Disney Junior Relaunching In The UK By November 13th

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Remember when Disney shut down all its UK children’s channels back in 2020, telling us Disney+ would be the “exclusive home” for everything? Well, plot twist – Disney Jr is coming back to Sky next week.

The preschool channel launches on Thursday, November 13, joining the Sky Kids pack alongside Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, and Sky’s own ad-free kids channel.

It’s a move that would have seemed utterly bizarre five years ago, when Disney was adamant that streaming was the future and linear TV was dead.

Clearly, things have changed.

How We Got Here

Disney Jr has had quite the journey in British television. It started life way back in 1997 as “Disney Channel Underfives” – a programming block for preschoolers on the main Disney Channel.

By 1999, it became Playhouse Disney, and a year later in September 2000, it launched as its own standalone channel on Sky Digital.

If you’re of a certain age, you might remember the live presenters – Dave Benson Phillips and Alex Lovell, known as Big Dave and Little Alex – hosting shows from “the Playhouse”, a colourful set that looked like something out of a Fisher-Price catalogue.

In 2006, Playhouse Disney moved from being a premium add-on to basic Sky packages, and viewing figures shot up. Families clearly loved it.

The channel was rebranded as Disney Jr in May 2011 as part of a worldwide rebrand, and it kept going strong – adding HD in 2013 and even going 24/7 in 2017.

Then Everything Changed

In June 2020, Disney dropped the bombshell. All three of its UK children’s channels – Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Jr – would shut down on 1st October 2020.

The official line was that Disney and Sky couldn’t agree on a new carriage deal. But really, Disney was going all-in on Disney+, which had launched in the UK just six months earlier.

The Disney Channel on Disney Plus

“From October 1st, Disney+ will become the exclusive home for content from Disney Channel, DisneyXD and Disney Jr in the UK,” Disney announced.

And that was that. On September 30, 2020, Disney Jr’s final programme was Gigantosaurus.

After a few promos and a Vampirina music video, the channel cut to a still image of Mickey Mouse, Animal from Muppet Babies, and Vampirina, before vanishing from channel 605 and 606 on Sky.

Virgin Media had already pulled the plug a day earlier. CBBC and CBeebies moved into Disney’s old channel slots, and it genuinely felt like the end of an era.

We all thought that was it – Disney was done with traditional TV in the UK.

What Changed?

Fast forward to 2025 – and it seems Disney’s “streaming-only” strategy hasn’t quite worked out as planned.

Disney+ has seen its growth slow down. Prices have more than doubled since launch – from £5.99 to £14.99 for the premium tier. And the streaming wars have become a bloodbath, with every company scrambling for subscribers.

Earlier this year, Disney did something that would have been unthinkable in 2020 – they struck a deal with ITVX to put premium Disney+ shows like The Bear and Andor on ITV’s free streaming service.

ITVX Disney library

That was the first sign that Disney was willing to play ball with other platforms again.

Now, with Disney Jr returning to Sky, it’s clear Disney has realised that keeping everything locked behind a subscription paywall might not be the smartest move.

Traditional TV still has value – especially for parents of young kids, who often prefer the simplicity of just turning on a channel rather than navigating through yet another streaming app.

And – it gives viewers a taste of what they can find on Disney+.

The Kids TV Apocalypse

The timing of Disney Jr’s return is fascinating, because UK children’s television is currently in crisis.

Just yesterday, we reported that the Pop family of channels – Pop, Tiny Pop, and the rest – are shutting down on Sky and Virgin Media this December. Pop on Freeview is becoming streaming-only.

POP Player

Why? According to Pop’s owner, “commercial value across the UK kids’ TV market is now just 4% of what it was ten years ago.”

CITV shut down in September 2023. With Pop now leaving traditional platforms, the BBC’s CBBC and CBeebies were set to become the only free-to-air linear children’s channels left in the UK.

So Disney Jr coming back to Sky – while everyone else is running away from kids’ TV – is somewhat surprising.

But then again, Disney isn’t relying on advertising revenue like Pop was. Disney Jr will be part of the paid Sky Kids pack, and it’s effectively a shop window for Disney+ subscriptions.

What You Need To Know

Disney Jr HD launches on Sky Satellite, Sky Glass and Sky Stream on November 13. Sky hasn’t confirmed the channel number yet.

The channel will be part of the Sky Kids pack, which now includes 10 live channels – including the ad-free Sky Kids channel, Nick Jr., Cartoon Network, and now Disney Jr, plus on-demand content.

You’ll be able to watch Disney Jr via the TV guide or on demand on all Sky devices, as well as the Sky Go app.

And before you ask – yes, Disney Jr content will still be on Disney+ as well. This isn’t replacing the streaming option, it’s just giving families another way to watch.

We’ve reached out to Virgin Media to ask whether Disney Jr will also return to their Kids pack, but we haven’t heard back yet. We’ll update this article when they respond.

So What’s Next?

Does this mean Disney Channel and Disney XD could come back too? Who knows. For now, Disney seems to be testing the waters with Disney Jr – which makes sense, given that preschoolers and their parents are probably the demographic most likely to appreciate traditional linear TV.

Originally posted by Cordbusters

Disney Branded TV Picks Up ‘BeddyByes’ Preschool Animated Series

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Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands, the distribution and consumer products arms of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc., announce a landmark collaboration with Disney Branded Television to bring the bedtime series BeddyByes to audiences worldwide. The deal grants Disney Jr. U.S. linear television rights and Disney+ global SVOD rights. The series is set to premiere on Disney Jr. and Disney+ early next year.

“BeddyByes is a delightful series that makes bedtime something kids look forward to,” said Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television. “Adding it to Disney Jr. and Disney+’s industry-leading preschool slate reflects our commitment to serving preschoolers at every stage of their development with stories filled with magic, wonder and heart.”

Created and produced by JAM Media’s John Rice and Alan Shannon, BeddyByes is an animated series that supports healthy sleeping habits for preschoolers. Each episode follows a familiar daily routine that is easy for young children to follow (playtime, mealtime, bathtime and bedtime) and a calming journey to sleep, both of which experts recommend. MeMo and BaBa, preschoolers themselves, star alongside other adorable characters, with soothing music and comforting visuals that gradually dim as the story and journey to sleep unfold.

“Launching BeddyByes on Disney Jr. and Disney+ gives us an incredible global stage for this beautifully crafted preschool series,” said Thunderbird President of Global Distribution & Consumer Products, Richard Goldsmith. “We’re thrilled to introduce this series alongside Disney’s other iconic brands that are loved by kids and trusted by parents. We expect that parents and caregivers will access BeddyByes throughout the day to support naptime and bedtime for their young children.”

Rice, CEO of JAM Media, added, “We’re delighted that BeddyByes has found a home on Disney Jr. and Disney+. This series was designed to help little ones and their families establish healthy sleep routines through gentle storytelling, music and visuals. To see it showcased on such a trusted global platform is incredibly rewarding, and we’re excited for preschoolers everywhere to welcome MeMo, BaBa and friends into their daily wind-down rituals.”

Thunderbird Distribution acquired global media (excluding the U.K., Ireland and Finland, and certain rights in Denmark and Sweden) and global consumer product rights to BeddyByes in 2024. The CG-animated preschool series is produced by Ireland’s JAM Media and is an original production for BBC Children’s and Education. BeddyByes made its debut on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies in May and June 2025, respectively. The series is also available on RTÉ Player (Ireland) and Nordic pubcasters DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and SVT (Sweden) have licensed the series.

Disney Jr., The Powerhouse Brand Behind Streaming’s Top Preschool Series, Unveils New Slate At ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ Event

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After a record-breaking year, Disney Jr., which currently dominates preschool television with the top three shows on streaming for Kids 2-5 — Bluey, Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse — unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news and premiere dates today. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president, Disney Branded Television, at the “Disney Jr. Let’s Play!” fan celebration.

Highlights included new series Cars: Lightning Racers, inspired by Disney and Pixar’s Academy AwardⓇ-winning Cars films, with Owen Wilson and Larry the Cable Guy reprising their iconic roles; Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends, the first-ever preschool Avengers series; and two new seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+, which debuted July 22 on Disney+ as the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date* and was also the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, per Nielsen.

Said Davis: “Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins — and no one does it bigger or better. Our shows are often a child’s very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again.” She continued, “Today’s announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation.”

NEW SERIES, SPECIALS AND SHORTS

CARS: LIGHTNING RACERS (New Series)

• Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar

• Executive Producers: Travis Braun and Frank Montagna

• Story Editor: Dana Starfield

• Supervising Director: Nathan Chew

Building on Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis (Elemental) and Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel Rivals video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.

Evolving from the new Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends introduces kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T’Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.

MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND IRON MAN: AVENGERS TEAM UP! (New Specials)

• Two New 22-Minute Specials Debut: Special #1 premieres Oct. 16 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+; Special #2 premieres 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons

• Executive Producers: Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox

• Co-Producer: Becca Topol

The first special sees Iron Man and the Avengers joining Spidey to stop Ultron and Green Goblin from taking control of the city’s devices.

A second Halloween-themed special will premiere in 2026.

MICKEY & MINNIE’S HOLIDAY SONGS: HALLOWEEN (New Stop-Motion Shorts)

• Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.

• Director/Producer: David H. Brooks

• Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV

These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.

RETURNING SERIES

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE+ (New Season Orders — Seasons 2 and 3)

• Season 2 debuts 2027; Season 3 debuts 2028 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca

• Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran

A continuation of the beloved EmmyⓇ Award-winning original series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ welcomes the next generation of preschoolers and their families to the iconic Clubhouse for all-new, plussed-up adventures with Mickey, Minnie and their pals. The first 10 episodes of Season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+, with additional episodes set to debut this fall.

SUPERKITTIES (Season 3)

• Produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Jr.

• Creator: Paula Rosenthal

• Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden

SuperKitties — Top 10 most-watched streaming series for preschoolers — is an adorable and action-packed series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and “pawesome” place. Season 3 introduces the new “Su-Purr Wild” story arc in which the SuperKitties travel into the Kittydale Wild Jungle to adventure with their wildcat friend, Willa, and new jungle critters.

CASTING NEWS

SOFIA THE FIRST: ROYAL MAGIC

• New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

As previously announced, Ariel Winter (Modern Family) will return in the titular role as the voice of Sofia in this new series featuring the beloved Sofia the First, set to debut in 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+.

Announced today are additional returning cast members from the original series including Wayne Brady (Let’s Make A Deal) as Clover, Tim Gunn (Project Runway) as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) as Minimus, Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) as Queen Miranda and Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina) as King Roland.

Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.

HEY A.J.

• Debuts 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+

• Produced by Surfing Giant Studios

• Executive Producers: Martellus Bennett, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Michael Hodges

Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children’s book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series Hey A.J.! is a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary.

As announced today, Amari McCoy (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) will star as lead character A.J., Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty, and GRAMMYⓇAward-nominated Jhené Aiko voices her mom, Siggi. Rounding out the cast is Juliet Donenfeld (Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures) as A.J.’s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie (Bunk’d) as Jazz, and David Mitchell (Phineas and Ferb) as A.J.’s bunny sidekick Theo. Pop superstar and GRAMMY Award winner Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.’ s best friend Jessie’s mom.

OTHER DEVELOPMENTS 

DISNEY JR. ARIEL – THE LITTLE MERMAID (NEW SPECIAL)

• New 22-minute special debuts Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+

• Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.

• Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland

The new 22-minute special Disney Jr. Ariel – The Little Mermaid: The Glow Crystals will debut Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+, and will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.’s World Princess Week programming line-up (Aug. 24-30). It follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula’s crystal ball sends her, Triton and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.

FIREBUDS (Season 3)

• Produced by Disney Television Animation

• Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber

The series follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new “Aquabuds” story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES — (Season 3)

• Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr.

• Executive Producers: Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes

The anticipated third season will debut this Fall. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.

Disney Princess Let’s Party Launches This August

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Disney princesses have inspired girls and fans of all ages to discover, dream and believe through characters who go on epic, fun adventures where they realise their true potential. The heroines and their beloved stories have created shared moments between generations and this August, the fun continues with Disney Princess Let’s Party.

 

Disney Princess Let’s Party invites families and fans to create their own magical world and adventures by holding their own magical princess party inspired by the Disney princesses - from Cinderella to Jasmine, Belle to Ariel, Mulan and Tiana, there is a story and adventure waiting for all to be shared and celebrated.

 

The Disney Princess Ultimate Party Digital Hub is now live at www.disney.co.za/Disney-Princess-Party, featuring party inspiration including downloadable activity books, recipes, craft tutorials and more – all on hand for families to use to help spark their imagination.

 

24 – 31 August will mark Disney Princess Week and to celebrate, for the month of August, grown up party goers and throwers will be encouraged to share their Disney Princess parties on social media using the hashtag #DisneyPrincessZA, Tagging @DisneyinAfrica on Facebook and @DisneyAfrica on Instagram, to stand a chance of winning an exclusive Disney Princess hamper worth over R5000.00*.

 

Comments Christine Service, General Manager of DTC & Networks and Country Manager Sub-Saharan Africa of The Walt Disney Company Africa: “Disney continues to entertain the world with beloved stories and characters and the Disney princesses create opportunities for shared connections across generations. We hope that fans and families will enjoy throwing their own Disney Princess-inspired celebrations this August, embracing the messages of uniqueness and positivity with a dose of imaginative play, adventure and fun.”

 

A vast selection of Disney Princess toys, games, fashion and accessories will be available at leading retailers across South Africa, including Disneystore.eu this August too, offering something for Disney Princess fans of all ages. Mattel has products for hours of play, including Disney Princess Spin and Reveal Fashion Dolls (with 11 surprises), the Disney Princess 2-in-1 Stories Fashion Dolls inspired by favourite moments, Disney Princess Castle Pet Palace Playset and the magnificent Magical Adventures Castle – the ultimate Disney Princess doll house. LEGO® brings the Disney Princess Castle & Royal Pets Toy Building Playset, Disney Moana’s hilarious side-kick Hei-Hei set and Disney Cinderella’s Castle, complete with horse carriage. Enchanted playtime awaits!

The celebrations continue with Disney+, the home of all Disney Princess animated feature adventures, Moana 2 (2024), Raya and the Last Dragon (2021), Moana (2016), Brave (2012), Tangled (2010), The Princess and the Frog (2009), Mulan (1998), Pocahontas (1995), Aladdin (1992), Beauty and the Beast (1991), The Little Mermaid (1989), Sleeping Beauty (1959), Cinderella (1950) and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937). Not to mention the live action reimagining’s and retellings of these stories (Maleficent (2014), Cinderella (2015), Beauty and the Beast (2017), Mulan (2020)) as well as hours of animated series, shorts and specials including Beauty and the Beast: Belle’s Magical World, LEGO® Disney Princess: The Castle Quest, and much more.

 

Disney Channel (DStv 303) and Disney Junior (DStv 309) will be celebrating Disney Princess Week too, with the premiere of Disney’s Moana on Friday 29 August at (17:00 CAT on Disney Channel) and new episodes of much-loved Disney Junior Ariel (weekdays on Disney Junior). As a special treat also on Disney Junior, Sofia the First will air with episodes featuring the Disney princesses themselves inspiring Sofia in her journey to be a better leader and friend.

 

There are a number of ways to celebrate and create your own magical world, with Disney Princess Let’s Party this August.

Heads Up! Disney Junior And National Geographic Wild Go Dark In France By January 2025 As Orange Secures Rights To The Disney Channel

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The Disney Channel and National Geographic channels will survive in France through Orange boxes. Disney films will also be available 4 months after their theatrical release on Orange's VOD service. The historic operator unveils a reassuring distribution agreement with the American giant.

Following the divorce between Canal+ and Disney, Orange took advantage of the situation and announced, against all expectations, on December 20, a distribution agreement with The Walt Disney Company which strengthens access to Disney content in France and enriches the entertainment offering for Orange TV subscribers.

This partnership allows Livebox subscribers to fully access Disney content through three offers:

Included access for all TV customers to Disney's iconic channels : Disney Channel, the reference channel for young people, and National Geographic will be included from January 2, 2025 for all Orange TV customers, from their decoder and the Orange TV application on smartphones and a wide selection of connected TVs.

The possibility of subscribing to the Disney + streaming service under special conditions. Customers of the Orange Livebox Max offer benefit from a €5 discount for life by subscribing to Disney +, this offer has already been in place since last October. Other TV customers will benefit from a promotion with the first month free to discover the Disney + service. Orange subscribers will continue to be able to watch the platform's programs on their decoder.

Access to Disney films 4 months after their theatrical release on the Orange VOD service  : Orange will offer, through its transactional VOD offer, the latest cinema releases from the Disney group studios (Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation, Marvel Studios, Lucasfilm, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures) via the Orange VOD service.

Hélène Etzi, President of The Walt Disney Company France, said, “  We are very pleased to partner with Orange to make our iconic content and stories accessible to as many households as possible,” or 12.4 million French people. It remains to be seen whether other operators such as Free, SFR and Bouygues Telecom will try to reach an agreement with Disney.

The article was originally published by Univers Freebox

Disney Jr. Announces New Animated Series Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends

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Disney Jr. announced the greenlight for Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends, the first preschool Iron Man series which will feature a young Tony Stark (Iron Man) and his world-saving besties, Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Amadeus Cho (Iron Hulk). The young trio work together to make the world a better place, protecting their city and each other.

From Disney Branded Television, the series is currently in production and slated for a summer 2025 premiere on Disney Jr. and Disney+. The new series is part of Disney and Marvel’s expanded strategy to introduce these iconic Avengers characters and stories to a new generation of fans.

“Iron Man is the character that launched Marvel Studios and will always be especially beloved here as the hero that made the MCU possible,” said Brad Winderbaum, Head of Streaming, Television and Animation at Marvel Studios. “That’s why we’re so excited to partner with the incredible team at Disney Branded Television and bring Iron Man to a new audience. Together we are building a series that introduces the most brilliant scientists and inventors in the Marvel Universe as they share in fun armored adventures.”

Ayo Davis, President, Disney Branded Television, commented, “We’re thrilled to introduce Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends to preschoolers on Disney Jr. and Disney+, expanding their connection to the iconic Marvel universe. Partnering with Brad and the Marvel Studios team on this series allows us to bring the incredible legacy of Iron Man to a whole new generation, sparking young imaginations with characters that embody courage, teamwork, and creativity.”

Synopsis: Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends follows the adventures (and misadventures) of best friends and super geniuses Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho as they work together to solve problems both big and small and protect their city. To help them in their Super Hero endeavors, they each have their own Iron Suits that allow them to fly and give them each enhanced super-strength. In addition, Iron Man has a Nano-Shield; Ironheart has a Heartbeat Bubble forcefield to protect people, and Iron Hulk has his strong Iron Boom clap and Iron Hulk Stomp. They work out of their beachfront base, Iron Quarters (IQ), under the supervision of their superpowered android, Vision, and their furry pup, Gamma, who has her very own Iron Pup suit and accompanies the Iron Friends on many of their adventures.

The series stars Mason Blomberg (Shameless), Kapri Ladd (Danger Force) and Aidyn Ahn (Kids Say the Darndest Things) as the voices of Tony Stark/Iron Man, Riri Williams/Ironheart and Amadeus Cho/Iron Hulk, respectively. David Kaye (Transformers) voices the role of Vision, and Fred Tatasciore (Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur) voices Gamma. Additional characters and casting will be announced at a later date.

From Disney Branded Television, Marvel’s Iron Man and His Awesome Friends is executive produced by Sean Coyle (Puppy Dog Pals) and Harrison Wilcox (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends). James Eason-Garcia (Pupstruction) is co-executive producer and story editor, Alex Cichon (LEGO Marvel: Spider-Man: Vexed by Venom) is supervising producer; Ashley Rideout (Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends) is producer, and Michael Dowding (Hello Ninja) is supervising director.

The series is produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons.

Disney TV Announces New ‘Prep & Landing,’ ‘Moon Girl’ Shorts, ‘Kindergarten: The Musical,’ ‘Big City Greens’ S5 & Much More

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Today, during the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Disney Branded Television (DBT) announced a lineup of new animated projects and shared first looks from its preschool and kids slate. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, alongside DBT animation leaders Meredith Roberts, EVP of Disney Television Animation; Alyssa Sapire, SVP of Development, Series and Strategy, Disney Junior; and Orion Ross, VP, International Animation.

Additionally, Disney Television Animation commemorated its illustrious 40-year anniversary at the festival with a special panel highlighting the studio’s dominance in kids’ animation over four decades — with beloved titles like Phineas and Ferb, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Monsters at Work, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, Sofia the First and more — as well as current and future hits ranging from Kiff to Big City Greens, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series, Hamster & Gretel and StuGo.

Disney Junior, Disney Television Animation and International Animation teams will feature several additional panels throughout the week, including one that highlights the power of storytelling through music and features Disney Junior’s Ariel, Kindergarten: The Musical, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series, Kiff and Big City Greens, as well as a panel for the upcoming global series The Doomies.

“Disney Branded Television is proud of our four-decade legacy of creating magical and visually stunning animation beloved by young audiences around the world,” said Davis. “It’s a momentous year at Annecy, as we celebrate our studio’s milestone anniversary and showcase some of our most exciting new projects and creative talent that are ushering us into a new era of storytelling.”

Among the new Disney Junior and Disney Television Animation titles and first looks announced at Annecy are the following:

New Series & Specials

Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol (22-minute special)

Produced by: Disney Television Animation

Executive Producers: Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton

Story Editor/Co-Producer: Colleen Evanson

Producer: Melissa Kurtz

Director: Shane Zalvin

Writer: Hilary Helding

In this new installment of the Emmy-winning holiday specials, the high-tech team of elves from the elite unit known as Prep and Landing is back! When their holiday missions go awry, Wayne thinks he is in BIG trouble with Santa, which opens a vault of merry mishaps from the past. It’s going to be hard to dig their way out of the snowbank this time in Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol. The special will debut next year.

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Moon Girl’s Lab (Shorts)

Produced by: Disney Television Animation

Executive Producers: Laurence Fishburne, Helen Sugland and Steve Loter

Co-Executive Producers: Rodney Clouden and Pilar Flynn

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Moon Girl’s Lab is a new musical S.T.E.M.-focused short-form series in which Moon Girl is dropping knowledge and dropping bars as she uses the power of science to take down some serious baddies. Each of the eight shorts will feature a new song by Grammy Award winner Raphael Saadiq, who serves as executive music producer on the series, and a science theme, including adaptations, states of matter, plants, force and motion, light, echolocation and coding.

The shorts will premiere Friday, June 28, on Disney Channel and Disney Channel YouTube. All eight shorts will be available on Disney+ the same day.

SuperKitties: Sup-Purr Adventures (Shorts)

Produced by: Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Junior

Creator: Paula Rosenthal

Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden

Supervising Producer: Bryan Korn

SuperKitties: Su-Purr Adventures is a new short-form series inspired by 2023’s No. 1 new preschool series, SuperKitties. It features Bitsy, Ginny, Sparks and Buddy as they showcase their superhero skills and kitty kindness that they use to work together as a team to make their town of Kittydale a great place to live.

The shorts will premiere Wednesday, August 7, on Disney Junior and Disney Channel and next day, Thursday, Aug. 8, on Disney+ and Disney Junior YouTube.

Series Renewal 

Big City Greens (Season 5)

Produced by: Disney Television Animation

Creators/Executive Producers: Chris and Shane Houghton

Executive Producer: Anna O’Brian

Co-Executive Producer: Stephen Sandoval

Producer: Michael Coughlin

Greenlit for a fifth season today, Big City Greens was the No. 2 most-watched kids animated series of 2023, with more than 2 billion hours watched across linear and streaming since it debuted in 2018.

The series follows the offbeat adventures of 10-year-old Cricket Green (voiced by Chris Houghton), a mischievous and optimistic country boy who moved to the big city with his wildly out-of-place family. The show is heavily influenced by the brothers’ childhood growing up in St. Johns, Michigan, a small rural town north of Lansing, also known as the mint capital of the world. Many of the characters are inspired by real-life family members and childhood townsfolk.

This summer also marks the premiere of Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation, which will be screened at Annecy as part of the prestigious Le Pâquier lawn screening series. Additionally, Anna O’Brian, director of the movie, has joined the series for season five as executive producer.

First Look

Disney Junior’s Ariel

Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior

Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland

An exclusive first-look clip from the highly anticipated new series Disney Junior’s Ariel was released today.

Inspired by the beloved story of The Little Mermaid, the series debuts Thursday, June 27, on Disney Junior in the U.S. with an initial batch of eight episodes available on Disney+ the following day, Friday, June 28.

The series follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairy tale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond.

Kindergarten: The Musical

Produced by: Oddbot Entertainment in association with Disney Junior

Creators: Michelle Lewis and Charlton Pettus

Executive Producers: Tom Warburton, Michelle Lewis, Kay Hanley, Charlton Pettus and Dan Petty

Co-Executive Producer/Story Editor: Laurie Israel

The main title theme song — performed by Grammy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actress and singer Eva Noblezada (The Great Gatsby) — and key art for Disney Junior’s upcoming new series Kindergarten: The Musical was also released today.

The series follows five-year-old Berti, who, along with her new friends, is navigating all the exciting and emotional experiences that come with starting school for the very first time. Taking place in a kindergarten classroom at Porter Elementary, the series features fantastical Broadway-style song and dance numbers that help kids express their big feelings and provide a peek into their incredible imaginations. The series is set to debut on Disney Junior and Disney+ later this year.

StuGo

Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel

Creator/Executive Producer: Ryan Gillis

Co-Executive Producer: Sunil Hall

Story Editor: Craig Lewis

The main title theme song for StuGo was also released today. The series is set to premiere this fall on Disney Channel and Disney+.

The series follows six overambitious middle schoolers tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. Now they’re stuck for three months on a wild tropical island with mind-reading manatees, giant fighting fungi and fashion-forward mutants ― less academia than they’d hoped for but a lot more adventure.

The Doomies

Produced by: Xilam in association with Disney+

Co-Creator/Director: Andrés Fernandez

Co-Creator/Head Writer: Henry Gifford

Co-Creator/Art Director: Rémi Zaarour

An exclusive first look of Disney’s new spooky comedy animated series, The Doomies, was released today.

The chilling series follows best friends Bobby and Romy, who mistakenly open a gateway to the underworld and turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. As they try to cover up their mess, they get roped into an epic monster mystery, which will see them battle both literal and inner demons.

Press Release: Disney Jr's Ariel Premieres This June Across Africa

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Disney Branded Television announced the premiere date for the highly anticipated animated musical series “Disney Jr.’s Ariel.” Inspired by “The Little Mermaid,” the series will debut on SATURDAY, 29 JUNE, on Disney Junior at 8:30 a.m. CAT on DStv, Channel 309. Additionally, new recurring cast members were announced, including Yvette Nicole Brown, Melissa Villaseñor and Ron Funches.

To help build excitement for “Disney Jr.’s Ariel,” it was also announced that a new series of shorts titled “Disney Jr.’s Ariel: Mermaid Tales” will be featured across Disney Jr. beginning Monday, 24 June. Each two-minute short will highlight a different aspect of Ariel’s life in Atlantica.

Set in the Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows young mermaid princess Ariel (Mykal-Michelle Harris) as she embarks on underwater adventures with her family and friends, including King Triton (Taye Diggs), Ursula (Amber Riley), Flounder (Gracen Newton) and mer-friends Fernie (Cruz Flateau) and Lucia (Elizabeth Phoenix Caro).

Each episode highlights themes of self-expression, curiosity and resourcefulness and celebrates the multicultural elements of the Caribbean through food, fashion, language and folklore. Dr. Patricia Saunders, professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami, serves as cultural consultant on the series.

In addition to Brown as Aquatica, Villaseñor as Navi, and Funches as Delfino, the series recurring cast includes Kevin Michael Richardson as Sebastian, Parvesh Cheena as Ravi, Danni Washington as Tantie Chantale, Alanna Ubach as Cristina Cuttles, and Dana Heath and Jessica Mikayla as Ariel’s twin sisters Ayanna and Alanna, respectively.

Music plays an integral role in the series, with original songs inspired by the diverse genres of Caribbean music. The acclaimed songwriting teams are comprised of Anthony M. Jones (Tone), Sofia Quinn, Olivia Waithe, Chantry Johnson, Michelle Zarlenga and Rosemarie Tan. EmmyⓇ Award winner Christopher Willis serves as composer. Sean Skeete, dean of the Professional Performance division at Berklee College of Music, is the Caribbean music consultant.

“Disney Jr.’s Ariel” is executive produced by Lynne Southerland and is produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.

Recap To Last Month: Disney Junior Trademark To Be Shortened To DJr

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Last month, it was revealed through United States Patent And Trademark Office (USPTO) that Disney had filed a new trademark for Disney Junior known simply as DJr. This would be brand's first official rebrand following its inception back in 2011 in place of Playhouse Disney.

For several years, companies had been simplifying their logos and now they look to expand this to a younger demographic. For starters, there's CBeebies and PBS Kids whose current logos had been aligned to match of existing brands operated by BBC Studios and PBS.

Disney Junior's first logo is currently being used across several platforms with some minor modifications in other countries. Now this one seems bland and lifeless but this is only what's currently seen on paper and may not be the future of the whole brand.

If anything the font and styling used on Junior (Jr) implies that they could some playful aspects. Now with Disney Junior (soon to be DJr) is getting a complete makeover one has to wonder whether some of these aspects could spread to their other channels.

I mean the idea wouldn't seem far fetched, Disney Channel could simply be the "D" while Disney XD is DXD. But then again, the current logo for Disney XD had been simplified from the start while Disney Channel has more of that in Europe than the main market so it's either way.

Interesting to note, DreamWorks Channel and the block DreamWorks Junior have the same initials as Disney Channel and Disney Junior - DC/D and DJR.

Below is an ident to the upcoming rebrand:

RUMOUR: End Of An Era, Disney Junior To Cease Transmission In Turkey By 2024, Could Africa's Be Next Alongside The Disney Channel?

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During the week, it was reported that Disney is looking to sell several linear channels which are no longer core to their business. On top of that, they're looking to close their remaining linear channels in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Southeast Asia by the end of 2023.

According to sources, Disney Junior would cease to exist in Turkey by 2024 and this was the last brand under Disney Branded Television following the closures of Disney Channel and Disney XD as further content from all these brands is allocated to Disney+.

Disney Junior launched as Playhouse Disney in 2007 and since then he proven to be a popular addition amongst consumers featuring shows like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia The First, Doc McStuffins, Spidey And His Friends and PJ Masks.

MultiChoice, an outlet seen in Africa to package Disney Junior alongside Disney Channel, National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, ESPN 1 and ESPN 2 had mentioned in 2021 that these brands were extended through 2024. 

With Disney Junior in Turkey set to shut down by the end of 2023 around the time other parts of Asia would be losing their feeds. Could it be possible that the Disney Channels in Africa will join Turkey seeing as they're both operated by Disney EMEA alongside other regions.

Another thing, despite MultiChoice and Disney promise to retain them through 2024. It had mentioned that these channels would stick around for "another two years" bringing up that possible December 2023 closure if not early 2024 presumably before March.

Disney Branded Television Could Be Put Up For Sale

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Disney CEO Bob Iger sat down with CNBC's David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, on Thursday.

Disney announced Wednesday that it was extending Iger's contract by two years through 2026. Iger returned to the helm of Disney late last year. The company has since undergone thousands of layoffs and cut billions of dollars in spending, including from content.

Disney CEO Bob Iger on media landscape: Challenges are greater than I had anticipated

DisneynhhCEO Bob Iger opened the door to selling the company's linear TV assets as the business struggles during the media industry's transition to streaming and digital offerings.

Iger appeared Thursday on, the morning after the company announced it would extend his contract by two years through 2026. He returned to the helm of the company in November after Disney's board ousted Bob Chapek with a two-year contract through 2024 and plans to find a next successor.

"After coming back, I realized the company is facing a lot of challenges, some of them self-inflicted," Iger told David Faber at Allen & Co.'s annual conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, noting he's accomplished a lot of work in seven months but there's more to be done.

At the top of the list is assessing the traditional TV business, Iger said. Disney owns a portfolio of TV networks, from broadcast station ABC to cable TV channels like ESPN. 

Disney is going to be "expansive" in its thinking about the traditional TV business, leaving the door open to a possible sale of the networks. "They may not be core to Disney," Iger said, adding the creativity that has come from those networks has been key for Disney. 

On Thursday, ABC News President Kim Godwin to employees expressed support for Iger's contract extension, according to a person familiar with the matter. Godwin encouraged ABC staffers to focus on their work and audience, the person added.

Cable TV channel ESPN is in a different bucket, however. On that front, Iger said Disney is open to finding a strategic partner, which could take the form of a joint venture or offloading an ownership stake. 

Iger said when he had left the company he had predicted the future of traditional TV and had been "very pessimistic," and has found since his return that he was right in his thinking, adding it's worse than he expected. 

When Iger last spoke with Faber in February, soon after announcing a major restructuring at the company, he said that he felt "a sense of obligation" to return to Disney and that his preference was to stay for his two-year contract.

"We've gotten a lot done very quickly, significant cost reductions and significant realignment of the company," Iger said. "But dealing head on with some of our biggest challenges."

The appearance in February came shortly after Disney announced a sweeping restructuring that included thousands of layoffs and billions of dollars cut in spending.

The reorganization warded off a potential proxy fight with activist investor Nelson Peltz.

Disney reorganized into three segments: Disney Entertainment, which includes most of its streaming and media operations; an ESPN division; and a parks, experiences and product unit.

These were some of Iger's most significant actions in the months after his return. Disney revealed it would cut $5.5 billion in costs, consisting of $3 billion from content, excluding sports, and the remaining amount from noncontent costs. The company earmarked 7,000 layoffs.

In addition to looking for his next successor, Iger has been tasked with bringing Disney's streaming business to profitability. In the last year, media executives across all companies have focused on how to make streaming profitable, particularly after behemoth Netflix lost subscribers early last year and since instituted an ad-supported tier and a crackdown on password sharing to drive revenue.

While the company posted revenue and profit in line with Wall Street estimates last quarter, it saw a loss of 4 million subscribers at its flagship streamer Disney+.

Those subscriber losses were offset by price increases, which Iger said in May weren't to blame for the lower numbers. Instead, he said it showed room for further increases when it comes to streaming, and pushing customers toward the ad-supported tier, with the aim of reaching profitability.

In an effort to bulk up Disney+ and attract more subscribers to its cheaper, ad-supported tier – which it launched last year – the company announced last quarter it would add Hulu content to Disney+.

Disney has been weighing whether it should buy all of Hulu, as it owns 66% and Comcast

 owns the rest. It's likely Comcast will sell its Hulu stake to Disney at the beginning of 2024, CNBC previously reported.

Iger said Thursday that since he returned to Disney, he ultimately concluded the company is "better off having Hulu." 

He added the combined Hulu and Disney+ offering would be available by the end of the calendar year, and the upcoming negotiations with Comcast over valuation wouldn't prevent that. 

"The combination of those apps is designed to obviously help the [streaming] business become profitable," Iger said.

The Walt Disney Company To Close 11 Channels In Taiwan, Could Africa Follow Perhaps?

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In 2021, The Walt Disney Company unveiled plans to close 100 international channels so there was a lot of fear for the Disney Channels in Africa following the closure of Disney XD and FOX but MultiChoice managed to secure rights for these brands through 2024.

Fast forward to 2023, The Walt Disney Company had confirmed the closure of more channels with consumers in Taiwan set to lose out on a number of brands including National Geographic, National Geographic Wild, Baby TV, Star Entertainment and Star World.

Disney+ launched in 2019 and has since then become a top priority for the blue brand. Not much investment is going onto Disney Channel or National Geographic as the brands being used to promote the bulk of content seen on the streaming service.

Following the demise of these channels in Taiwan, there's now a lot of fear for these channels in Africa and I know MultiChoice had managed to carry Disney Channel, Disney Junior, National Geographic and National Geographic Wild through 2024.

But for all we know these channels could go dark by the 31st December 2023 at 23:59 which rounds up to 2024 as seen in Taiwan. It had been speculated that most of The Walt Disney Company"s linear offering won't leave past 2025 in European territories.

Disney XD was terminated in Africa alongside the United Kingdom's Disney Channels in 2020 followed by FOX which saw the brand exit Germany, Asia and Africa by 2021. Now there's rumours swirling that the brand would be closing channels across Africa by early 2024.

Disney Branded TV & Disney EMEA Kicked Off Next 100 Years Of Toons At Annecy

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Disney Branded Television and Disney Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) took to the stage at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival to announce new projects, debut sneak-peeks, and highlight the expansion of current hit series that are poised to usher in the next century of Disney storytelling.

Titled “The Next 100,” the presentation centered on both Disney’s storied legacy in animation, as well as how the company is creating the next generation of hits. Hélène Etzi, Country Manager & General Manager of Media for The Walt Disney Company France, opened the presentation with Orion Ross, Vice President of Animation for The Walt Disney Company EMEA, and Ayo Davis, President of Disney Branded Television, making several announcements.

Ross announced greenlights for the all-new preschool adventure series Magicampers, set to premiere globally on Disney+ and Disney Junior next year, and the original comedy series The Sunnyridge 3. He also gave attendees a first look at the official trailer for the sci-fi anthology Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire, premiering July 5 on Disney+ (check it out here). New episodes of fan-favorite Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life, coming later this year, were revealed, and the latest artwork for the upcoming EMEA originals The Doomies and Dragon Striker was unveiled.

Davis gave attendees a sneak peek of upcoming series and made several announcements, including the greenlight of Disney Junior’s Ariel, a new series inspired by The Little Mermaid. Executive producer Lynne Southerland answered questions onstage and previewed an early animation test featuring Ariel and fan-favorite character Flounder.

Davis also announced the new Disney Channel series StuGo, as well as renewals for four popular series: season four of Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends, season three of Firebuds, season three of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder and season two of Kiff. She also shared sneak peeks of several animated shorts, along with other announcements (see below).

Ross and Davis commented: “We’re delighted to be in Annecy announcing our continued commitment to working with leading studios and creators here in France and across the globe, to bring new voices, universal stories and brilliant animation to kids and family audiences around the world.”

New Series Greenlights
Disney Branded Television

Disney Junior’s Ariel (Disney Junior)
Executive producer: Lynne Southerland
Producer: Ezra Edmond
Supervising Director: Kuni Tomita Bowen
Art Director: Chrystin Garland
Story Editors: Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner
Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior

Disney Junior’s Ariel is an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of The Little Mermaid. It follows eight-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. The series features fan-favorite characters, including King Triton, Ursula, Sebastian and Flounder, as well as exciting new additions like Ariel’s two best friends, mer-children Lucia and Fernie, and lots of other adorable sea creatures. The series is currently in production for a 2024 release across Disney platforms worldwide.

StuGo characters
StuGo (Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Ryan Gillis
Co-Executive Producer: Sunil Hall
Story Editor: Craig Lewis
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel

StuGo is an original animated series about six overambitious middle schoolers who are tricked into attending a fake academic summer camp by a mad scientist. Now they’re stuck for three months on a wild tropical island with mind-reading manatees, giant fighting fungi and fashion-forward mutants ― less academia than they’d hoped for, but a lot more adventure.

The newly announced cast includes Tania Gunadi as Pliny, Zosia Mamet as Merian, Gabourey Sidibe as Francis, Charlyne Yi as Larry, Zach Reino as Chip, Deborah Baker Jr. as Sara, and Lorraine Toussaint as Dr. Lullah.

Disney EMEA

Magicampers
Magicampers (Disney+)
Creator: Obie Scott Wade
Executive Producer: Sandrine Nguyen Tiet
Director: Daniel Dubuis
Writers: Ashley Mendoza, Simon Nicholson, Elizabeth Kamir
Produced by: Mikros Animation for Disney EMEA

Disney’s preschool original Magicampers follows the adventures of best friends Darly and Loomis at a day camp for magical creatures on a fantastical island. Darly is half-pig and half-Pegasus, Loomis is half-donkey and half-unicorn, and their young friends are also mythical mashups of all stripes. Every day they go on incredible journeys of discovery and dream of becoming legendary, having their stories told and retold for all time. At the heart of the series, Darly and Loomis will learn that becoming a legend isn’t about mastering magic powers or winning the biggest prize — it’s about understanding and accepting yourself and others and working together with all kinds of friends. The series stars a diverse young cast as the Magicampers, with Emmy Award winner Uzo Aduba (Mrs. America, Orange Is the New Black) as nature spirit and camp leader Treena.

THE SUNNYRIDGE 3 (Disney)
The Sunnyridge 3 (Disney+)
Creators: Stevie Gee and Essy May
Executive Producers: Chapman Maddox, Jen Coatsworth, James Stevenson Bretton, Jon Rutherford, Benjamin Lole
Director: Liz Whittaker
Head Writer: Jack Bernhardt
Produced by: Blink Industries and Boat Rocker for Disney EMEA

In the original comedy-mystery series The Sunnyridge 3, a trio of lifelong best friends investigate strange goings-on in a uniquely bizarre shopping center on the fringes of suburban London. Rose, Jeru and Wayne practically grew upat the Sunnyridge Mall, but this summer, the weirdness has gone to a whole new level. With their imaginations running wild, they will chase down any conspiracy theory no matter where it leads. Could it be werewolves, hauntings or an ancient curse? Robots, aliens or renegade AI? The trio will discover that the truth is always stranger than fiction in this unpredictable genre-bending mashup created by British team Stevie Gee and Essy May. Multiple award-winning U.K. animation studio Blink Industries (Dead End: Paranormal Park; Love, Death + Robots) produces, in association with multiple award-winning global entertainment company Boat Rocker (Dino Ranch, Love Monster).

Sneak Peeks
Disney EMEA

Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire (July 5 on Disney+) — See full coverage here.

The Doomies
The Doomies (Disney+)
Creators: Andrès Fernandez & Pozla (a.k.a. Rémi Zaarour)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Director: Andrès Fernandez
Head Writer: Henry Gifford
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA

When best friends Bobby and Romy mistakenly open a gateway to another world, they turn their sleepy coastal town into a hotspot for terrifying creatures of doom. Roped into an epic supernatural mystery, they will cross paths with the so-called “Chosen One” and do battle with both literal and inner monsters. The Doomies is a spooky comedy that combines thrills, chills and surprises with character-driven comedy from an odd couple of ordinary teens engulfed by extraordinary circumstances. Its fast-paced humor and high-stakes action take place in a quirky French town in the heart of Brittany, imagined with moody flair and graphic style.

Dragon Striker
Dragon Striker (Disney+)
Creator/Producer: Sylvain Dos Santos
Director: Charles Lefebvre
Head Writer: Paul McKeown
Produced by: Cybergroup Studios and La Chouette Compagnie for Disney EMEA

When the world’s most popular sport combines with magic, awesomeness escalates quicker than a dragon-powered strike! In this action-packed adventure full of comedy and high-stakes sports drama, elite players have magical signature moves they can use on the pitch. Twelve-year-old Key is a farm-boy fanboy who can only dream of entering the famous school where the greatest players train before joining the big leagues — until he discovers he has his own ultra-powerful spell and may even be the legendary Dragon Striker. Key joins a team of hapless underdogs who band together to take on the school champions, all the while fighting to prevent an ancient evil from resurfacing.

Disney Branded Television

The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Silly (July 28 on Disney+)
Executive Producer: Paul Rudish
Producer: Philip M. Cohen
Director: Eddie Trigueros
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

The beloved Emmy Award-winning The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse shorts culminate with a final episode titled Steamboat Silly, which follows Mickey Mouse and his friends as they must stop hundreds of old film reel versions of Mickey from wreaking havoc all over town. The short will debut July 28 on Disney+ as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.

Primos (Disney Channel)
Creator/Executive Producer: Natasha Kline
Producer: Philip Cohen
Supervising Director: Shaun Cashman
Story Editor: Karla Sakas Shropshire
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

From Emmy Award-nominated creator and executive producer Natasha Kline, Primos introduces Tater Ramirez Humphrey, an eccentric girl with big dreams, determined to find what makes her extraordinary. When her 12 chaotic cousins (“primos” in Spanish) move in for the summer, they help her discover her true self. The series is inspired by Kline’s childhood experiences with her extended multicultural Mexican American family.

The newly announced main cast includes Myrna Velasco as Tater Ramirez Humphrey; Melissa Villaseñor as Tater’s younger sister, Nellie Ramirez Humphrey; Michelle Ortiz as Tater’s mom, Bibi Ramirez Humphrey; and Jim Conroy as Tater’s dad, Bud Humphrey.

The recurring cast includes Angélica María as Tater’s grandmother, Buela; Liza Koshy as Tater’s friend, Serena; and cousins Becca Q. Co (Lotlot), Cristina Valenzuela (Tere and Toñita), Elizabeth Grullón (Lita), Jonathan Melo (Scooter), Sarah Tubert (Cookita), Natasha Kline (Gordita and ChaCha), Nomi Ruiz (Tabi), Rick Simon (Big Nacho and Cousin Bud) and Ryan Anderson Lopez (Nachito).

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series
ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series (Disney Channel)
Executive Producers: Aliki Theofilopoulos, Jack Ferraiolo, Gary Marsh, David Light, and Joseph Raso
Producer: Melanie Pal
Supervising Director: Leah Artwick
Story Editor: Rachel McNevin
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

Meg Donnelly and Milo Manheim will reprise their roles as Seabrook’s star-crossed zombie/cheerleader couple, Zed and Addison, in Disney Branded Television’s next iteration of the hit ZOMBIES franchise. Fans can first catch the Seabrook crew in animated form in ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts, premiering Friday, July 21, on Disney Channel, Disney Channel YouTube and DisneyNOW, and thereafter on Disney+. Next, ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series, a new comedy-musical animated series, will premiere on Disney Channel.

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series Shorts is an animated short-form series that continues the adventures of fan favorites Zed, Addison and the Seabrook crew from the hit ZOMBIES franchise. The shorts, which keep the spirit and jam-packed music of the movies, find the friends encountering new monsters — a carnivorous plant monster, horrifying mega-cricket and even evil clones — while dealing with school and new experiences like a never-ending summer time loop.

Reprising their roles are Ariel Martin, Chandler Kinney and Pearce Joza as werewolves Wynter, Willa and Wyatt; Carla Jeffery and Trevor Tordjman as cheerleaders Bree and Bucky; Jonathan Langdon as Coach; James Godfrey and Kylee Russell as zombies Bonzo and Eliza; and Terry Hu as outer space alien A-Spen.

Playdate with Winnie the Pooh
Playdate with Winnie the Pooh (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Jojo Ramos Patrick
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior

Playdate with Winnie the Pooh follows a young Pooh Bear as he enjoys playdates with his friends. Set in the exciting outdoors of the Hundred Acre Wood, these musical shorts emphasize collaborative play and the joy of spending time with others. Playdate with Winnie the Pooh is set to debut this summer in the U.S. and will then rollout globally.

Disney Junior Wonderful World of Songs (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Chris Hamilton
Co-Executive Producer: Elise Fachon
Producer: Greg Chalekian
Director: Henry Dalton
Produced by: OddBot Inc. in association with Disney Junior

These musical shorts for preschoolers celebrate the heritage of Disney with classic characters and songs from beloved movies, series and attractions that highlight the wonder and magic of the iconic brand. Performed by popular musical artists Rob Cantor and Genevieve Goings (Disney Junior Nursery Rhymes), the shorts feature reimagined versions of classic songs, including “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King,” “You Can Fly!” from “Peter Pan,” “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and “It’s A Small World.” The shorts will begin airing on Disney Junior and Disney+ in the U.S. this summer as part of Disney’s 100-year anniversary celebration.

Series Renewals
Disney EMEA

Chip ‘N’ Dale: Park Life New Episodes (Disney+)
Producer: Marc du Pontavice
Directors: Jean Cayrol, Frédéric Martin, Khalil Ben Namaane
Head Writer: Nicole Paglia
Produced by: Xilam Animation for Disney EMEA

Chip ‘n’ Dale: Park Life stars Disney’s much-loved chipmunk underdogs in a nonverbal, classic-style comedy, following the ups and downs of two little creatures living life in a big city park. Combining the traditions of slapstick cartoons with contemporary, comedic character-driven narratives, season two introduces huge new adventures for the two tiny troublemakers. Nervous worrier Chip and laid-back dreamer Dale are joined in their perpetual pursuit of acorns by Donald, Pluto, Butch and other iconic Disney characters as they face down bullies, great and small.

Disney Branded Television

Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends Season 4 (Disney Junior)
Executive Producer: Harrison Wilcox
Co-Executive Producers: Bart Jennett and Chris Moreno
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Becca Topol
Supervising Producer: Steve Grover
Produced by: Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons

The first full-length Marvel series for preschoolers, Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends follows the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales as they team up with Iron Man, Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Black Panther to defeat foes like Rhino, Doc Ock and Green Goblin and learn that teamwork is the best way to save the day. Season four of the hit series will once again introduce even more new heroes and baddies for the Spidey team to interact with and be part of their adventures.

Firebuds Season 3 (Disney Junior)
Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Producer: Craig Simpson
Supervising Director: Robb Pratt
Co-Story Editors: Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First), Firebuds is a music-filled series following a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, and their talking vehicle sidekicks, as they embark on adventures together and learn what it truly means to be a hero. Season three of the series will feature a water rescue theme.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 3 (Disney+)
Creator/Executive Producer: Bruce W. Smith
Executive Producer: Ralph Farquhar
Co-Executive Producer/Story Editor: Calvin Brown, Jr.
Co-Executive Producer: Latoya Raveneau
Producer: Jan Hirota
Produced by: Disney Television Animation

The Emmy and NAACP Award-winning The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder revival follows the adventures and misadventures of 14-year-old Penny Proud and her Proud Family as they navigate modern life with hilarity and heart. The 2020s bring new career highs for mom Trudy, wilder dreams for dad Oscar and new challenges for Penny. Penny’s friends return, including Dijonay, LaCienega, Zoey and Michael, along with a couple of new faces, Maya and KG. Penny’s Suga Mama also returns, ready as ever to dispense tough love or a gentle hand whenever Penny needs it.

Kiff Season 2 (Disney Channel)
Creators/Executive Producers: Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kent Osborne
Producer: Winnie Chaffee
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Channel

From South African creators and executive producers Lucy Heavens and Nic Smal, Kiff follows an optimistic squirrel, Kiff, and her chill bunny bestie, Barry, as they navigate school, relationships and their often-eccentric community in Table Town, a world where animals and magical oddballs tackle day-to-day life together. Inspired by the people and places Heavens and Smal experienced when they were growing up in Cape Town, each half-hour episode, comprised of two 11-minute stories, includes a new original song.

Disney+ And Disney Junior Announce Release Date And Additional Key Cast For “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures”

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Disney+, Disney Junior, and Lucasfilm has announced that “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will premiere on Disney+ and Disney Junior (DStv channel 309) on May 4, 2023. Set during The High Republic era, the animated series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. 

Disney+ and Lucasfilm also released two stills from the series, which include Master Yoda, Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs, and their friends Nash and RJ-83 on planet Tenoo. The second image shows Lys, Kai, and Nubs during a training sequence.

Produced by Lucasfilm for Disney+ and Disney Junior, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” is executive produced by Lucasfilm’s James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes. Michael Olson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is showrunner and executive producer; Elliot M. Bour (“Elena of Avalor”) is supervising director and co-producer; Jeannine Hodson (“Puppy Dog Pals”) is producer; and Lamont Magee (“Black Lightning”) is consulting producer.

Insidus Games:
- Lizzie McGuire: On The Go!
- Tinkerbell
- Spy Muppets: Licence To Croak
- Winnie The Pooh: Hunny Trouble

“‘Star Wars’ transcends generations; fans of all ages deeply connect with its imaginative worlds, mythic stories, and unique characters,” says James Waugh, “Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” executive producer and Senior Vice President Franchise Content & Strategy at Lucasfilm. “When developing ‘Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures,’ the first ‘Star Wars’ series created for preschoolers, the creative team never stopped thinking about how this show may be a ‘youngling’s’ first step into a larger world and their first time experiencing the limitless potential of the ‘Star Wars’ galaxy. The show’s characters, tone, and the life lessons woven throughout each episode were written just for them, and our talented team was committed to honoring the cinematic legacy while staying true to the expectations of parents for the youngest of audiences.”

Alyssa Sapire, Senior Vice President, Development, Series, Strategy, Disney Junior: “Our collaboration with Lucasfilm on this series is an amazing opportunity to introduce this universally cherished franchise to a younger generation. As an early entry point into ‘Star Wars,’ we have created a series with exciting new and familiar characters and storylines that highlight the values of compassion, teamwork, and friendship, which are important elements for all of our Disney Junior programming.”

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” stars Jamaal Avery, Jr. as Kai Brightstar, Juliet Donenfeld as Lys Solay, Dee Bradley Baker as Nubs, Emma Berman as Nash Durango, Jonathan Lipow as RJ-83, and Piotr Michael as Master Yoda.

“Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures” will debut on Disney+ and Disney Junior on May 4, 2023.

Regular Nick:
- Lego Monkie Kid returns this April on Cartoon Network
- Cartoonito to get a dedicated channel in France
- Da Vinci Kids plans co-viewing future
- PBS Kids has yet to rollout the new logo in other countries

Roundups #134: Hamster & Gretel And Eureka To Make Its African Debut On Disney Channel And Disney Junior, Verdeelde Liefde Returns For A Second Season On eExtra And Netflix To Crack Down On Password Sharing By March

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Here are the four developments launching on Disney Channel and Disney Junior respectively

Vikingskool (New Episodes) - February 6th
Erik, Ylva and Ani are budding Vikings, confident that they all have what it takes to succeed in the ruthless Vikingskøøl, but the road to graduation is long.

Hamster & Gretel (New Series) - February 13th
When Gretel and her pet hamster -- named Hamster -- get superpowers, older brother Kevin must work with them to figure out how to protect their city from mysterious dangers.

Mickey Mouse Funhouse (New Episodes) - February 6th
Mickey, Minnie and Funny go on an adventure to the Kingdom of Majestica, where they find out if dragons are friendly beings or not.

Eureka (Girls In Science) - February 11th
It follows a talented young inventor from a fantastical prehistoric world who uses her creative thinking to devise inventions and contraptions aimed at making the world a better place.

Regular Nick:
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj to rollout on Nicktoons in Africa
- Moonbug Kids To Distribute New STEAM Focused Series, Ocean Explorers
- New Bear Grylls series is coming soon to Da Vinci Kids

Zeynep and Mehdi are back for drama on eExtra

Verdeelde Liefde follows the life of Zeynep a young woman whose mother gave her up for adoption in order to have a better life following her brother's death. By fate, she meets Mehdi who at one point from monster become the love of life.

The first season stars Demet Özdemir, Zuhal Gencer, Senan Kara, Fatih Koyunoglu, Elif Sönmez, Hülya Duyar, Naz Göktan, Incinur Dasdemir and Ibrahim Celikkol.

Season 1 is set to reach its climax by the end of the month with season 2 following immediately after the first season.

In season 2, Özlem accuses Sultan of stealing the money in Baris's room. Savas admits he took the money. Ali Riza gathers his family and goes to Sultan's house to apologize. Sultan accepts getting back to work.

Openview Plus:
- Imbewu has been cancelled on e.tv after 5 seasons
- Reviewing major changes coming soon to the SABC
- A look at former NBC soap, Passions

Farewell to password sharing on Netflix

The time Netflix 'freeloaders' have long feared will soon arrive - password sharing will be banned by the end of March.

The company shared the news in a letter to shareholders, noting that 'widespread account sharing' has exceeded over 100 million viewers.

These individuals, however, will be able to transfer their profiles to a new paid account, allowing them to carry over their preferences.

Netflix said 2022 had been a 'tough year' due to its first subscriber loss in more than a decade - its customer base fell by 200,000 subscribers in the first quarter.

'Today's widespread account sharing undermines our long-term ability to invest in and improve Netflix, as well as build our business.' the company said in its letter.

'While our terms of use limit use of Netflix to a household, we recognize this is a change for members who share their account more broadly.'

YouTube Premium:
- Zoey 102 feature film is coming to Paramount+
- Dungeons And Dragons TV series is coming to Paramount+
- How to view the latest content on PBS Kids?

Hasbro To Sell eOne TV, But Keep Family Brands

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In a development that many saw coming, Hasbro has announced today that it’s initiating a sale process for eOne’s library and adult-skewing scripted and unscripted content businesses.

“As we execute Blueprint 2.0 [link] with a focus on strategic investment in key franchise brands like D&D, Peppa Pig and Transformers, we plan to expand our entertainment offerings across scripted TV, digital shorts and blockbuster films,” said CEO Chris Cocks in a statement.

Olivier Dumont, president of kids and family brands at eOne, has confirmed to Kidscreen that his division will not be affected by the sale. The eOne Family Brands portfolio includes high-performing IPs such as PJ Masks, Power Rangers and preschool series Ricky Zoom. PJ Masks, in particular, has a robust Hasbro-branded consumer products program spanning toys, playsets and costumes, as well as a broad range of licensed products from category-leading partners.

Assets that are for sale include eOne’s library content, unscripted series and non-Hasbro scripted series and films, as well as Hasbro’s stake in eOne’s film and TV distribution business.

The announcement builds on Hasbro’s most recent investment call, in which the company introduced a strategy to lean on its legacy IPs for brand-building, while using eOne’s studio capabilities to develop new ones like Kiya. In February, Hasbro hired Ruedilyn Cox as VP of global franchise strategy and management for this fledging TV-driven IP that centers around a young superhero and her best friends.

“The company plans to maintain significant development, production and financing capabilities to support its core brands across film, TV, animation and digital shorts,” according to Hasbro’s investor statement, which notes that its entertainment team will continue to operate under the eOne production banner until—and if—a sale is completed.