New original series and shorts, along with returning franchises, to debut across Disney+ and Disney Junior platforms; shows include ‘Hey A.J.,’ about a curious and imaginative 7-year-old girl, and ‘Kindergarten: The Musical,’ about navigating the ‘firsts’ of kindergarten, along with returning fan favorites ‘Marvel's Spidey And His Amazing Friends’ and ‘Mickey Mouse Funhouse.’
Disney Junior revealed an all-new slate of original series and shorts, along with returning franchises, debuting across Disney+ and Disney Junior platforms through 2024. The announcement was made by Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis during the Disney Junior Fun Fest event taking place last Friday at Disney California Adventure. The Fun Fest is a one-day event celebrating the preschool network’s most popular series.
"Disney Junior is already home to some of the most beloved preschool programming, and today, we have unveiled the next slate of content that is sure to entertain preschool kids for years to come,” shared Davis. "As with Disney Junior's current slate, each of these projects is unique, inspiring and encompasses all of the brand values that have come to represent Disney Junior over the last decade — storytelling with heart that resonates with both kids and parents. From beloved icons such as Mickey and Spidey to new stories and characters, this slate further solidifies Disney Junior as THE home for preschoolers."
New Original Series Greenlights:
Hey A.J.
Inspired by former Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion and children's book author Martellus Bennett's family, the high-energy adventure comedy follows a curious and imaginative 7-year-old girl, A.J. Whether imagining a long car drive is an exciting rocket ride or turning a grocery store line into a dance party, A.J. uses her big imagination to make any situation more fun and exciting.
Produced by Surfing Giant Studios in association with Disney Junior, the show is executive produced by author Bennett, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh and Michael Hodges .
Kindergarten: The Musical
An animated musical series about navigating all of the "firsts" young kids experience while attending kindergarten. The series follows 5-year-old Birdy, who, with the help of her amazing teacher and new friends, uses her imagination to express her fears, excitement and joy through big Broadway-style song and dance numbers, proving that kindergarten is just like a big stage and there is nothing a good song can't fix.
Produced by Oddbot Entertainment in association with Disney Junior, the series is created by Michelle Lewis and Charlton Pettus. Executive producers are Tom Warburton; Lewis; Kay Hanley; Pettus and Dan Petty. The series is co-executive produced by story editor Laurie Israel.
RoboGobo
The series highlights five adorable pets without a home — until kid inventor Jax adopts them and gives them super-powered robo-suits. Now Hopper, Boomer, Allie, Shelly and Winger are a team of superheroes saving other pets in trouble and learning how to become a family in the process.
The show is roduced by Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Junior and creator/executive producer/supervising director Chris Gilligan. It is developed for television by/co-executive producer/story editor Matt Hoverman.
Superkitties
An action-packed new series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make Kittydale a more caring and "pawesome" place. Defeating villains and imparting important messages of kindness, empathy, friendship, resilience and problem-solving. The "SuperKitties" voice cast includes Emma Berman (Disney-Pixar's Luca) as Ginny, Cruz Flateau (CoComelon) as Sparks, JeCobi Swain (ABC's Home Economics) as Buddy and Pyper Braun (Country Comfort) as Bitsy.
Produced by Silvergate Media in association with Disney Junior, Paula Rosenthal is creator/executive producer. Kirk Van Wormer serves as co-executive producer.
Original Short-Form:
Me & Mickey
A new series of vlog-style video shorts featuring Mickey Mouse, as he invites preschoolers to laugh and play along as he talks about everyday topics familiar to their lives, including morning and nighttime routines and packing a backpack, and also engages with silly games and challenges like "Super Silly Stare Off," "Talk Like a Pirate" and "Super Silly Dance Party."
Winnie The Pooh (Working Title)
A new musical short-form series starring Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood.
Series Renewal:
Alice's Wonderland Bakery Season 2
An animated series for preschoolers and their families inspired by the world of Alice in Wonderland. The series centers on Alice, the great-granddaughter of the original heroine and a budding young baker at the enchanted Wonderland Bakery, where her magical treats help bring a new generation of friends and families together. The voice cast includes Craig Ferguson as Doorknob, Eden Espinosa as The Queen of Hearts, Grammy Award winner Jon Secada as The King of Hearts, Vanessa Bayer and Bobby Moynihan as twins Tweedle Do and Tweedle Don't, Donald Faison as Harry the March Hare, Yvette Nicole Brown as Mama Rabbit and newcomer Libby Rue as the voice of Alice.
The show is produced by Disney Television Animation with Chelsea Beyl serving as executive producer. Co-executive producer/art director Frank Montagna with Ciara Anderson as producer.
Other News — Previously Announced Titles:
Marvel's Spidey And His Amazing Friends:
Following the adventures of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales as they team up to defeat foes and save the day. In Season 2 of the series, the trio of young Super Heroes are able to call on Avengers pals Iron Man, Ant-Man, Wasp and Reptil, in addition to Hulk, Ms. Marvel and Black Panther, for help when trouble arises — like when villain Electro tries to drain all of the power in the city and the Spidey Team must band together to use a new glowing web formula to turn the lights back on.
John Stamos voices the role of Iron Man/Tony Stark in the all-new season. New Marvel heroes and villains featured in Season 2 are Ant-Man (voiced by Sean Giambrone), Wasp (voiced by Maya Tuttle), Reptil (voiced by Hoku Ramirez), Black Cat (voiced by Jaiden Klein), Sandman (voiced by Tom Wilson) and Electro (voiced by Stephanie Lemelin).
The new season premieres August 2022 and will include a new "Glow Webs Glow" storyline and four new original songs and a "Glow Webs Glow" anthem song by series' songwriter/composer Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy).
The show is produced by Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons. Harrison Wilcox serves as executive producer. Supervising producer is Steve Grover and Bart Jennett serves as co-executive producer.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse
In the upcoming summer tentpole episode of Mickey Mouse Funhouse, “Pirate Adventure,” legendary pirate Captain Salty Bones (voiced by John Stamos) invites Mickey, Minnie and friends to join the biggest treasure hunt ever and see if they can become true pirates. Harvey Guillén voices the role of Funny the Funhouse in the series along with recurring guest stars Jenifer Lewis as Wheezelene and Richard Kind as Cheezel.
The new season premieres in August 2022. It is produced by Disney Television Animation with Phil Weinstein serving as executive producer/supervising director. Thomas Hart is co-executive producer/supervising story editor and Steve Walby produces.
Eureka!
The story of a young girl inventor who uses creative out-of-the-box thinking to design inventions and contraptions in the hopes of making the world a better place and moving her prehistoric community into a more modern era. With the help of her supportive parents, teacher, best friends — Pepper and Barry — and beloved pet mammoth Murphy, Eureka is learning to embrace that she is not ordinary … she's extraordinary.
The series premieres June 22, 2022. It is produced by Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Junior. The creators/executive producers are Norton Virgien and Niamh Sharkey. The co-executive producer/story editor is Erica Rothschild and consulting producers are Donna Brown Guillaume and Rusty Cundieff.
Firebuds
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. Lou Diamond Phillips and Yvette Nicole Brown will be joining the previously announced voice cast as co-fire chiefs, Chief Bill and Chief Faye.
The series premieres Fall 2022. Created and executive produced by Emmy Award-winning Craig Gerber (Disney's Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First) the series is produced by Disney Television Animation with Craig Simpson serving as producer.
Pupstruction
The series follows the adventures of the world's first all-dog construction company, Pupstruction. It centers on Phinny, an innovative young corgi who might be the smallest pup on the crew but proves that you don't need big paws to have big dreams or big ideas.
The voice cast includes Yonas Kibreab (Into the Dark) as Phinny, Carson Minniear (Big City Greens)
as Tank, Scarlett Kate Ferguson (I'm Dying Up Here) as Roxy and newcomer Mica Zeltzer as Luna, as well as Justina Machado (One Day at a Time) as Maya, Bobby Moynihan (Alice's Wonderland Bakery) as Bobby Boots, Kari Wahlgren (The Ghost and Molly McGee) as Scratch, Eric Bauza (Muppet Babies") as characters Harry, Sniff and Lloyd and Alessandra Perez (T.O.T.S.) as Bailey.
Produced by Titmouse in association with Disney Junior, Travis Braun serves as creator/executive producer, with Vic Cook also as executive producer. Robyn Brown is co-producer/story editor.
Source: Disney Branded Television
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
