Disney Sets Date for XD Rebrand

Disney will launch Disney XD, a boy-focused, girl inclusive entertainment brand for kids age 6-14, with a 24-hour, ad-supported basic cable network as its centerpiece, on Friday, February 13 (12 midnight, ET/PT).

The Disney XD brand premieres with Disney's hit comedy series PHINEAS AND FERB, the #1 animated series among Tweens 9-14 for 2008, and is highlighted by the debut of AARON STONE (7 p.m., ET/PT), an original action-adventure series about a champion video game player who, in a popular game called HERO RISING, uses a crime-fighting avatar named Aaron Stone -- at least until the game's billionaire creator asks him to become the real-life Aaron Stone.

Currently Toon Disney, Disney XD content will have themes of adventure, accomplishment, gaming, music and sports (developed with ESPN).

Also debuting in February is the immersive online and mobile game experience, Disney XD.com, a new entertainment choice with numerous games, exclusive video, fan pages, community elements and a unique personalization feature through which users can create a 3D avatar (complete with "personalities" and "emotions") that represents them across the site.

The rollout of the Disney XD basic channel will include a Disney Channel simulcast of AARON STONE. The series will also be available online at DisneyXD.com, and its first episode will be available via Video-on-Demand (through Verizon Fios and Comcast, among others) and Mobile platforms. Previews of the first episode will be available via Xbox 360 and the iTunes Store.

In addition to AARON STONE, a production of Shaftesbury Services II, Inc., the launch schedule includes the new animated series, KID VS. KAT, from Studio B Productions in Vancouver, and JIMMY TWO SHOES, from Breakthrough Animation and Teletoon in Toronto, and two short-form series, ROBODZ, a 3D, CG animated and live-action comedy produced by Disney and Toei Animation in Japan, and BRUNO THE GREAT, an animated series produced by Studio Bozzetto & Co SRL in Italy.

In addition to new episodes of PHINEAS AND FERB, 2008's top animated series among Tweens 9-14, the Disney XD programming schedule will feature new episodes of the animated comedy YIN YANG YO!. Both series are productions of Walt Disney Television Animation.

Upcoming new series are the live action skateboarding adventure comedy, ZEKE & LUTHER, from Turtle Rock Productions, Inc., and KID KNIEVEL, a 2D animated comedy from Walt Disney Television Animation. Premiere dates for these series will be announced shortly.

Joining the Disney XD schedule in spring 2009 will be THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, based on Marvel Ent.'s popular superhero and produced by Culver Ent., a Sony Pictures Television Company. It will be joining BATMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES, SPIDER-MAN and IRON MAN on the schedule.

Disney will roll out its new brand on multiple platforms as follows (all times ET/PT):

-- Thursday, January 29 -- Preview episode of AARON STONE available through the iTunes Store (free of charge)
-- Thursday, February 5 -- Preview episode of JIMMY TWO SHOES and KID VS. KAT available through the iTunes Store (free of charge)
-- Friday, February 6 -- Preview episode of AARON STONE available on Xbox 360 (free of charge)
-- Friday, February 13 -- Disney XD debuts on television (12 midnight), online, VOD and mobile platforms. AARON STONE (part one, 7 p.m.) will be simulcast on Disney Channel, Sprint TV and MobiTV; part two will premiere only on Disney XD (7:30 p.m.) and DisneyXD.com. Immediately following the premiere, Disney XD will present previews of JIMMY TWO SHOES (8:05 p.m.) and KID VS. KAT (8:20 p.m.). AARON STONE will also be available via Video-on-Demand through Verizon Fios and Comcast, among others
-- Saturday, February 14 -- JIMMY TWO SHOES and KID VS. KAT preview episodes available on Xbox 360 (free of charge)
-- Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 20 (4:30 p.m.) -- New episodes of PHINEAS AND FERB premiere daily
-- Saturday, February 21 -- Regular timeslot premiere of PHINEAS AND FERB (8 a.m.), KID VS. KAT (8:30 a.m.) and JIMMY TWO SHOES (9 a.m.). New episode of YING YANG YO! (10:30 a.m.) premieres.
-- Monday, February 23 -- JIMMY TWO SHOES and KID VS. KAT become available on Video-on-Demand

Series Descriptions:

AARON STONE is an original live-action, single camera adventure series about Charlie Landers, a teenager who's enlisted to become the real-life version of a crime-fighting online game character. Starring are Kelly Blatz, David Lambert, JP Manoux (ER, Disney Channel's THE EMPEROR'S NEW SCHOOL and PHIL OF THE FUTURE) and Tania Gunadi (Disney Channel's PIXEL PERFECT and GO FIGURE). The creator and exec producer is Bruce Kalish (Disney Channel's THE FAMOUS JETT JACKSON) and executive producer is Suzanne French (OVERRULED!, LIFE WITH DEREK). The series is produced in HD format by Shaftesbury Services II, Inc.

ZEKE & LUTHER is an original, single camera comedy about two best friends who set their sights on becoming world-famous skateboarders. Starring are Hutch Dano, Adam Hicks, Daniel Curtis Lee and Ryan Newman. The creators and exec producers are Matt Dearborn and Tom Burkhard (both of Disney Channel's EVEN STEVENS). Filmed in HD format, the series is a production of Turtle Rock Productions, Inc.

KID KNIEVEL is an original, 2D animated comedy series about a boy -- short in stature but big in heart -- who overcomes incredible obstacles in his quest to become the world's greatest and most extreme daredevil. Inspired by the determination of daredevil icon "Kaptain" Robbie Knievel, the series' main character, Kid (whose given name is Francis Littel), pursues his daily dose of danger and, as he says, "a whole lot of awesome!" With loyal friends Gunther and Sam by his side, his imaginative journey takes him speeding down a river in a rocket-powered kayak, jumping Dead Man's Drop on a skateboard and riding a unicycle while blindfolded atop a herd of white rhinos. The series was created by Sandro Corsaro. Emmy Award-nominated producer Chris Savino (JOHNNY TEST, POWER PUFF GIRLS) is the series' exec producer and director. The series is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation.

ROBODZ is an original 3D short-form series featuring both CG-animated characters and live-action backgrounds. It follows an epic battle between the mighty Baddle alien army (intent on controlling the universe by conquering the Earth) and three clever little Samurai RoboDz who have nothing but courage on their side. The series is co-produced by Toei Animation Company Ltd. and Disney in Japan.

BRUNO THE GREAT is an original, animated short-form series about Hero, a boy who has the ability to master any challenge, and his nemesis, Not, who tries to achieve all that Hero can, but through a series of increasingly comedic obstacles, fails to do so. The series is produced by Studio Bozzetto & Co SRL in Italy.

PHINEAS AND FERB is a 2D animated comedy that tells the story of ingenious Phineas Flynn and his resourceful stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, who happily set out to conquer boredom and make every day of their summer vacation count. Throughout the escapades, they're accompanied by Perry the Platypus, who has a double life as suave secret Agent P and who battles the evil Dr. Doofenshmirtz to save the world. Meanwhile, older sister Candace is aghast at her brothers' bold antics and makes it her life's work to tattle on them to Mom and Dad, though somehow she can never seem to catch them red-handed. It was created and is exec produced by Dan Povenmire (FAMILY GUY) and Jeff "Swampy" Marsh (ROCKO'S MODERN LIFE, THE SIMPSONS) and is a production of Walt Disney Television Animation.

KID VS. KAT is an animated comedy series about a space alien disguised as a cat and stranded on Earth. When a boy named Coop Burtonburger's spoiled little sister, Millie, discovers the cat and brings him home, chaos ensues. The series was created by Rob Boutilier and is produced by Studio B Productions in Vancouver.

JIMMY TWO SHOES is an animated series featuring a thrill-seeking teenager who sets out to make Miseryville fun and exciting with the help of his two best friends, Heloise and Beezy. The series was created by Edward Kay and Sean Scott and is produced by Breakthrough Animation and Teletoon in Toronto.

THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN is an animated series that hearkens back to the web-slinger's junior year in high school, when a not-so-typical 16-year-old named Peter Parker must conceal his secret identity, endure the pressures of teenage life and combat never before seen super villains. Greg Weisman and Victor Cook are supervising producers. Stan Lee, Craig Kyle and Eric Rollman are executive producers. Based on Marvel Ent.'s popular superhero, THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN is produced by Culver Ent., a Sony Pictures Television Company.

Disney XD will reach more than 72 million households via its basic cable affiliates. Disney XD is the seventh brand in the kid-driven, family inclusive TV and radio business of The Walt Disney Company. The global portfolio encompasses Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel, Radio Disney, Disney Cinemagic, Toon Disney and Jetix.