First Image from New ‘DuckTales’ Revealed

Mar 7th, 2016

As part of its March client presentations this month, Disney Television has unveiled the first image from the revamped DuckTales — an all-new animated comedy series based on the Emmy Award-winning series. Scrooge McDuck, his grandnephews Huey, Dewey and Louie, and Donald Duck will return to the small screen through Disney XD sometimes in 2017.

The art charmingly shows off the kind of madcap, comically cartoony adventures that fans of DuckTales have come to expect, with an airborne jeep attempting to avoid an unseen, spear-throwing menace, Uncle Scrooge at the wheel, and Donald on the roof. The designs are just familiar enough while presenting a fresh, graphic novel inspired style.

DuckTales is one of 17 new series that Disney Media Sales and Marketing is presenting in the kids’ upfront this year — in addition to 28 current series, 785 episodes, the Radio Disney Music Awards and two new original movies spanning Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney XD.

DuckTales

‘Big Hero 6’ Series Coming to Disney XD

Mar 2nd, 2016

A new animated television series based on Disney’s Oscar-winning feature film Big Hero 6 is now in production, heading for a 2017 premiere on Disney XD. Emmy-winning producers Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley — creators and EPs for Disney Channel’s Kim Possible — are serving as executive producers. They are joined by fellow Kim Possible alum Nick Filippi, who is also supervising director. The series was announced Wednesday by Disney Channels Worldwide president & CCO Gary Marsh.

“Our colleagues at Walt Disney Animation Studios have created a brilliant new world, inspired by Marvel, with vivid, unique characters,” said Marsh. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to further develop these characters into a world class animated series — full of fun, action and the kind of endearing storytelling that only Mark, Bob — and Baymax — can deliver.”

The Big Hero 6 series, produced by Disney Television Animation, picks up immediately after the film’s events, continuing the adventures of 14-year-old tech genius Hiro and his friendly, cutting-edge robot companion, Baymax. Together with control freak Wasabi, scientist Honey Lemon, fanboy Fred and no-nonsense Go Go, they form the legendary superhero team: Big Hero 6. As a fresh-faced prodigy at San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, Hiro faces daunting academic and social challenges, trumped only by the high stake threats facing the city rom scientifically enhanced villains.

Big Hero 6

Slate of Stars Join ‘Tangled: Before Ever After’ Cast

Mar 8th, 2016

Disney TV has announced a slew of voice cast members for the upcoming Disney Channel animated series Tangled: Before Ever After. Joining the stars of the 2010 feature Tangled — Mandy Moore (Rapunzel) and Zachary Levi (Eugene, a.k.a. Flynn Rider) — will be Ashley Judd as Rapunzel’s mother, Queen Arianna; Broadway star Eden Espinosa as Rapunzel’s handmaiden and confidant, Cassandra; comedian Jeff Ross as Hook Hand’s brother, Hook Foot; and Richard Kind (Inside Out‘s Bing Bong) as Uncle Monty.

Reprising their roles from the film are Jeffrey Tambor and Paul F. Tompkins as Big Nose and Shorty, members of the Snuggly Duckling Pub Thugs; and M.C. Gainey as Captain of the Guards.

Also joining the cast are: Sean Hayes as Pete the Guard, Peter MacNicol as Nigel the Advisor, Clancy Brown as Rapunzel’s father King Frederic, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as blacksmith Xavier, Diedrich Bader as Stan the Guard, Charles Halford as Pub Thug Vladimir, Steve Blum as Pub Thug Attila Buckethead, James Monroe Iglehart as Eugene’s friend Lance Strongbow, Jeremy Jordan as teen alchemist Varian, and Jonathan Banks as Quirin, Varian’s father.

Set between the events of the film and the start of the 2012 short Tangled Ever After, Tangled: Before Ever After will follow along with Rapunzel as she gets acquainted with her newly discovered self, parents, kingdom and the colorful characters of Corona. The series is produced by Disney Television animation and is set to debut in 2017 on Disney Channels worldwide.

Tangled: Before Ever After 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) is story editor and Alan Bodner (The Iron Giant) is art director. The series will feature music by Academy Award-winning Disney Legend Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater. Emmy winner Kevin Kliesch (Tangled Ever After) will serve as score composer. Artist Claire Keane (Frozen, Tangled), daughter of Disney Legend Glen Keane and animation supervisor on Tangled, is contributing design work and consulting on the series.

Tangled: Before Ever After