‘Disney Junior & Friends Playdate’ event announcements included animated holiday-themed episodes, new projects, shorts, and casting news; young fans can still experience characters and storytelling of Disney Jr. at Downtown Disney August 19-20.
Disney Junior has announced a new slate of programs, specials, and shorts, including a new iteration of its flagship series, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, set to debut in 2025, and the stop-motion Halloween special Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats, premiering October 1, 2023. The announcements were made by Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, during the “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event at Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California.
Also announced, fans can also look forward to new holiday-themed episodes of Disney Junior favorites, including SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Mickey Mouse Funhouse, and Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Casting for new 2024 series Disney Junior’s Ariel and RoboGobo also revealed.
Also, coming September 6, the animated short Doc McStuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In! — the first new original Doc McStuffins content since 2020. Playdate with Winnie the Pooh and Me & Winnie the Pooh shorts dropped today on Disney Junior YouTube and Disney Junior.
“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure, and heart,” said Davis. “From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play.”
The three-day “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event, which celebrates the magical, entertaining, and music-filled stories of Disney Junior’s hit series, moves to the Downtown Disney District on Saturday, August 19, and Sunday, August 20, giving more young fans a chance to experience characters and storytelling of Disney Junior.
Here’s a rundown of the new projects:
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0 (working title) new episodes on the 3DCG animated series coming 2025 to Disney Junior and Disney+
In the show, Mickey and pals welcome everyone back to the clubhouse for all-new adventures filled with songs, laughs, handy helping, and fun new surprises. The new series will see the clubhouse expanding with a brand-new area just for Minnie and the addition of Duffy the Disney Bear, Mickey’s trusted teddy bear, who will make surprise appearances in multiple episodes.
Produced by Disney Television Animation, executive produced by Rob LaDuca with Kim Duran as co-producer/story editor.
Mickey And Friends Trick or Treats premieres Sunday, October 1, on Disney Junior, Disney Channel, and Disney XD at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming Monday, October. 2, on Disney+.
In this new Halloween stop-motion special, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy are trick-or-treating when Donald spies the spookiest mansion he’s ever seen and assumes it has the best treats. After he convinces his friends to risk a visit, the owner, Witch Hazel, casts a spell that turns them into their costumes. Also featured new original music from Emmy Award-nominated songwriter Beau Black (The Lion Guard).
The director/producer is David H. Brooks, with John Harvatine IV as supervisor producer.
Special Holiday Episodes:
Superkitties: “Howloween Cat”— The full-length Halloween episode premieres Monday, September 25, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT and shortly after on Disney+.
SuperKitties follows the action-packed adventures of four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy, and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and pawesome place. In the Halloween episode, the pets’ Howloween treats go missing all over Kittydale, so the SuperKitties must track down the thief.
Produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Junior with creator and executive producer Paula Rosentosenthal. Kirk Van Wormer as co-executive producer.
Pupstruction: Happy Howl-o-ween/The House of Howls” — The episode premieres Wednesday, September 27, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT and streams the same day on Disney+.
The show follows the adventures of the Pupstruction team — a doggone hard-working construction crew ranging from some of the brawniest breeds to irresistibly cute and playful puppies. In the Halloween episode Bobby Boots (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) thinks he wasn’t invited to Pupstruction’s Howl-O-Ween party, and Tank doesn’t think he’s brave enough to help build a haunted house.
Produced by Titmouse in association with Disney Junior, with creator and executive producer Travis Braun and Robyn Brown as co-producer and story editor. The supervising director is Abigail Nesbitt.
Marvel’s Spidey and His Amazing Friends: “An UnBEElievable Rosh Hashanah” — The Rosh Hashanah-themed episode features The Thing – aka Ben Grimm – premieres Friday, September 15, on Disney Channel at 8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney Junior at 1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT. It streams shortly after on Disney+.
In a new “Web-Spinners” storyline introduced into the series this summer, Spidey, with the help of Iron Man (voiced by John Stamos), creates new hi-tech suits and gear that lets the Spidey Team stop baddies and help people —not just in their friendly neighborhood, but now all over the world. In the episode Rosh Hashanah special, Gobby steals all of the bees, so Team Spidey and The Thing must get them back and save Rosh Hashanah.
Produced by Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons with executive producer Harrison Wilcox. Bart Jennett and Chris Moreno serve as co-executive producers, Becca Topol is co-producer and story editor is Becca Topol, and Steve Grover is supervising producer.
Mickey Mouse Funhouse: “The Curious Case of the Kooky Scientist” and “Stink, Stank, Stunk! /Día de los Muertos” — The Halloween-themed episode premieres Wednesday, September 26, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; a Dia de los Muertos-themed episode premieres Friday, October 6, on Disney Channel at 10:00 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney
In the Halloween-themed episode “The Curious Case of the Kooky Scientist,” the gang is off to Halloweenville to see kooky scientist Von Drake’s newest invention. Then, in “Stink, Stank, Stunk! /Día de los Muertos,” Mickey and the gang discover the Grand Pumpkin and must return it to Halloweenville before it rots away, and Donald’s pal Panchito invites the gang to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Mexico City.
Produced by Disney Television Animation with executive producer and supervising director Phil Weinstein. Thomas Hart serves as co-executive producer and supervising story editor, and Mark Drop is story editor. Steve Walby produces.
Casting announcements:
Disney Junior’s Ariel — Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+
The series follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond.
The voice talent incudes:
- Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) as Ariel
- Taye Diggs (Rent) as King Triton
- Amber Riley (Glee) as Ursula
- Elizabeth Phoenix Caro (The Christmas Chronicles) voices Lucia
- Cruz Flateau (“SuperKitties”) voices Fernie
- Gracen Newton (“Puppy Dog Pals”) as Flounder.
Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior with executive producer Lynne Southerland and Ezra Edmond as producer. Kuni Tomita serves as supervising director, and Chrystin Garland is art director. Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner are story editors.
Robogobo — Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+
After being given super-powered Robo-Suits by kid inventor Dax, the pets are on a mission to save other pets in trouble and learn how to become a family in the process.
The A-list cast includes:
- Cynthia Erivo
- Valerie Bertinelli
- Alan Cumming
- Susan Kelechi Watson
- Ana Gasteyer
- Alison Pill
- Dulé Hill
They join a talented roster of young voice actors, including:
- Ja’Siah Young (Raising Dion)
- Brayden Morgan (Slumberkins)
- Azuri Hardy Jones (My Adventures with Superman)
- Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals)
- Leili Ahmadyar
Veteran voice actor:
- Dee Bradley Baker (Phineas and Ferb)
Produced by Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Junior, with Chris Gilligan as creator/executive producer/director. Developed for television by Matt Hoverman, with Hoverman, Andy Guerda, and Brandon Violette as story editors.
Doc Mcstuffins: The Doc & Bella Are In! —Premieres Wednesday, September 6, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior at 9:25 a.m. EDT/PDT; streaming same day on Disney+.
In the new short-form series inspired by Disney Junior’s Peabody Award-winning Doc McStuffins, Doc welcomes Bella Bunnynose (voiced by Kate Micucci), an adorable plush bunny who dreams of being a toy doctor just like Doc. Bella joins the toys in the clinic and learns from Doc as her intern. The series’ lead voice cast, including Laya DeLeon Hayes (as Doc), Lara Jill Miller (as Lambie), Robbie Rist (as Stuffy), Jess Harnell (as Chilly) and Loretta Devine (as Hallie), will reprise their roles in the shorts.
Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Junior with Jamie Mitchell as executive producer. The writer is Chelsea Beyl, and David H. Brooks is director and producer. The Supervising producer is John Harvatine IV.
Firebuds — Season 2 premieres in November on Disney Junior and Disney+.
The series follows a group of friends, all children of first responders, who embark on adventures to help their community and learn what it truly means to be a hero. The new season features a forest rescue theme and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in the great outdoors. Throughout the new season, the Firebuds embark on daring forest rescues while continuing to help their neighbors in Gearbox Grove.
Produced by Disney Television Animation with Craig Gerber as creator and executive producer. Craig Simpson is producer, and Robb Pratt is supervising producer. Story editors are Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp.
Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures — New episodes premiering November 8 on Disney Junior and Disney+, with more new episodes coming 2024.
Set during the High Republic era, the series follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way.
A new batch of episodes, including a Life Day holiday episode, will debut on Disney Junior and Disney+ on Wednesday, November 8. The Life Day episode will follow Master Yoda, Master Zia and Jedi younglings Kai, Lys, and Nubs as they take a trip to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day and learn more about the Wookiee’s holiday traditions.
Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Junior with Michael Olson as showrunner and executive producer. James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes serve as executive producers, with Elliot M. Bour as supervising director and co-producer. The consulting producer is Lamont Magee.
Source: Disney
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
