Disney Inks Deal with YouTube Influencer Dhar Mann Studios for Short-Form Content

Disney has partnered with Dhar Mann Studios, a YouTube influencer and digital media production company founded by Oakland native Dhar Mann. The deal involves producing 20 episodes of original short-form programming across multiple genres for Disney's upstart Verts platform on Disney+. This partnership marks another significant collaboration for Disney, following its recent agreement with Fox Entertainment for 40 vertical videos.

Mann's digital media production company has gained a massive following, boasting nearly 26 million subscribers and racking up billions of views on YouTube. The company's content focuses on moral lessons and motivational themes aimed primarily at younger audiences.

Disney believes that Mann's optimistic storytelling will resonate with its fans, according to Asad Ayaz, chief marketing and brand officer, and Debra OConnell, chairman, Disney Entertainment Television. 'Dhar has built a distinctive voice and an enormous global following, with stories that are uniquely his own,' they said in a joint statement.