Preschoolers' favorite loveable handyman, Handy Manny, and his helpful bunch of tools are starring in Disney Channel's first ever apps for preschoolers with the release of the "Handy Manny's Workshop" and "Flicker's Flashcard Fiesta" apps on the App Store, it was announced today by Carolina Lightcap, president, Disney Channels Worldwide.
Press Release from Disney Channel
Preschoolers' favorite loveable handyman, Handy Manny, and his helpful bunch of tools are starring in Disney Channel's first ever apps for preschoolers with the release of the "Handy Manny's Workshop" and "Flicker's Flashcard Fiesta" apps on the App Store, it was announced today by Carolina Lightcap, president, Disney Channels Worldwide. Created in conjunction with Disney Mobile, both apps deliver unique, immersive and interactive experiences for preschoolers, their parents and caregivers on the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Wilmer Valderrama, the talented actor who helps bring Handy Manny to life, lends his voice to the new apps. "We're especially pleased to bring these engaging, learning-focused apps to millions of ‘Handy Manny’ fans, many of whom are true natives of technology, intuitively interacting with their favorite characters on new platforms," said Lightcap.
"’Handy Manny’ is the perfect property to extend to the growing audience of preschoolers using their parents' iPad, iPhone or iPod touch," said Lauren Devillier, vice president, Digital Media, Disney Channel. "Manny and his eclectic bunch of tools are as charming and delightful on these new interactive platforms as they are every day on Disney Channel."
"Handy Manny's Workshop" app highlights:• Delightful animations, professional narration from the cast of the hit television series, sound effects, and all the “Handy Manny” characters preschoolers and parents love. • Five different activity zones: Find It search activity; Match It memory matching game; Color It, featuring dozens of coloring pages; Puzzle It, featuring a variety of jigsaw puzzles at differing ability levels; and Sing It.• Available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
"Flicker's Flashcard Fiesta" app highlights:• Features fun learning-based activities to help preschoolers practice English and Spanish language skills. • Two interactive activities: Flashcard Fiesta and Word Bench Game.• On their iPads, parents can record custom messages of encouragement for their child. • Available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.
The Handy Manny apps are available for $2.99 each from the App Store.
These two new Handy Manny apps are the latest examples of innovation from the Disney/ABC Television Group (DATG), and follow the releases of the critically-acclaimed "My Generation" Sync app, which was jointly developed by DATG and Nielsen; the ABC Family Chatterbox app; the ABC News app; and the popular ABC Player app, which has proven to be a tremendous success with over 1 million downloads and more than nearly 12 million episodes started.
A Top 10 preschool series on TV with children age 2-5 in 4Q10 to date, the Emmy-nominated "Handy Manny," which is set in a multicultural, multi-generational community and follows a curriculum that models problem-solving, is available in 157 countries and in 30 different languages, reaching over 128 million unduplicated viewers worldwide in 2Q10, including nearly 53 million in the U.S. (Source: NTI, U.S. most current ratings, 4Q10: 9/27/10-10/31/10. Program ranks based program level data with minimum 6 telecasts// Reach based on a 6 minute qualifier. 2Q10=3/29/10-6/27/10, Live +7 000s).
The animated series features Wilmer Valderrama as Manny, Carlos Alazraqui as Felipe, Dee Bradley Baker as Turner, Grey Delisle as Flicker, Nika Futterman as Stretch and Squeeze, Tom Kenny as Mr. Lopart and Pat, Kath Soucie as Dusty, Fred Stoller as Rusty and Nancy Truman as Kelly.
The series' cultural consultant is Marcela Davison Aviles, president and CEO of Mexican Heritage Corporation. Language specialist Dr. Rose Marie Garcia Fontana is the series' language consultant. Rick Gitelson is executive producer and story editor of "Handy Manny,” a production of Nelvana Limited in association with Disney Channel.
The series carries a TV-Y parental guideline.
About Playhouse Disney:Playhouse Disney (to be rebranded Disney Junior in early 2011), is Disney's learning-focused entertainment content made especially for preschoolers. It is available on basic cable in more than 99 million U.S. homes (via a daily block on Disney Channel) and to millions of other viewers around the world on 25 Playhouse Disney channels and free-to-air broadcast partners, plus subscription video-on-demand and a broadband website, PlayhouseDisney.com. The programming encourages preschoolers to imagine and learn through original series, short-form and acquired programming that include song, movement and entertainment. Guided by an established curriculum, Playhouse Disney supports multiple areas of child development: physical, emotional, social and cognitive; thinking and creative skills, as well as moral and ethical development through carefully constructed themes, storylines and endearing characters.
About Disney Mobile:Disney Mobile, a division of the Disney Interactive Media Group, is a leading mobile gaming and entertainment network, reaching more than one out of every 3 iPhone, iPod touch and iPad users. Disney branded apps, including platinum titles Disney Fairies Fly, Jelly Car 2 and Toy Story 3, bring the magic of Disney stories and characters to life in new ways on mobile devices. Disney Mobile's Palo Alto based Tapulous studio creates top-selling music and social apps including Tap Tap Revenge, which is one of the most successful gaming franchises on the iPhone platform.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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