Thursday, March 30, 2017

Disney’s ‘Sofia the First’ Season 4 Debuts April 28

Season four of the hit animated series Sofia the First will premiere Friday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m. ET on Disney Channel. Featuring a fresh raft of special voice guests, the new season will see Sofia take on a larger role as protector of her kingdom and send her on a journey to an enchanted world called The Mystic Isles.

A great success for Disney Junior, Sofia holds the record for the top two cable TV telecasts ever among Kids 2-5, and top three cable TV telecasts ever among Girls 2-5. The show recently received a Humanitas Prize, which recognizes movies and series that inspire compassion, hope and understanding.

The season four guest star line-up includes Andrew Rannells (Girls) as an enthusiastic unicorn named Skye; Megan Hilty (Smash) as a Crystalmaster named Prisma; Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan (both from The Lord of the Rings franchise) as two gnomes named Malachite and Fig; Ming-Na Wen (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) as a magical human/hawk character named Vega; Jurnee Smollett-Bell (Underground) as a crystal fairy named Christa; and Kimiko Glenn (Orange Is the New Black) and Jane Krakowski (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) as dragons named Cinder and Sizzle.

Sofia the First tells the story of an ordinary girl who becomes a princess, and follows her journey at she learns the positive qualities that make someone truly royal. The series stars Ariel Winter as Sofia; Sara Ramirez as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady as Clover; Tim Gunn as Baileywick; Darcy Rose Byrnes as Amber; Nicolas Cantu as James; Travis Willingham as King Roland II; and Jess Harnell as Cedric. Recurring guest stars include Eric Stonestreet, Ellie Kemper, Anna Camp, Kiernan Shipka, Hugh Bonneville and Bonnie Hunt.

Jamie Mitchell and Craig Gerber serve as executive producers, with Mitchell directing. Emmy winners John Kavanaugh (Elena of Avalor) and Kevin Kliesch (Tangled: The Series) are songwriter/music director and composer, respectively. Sofia is produced by Disney Television Animation.

Sofia the First

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Harland Williams’ ‘Puppy Dog Pals’ to Sit, Stay on Disney TV

A “pugtastic” new animated series is coming to screens, with Puppy Dog Pals set to premiere Friday, April 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET with two back-to-back episodes on Disney Channel, which will also launch the same day on the Disney Junior app and YouTube page. Created by comedian Harland Williams, the show follow two fun-loving pug brothers on their exhilarating adventures. Williams also acts as consulting producer and writer, and voices “Bob,” the pups’ devoted owner. Sean Coyle (The Awesomes, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) serves as executive producer.

Pug brothers Bingo and Rolly are always up for adventure, whether in their neighborhood or around the globe. Their motto is: life is more exciting with your best friend by your side! Along for their ride are their colorful animal pals, including Bob’s cat Hissy and his loveable robot dog creation, A.R.F. Each episode features two 11-minute stories that illuminate Bingo and Rolly’s similarities and differences while demonstrating positive lessons about friendship, problem solving, collaboration, creativity and adventure.

Puppy Dog Pals stars Issac Ryan Brown (black-ish) as quick-witted problem solver Bingo; Sam Lavagnino (Miles from Tomorrowland) as silly, energetic Rolly; Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) as A.R.F.; and Jessica DiCicco (The Lion Guard) as Hissy.

Recurring guest stars include musician Huey Lewis as Bulworth, the junkyard dog; Patrick Warburton as Captain Dog, the star of the pups’ favorite TV show; Jack McBrayer as Hedgie the hedgehog; Yvette Nicole Brown as Daisy, a kind German Shepherd; sportscaster Bob Uecker as a baseball announcer; Leslie David Baker and Cheri Oteri as neighbors Frank and Esther Exposition; Jill Talley as bossy pup Cupcake; Mo Collins as Strider, a fast-talking sheep herder; and Tress MacNeille as Bob’s Mom.

The series is produced by Wild Canary (Miles from Tomorrowland, Sheriff Callie’s Wild West) in association with Disney Junior.

Games and activities inspired by Puppy Dog Pals will launch on the Disney Junior app and DisneyJunior.com on Fri., April 7. Branded products from Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media, such as activity and story books, will arrive in June followed by an apparel and toys launch in August.






Puppy Dog Pals / Photo credit: Disney Junior

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Disney Teases ‘Tangled’ TV Movie with First 5 Minutes

Mar 3rd, 2017
A sneak peek at the first five minutes of upcoming Original Movie Tangled Before Ever After launched Friday morning on the channel’s YouTube page. The feature-length adventure — which stars Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi reprising their roles as Rapunzel and Eugene (formerly known as Flynn Rider) — premieres Friday, March 10 at 8 p.m. ET. In addition to familiar characters like loyal chameleon Pascal, no-nonsense horse Maximus, and the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs, fans will meet tough-as-nails lady-in-waiting, Cassandra (voiced by Broadway’s Eden Espinosa), who becomes Rapunzel’s confidante.

The movie will be followed a week later by the premiere of Tangled: The Series on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The show has already received a second season order.

Set between the events of the Tangled theatrical feature and the short film Tangled Ever After, the new movie is a visually vibrant, 2D-animated adventure comedy that unfolds as Rapunzel gets to know her parents, her kingdom and the people of Corona. When she realizes there is so much more she wants to learn about the world before accepting her royal destiny, Rapunzel puts off her coronation to seek adventure — much to the dismay of the king, who missed his daughter’s childhood and must now accept her as an independent young woman. But the princess’s plans get an added, magical kink in them when her long blonde hair suddenly grows back…


Tangled Before Ever After

Tangled Before Ever After