Disney grants TikTok creators official access to iconic characters

Walt Disney struck a deal with TikTok on August 5, 2026, allowing a select group of creators to use iconic characters and scenes from its back catalogue in short videos. The agreement marks the first official partnership of its kind between the entertainment giant and the booming short-video platform.

Characters such as Darth Vader, Spider-Man, and Moana will now appear in TikTok content created by fans under a US pilot program. According to Disney, creators gain access to an expansive collection of curated material from brands including Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. Some of the resulting content will also be featured on Disney+ Verts, the company’s own vertical video platform currently available only in the US.

The deal underscores the growing influence of fan-made content and the power of TikTok, which has surpassed 200 million US users, with about six in 10 adults under 30 using the platform, according to the Pew Research Center. Dawn Yang, global head of entertainment at TikTok, said creators extend the life of films and shows into conversations that fans discover and share, and that the partnership brings authentic creator expression to Disney+.

Disney’s move follows a short-lived arrangement that allowed OpenAI’s Sora video generation tool to use its characters, a decision announced late last year that proved controversial in Hollywood due to concerns over copyright and threats to the creative industry. OpenAI abruptly closed down Sora months later after a backlash over violent and racist content, deepfakes, and misinformation, a step also seen as streamlining before taking the company public.

The announcement came as Disney revealed that the success of Toy Story 5 helped it beat earnings forecasts, with shares jumping 4.6% in premarket trading. Revenues from parks and experiences rose 10% from a year ago to nearly $10 billion, helped by a 4% increase in theme park visits. Additionally, Rivals season 2 became the biggest original premiere in the UK and Ireland on Disney+.