By Andie Hagemann
It’s Pupstruction time!
Disney Branded Television’s all-new animated series Pupstruction, geared towards kids ages 2-7, follows the adventures of a doggone hard-working construction crew led by Phinny (voiced by Yonas Kibreab)—an innovative young corgi who dreams up some of the biggest and wildest ideas to help his town of Petsburg.
“Phinny is the smallest on the crew, but he learns that because he has big ideas, he can still accomplish things and find ways to follow his dream,” creator and executive producer Travis Braun tells D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “It’s not about how big you are but how big you dream, and Phinny demonstrates that in every episode.”
The other members of the Pupstruction crew are Luna (voiced by Mica Zeltzer), a comically spontaneous sheepdog; Roxy (voiced by Scarlett Kate Ferguson), a can-do rottweiler; and Tank (voiced by Carson Minniear), a lovable, snack-obsessed mastiff.
Braun confesses he shares an enormous love for snacks like the character Tank. “Every time I’m in the writers’ room, I’m stopping for a snack, and it’s become a running joke that I have a new snack every 30 minutes,” he recalls with a big laugh. “But the character I relate to the most is Phinny because I was that little kid with big ideas who wanted to create cool things.”
Phinny’s ambitious spirit extends to Roxy, who uses wheels for rear legs. While Pupstruction will highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusion in several episodes, Roxy is not defined by her disability; she’s just a part of the team like everyone else. “We have an amazing voice actor named Scarlett Kate Ferguson, who also uses a wheelchair,” Braun continues. “She does archery and horseback riding, and is so much like her character Roxy.”
He adds, “Roxy is a fun character to write because she has all these layers to her. She loves demolition but also loves tutus and [the color] pink.”
Behind the scenes, the creative team engaged in extensive conversations regarding accessibility in Petsburg: “Construction can be silly and fun—pouring concrete, knocking over walls, and doing demolition—but construction can also build things that make a difference in people’s lives,” Braun says. “One of my favorite episodes is when the pups encounter a staircase leading to the observatory but it’s not accessible for everyone, so they strategize a way to change it.”
The voice cast also features Yvette Nicole Brown as Mayor Gilmore; Bobby Moynihan as Bobby Boots; Grey DeLisle as Maya; Kari Wahlgren as Scratch; Eric Bauza as characters Harry, Sniff, and Lloyd; and Alessandra Perez as Bailey… along with Olga Merediz as Grandma Dee, Todrick Hall as Harvey Hare, Gabriel Iglesias as Felipe, and Nate Torrence as Chameleo.
“I grew up loving Disney, and I’m still a Disney kid today,” shares Braun. “I wanted to make a show that took all those elements I love about Disney, blend it with the feeling of community, and encourage viewers to be playful and silly. We had so much fun making this show and let ourselves be free to play—and I hope people feel that when they watch the show.”
Pupstruction premieres Wednesday, June 14, with a simulcast on Disney Channel and Disney Junior at 8 a.m. ET/PT. Select episodes will be available the same day on Disney+ and on-demand platforms.