A UK-based start-up is bringing Mickey Mouse and other iconic characters to smartphones after striking a major content deal with The Walt Disney Company, in a bid to reverse declining reading habits among children.
London-founded Comixit has secured rights to adapt more than 100 titles across Disney, Pixar and 20th Century Studios into digital comic strips known as webtoons, a fast-growing format designed specifically for mobile consumption.
The agreement will see globally recognised franchises including Frozen, Ice Age and Moana reimagined as vertically scrolling, episodic comics tailored to younger audiences. The company has already partnered with the The Beano, signalling early traction in the children’s content space.
Comixit was founded in 2025 by entertainment executive Michael Nakan, who said the platform is designed to meet children “where they already are”, on their phones, while turning screen time into a more constructive activity.
“Disney has shaped imaginations for generations,” he said. “Bringing its characters into a modern, mobile-first format allows us to make reading engaging again.”
Webtoons, which originated in South Korea in the early 2000s, are structured for vertical scrolling, allowing users to move through stories frame by frame on a smartphone. The format blends visual storytelling with concise text, making it particularly accessible for younger readers and those less inclined towards traditional books.
Nakan said the idea for Comixit was sparked by declining literacy engagement among children, citing research that suggests only one in three young people aged eight to 18 now enjoy reading in their free time.
The start-up is entering a rapidly expanding market. Industry estimates put the global webtoon sector at around $9 billion in 2024, with projections suggesting it could grow to nearly $100 billion by 2033, potentially surpassing the scale of Japan’s manga industry.
By combining globally recognised intellectual property with a format optimised for mobile devices, Comixit is aiming to capture a share of this growth while addressing a broader cultural challenge around reading and engagement.
The platform uses artificial intelligence to convert traditional comic formats into webtoon-style content, but the company emphasises that all material is reviewed by human editors to ensure quality, accuracy and age-appropriate standards.
Unlike many digital platforms targeting younger audiences, Comixit has deliberately avoided social features such as comments, instead focusing on a curated and moderated environment designed to be safe for children.
The company is also developing tools that will allow users to create their own stories, adding an interactive dimension to the platform and encouraging creativity alongside consumption.
Comixit has attracted backing from prominent figures in film and media, including Harry Potter producer David Barron and Peaky Blinders producer Caryn Mandabach, as well as investor Magnus Rausing.
Nakan’s own background spans both film and television, with experience working alongside director Joe Wright and contributing to major productions such as Game of Thrones and House of Cards during his time at HBO.
The app is already available across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with plans to expand into the United States, a key market for both digital content and children’s entertainment.
At its core, Comixit’s strategy reflects a broader shift in how content is consumed and how literacy can be supported in a digital-first world.
By leveraging familiar characters and immersive storytelling, the company is attempting to bridge the gap between entertainment and education, encouraging children to engage with narratives in a format that feels native to their everyday habits.
As traditional reading faces increasing competition from digital media, initiatives like this suggest the future of literacy may lie not in resisting screen time, but in reimagining it.
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British start-up Comixit lands Disney deal to bring Mickey Mouse to mobile
