01What happened
The story, straight
Disney+ has greenlit a new original animated fantasy series titled 'Journey,' with Higher Ground — Barack and Michelle Obama's production company — attached as producers. The series is currently in production under Disney Kids & Family. Per the logline, the show follows a character named Journey who 'answers a mysterious call that leads her beyond the walls' of her city after its protective energy shield begins to fail. The announcement was made at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
Disney+ just ordered a new animated fantasy called 'Journey' and the Obamas' Higher Ground is producing. It's a kids-and-family show where the main character leaves her city after its energy shield starts failing. Announced at Annecy, which is the big animation festival in France.
02Spread timeline
Where it actually started
03Source receipts
Every claim, linked
04What's solid, what isn't
What's solid and what isn't
- Disney+ has greenlit an original animated fantasy series with the working title 'Journey.'
- Higher Ground (Barack and Michelle Obama's production company) is producing alongside Disney Kids & Family.
- The series is currently in production.
- The announcement was made at Annecy.
- The exact premiere date or episode count for 'Journey.'
- The full voice cast or showrunner for the series.
05Why it matters
The editorial take
This is Higher Ground's first animated series for Disney+, expanding the Obamas' production slate beyond the Netflix projects that have defined the company since 2018. The announcement at Annecy — the industry's premier animation festival — signals Disney is positioning 'Journey' as a marquee kids-and-family title, not a quiet drop.
Higher Ground has been a Netflix shop since 2018 — this is their first animated show for Disney+, which is a different lane entirely. Dropping the news at Annecy means Disney is treating this as a real tentpole, not just a catalog add.