Could a precocious young mole become the next Bluey? That’s a question Disney is asking as it picks up the rights to a YouTube success story.
The Mouse House has signed an acquisition and development deal with the Canadian animation studio Lightcatcher Media. The agreement covers Little Margo Stories, a two-year-old piece of IP based around the titular rodent. According to Kidscreen, Disney Jr. will pick up the ten Margo episodes that have already been released on YouTube and will also greenlight 50 more three-minute episodes.
Those forthcoming installments will include participation from CBC and Radio-Canada, who threw their combined weight behind the extended episode order. The plan is to have more Margo content ready to air in 2027.
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Disney is a titan in the world of children’s animation. Its library includes Bluey, the Australian hit that has been called the most-watched show on streaming. When CoComelon joins the Disney+ lineup in 2027, the app’s lineup will become even more formidable.
Even as it sits in a dominant position, Disney understands that it must continuously evolve to keep up in a kids’ media landscape that’s increasingly informed by YouTube trends. Disney has used a few different strategies on the YouTube front; it has built up in-house channels for brands like Disney Jr., joined forces with media companies like Moonbug, and collabed with kid-friendly stars like Blippi. The addition of TikTok-style videos on Disney+ makes room for more short-form content as well.
Compared to those high-profile transactions, the acquisition of Little Margo Stories may seem like small potatoes. We’re talking, after all, about a series that has picked up 340,000 subscribers and about 121 million lifetime views on its YouTube channel. That’s solid traffic, but a blockbuster like CoComelon puts up bigger numbers each week.
In such a competitive environment, however, Disney can’t just rely on the most massive pieces of children’s entertainment. Margo, with its 3D animation style and its big-eyed characters, has a lot in common with CoComelon. Disney’s deal feels like an attempt to figure out what the next big kids’ franchise will be. Like little Margo, the Mouse House is approach its world with a blend of curiosity and confidence.
