Earlier this year, we took a look at Rovio’s successful and creative partnering of Angry Birds with NASA. Not only has the Angry Birds Space app proven to be hugely successful for the Angry Birds franchise, it’s also brought appreciation and attention to NASA’s recent efforts and garnered them a greater following on the social front. Now, Disney is taking a page from the collaboration handbook and has crafted two offshoots of existing apps to capitalize on a popular film and TV show.
Ever since its release, Temple Run has remained one of the most popular free game-related apps. It has consistently remained in the Top 50 Free Apps in iTunes and its Indiana Jones-esque adventurous feel has kept users coming back. Seeing an opportunity to profit off of the app’s success, Disney partnered with TR developer Imangi Studios and recently released a version of the game that ties in with the Disney/Pixar film “Brave,” which is currently in theaters. Temple Run’s rugged hero is traded in for the feisty princess Merida and the scenery and challenges are changed to match those of the film. Although the app costs $0.99 to download, and features a variety of in-app purchases, its price tag hasn’t deterred users from checking it out. At the time of this writing, it is the number three app in iTunes’ Top 50 Paid Apps list.
But Disney hasn’t stopped there. Last year, they released the wildly successful Where’s My Water? and the app is still in the iTunes Top 10 list. Taking the physics-based challenge of the game, they’ve adapted it to feature characters and situations from the hit Disney Channel cartoon “Phineas & Ferb.” The app, Where’s My Perry?, features the cartoon’s lovable platypus-turned-secret agent, appealing to kids, teens and even adults. Where’s My Perry? also carries a price tag of $0.99 and, at the time of this writing, is the number one paid app in iTunes. They’ve also released a teaser trailer for the app that regularly airs on the Disney Channel.
Another critical element to Disney’s partnering success? Creating versions of both apps for the iOS and Android crowds. The fact that the apps feature links to additional Disney apps, programing and merchandise doesn’t hurt, either.
Want to check out these apps for yourself? You can download the iOS version of Temple Run: Brave here and the Android version here. Where’s My Perry? is available for iOS here and Android here.
