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Disney’s ‘Cocomelon’ Gamble

It’s not clear that outbidding Netflix for a schlocky YouTube show will fix Disney’s engagement woes—but maybe that’s not the point.

bob iger
Along with Bluey, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and a couple of other big titles, Disney hopes Cocomelon will help it gain a larger share of the preschool market in the U.S. Photo: VCG/Getty Images
Julia Alexander
May 28, 2025

In many ways, Cocomelon is quintessentially anti-Disney. The studio behind so many animated visual marvels—from Snow White to Frozen to both versions of The Lion King—has long been associated with quality above all else. Cocomelon, meanwhile, has been lambasted for its shlocky C.G.I. animation that some have likened to A.I. slop. No less an august source than the New York Post has urged parents to keep their kids away from it.