Disney’s Embrace of Adult Animation Is Already Paying Dividends
As crazy as it sounds, these days, Disney is the premier player in adult animation.
Following their 2019 purchase of Fox, Disney acquired The Simpsons, Futurama, Bob’s Burgers, and Family Guy. Suddenly, the company that had long prided itself on its family-friendly animation now included Bart Simpson, Peter Griffin, and Bender among its cast of characters.
Initially, Disney seemed set on keeping its adult animation library separate from the Walt Disney brand. To that end, clear lines of delineation were put up between Disney+ and Hulu, where the Fox shows were exclusively streamed.
FOX
Additionally, Disney was loathed to include shows like The Simpsons in much of its crossover content. Homer, Peter, and Bob were essentially Disney stepchildren.
A New Era
As the years have passed, however, Disney has slowly brought The Simpsons and its adult animation peers into the fold. With the integration of Hulu into Disney+, Stewie can now be found alongside Donald Duck and Iron Man.
Even the Disney Parks have seen an infusion of adult animated characters, with Futurama photo ops appearing at Disney Springs. Recently, Disney even surveyed guests about their interest in seeing The Simpsons characters in the parks.
The 20th Century Adult Animation Series Deliver
In an ever-changing media environment, Disney now considers adult animation part of its foundation. As Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden explains, the shows have delivered exceptional results for the company.
“I’m glad you asked this question. Our adult animation series have created one of the most meaningful brands in entertainment, and they are exclusive in streaming to Disney+ and Hulu. We dominate in this unique form of storytelling. We’ve made almost 2,000 episodes of four series: ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy,’ ‘American Dad!,’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers,'” Walden explained to Vulture.
Photo: Disney
“They’ve earned over 150 Emmy nominations and 48 wins. And they are among the top 10 most-viewed titles on our streaming services, globally. And most importantly, subscribers who watch adult animation watch 10 more hours monthly and are less likely to churn. Last year, our adult animation drove 3.7 billion hours of engagement on our platforms.”
Disney’s Partnership With Fox
While Disney’s biggest adult animation shows now stream on Disney+ and Hulu, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers remain staples of Fox’s cable television lineup, where they have aired for decades.
Photo: Disney+
Although it would have been natural for Disney to move the shows to ABC, as Walden explains, there are benefits to partnering with Fox instead.
“So, just like all shows that air first on ABC go to Hulu hours later, we have a similar arrangement with Fox. And Fox is a great broadcast partner that uses programming like football to promote the shows’ second window on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+,” she said.
The Simpsons. Photo: Disney
“While I can’t get into too much detail about our deals, I will say that this is a strategy that works very well for the both of us and we’re very happy to continue this relationship – it’s a win-win.”
A New Era of Disney History
Like Marvel and Star Wars before them, shows such as The Simpsons and Family Guy have now been integrated into the Disney brand.
Photo: Disney+
Even if longtime Disney fans cringe at the thought, for future generations, Marge Simpson will be as synonymous with the brand as Snow White. A new era in Disney history has unfolded before our eyes.
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