created the series and serves as executive producer. His credits include *Ice Age: Collision Course* and *Spies in Disguise*. Joining him is Steve Loter, a Peabody Award winner best known for *Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur* and *Kim Possible*, according to Cartoon Brew.
Loter's recent work on *Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur* was widely praised for its use of music and bold visual style — exactly the tone Disney is chasing with *Journey*. Jessie Dicovitsky executive-produces for Higher Ground. Popped News notes ICON Creative Studio, based in Vancouver, is handling animation production alongside Disney Television Animation.
Disney Bets on Originals Amid a Tighter Content Budget
Disney has set a total content budget of $24 billion for fiscal year 2026. That is down sharply from a peak of $33 billion in 2022. About half goes to sports rights, including the NBA and WNBA. That leaves a smaller pool for entertainment originals — making every greenlight a bigger bet, according to analysts at Vitrina AI.
Disney is positioning *Journey* alongside proven hits like *Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends*, *Big City Greens*, and *Bluey*. The goal is to prove the platform can build a new tentpole franchise from scratch. Disney added 12.4 million new subscribers across Disney+ and Hulu in the final quarter of 2025, and its streaming segment posted $1.3 billion in operating income for fiscal year 2025 — a major turnaround from earlier losses.
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