Disney and the Obamas' Higher Ground Team Up for Animated Fantasy 'Journey' on Disney+

Disney and Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground have greenlit Journey, a music-driven original animated fantasy series for Disney+. The deal marks Higher Ground's first major partnership since stepping back from Netflix, pairing the company with Disney Kids & Family on a story of a young heroine discovering magic within herself.

Disney is teaming with Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground on an ambitious new animated venture. The two have greenlit Journey, a music-driven original animated fantasy series headed to Disney+ — and it represents Higher Ground's first major production partnership since the company began charting a more independent course away from Netflix.

The Obamas Bring Higher Ground to Disney+

The collaboration is a notable pivot for Higher Ground. In April, President Obama announced the company was winding down its eight-year first-look deal with Netflix to take a more independent approach — and Journey is the first major fruit of that new strategy. The deal pairs Higher Ground with Disney Kids & Family, the Disney arm freshly rebranded from Disney Branded Television. The series will be produced by ICON Creative Studio in association with Disney Television Animation.

Inside 'Journey'

Created by Matt Munn (Ice Age: Collision Course, Spies in Disguise), the fantasy tale centers on a young heroine named Journey whose home city is thrown into peril when its protective energy shield begins to fail. Answering a mysterious call, she ventures beyond the city walls into the forbidden lands, where she uncovers the truth about her father's disappearance — and discovers a powerful magic within herself that may hold the key to saving her people.

Munn serves as executive producer alongside Peabody Award winner Steve Loter (Marvel's Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, Kim Possible), with Jessie Dicovitsky executive producing for Higher Ground.

"Journey is an epic adventure anchored by a remarkable young heroine whose courage inspires those around her. At its core, it's a story about resilience, self-discovery and the power of believing in something bigger than yourself — the kind of universal themes that have defined Disney stories for generations." — Ayo Davis, President, Disney Kids & Family

A New Chapter for Higher Ground's Animation

The project marks a major animation push for Higher Ground, which previously produced the animated series We the People and Ada Twist, Scientist under its Netflix deal, along with the live-action family franchise Waffles + Mochi.

"We're proud to partner with Disney on this fantastical series and to build on Higher Ground's history of delivering fun and meaningful stories for kids and families," said Higher Ground's Head of Television, Dicovitsky.

Joining a Growing Disney+ Family Slate

Journey joins a deep bench of animated storytelling at Disney Kids & Family, which already includes Bluey, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends, Big City Greens and Phineas and Ferb. The announcement also lands on the eve of the Annecy International Film Festival in France, where Disney Kids & Family will have a strong presence: the new supernatural comedy The Doomies will preview an episode ahead of its June 26 Disney+ launch, while upcoming series Cars: Lightning Racers — produced by Disney Television Animation with Pixar — gets an exclusive first look in the festival's prestigious Work in Progress sidebar before its 2027 debut under the Disney Jr. umbrella.

Why Fans Are Buzzing

For Disney+ subscribers, Journey signals a fresh wave of original animated fantasy aimed at families — and a high-profile creative alliance with one of the most recognizable production companies in the business. With a music-driven hook, a heroine's coming-of-age quest and the Obamas' storytelling pedigree behind it, the series is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing additions to Disney's animation slate. Fans will be watching closely for first looks as the project takes shape.