Happy first birthday, Baby Yoda And Disney Plus, the streaming service that brought "The Mandalorian" and its adorable creature to our screens

Disney Plus launched exactly one year ago, on November 12, 2019 (though in this pandemic era, it feels like decades) It was followed by another new streaming service, Apple TV Plus But whereas the latter came out with little fanfare, Disney Plus debuted amid great anticipation from fans, from the industry, and from Wall Street

The service combines Disney's 100-plus years of classic movies, programming from brands like Disney Channel and Freeform, and blockbusters like the Marvel movies To compete with Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and its sibling company Hulu, Disney Plus also commissioned original productions, including The Mandalorian, the first live-action Star Wars series

Thanks to its impressive library and affordable prices ($699/month, $6999/year), Disney Plus became one of the big players in streaming distribution a year later

In August, the company announced that the service had surpassed 60 million subscribers This is an extraordinary feat, considering that Disney had predicted that it would reach this number by 2024 Disney Plus is four years ahead of schedule and shows little sign of slowing down

Much of that growth has been fueled by international subscribers as Disney Plus has expanded into the UK, Western Europe, Japan, and India

The streaming service was one of the few bright spots for Disney during the pandemic Disney's theater business has stalled, with movies postponed until after 2021 Thousands of employees at its theme parks have been laid off Meanwhile, the company recently underwent a reorganization that underscored the rise of streaming In a press release, CEO Bob Chapek highlighted the "incredible success" of Disney Plus and plans to support its "growth strategy"

It is difficult not to compare the launch of Disney Plus and Apple TV Plus Both were streaming services developed by well-funded companies at the same time But whereas Apple TV Plus debuted with a small, all-original programming lineup, Disney Plus boasted an enviable vault filled with decades of popular cartoons and family-friendly comedies and dramas

From the original "Cinderella" to the live-action "Cinderella" remake, generations of children have coveted this content Let It Go"

"Let It Go" I can rewatch "Anna and the Snow Queen" over and over again until the next "Ice Age," so absolutely not

As for original productions, Disney had a slow start and only a handful Among them, however, was "The Mandalorian," a hit that made one wish for a star The surprise appearance of The Child, aka baby Yoda, at the end of the first episode boosted the cottage industry of memes and Etsy merchandise (since official merchandise was not yet available)

In contrast, the Apple TV Plus was What it started with Even the most high-profile series, "The Morning Show," featuring big-name stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Steve Carell, did not generate the same buzz as "The Mandalorian" Not only that, but when it comes to awards, Disney Plus is a winner, as "The Mandalorian" was nominated for the service's coveted Outstanding Drama Series [Personally, I didn't watch anything after "The Mandalorian" ended until the summer Personally, I saw nothing after "The Mandalorian" ended until the summer I was going to cancel, but I signed up for a 3-year advance subscription (33% discount, saving $70) But then the "Hamilton" movie came out, and suddenly it was worth the investment to be in that (streaming) room

The pandemic has delayed the release of many major films However, other films are now being released digitally on demand or via streaming Now that it has a streaming platform, Disney can try both

Disney changed the release of "Hamilton" from theatrical release to streaming Then in September, the company introduced Disney Premier Access to coincide with the US release of Mulan Purchasing Premier Access cost $30 in addition to the regular monthly subscription fee, which seemed rather expensive

But when you think about it, a family of four would pay a lot more than $30 to see a movie in theaters Whether the premiere access release of "Mulan" benefited Disney or not, we don't know But in these times of pandemic, it might be better for the company to recoup a little of its $200 million budget than to wait and see

Come to think of it, the pandemic is likely to last for months, and movie studios are still trying to figure out what to do with their titles At least Disney has options Pixar's "Soul" has already been moved to Disney Plus And fans are clamoring for a digital release of The Black Widow

Disney Plus is in a great position in its second year Disney Plus is in a great position in its second year, opening its second year with a new season of "The Mandalorian" (and baby Yoda cuteness), including Marvel series such as "WandaVision" (December 2020) and "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" ( There are a number of high-profile projects on the horizon, including Marvel's series such as "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" (undecided) The project also allows Disney-produced films to be screened while cinemas are closed or restricted

Affordable Disney Plus has become a streaming staple alongside Netflix In just one year, this is an impressive feat Disney Plus is an A-plus in our book