Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Rapunzel Returns in March for ‘Tangled’ TV Movie & Series

Disney Channel has dated the small-screen debut of the all-new animated movie and TV series set in the world of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Tangled. Taking place between the story events of the original feature and the short Tangled Ever After, the Disney Channel Original Movie Tangled Before Ever After debuts Friday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET, leading into the premiere of Tangled: The Series on Friday, March 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The new Tangled tales feature stars Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprising their roles as Rapunzel and Eugene — the charmer formerly known as Flynn Rider. Both the movie and series will have same-day launches on Disney Channel VOD platforms, and will roll out worldwide in 162 countries following their US debut.

Rapunzel & Co. will also appear in new print and e-book titles (including original middle grade series by Leila Howland) from Disney Publishing; Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media will debut new playsets, dolls, role-play, apparel and accessories later this Fall at Disney Store and all other retailers; the singles “Wind in My Hair” performed by Mandy Moore and “Life After Happily Ever After” performed by Moore, Zachary Levi and Clancy Brown releasing on February 10 and March 10, respectively, from Walt Disney Records, and a DVD of the TV movie and four animated shorts releasing April 11 by Disney Studios.

The vibrant, energetic new adventure-comedy animation projects unfold as Rapunzel gets to know her parents, kingdom, and the people of Corona. With her irrepressible spirit and natural curiosity, she realizes there is a lot to learn about the world and herself before she can assume her role as Princess. Along for the ride are beloved Tangled characters including loyal chameleon Pascal, no-nonsense horse Maximus, and the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs.

In Tangled Before Ever After, Rapunzel grapples with the responsibilities of being a princess and the overprotective ways of her father. While she wholeheartedly loves Eugene, Rapunzel does not share his immediate desire to get married and settle down within the castle walls. Determined to live life on her own terms, she and her tough-as-nails Lady-in-Waiting Cassandra (voiced by Broadway’s Eden Espinosa) embark on a secret adventure where they encounter mystical rocks that magically cause Rapunzel’s long blonde hair to grow back. Impossible to break and difficult to hide, Rapunzel must learn to embrace her hair and all that it represents.

Starring alongside Moore, Levi and Espinosa are Julie Bowen (Modern Family) as Rapunzel’s mother, Queen Arianna, and Clancy Brown (Shawshank Redemption) as her father, King Frederic.

The recurring guest voice cast includes: Jeffrey Tambor as Big Nose, Sean Hayes as Pete the Guard, Jeremy Jordan as teen alchemist Varian, comedian Jeff Ross as Hook Hand’s brother Hook Foot, Richard Kind as Uncle Monty, Paul F. Tompkins as Shorty; Jonathan Banks as Varian’s father, Quirin; Peter MacNicol as Nigel the Advisor; Diedrich Bader as Stan the Guard; M.C. Gainey as Captain of the Guards; Laura Benanti as Lady Caine; Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as blacksmith Xavier; Pat Carroll as Old Lady Crowley; Charles Halford as Vladimir; Steve Blum as Attila Buckethead; and James Monroe Iglehart as Eugene’s friend Lance Strongbow.

Produced by Disney Television Animation, Tangled: The Series was developed by animation veterans Chris Sonnenburg (Enchanted) and Shane Prigmore (The LEGO Movie). Sonnenburg serves as executive producer and supervising director; Benjamin Balistreri (How to Train Your Dragon) is supervising producer; Jase Ricci (Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero) is story editor; and Alan Bodner (The Iron Giant) is art director. Celebrated artist Claire Keane (Frozen, Tangled), who painted Rapunzel’s tower murals in the feature film, is the series’ Visual Development Artist.

The series features songs by Academy Award-winning Disney Legend Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. Emmy Award-winning Kevin Kliesch (Tangled Ever After) serves as score composer.


Tangled Before Ever After (Photo credit: Disney Channel 2017)

Thursday, January 5, 2017

‘Doc McStuffins’ Visits ‘Hundred Acre Wood’ Jan. 18

The Doc is in for a delightful adventure one blustery day when an all-new episode of Disney Junior’s Peabody Award-winning series Doc McStuffins debuts on Wednesday, January 18 — National Winnie the Pooh Day! — at 7:30 p.m. ET. In “Into the Hundred Acre Wood!” the Doc and her toys welcome A.A. Milne’s beloved cast of characters to McStuffinsville.

“Winnie the Pooh books and animation have always been hugely important to me, so it’s a personal dream come true to be able to bring together the worlds of the Hundred Acre Wood and McStuffinsville, especially since Christopher Robin is the original human famous for talking to his stuffed animals and toys,” said creator and executive producer Chris Nee. “This episode is an homage to the original Disney animation and storytelling styles, from the original songs, including a hat tip to the Sherman Brothers, to the visuals which evoke old school Winnie the Pooh.”

The episode begins when Doc and the toys spot Winnie the Pooh floating through the air, unable to alight. On their way to the rescue, they are magically swept away by the wind to the Hundred Acre Wood, where they team up with Tigger, Piglet and Eeyore to find Pooh in time for his favorite event of the year: The Honey Festival. When they finally find him, a tree branch rips Pooh’s tummy on his way down, and Doc must rush him to McStuffins Toy Hospital for emergency surgery. A worried Christopher Robin arrives and bonds with Doc over their ability to talk to toys. Meanwhile, Piglet and Lambie get to work organizing a Honey Festival in McStuffinsville just for Pooh.

“Into the Hundred Acre Wood!” features two original songs, “Follow That Bear!” and “Think Heavy Thoughts,” both written and produced by Michelle Lewis, Kay Hanley and Dan Petty. Winnie the Pooh also sings the series’ iconic song “I Feel Better.”

Guest starring are Jim Cummings as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, Travis Oates as Piglet, Peter Cullen as Eeyore and Oliver Bell as Christopher Robin. Doc McStuffins stars Laya DeLeon Hayes as Doc, Loretta Devine as Hallie, Lara Jill Miller as Lambie, Robbie Rist as Stuffy, Jess Harnell as Chilly, Andre Robinson as Donny McStuffins, Kimberly Brooks as Mom McStuffins, and Gary Anthony Williams as Dad McStuffins.

“Into the Hundred Acre Wood!” was written by Chris Nee and directed by Brónagh O’Hanlon.

Winnie the Pooh and Doc McStuffins Crossover