View source for Disney Publishing Worldwide

{{Short description|Publishing subsidiary of Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Use American English|date=October 2023}}
{{Redirect|Disney Publishing|[[Disney]]'s music publishing subsidiary|Disney Music Publishing}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Disney Publishing Worldwide
| logo = [[File:Disney Publishing Worldwide logo.png|frameless|class=skin-invert]]
| former_name = {{ubl|The Disney Publishing Group|(1992–1998)|Buena Vista Publishing|(1998–1999)}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| slogan = 
| founded = {{start date and age|1991|5|23}}
| founder = [[Michael Lynton]]
| hq_location_city = [[Glendale, California]]
| coordinates = 
| num_locations = 2 creative centers
| num_locations_year = {{dts|2009}}
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|[[Andrew Sugerman]] ([[Executive Vice President|EVP]])|Jeff Sellinger (SVP, Learning)|Tonya Agurto|([[Senior vice president|SVP]], Group Publisher)|Lyle Underkoffler (VP, Digital)}}
| owner = 
| num_employees = 
| parent = [[Disney Consumer Products]]
| industry = [[Publishing]]
| services = 
| revenue = 
| operating profit = 
| divisions = {{unbulleted list|Core Publishing|Digital Publishing|[[National Geographic Partners#Publications|NG Media]]}}
| subsid = {{unbulleted list|Disney Book Group, LLC|Disney Learning|Disney Magazine Publishing, Inc.|[[Marvel Comics]]}}
| module = 
| homepage = {{URL|books.disney.com}}
}}

'''Disney Publishing Worldwide''' ('''DPW'''), formerly known as '''The Disney Publishing Group''' and '''Buena Vista Publishing Group''', is the publishing subsidiary of [[Disney Experiences]], a subsidiary of [[The Walt Disney Company]].<ref name=vty0>{{cite news|last1=Rainey|first1=James|title=Disney Merges Its Consumer Products and Interactive Divisions|url=https://variety.com/2015/biz/news/disney-merges-consumer-products-interactive-1201530606/|access-date=July 5, 2015|work=Variety|date=June 29, 2015}}</ref> Its imprints include Disney Editions, Disney Press, Kingswell,<ref name=pl/> Freeform, and Hyperion Books for Children.<ref name="pw2"/> It has creative centers in [[Glendale, California]], and [[Milan]], [[Italy]].

==History==
In 1990, Disney Consumer Products discontinued its license for ''[[Topolino]]'', an Italian Mickey Mouse magazine. This led [[Michael Lynton]], the [[Disney Consumer Products]] business development director, to start up its own Magazine Group with the similarly outlaid ''[[Disney Adventures]]''.<ref name=lat0>{{cite news |last=Apodaca|first=Patrice|title=Adventures in Magazineland : As a Publisher, Disney Excels at Marketing|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-04-28-fi-51550-story.html|access-date=December 20, 2012|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 28, 1994}}</ref> Through Walt Disney Publications, Inc., Disney Publishing launched [[Disney Comics (publishing)|Disney Comics]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Wein|first1=Len|title=Mickey Mouse Adventures 1|date=June 1990|publisher=Walt Disney Publications, Inc.|location=Burbank, CA|page=1|url=http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S0I9uWiWeqA/UpkUfrFKymI/AAAAAAAABcc/EYi3H43pNs0/s1600/DC-BTL-Apr1990.jpg|access-date=March 4, 2015}}</ref> That same year, Disney began publishing ''Disney Adventures''. In 1991, Disney Publishing purchased ''[[Discover (magazine)|Discover]]'' magazine from Family Media, placing it within its Magazine Group, and purchased the ''[[FamilyFun]] Magazine'' after its second issue from [[Jake Winebaum]].<ref name=lat0/><ref>{{cite news|last=Mulligan|first=Thomas S.|title=Disney Will Keep 'Discover' on the Racks |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-09-06-fi-1783-story.html|access-date=December 20, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=September 6, 1991}}</ref>

===Incorporated===
The Disney Publishing Group (DPG) was incorporated in January 1992,<ref name=ny>{{cite web|title=Disney Publishing Worldwide|url=http://appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=1696045&p_corpid=1619103&p_entity_name=DISNEY%20PUBLISHING%20WORLDWIDE%2C%20INC.&p_name_type=A&p_search_type=BEGINS&p_srch_results_page=0|work=Entity Information|publisher=[[New York State Department of State]]|access-date=December 11, 2012}}</ref> and included the already formed [[Hachette Books#Hyperion Books|Hyperion Books]], Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Press, and its units.<ref name=lat>{{cite news|last=Harris|first=Kathryn|title=The Tie-In King : Hyperion Books Rides the Crest of Disney's Successes|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-04-30-fi-60706-story.html|access-date=December 12, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=April 30, 1995}}</ref>

In 1994, DPG launched the Mouse Works and Fun Works divisions in February and November, respectively, to publish interactive children's books.<ref>{{cite news|title=Company Town Annex: Disney Expands Publishing Offerings|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-11-22-fi-461-story.html|access-date=December 12, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=November 22, 1994}}</ref> By April, the Magazine Group agreed with [[Ziff-Davis]] Publishing Company to a joint venture publication, ''[[Family PC]]'', to be launched in September.<ref name=lat0/> In June, Lynton left his position as senior vice president of DPG to become president of Disney's [[Hollywood Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Company Town : Hollywood Pictures Gets New President|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-06-14-fi-3902-story.html|access-date=December 20, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=June 14, 1994}}</ref>

In March 1995, with the market too crowded with Disney books, DPG merged Hyperion Books for Children with the Disney Press units.<ref name=lat/> In August, Disney Magazine Publishing was reorganized into three divisions, each headed by a vice president/group publisher: Disney Family Magazines, Disney Kids Magazines, and Disney Special Interest Magazines. Family Magazines and Special Interest Magazines were expected to acquire additional publications beyond their single titles, ''Family Fun'' and ''Discover'' respectively. Special Interest Magazines' publisher was assigned responsibility for the [[Discovery Channel]] TV show, ''[[Discover Magazine (TV series)|Discover Magazine]]''. Kids Magazines included the newly developed Big Time weekly newspaper supplement to have a Fall 1996 launch. Magazine President Jake Winebaum was transferred to head up [[Disney Online]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney Publishing Announces Magazine Division Restructuring|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DISNEY+PUBLISHING+ANNOUNCES+MAGAZINE+DIVISION+RESTRUCTURING-a017219839|work=PR Newswire|publisher=Disney|access-date=December 20, 2012|archive-date=November 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109101814/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DISNEY+PUBLISHING+ANNOUNCES+MAGAZINE+DIVISION+RESTRUCTURING-a017219839|url-status=dead}}</ref> On May 11, 1998, Disney Publishing was renamed Buena Vista Publishing Group.<ref name=ny/>

===Disney Publishing Worldwide===
In April 1999, Buena Vista Publishing Group changed its name to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Inc. (DPW) with [[Hachette Books#Hyperion Books|Hyperion Books]] transferred to Disney's [[Disney–ABC Television Group|ABC Television Group]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McGee|first=Celia|title=Grownups Take Hike At Disney|url=http://articles.nydailynews.com/1999-04-09/news/18107270_1_disney-publishing-worldwide-hyperion-buena-vista-publishing-group|access-date=December 12, 2012|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|publisher=[[Mortimer Zuckerman|Daily News L.P.]]|date=April 9, 1999}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Disney Publishing launched its first original [[Disney comics|comic book]], ''[[W.I.T.C.H.]]'', in 2001. It was successful, selling one million copies per month by August 2004, and was adapted into an [[W.I.T.C.H. (TV series)|animated series]].<ref name=ny0>{{cite news|last1=Holson|first1=Laura M.|title=A Nike Veteran Adds Some Swoosh to Disney's Tired Mouse|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/30/business/media/30disney.html|access-date=February 26, 2015|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 30, 2004}}</ref> In mid-2001, DPW and [[Baby Einstein]] (which Disney acquired later that year) agreed to publish a baby book line to introduce fine art, foreign languages, poetry, and classical music.<ref>{{cite news |last=Houston |first=Lindsey|title=Einstein makes deal with Disney |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2001/07/02/smallb3.html?page=all |access-date=12 December 2012|newspaper=Denver Business Journal|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=July 1, 2001}}</ref> [[Gemstone Publishing]] licensed the rights to publish [[Disney comics]] from DPW beginning in June 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney comic books make U.S. comeback|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2003/06/23/daily6.html|access-date=12 December 2012|newspaper=L.A. Biz|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=June 23, 2003}}</ref> Following its collapse in June 2004, the [[CrossGen]] trademark and properties were purchased by DPW's educational publishing division that November for its reading aids, with additional publications based on CrossGen books.<ref name=icv2>{{cite news|title=Disney Publishing Acquires CrossGen Assets|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/6012/disney-publishing-acquires-crossgen-assets|access-date=March 16, 2015|work=[[ICv2]]|date=November 15, 2004}}</ref>

[[Image:Wondertime (magazine) November 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Wondertime magazine, November 2008]]
The Disney Consumer Products [[Disney Fairies]] [[Media franchise|franchise]] debuted in September 2005, when Disney Publishing unveiled the novel ''Fairy Dust and the Quest for the Egg'' paired with a virtual world.<ref name="pw0">{{cite news|last1=Raugust|first1=Karen|title=Disney Fairies Fly to Little, Brown|url=http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/60748-disney-fairies-fly-to-little-brown.html|access-date=March 2, 2015|work=[[Publishers Weekly]]|publisher=PWxyz, LLC|date=Jan 23, 2014}}</ref> The first book in the [[Kingdom Keepers]] series, based on [[Disney Experiences|Disney Parks]] and [[List of Disney villain characters|Disney Villains]], was released on August 29, 2005.<ref name="kkr">{{cite web|title=The Kingdom Keepers (review)|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/ridley-pearson/the-kingdom-keepers/|publisher=Kirkus Reviews|date=August 15, 2005|access-date=April 9, 2014}}</ref>

In 2005, ''Discover Magazine'' was sold to Bob Guccione Jr., and the ''Disney'' magazine was shut down. In February 2006, ''Wondertime'' magazine, which focused on mothers of children up to age six, was launched.<ref>{{cite news|last=Freierman|first=Shelly|title=Upscale moms target of Disney magazine|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-117712658.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402104205/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-117712658.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|access-date= December 21, 2012|newspaper=International Herald Tribune|publisher=The New York Times Company|date=January 24, 2006}}</ref> DPW licensed CrossGen to Checker Publishing Group to reprint the comic book series as trade paperback editions starting in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/9790/checker-publish-crossgen-collections |title=Checker to Publish CrossGen Collections |work=ICv2 |date=2006-12-19 |access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref>

In February 2007, Disney merged its kids and family-focused television, online, radio, and publishing businesses' advertising sales and promotion teams into Disney Media Advertising Sales and Marketing Group, all of which were overseen by the presidents of [[Disney Channels Worldwide]], [[Walt Disney Internet Group]], and DPW.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Restructures Kids Ad Sales, Promos: Merges Units|url=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/55082/#axzz2FcXPZDl8|access-date=20 December 2012|newspaper=MediaDailyNews|date=Feb 6, 2007}}</ref> DPW canceled ''Disney Adventure'' with its November 2007 issue.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ives|first1=Nat|title=Disney Shutters Disney Adventures|url=http://adage.com/article/media/disney-shutters-disney-adventures/120023/|access-date=May 27, 2016|work=Ad Age|publisher=Crain Communications|date=August 22, 2007}}</ref>

By 2009, Disney Publishing Worldwide was organized into three divisions: Global Book Group, Disney English, and Global Magazines with four revenue areas: Global Magazines, Global Books, U.S. Magazines, and [[Disney English]].{{CN|date=September 2022}} Disney Publishing launched Disney Digital Books on September 29 with five hundred books online.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney launches digital books initiative |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/09/28/daily19.html |access-date=12 December 2012|newspaper=Sacramento Business Journal|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=September 29, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, Disney Press released ''Fairest of All: A Tale of the Wicked Queen'', the first of the Villains book series written by Serena Valentino.<ref name="dl">{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/02/book-of-enchantment-tv-series-disney-villains-disney-from-michael-seitzman-streaming-platform-1202566282/|title='Book Of Enchantment' TV Series About Disney Villains In Works At Disney+ From Michael Seitzman |last=Andreeva|first=Nellie |date=2019-02-27|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=February 27, 2019}}</ref>

Disney Publishing Worldwide (India), a division of Walt Disney Company (India), announced a licensing agreement in April 2009 with local publisher Junior Diamond to publish Disney comic books, in both English and Hindi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/disney-launches-comic-books-in-india/355148/ |title=Disney launches comic books in India |newspaper=Business Standard India |publisher=Business-standard.com |date=2009-04-15 |access-date=2010-08-21|last1=Joshi |first1=Priyanka }}</ref> On December 8, 2010, DPW's India unit signed a multi-year contract with [[India Today Group]] to print and distribute [[Disney comics]] in India.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney inks publishing, distribution pact with India Today Grp|url=http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/disney-inks-publishing-distribution-pactindia-today-grp/118608/on|access-date=12 December 2012|newspaper=Business Standard|date=December 8, 2010|agency=Press Trust of India}}</ref>

With few books issued under the imprint, [[Marvel Comics|Marvel Worldwide]] and Disney Books Group relaunched the [[Marvel Press]] imprint in 2011 with the Marvel Origin Storybooks line.<ref>{{cite news |last=Alverson |first=Brigid |title=SDCC '11 {{!}} Disney to unveil Marvel Press imprint at San Diego |url=https://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/sdcc-11-disney-to-unveil-marvel-press-imprint-at-san-diego/ |access-date=28 September 2011 |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=July 15, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818052315/http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2011/07/sdcc-11-disney-to-unveil-marvel-press-imprint-at-san-diego/ |archive-date=August 18, 2011|url-status=dead }}</ref> In November DPW announced a new publication, ''FamilyFun Kids'', a bi-monthly magazine with kids' crafts, games, puzzles, and recipes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Publishing Worldwide Unveils 'FamilyFun Kids'|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-199923934.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402210135/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-199923934.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|access-date=December 21, 2012|newspaper=Wireless News|date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> In January 2012, DPW agreed to sell ''Family Fun Magazine'' to the [[Meredith Corporation]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Preston |first=Jennifer |title=Meredith Buys FamilyFun Magazine From Disney|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/04/meredith-buys-familyfun-magazine-from-disney/|access-date=19 December 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 4, 2012}}</ref>

By September 2012, the White Plains, New York office was closed with staff being moved to Glendale after less than 5 years after moving from New York City. Fifty sales and marketing staff moved to New York City to join editors that remained there.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Publishing Leaving White Plains for California, NYC|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/51665-disney-publishing-leaving-white-plains-for-california-nyc.html|access-date=April 11, 2015|work=Publishing Weekly|date=April 24, 2012}}</ref> In July 2012, Andrew Sugerman was promoted to EVP, Disney Publishing Worldwide, and the headquarters for the business was relocated to Glendale, CA to sit within Disney Consumer Products.

In January 2013, DPW launched the Never Girls book series, an extension of the Disney Fairies franchise, with publishing partner [[Random House]].<ref name="pw0"/> With the June 2013 announcement of the [[Hachette Books#Hyperion Books|Hyperion Books]] division sale, Hyperion's adult trade book list was sold to Hachette Book Group. Books related to existing [[Disney–ABC Television Group]] properties, young adult titles, and Disney-Hyperion imprint and titles were transferred to DPW.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/disney-sells-hyperion-adult-trade-list-to-hachette/ |title=Disney Sells Hyperion Adult Trade List to Hachette |publisher=Digital Book World |date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=March 1, 2015 |archive-date=September 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903230539/http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/disney-sells-hyperion-adult-trade-list-to-hachette/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> By January 2014, the Kingswell name was selected as a placeholder imprint name for the Hyperion titles withheld from the Hyperion division sale; Kingwell Avenue was Disney's location before moving to Hyperion Avenue.<ref name=pl>{{cite news|last1=Weinman|first1=Sarah|title=People: Kirshbaum to Join Waxman Leavell, and More|url=http://lunch.publishersmarketplace.com/2014/01/people-193/|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=Publishers Lunch|publisher=Calder Books|date=January 28, 2014}}</ref>

In November 2013, Disney Publishing revived [[Disney Comics]] as an imprint in the US for sporadic publishing.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Heidi |title=Disney Expands Its Comics Program |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/59991-disney-expands-their-comics-program.html |access-date=January 10, 2020 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=November 13, 2013}}</ref> The imprint's first publication was the ''[[Space Mountain]]'' graphic novel, its first original graphic novel, released on May 7, 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Disney Comics Previews SPACE MOUNTAIN Graphic Novel |url=https://www.newsarama.com/21004-disney-comics-previews-space-mountain-graphic-novel.html |access-date=January 10, 2020 |work=Newsarama |date=April 30, 2014 |language=en}}</ref>

Disney Publishing Worldwide transferred the Disney Fairies franchise's main publishing license to [[Little, Brown and Company|Little, Brown Books for Young Readers]] in January 2014 except for the Never Girls series.<ref name=pw0/> DPW announced in April 2014 that [[Del Rey Books]] would publish a new line of canon [[Star Wars]] books under the [[Lucasfilm]] Story Group from September onward on a bi-monthly schedule<ref>{{cite news|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|title=Disney, Del Rey to Launch New 'Star Wars' Book Line |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disney-del-rey-launch-new-698995|access-date=April 25, 2014|newspaper=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=[[Prometheus Global Media]]|date=April 25, 2014}}</ref> while previous, non-canon, Expanded Universe material would be reprinted under the Star Wars Legends banner.<ref>{{cite news|last=McMillan|first=Graeme|title=Lucasfilm Unveils New Plans for 'Star Wars' Expanded Universe |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/lucasfilm-unveils-new-plans-star-698973|access-date=April 25, 2014|newspaper=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=April 25, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.starwars.com/news/the-legendary-star-wars-expanded-universe-turns-a-new-page |title=The Legendary Star Wars Expanded Universe Turns a New Page |publisher=StarWars.com |date=April 25, 2014 |access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>

Disney Publishing has been a focus for Disney Consumer Products to launch new franchises. In May 2014, DPW released the first book in the Waterfire Saga mermaid book series, along with songs and music videos. Disney's first deal with Stan Lee's [[POW! Entertainment]] resulted in The Zodiac Legacy book series, with the first novel released in January 2015 through DPW.<ref name=rtr>{{cite news|last1=Richwine|first1=Lisa|last2=Grover|first2=Ronald|title=Disney toy division's focus on franchises makes it a star|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-disney-results-toys-analysis-idUSKBN0G60HB20140806|access-date=August 14, 2014|work=reuters.com|publisher=Thomson Reuters|date=August 6, 2014}}</ref> The Never Girls chapter series reached the ''New York Times'' Best Sellers List - Children's Series on the week of August 10.<ref>{{cite news| title=Best Sellers: Children's Series|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2014-08-10/series-books/list.html?date=2014-08-10&category=series-books&pagewanted=print|access-date=March 2, 2015|work=The New York Times Book Review |date=August 10, 2014}}</ref> Disney Learning launched its Disney Imagicademy program on December 11.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/dec/11/disney-imagicademy-educational-app-maths | title=Disney launches its first 'Imagicademy' educational app for kids | date=11 December 2014 | publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited | access-date=5 April 2016}}</ref><ref name=tc>{{cite news|last1=Ha|first1=Anthony|title=Disney Will Launch Its First Imagicademy Learning Apps On Dec. 11|url=https://techcrunch.com/2014/12/04/disney-imagicademy/|access-date=March 2, 2015|work=TechCrunch|publisher=AOL Inc.|date=December 4, 2014}}</ref> At that time, DPW was organized into three main units: Core Publishing, Digital Publishing, and Disney Learning.<ref name="Disney Consumer Products">{{cite web|title=About Us:Disney Publishing Worldwide|url=https://www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/Home/display.jsp?contentId=dcp_home_ourbusinesses_company_overview_dpw&forPrint=false&language=en&preview=false&imageShow=0&pressRoom=DPW&translationOf=null&region=0|website=disneyconsumerproducts.com|publisher=Disney Consumer Products|access-date=March 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402165300/https://www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/Home/display.jsp?contentId=dcp_home_ourbusinesses_company_overview_dpw&forPrint=false&language=en&preview=false&imageShow=0&pressRoom=DPW&translationOf=null&region=0|archive-date=April 2, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between 2012 and 2015, Disney Publishing Worldwide's Digital Publishing group developed and distributed more than 100 top-ranked Apps across Apple iOS and Google Android making it one of the largest kids & family App publishers in the world.

Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI) was formed in June 2015 as a merger of Disney Consumer Products and Disney Interactive with Disney Publishing Worldwide reporting to the co-chairs of DCPI.<ref name=vty0/>  DPW launched Star Darlings, its first franchise under DCPI, on September 15, 2015, with two books.<ref name=labiz>{{cite news|title=Disney rolls out new 'Star Darlings' tween brand|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/news/2015/09/15/disney-rolls-out-new-star-darlings-tween-brand.html|access-date=September 30, 2015|work=L.A. Biz|publisher=American City Business Journals|date=September 15, 2015}}</ref>

In October 2015, Disney Publishing announced the launch of the Freeform imprint to coincide with the relaunch of ABC Family as [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]]. This imprint was to be headed up by editor-in-chief and associate publisher Emily Thomas Meehan and would focus on young-adult and teen crossover fiction and nonfiction working with Freeform channel partners to develop new [[intellectual property]] from both developing and bestselling authors. The first book from Freeform was ''Two Truths and a Lie'', written by [[Melissa de la Cruz]] and [[Margaret Stohl]], and was the first in a trilogy.<ref name="pw2">{{cite news|last1=Lodge|first1=Sally|title=Disney to Launch New Imprint Called Freeform|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/68305-disney-to-launch-new-freeform-imprint.html|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=Publishers Weekly|publisher=PWxyz, LLC|date=October 8, 2015}}</ref>

Disney-Hyperion started a new imprint, [[Rick Riordan Presents]], for middle-grade readers featuring mythology-based books by September 2016. Riordan would act in a curator-type role and his editor, Stephanie Owens Lurie, would be editorial director of the imprint. The imprint was planned to be launched with two books in 2018.<ref name="pw1">{{cite news|last1=Corbett|first1=Sue|title=Disney Announces New Rick Riordan Imprint|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/71466-disney-announces-new-rick-riordan-imprint.html|access-date=May 2, 2017|work=Publishers Weekly|date=September 13, 2016|language=en}}</ref> By April 2017, the imprint had acquired three titles for its 2018 launch with audio rights sold to Listening Library. Riordan Presents first book, ''[[Aru Shah and the End of Time]]'', will be written by [[Roshani Chokshi]] to be published in April 2018 and will be the first in a quartet of novels. The other two, [[Yoon Ha Lee]]'s ''Dragon Pearl'' Korean folklore novel and Jennifer Cervantes' Mayan-based ''Storm Runner'' novel, will be stand-alone novels released in September 2018.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Corbett|first1=Sue|title=Rick Riordan Imprint Acquires First Three Titles|url=http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/73431-rick-riordan-imprint-acquires-first-three-titles.html|access-date=May 2, 2017|work=Publishers Weekly|publisher=PWxyz, LLC|date=April 25, 2017|language=en}}</ref>

As part of [[The Walt Disney Company]]'s March 2018 strategic reorganization, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media was merged into the Walt Disney Parks segment and renamed [[Disney Experiences]].<ref name="vty0" /> With the [[acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney]] in August 2019, [[National Geographic Partners]] publishing operations, [[National Geographic Partners#Publications|NG Media]], were transferred to Disney Publishing while ending Traveler magazine's US edition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Steinberg |first1=Brian |title=Disney Layoffs Affect National Geographic |url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/disney-layoffs-national-geographic-1203318735/ |access-date=November 13, 2019 |work=Variety |date=August 29, 2019 |language=en}}</ref>

With group publisher Mary Ann Naples exiting [[Hachette Books]], in May Disney Publishing promoted two to take up Naples' duties. Lynn Waggoner continued as vice president and global publisher, of the franchise while adding Disney Press, Marvel Press, Lucasfilm Press, and Disney Editions imprints. Emily Thomas Meehan moved up from director, editor-in-chief, and associate publisher of the Disney Book Group to vice president and publisher of Hyperion, original content strategy and IP development.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Maher |first1=John |title=Waggoner, Meehan Up at Disney Publishing Worldwide |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/80078-waggoner-meehan-up-at-disney-publishing-worldwide.html |access-date=January 13, 2020 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=May 16, 2019}}</ref>

In February 2020, [[Hachette Book Group]] acquired 1,000 titles for young readers from Disney Book Group. These books will be re-released by [[Little, Brown and Company|Little, Brown Books for Young Readers]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Milliot |first1=Jim |title=HBG Buys More Than 1,000 Disney Book Group Titles |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/82353-hbg-buys-more-than-1-000-disney-book-group-titles.html |access-date=April 20, 2020 |work=Publishers Weekly |date=February 6, 2020}}</ref> In 2022, it was announced that [[Penguin Random House]] will take over the distribution of Disney Publishing Worldwide titles from 2023 onwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/89549-penguin-random-house-to-distribute-for-disney-publishing.html|work=Publishers Weekly|first=Jim|last=Milliot|title=Penguin Random House to Distribute for Disney Publishing|date=June 8, 2022|access-date=July 17, 2022}}</ref>

On March 29, 2023, as a part of a corporate restructuring to fold [[Marvel Entertainment]] into [[The Walt Disney Company]], [[Marvel Comics]] was placed under Disney Publishing Worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Brooks |date=March 29, 2023 |title=Disney Lays Off Ike Perlmutter, Chairman of Marvel Entertainment |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/business/media/disney-marvel-ike-perlmutter.html |access-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329181159/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/29/business/media/disney-marvel-ike-perlmutter.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Vary |first=Adam |date=March 29, 2023 |title=Disney Absorbs Marvel Entertainment Amid Layoffs, Dismisses Chairman Ike Perlmutter |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/disney-marvel-entertainment-ike-perlmutter-layoffs-1235567927/ |access-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-date=March 29, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329174551/https://variety.com/2023/film/news/disney-marvel-entertainment-ike-perlmutter-layoffs-1235567927/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Franchises==
Disney Publishing launched unplanned franchises starting with ''[[W.I.T.C.H.]]'' in 2001.<ref name=ny0/> DPW's educational division purchased the CrossGen comic book assets in November 2004.<ref name=icv2/> DPW was then drafted as an outlet for Disney Consumer Products' planned franchises: [[Disney Fairies]],<ref name=pw0/> [[Disney Consumer Products|Disney Bunnies]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Jim|title="Disney Dragonkind" roars into stores & "Disney Bunnies" hops onto bookstore shelves in early 2007|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/editor_in_chief1/b/jim_hill/archive/2006/08/10/4862.aspx|access-date=May 22, 2014|newspaper=Jim Hill Media|date=Aug 9, 2006}}</ref> (and their extensions), the Never Girls book series,<ref name="pw0" /> and Disney Princess Palace Pets apps.<ref>{{cite news|last=Disney Consumer Products Public Relations|title=Disney Debuts New Franchise Extension with Launch of Disney Princess Palace Pets App and Toy Line|url=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/disney-debuts-new-franchise-extension-with-launch-of-disney-princess-palace-pets-app-and-toy-line-2013-09-26|access-date=May 22, 2014|newspaper=Marketwatch.com|date=September 26, 2013|agency=Business Wire}}</ref> DPW started to originate planned franchises with the ''Waterfire Saga'' in 2014 and ''The Zodiac Legacy'' and ''Star Darlings'' in 2015.<ref name=rtr/><ref name=labiz/>

*''[[CrossGen]]'' – purchased the franchise in November 2004 for reading aids plus the development of other assets by Hyperion Books for Children.<ref name=icv2/> Its ''[[Abadazad]]'' fantasy series was reworked as a prose/comic hybrid format releasing two volumes in June 2006 of a planned series of eight volumes, up from the original four.<ref>{{cite news|title=Two 'Abadazad' Volumes Out in June|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/8596/two-abadazad-volumes-out-june|access-date=March 29, 2016|work=ICv2|date=May 1, 2006}}</ref> The franchise was restarted as an imprint by [[Marvel Comics]] in March 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Marvel Revives Crossgen|url=http://icv2.com/articles/comics/view/19001/marvel-revives-crossgen|access-date=March 16, 2015|work=ICv2|date=December 16, 2010}}</ref>
*''[[The Kingdom Keepers]]'' – a seven-book series based on the Disney parks features holographic guardians fighting against some of the [[Disney Villains]] called Overtakers.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bevil|first=Dewayne|title=Disney details are key to 'Kingdom Keepers'|url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2011/04/01/disney-details-are-key-to-kingdom-keepers/|access-date=9 April 2014|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|publisher=[[Tronc|Tribune Publishing]]|date=April 1, 2011}}</ref> The first book was released on August 29, 2005.<ref name="kkr"/>
*''[[A Twisted Tale|Twisted Tales]]'' – started as a book series with various authors writing twists on Disney films. Current contributors include authors Liz Braswell, Elizabeth Lim, and Jen Calonita.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.disney.com/character-series/a-twisted-tale/|title=A Twisted Tale Books}}</ref>
*''Star Darlings'' – launched with two chapter books in {{dts|2015|9}}.<ref name=labiz/>
*''[[W.I.T.C.H.]]'' – launched as a comic book in 2001 and expanded with an [[W.I.T.C.H. (TV series)|animated series]] in 2004.<ref name=ny0/>
*''Waterfire Saga'' – launched with the first novel of a [[tetralogy]] in May 2014.<ref name=rtr/>
*''The Zodiac Legacy'' – expected franchise launched as a book series in January 2015.<ref name=rtr/>

===Waterfire Saga===
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = Waterfire Saga
| italic_title = no
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = 
| creator = Disney Publishing staff<br>[[Jennifer Donnelly]]
| origin = novel
| books = 
| novels = {{unbulleted list|''Deep Blue''|''Rogue Wave''|''Dark Tide''|''Sea Spell''}}
| comics = 
| magazines = 
| strips = 
| films = 
| tv = 
| atv = 
| plays = 
| musicals = 
| games = 
| rpgs = 
| vgs = 
| radio = 
| soundtracks = 
| music = "[[#Additional media|Open Your Eyes]]"<br>[[Hollywood Records]]<ref name=ecu/>
| toys = 
| otherlabel1 = 
| otherdata1 = 
| otherlabel2 = 
| otherdata2 = 
| otherlabel3 = 
| otherdata3 = 
}}
'''Waterfire Saga''' is a Disney Publishing franchise based on [[mermaid]]s launched in May 2014 as a multimedia release around a core book series.<ref name="rtr" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140302/CURR04/703029985 |title=Jennifer Donnelly, novelist from Lewis County, hits big time with Disney series |work=Watertown Daily Times |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref>

====Waterfire history====
The '''Waterfire Saga''' was developed by Disney Publishing's various departments after some years of considering doing a mermaid mythology project. A 200-page [[Bible (writing)|franchise bible]] was compiled that included cultures, story arcs, images of the undersea world and its inhabitants, and main character profiles. In the summer of 2011, Global Books' publisher Suzanne Murphy approached [[Jennifer Donnelly]] to write the book series. Donnelly agreed.<ref name="pw">{{cite news  |last1=Lodge|first1=Sally|title=Disney to Launch Multi-Platform Mermaid Saga by Jennifer Donnelly|url=http://publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/60732-disney-to-launch-multi-platform-mermaid-saga-by-jennifer-donnelly.html|access-date=November 18, 2014|work=Publishers Weekly|date=January 22, 2014}}</ref>

In early 2014, Disney Publishing Worldwide announced the launch of the '''Waterfire Saga'''.<ref name="ecu">{{cite news|title=Disney Publishing Worldwide to Release Waterfire Saga|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-357347991.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329044451/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-357347991.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 29, 2015|access-date=November 18, 2014|work=Entertainment Close-up|publisher=Highbeam|date=February 2, 2014}}</ref> By March 2014, Donnelly had already finished work on the first two books and had started on the third.<ref name="wtdt">{{cite news|last1=Beagle|first1=Ben|title=Jennifer Donnelly, novelist from Lewis County, hits big time with Disney series|url=http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20140302/CURR04/703029985|access-date=November 18, 2014|work=Watertown Daily Times|date=March 2, 2014}}</ref> The first novel, ''Deep Blue'', was released under the Disney-Hyperion imprint on May 6, 2014, with a print run of 250,000 copies and a national book tour. The novel's marketing plan included advertising in print, TV, and in-theater; [[History of Freeform|ABC Family]] and [[Hollywood Records]] would run additional promotions as well as a retail floor display with a riser. A song and music videos were included in the simultaneous e-book edition release.<ref name="rtr" /><ref name="pw" /> The book was released simultaneously in the [[United Kingdom]], Italy, and [[Spain]]. Other foreign editions were to be released in late 2014 and early 2015. The second book in the series, ''Rogue Wave'', was released in January 2015. In 2015, DPW's Milan comic unit was scheduled to start issuing comics and graphic novels to expand the franchise.<ref name="pw" /> ''Dark Tide'' was released in the Summer of 2015 and the final book, ''Sea Spell'' was released in the Summer of 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mair|first1=Elizabeth Floyd|title=Riding the 'Wave' of YA success|url=http://www.timesunion.com/living/article/Riding-the-Wave-of-YA-success-6002667.php|access-date=June 24, 2016|newspaper=[[Times Union (Albany)|Times Union]]|publisher=[[Hearst Communications]]|date=January 8, 2015}}</ref>

====Plot====
Merpeople came into existence after their ancestors' island of Atlantis was destroyed.<ref name="wtdt" />

The four-book series centers around six mermaids who try to save their world. ''Deep Blue'' initially focuses on Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, who has a premonitory dream about an ancient evil returning on the eve of her betrothal. Her mother is hit by an assassin's [[poisoned arrow]], which confirms the dream. She has additional visions that lead her to find five other mermaids across the world's oceans. The six bond and find a world-threatening conspiracy.<ref name="wtdt" />

====Additional media====
An audiobook version of ''Deep Blue'' was recorded by [[Bea Miller]] and released through Listening Library.<ref name="pw" /> In 2015, DPW's Milan comic unit was to begin issuing yet-to-be-announced comics and graphic novels to expand the franchise.<ref name="pw" /> The song "Open Your Eyes" was issued through [[Hollywood Records]], and is sung by Bea Miller.<ref name="ecu" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Beagle|first1=Ben|title=VIDEOS: A behind-the-scenes look at Tale author's latest|url=http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/blogs/article_cb02f696-d3cd-11e3-b99b-001a4bcf887a.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141120174133/http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/blogs/article_cb02f696-d3cd-11e3-b99b-001a4bcf887a.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 20, 2014|access-date=November 20, 2014|work=The Daily News|publisher=Batavia Newspapers|date=May 5, 2014}}</ref>

===Zodiac Legacy===
{{Infobox media franchise
|title       = Zodiac Legacy
|italic_title = no
|image       = 
|imagesize   = 
|caption     = 
|creator     = [[Stan Lee]]
|origin      = novel
|books       = {{unbulleted list|''The Zodiac Archives''|''The Vanguard Archives''}}
|novels      = {{unbulleted list|''Convergence''|''The Dragon's Return''|''The Balance of Power''}}
|comics      = {{unbulleted list|''Tiger Island''}}
|magazines   = 
|strips      = 
|films       = 
|tv          = 
|atv         = 
|plays       = 
|musicals    = 
|games       = 
|rpgs        = 
|vgs         = 
|radio       = 
|soundtracks = 
|music       = 
|toys        = 
|otherlabel1 = Website
|otherdata1  = {{URL|disneyzodiac.com}}
|otherlabel2 = 
|otherdata2  = 
|otherlabel3 = 
|otherdata3  = 
}}
'''The Zodiac Legacy''' is a superhero franchise created by [[Stan Lee]] that debuted in illustrated novels published by Disney Publishing with [[POW! Entertainment]] under the Disney Press imprint. Working with Stan Lee on the books are co-writer [[Stuart Moore]] and [[Andie Tong]], artist.<ref name="ew">{{cite news|last1=Towers|first1=Andrea|title='The Zodiac Legacy': Stan Lee talks about writing his first illustrated novel|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/01/23/zodiac-legacy-stan-lee|access-date=February 12, 2016|work=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|publisher=[[Time Inc.]]|date=January 23, 2015}}</ref>

The first illustrated novel, ''The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence'' was released on January 27, 2015.<ref name="ew" /> The second novel in the illustrated series, ''The Dragon's Return'', was released on January 26, 2016.<ref name="KTVI">{{cite news|last1=Carcione|first1=Dan|title=New graphic novel by Stan Lee continues epic adventure|url=http://fox2now.com/2016/01/29/new-graphic-novel-by-stan-lee-continues-epic-adventure/|access-date=February 12, 2016|work=[[KTVI]]|publisher=[[Tribune Broadcasting]]|date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> ''Dragon's Return'' made the New York Times best-seller list for the week ending January 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Children's Middle Grade Hardcover|url=https://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2016-02-14/childrens-middle-grade-hardcover/list.html?pagewanted=print|access-date=February 13, 2016|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 14, 2016}}</ref> With [[Papercutz (publisher)|Papercutz]], the first Zodiac Legacy graphic novel, ''Tiger Island'', hit the stands on March 30, 2016, with the writing team joined by artist Paris Cullins.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Zodiac Legacy Volume 1: Tiger Island|url=http://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JAN161610|website=Preview World|publisher=[[Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc.]]|access-date=February 12, 2016}}</ref> In early April 2017, the third and final book in the trilogy, ''The Balance of Power'', was released. By that time, a second Papercutz graphic novel in the series was released with art from P.H. Marcondes. In July 2017, the third graphic novel was released.<ref>{{cite news| last1=Commandeur |first1=Jordan |title=Stan Lee: 15 Non-Marvel Characters He Created (Or Co-Created) |url= https://www.cbr.com/stan-lee-15-non-marvel-characters-he-created-or-co-created/|access-date=May 16, 2018|work=CBR|date=April 17, 2017}}</ref>

'''Plot:''' The series follows a Chinese-American eighth grader from Philadelphia going on a Hong Kong class trip. He finds himself involved with an ancient secret unleashing twelve Zodiac magical superpowers.<ref name="ew" /><ref name="KTVI" /> The eighth grader, Steven, has to deal with being a superhero and how that affects him, his family, and his friends<ref name="ew" /> as he ends up in the middle of a worldwide adventure.<ref name="KTVI" /> In the second book, Steven attempts to keep his allies together as they enter a gray area.<ref name="KTVI" />

=== Star Darlings ===
{{Infobox media franchise
| title = Star Darlings
| italic_title = no
| image = 
| imagesize = 
| caption = 
| creator = Shana Muldoon Zappa<br>[[Ahmet Zappa]]<ref name=labiz/>
| origin = Books
| books = ''Sage and the Journey to Wishworld''<br>''Libby and the Class Election''<ref name=gm/><br>Leona's Unlucky Mission<br>Vega and the Fashion Disaster<br>Scarlet Discovers True Strength<br>Cassie Comes Through<br>Piper's Perfect Dream<br>Astra's Mixed-Up Mission<br>Tessa's Lost and Found<br>Adora Finds a Friend<br>Clover's Parent Fix<br>Gemma and the Ultimate Standoff<br>Star Darlings Collection Volume 1<br>Star Darlings Collection Volume 2<br>Star Darlings Collection Volume 3<br>Star Darlings Collection Volume 4<br>A Wisher's Guide to Starland
| novels = 
| short_stories = 
| strips = 
| shorts = YouTube Animated Series (12 Episodes and 12 Clips)
| tv = 
| atv = 
| tv_specials = {{plain list|
*''Becoming Star Darlings''
*''Star Darlings Friendships''<ref name=amag/>
*''The Power of Twelve''<ref name=ksn0/>}}
| tv_films = 
| dtv = 
| plays = 
| musicals = 
| games = 
| rpgs = 
| vgs = 
| radio = 
| soundtracks = 
| music = {{Plainlist|
* "Wish Now"
* "Up"
* "Starlight"
* "Wish Now" remix<ref>{{cite web|title=Star Darlings|url=https://www.musixmatch.com/artist/Star-Darlings#|website=musixmatch.com|access-date=March 28, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldman Getzler|first1=Wendy|title=Disney's Star Darlings tween brand lands on TV|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/01/27/disneys-star-darlings-tween-brand-lands-on-tv/|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=Kidscreen|date=January 27, 2016}}</ref>}}
| toys = {{Plainlist|
*Starland Fashion Dolls
*Wishworld Fashion Dolls
*by [[Jakks Pacific]]<ref name=amag/>}}
| otherlabel1 = music video
| otherdata1 = "Wish Now" remix<ref name=amag/>
| otherlabel2 = 
| otherdata2 = 
| otherlabel3 = website
| otherdata3 = {{URL|https://books.disney.com/stardarlings/}}
}}

'''Star Darlings''' is a Disney Publishing multimedia franchise based on an original wish-granting fey people called the Starlings. Star Darlings is a trademark of Star Darlings, LLC. owned by DPW.

Barry Waldo was selected to manage the franchise, which is an inspirational brand targeted at [[Preadolescence|tweens]] designed to: "celebrate their individuality, make positive choices, and turn their wishes into reality".<ref name=bch>{{cite news|last1=Shayon|first1=Sheila|title=Disney Star Darlings Global Launch Aims to Inspire Tween Girls |url= http://brandchannel.com/2015/09/17/disney-star-darlings-091715/ |access-date=September 30, 2015 |work=Brand Channel |date=September 17, 2015}}</ref> [[Tween Brands|Justice]] is the franchise's primary retail partner carrying [[Jakks Pacific]] doll line, clothing, and books. [[Disney Store]]s would carry a limited product line.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney Launches New Tween Brand|url=http://www.licensemag.com/license-global/disney-launches-new-tween-brand|access-date=September 30, 2015|work=License! Magazine|publisher=Advanstar Communications Inc|date=September 17, 2015}}</ref>

The Star Darlings plot is about 12 young Starlings at Starling Academy on Starland who learn about Wishworld (Earth) and are selected to go on a secret mission there. Sage, Libby, and Leona are the Star Darlings up first for books with the other nine being Adora, Astra, Cassie, Clover, Gemma, Piper, Scarlet, Tessa, and Vega.<ref name=bch/>

====Star Darlings history====
Shana Muldoon first registered a trademark for the Star Darling name in 2009, but it was considered abandoned for lack of use on {{dts|2011|4|11}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=STAR DARLINGS Serial Number:77743585|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/star-darlings-77743585.html|access-date=September 30, 2015|work=Trademarkia|date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> Shana Muldoon Zappa, Ahmet Zappa, and Disney Publishing began development in 2011 on Star Darlings.<ref name=ksn>{{cite news|last1=Goldman Getzler|first1=Wendy|title=Disney rolls out multimedia tween brand Star Darlings|url=http://kidscreen.com/2015/08/19/disney-rolls-out-multimedia-tween-brand-star-darlings/|access-date=September 30, 2015|work=Kid Screen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=August 19, 2015}}</ref> On {{dts|2013|3|29}}, Star Darlings, LLC filed to register the trademark with two extensions granted with the last given on {{dts|2015|5|29}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=STAR DARLINGS Serial Number: 85890995|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/star-darlings-85890995.html|access-date=September 30, 2015 |work=Trademarkia| date=April 11, 2011}}</ref>

The franchise was announced at the [[D23 (Disney)|D23]] convention in {{dts|2015|8}}<ref name=ksn/> and launched on {{dts|2015|9|15}}, with two chapter books ''Sage and the Journey to Wishworld'' and ''Libby and the Class Election''.<ref name=gm>{{cite news|last1=Knox|first1=Kelly|title='Star Darlings': An Empowering New Series From Disney|url=http://geekmom.com/2015/09/star-darlings-a-new-magical-girl-series-from-disney/|access-date=September 30, 2015|work=Geekmoms.com|date=September 15, 2015}}</ref> <!-- Reception -->[[Kirkus Reviews]] found the first volume, ''Sage and the Journey to Wishworld'', to be "complicated, retrograde, and very sparkly" and for ages seven to eleven.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sage and the Journey to Wishworld|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/shana-muldoon-zappa/sage-journey-wishworld/|website=Kirkus Review|publisher=Kirkus Media |access-date= September 30, 2015 |date=July 15, 2015}}</ref>

On September 24, 2015, a social media event and a press day would be held for the franchise as part of its launch phase of the marketing campaign.<ref name=ksn/> Expected releases through November are the Jakks dolls at Justice, a storytelling and lifestyle app, music through Walt Disney Records, and the first episode of a YouTube animated series.<ref name=labiz/>

In 2016, two animated specials based on Star Darlings were broadcast on [[Disney Channel]], ''Becoming Star Darlings'' on January 29 and ''Star Darlings Friendships'' on March 25. The TV specials featured a remixed version of the Star Darlings theme song by teen singer-songwriter [[Skylar Stecker]]. The remixed theme song was also featured in a music video.<ref name="amag">{{cite news|last1=Milligan|first1=Mercedes|title='Star Darlings' Gets Disney TV Debut Friday|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/tv/star-darlings-gets-disney-tv-debut-friday/|access-date=March 28, 2016|work=Animation Magazine|date=January 26, 2016}}</ref> Another TV special, ''The Power of Twelve'' (22 minutes) was broadcast on Disney Channel on November 26, 2016.<ref name=ksn0>{{cite news|last1=Foster|first1=Elizabeth|title=Disney to premiere new Star Darlings special|url=http://kidscreen.com/2016/11/25/disney-to-premiere-new-star-darlings-special/|access-date=December 20, 2016|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=November 25, 2016}}</ref>

The future of this series is unknown as three books that were supposed to be released after ''Stealing Starlight'' were canceled, with no new franchise activity after its release on January 17, 2017.<ref>{{cite book|title=Star-Crossed Summer (Cancelled)|date=December 15, 2016 |isbn=978-1484753538}}</ref> However, Shana Muldoon Zappa said on [[Twitter]] that there is "an exciting reason" for things being put on hold.<ref>{{cite web|author=Shana Muldoon Zappa |url=https://twitter.com/ShanaZappa/status/850063710265589760 |title=Shana Muldoon Zappa on Twitter: "There is an exciting reason for things on hold!! Stay tuned and thank you!" |publisher=Twitter |date=2017-04-06 |access-date=2017-04-07}}</ref>

==Units==
*Core Publishing<ref name="Disney Consumer Products"/>
** Disney Magazine Publishing, Inc.
*** [[Disney Comics (publishing)|Disney Comics]]
**Disney Book Group (Disney Book Publishing, Inc.)
***Disney·Hyperion
****[[Rick Riordan Presents]], imprint for middle grade readers featuring mythology-based books<ref name="pw1"/>
***Disney·Jump at the Sun
***Disney-Lucasfilm Press
***Disney Press
***Disney Editions
***Disney Libri
***Disney Libros (Spain)
***[[Marvel Press]]
***ABC Daytime Press
***[[ESPN Books]]
***Kingswell
***Freeform
***National Geographic Books
***[[National Geographic Maps]]
*Digital Publishing - Disney Book Apps
*Disney Learning, incorporated on {{dts|1996|3|7}} as Disney Educational Publishing, Inc., and changed name by {{dts|2013|8|26}} to Disney Learning<ref>{{cite web|title=Disney Learning Business Entity Detail: C1779737|url=http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/|website=Business Search|publisher=California State Department of State|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315010639/http://kepler.sos.ca.gov/|archive-date=March 15, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Entity Information: Disney Learning|url=http://appext20.dos.ny.gov/corp_public/CORPSEARCH.ENTITY_INFORMATION?p_nameid=2097420&p_corpid=2040686&p_entity_name=Disney&p_name_type=A&p_search_type=BEGINS&p_srch_results_page=0|website=Corporation & Business Entity Database|publisher=State of New York Department of State's Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code|access-date=March 3, 2015}}</ref>
**Disney Educational Productions
**[[Disney English]]
**Disney Imagicademy is a program of Disney Learning consisting of a suite of mobile learning apps for kids with over thirty apps planned. The first two apps were the parent companion app and Mickey's Magical Math World on iPad. The parent companion app allows parents to track their kids' advancement on the apps.<ref name=tc/><ref>{{cite web|author=Dawn Wilensky |url=http://kidscreen.com/2015/03/03/inside-disneys-imagicademy/ |title=Inside Disney's Imagicademy |publisher=Kidscreen |date=2015-03-03 |access-date=2015-03-13}}</ref><!-- double return is so subsection is below section -->
*[[Marvel Comics]]
===Hyperion Books for Children===
Hyperion Books for Children (HBC) and Disney Press were both launched in 1990.<ref name=lat/> The Disney Publishing Group was incorporated in January 1992<ref name="ny"/> and included the already-formed Hyperion Books, Hyperion Books for Children, Disney Press, and other units.<ref name=lat/> In March 1995 with the market too crowded with Disney books, Hyperion Books for Children merged with Disney Press.<ref name=lat/> Hyperion Books for Children started a new imprint, '''Jump at the Sun''', in September 1998 for the African-American children's market.<ref>{{cite news|last=Angel |first=Karen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/09/07/business/books-magazines-children-families-media-talk-high-profile-authors-turn-much.html |title=Books and Magazine - Children and Families - Media Talk - High-Profile Authors Turn To Much Younger Readers |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=September 7, 1998 |access-date=March 1, 2015}}</ref> DPW slated the [[Abadazad]] four-book series from its [[CrossGen]] property for publication after purchasing the CrossGen assets under this imprint.<ref name=icv2/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{url|books.disney.com}}, consumer website
*{{url|disneystories.com}}
*{{official website}}
*{{url|disneymagazines.com}}
*{{url|dep.disney.go.com|Disney Educational Productions}}
*{{url|disneyimagicademy.com|Disney Imagicademy}}
*{{url|waterfiresaga.com|Waterfire Saga }} franchise site

{{DisneyConsumer}}
{{Disney}}
{{Disney Experiences}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Disney Publishing Worldwide| ]]
[[Category:1991 establishments in California]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Publishing companies established in 1991]]
[[Category:Companies based in Glendale, California]]
[[Category:Publishing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Disney comics publishers]]