Watch “The Place to Be,” the First Music Video from Disney’s ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires

By Zach Johnson

Today, Disney released "The Place to Be," the first single and music video from the highly anticipated Disney Channel Original Movie ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires. The music video is now streaming on DisneyMusicVevo and Disney Channel Music YouTube, and the single is also available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other digital platforms.

ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires — the latest installment of the music-fueled ZOMBIES franchise — premieres Thursday, July 10, at 7 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and streams the next day, Friday, July 11, on Disney+.

"The Place to Be" is performed by ensemble cast members Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, and Mekonnen Knife and features choreography by Dondraico Johnson. The upbeat pop anthem introduces Nova (Skye) and the Daywalkers and Victor (Barton) and the Vampires — two rival monster factions from the neighboring towns of Sunnyside and Shadyside. Daywalkers showcase their ability to harness the sun's energy, while Vampires command the power of wind and sky.

Featuring nine brand-new original songs and two reprises of fan-favorite hits, the soundtrack for ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires is also available for pre-order, pre-add, and pre-save from Walt Disney Records. Fans who pre-purchase the soundtrack will be able to instantly receive a download of "The Place to Be."

Single artwork for "The Place to Be," featuring Freya Skye, Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton from Disney's ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires

The ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires Original Soundtrack track list is as follows:

  1. "Legends in the Making" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell
  2. "The Place to Be" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  3. "Dream Come True (Intro)" – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton
  4. "Don't Mess With Us" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  5. "Dream Come True" – Performed by Freya Skye, Malachi Barton
  6. "Kerosene" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  7. "My Own Way" – Performed by Freya Skye
  8. "Possible" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  9. "Someday (Reprise)" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly
  10. Show the World – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly, Chandler Kinney, Kylee Russell, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  11. "Ain't No Doubt About It (Reprise)" – Performed by Milo Manheim, Meg Donnelly
  12. "Together as One" – Performed by Meg Donnelly, Freya Skye, Malachi Barton, Swayam Bhatia, Julian Lerner, Mekonnen Knife
  13. "Score Suite" – Performed by Tom Howe

Additionally, the Music from ZOMBIES vinyl album will be released July 11; it's now available for pre-order. The 1-LP Green vinyl features 12 songs from the iconic franchise, including "We Own the Night," "Call to the Wild," and "Someday," plus "The Place to Be," "Dream Come True," and "Don't Mess With Us" from ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires.

Can't get enough ZOMBIES music? This summer, the Descendants/ZOMBIES: Worlds Collide Tour will hit 43 arenas across North America, celebrating the music of ZOMBIES 4: Dawn of the Vampires alongside fan-favorite hits from the hit Descendants and ZOMBIES franchises.

ZOMBIES, ZOMBIES 2, and ZOMBIES 3 are currently streaming on Disney+.

Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts* Director Jake Schreier on Creating the Team Up of the Summer

By Zach Johnson

Marvel Studios assembles an unconventional team of antiheroes — Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, Red Guardian, Ghost, Taskmaster, and John Walker — in Thunderbolts*, playing exclusively in movie theaters beginning today. The action-adventure is directed by Emmy® Award winner Jake Schreier and produced by Kevin Feige, the president of Marvel Studios.

Kicking off the summer box office season, the film stars Florence Pugh, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell, Olga Kurylenko, Lewis Pullman, Geraldine Viswanathan, Chris Bauer, and Wendell Pierce, with David Harbour, Hannah John-Kamen, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

In a Q&A, Schreier reveals what sets the Thunderbolts* team apart in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), shares the benefits of working in the Marvel Studios ecosystem, reveals why Pugh's character is the beating heart of the film — and much more.

What intrigued you most about directing an MCU film — and why Thunderbolts*?

I'm friends with Jon Watts [director of Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and Spider-Man: No Way Home] — who was my roommate in college — so I got an inside look at what it is to work in this world and to see what he pulled off.

Especially with this group of characters... because they're not as familiar, there's an opportunity there; there's a little bit more freedom and a little less expectation. There is room to take [the story] in different places and do some different things with it.

The MCU is one of the strongest brands in entertainment. How did that help guide you as you were making Thunderbolts*?

The main thing is just Kevin guiding [us]. He's so good at this... When you have a [studio] that has been so successful for so long, to still try new things and push things forward, there's so much freedom in that encouragement. Kevin and [executive producer Louis D'Esposito] earned that. That trust really protects you. When you're working with them, and you're collaborating, there's room to take chances and go places that seem interesting.

(L-R) Director Jake Schreier and actor Wyatt Russell go over a scene with the crew on the set of Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

What differentiates the Thunderbolts* in the MCU, and how do the events of this film support storytelling in future films?

I think they're sort of your least anticipated group of Marvel heroes [laughs]. But in that way, they're like us. There's something that everyone can relate to in all of these characters. They're people who have found themselves in a place they didn't expect to be, or maybe things didn't work out for them quite in the way that they thought. I think anyone can relate, certainly. Then, the question is: What do you do from there? Where do you go? Do you retreat into yourself, or do you find connection in others and move forward through that?

How were you able to successfully balance the storylines of so many disparate characters into a cohesive, compelling narrative that also fits into the larger MCU?

 It really starts with this incredible group of actors and how much they care not only about their work, but also about the characters that they've built and have come to care about and feel protective of. We obviously tried to build that into the script, but [it also came through] conversations with the actors when they showed up in early rehearsals talking about what felt honest to their characters, what they felt like could be adjusted, and what they could bring of themselves and their interpretation to make [things] feel more earned.

In your opinion, what makes someone a hero? Considering all the bad things they've done over the years, would any of the Thunderbolts even classify themselves as heroes?

It's interesting. Other than Alexi [Harbour] — who is so invested in this meta idea of heroism, of being appreciated, and of the glory side of it — we didn't talk so much about heroes and villains in this movie. We really tried to treat it more on a character level. It's about being in a place and how you get out of it; in this world it's really about saving yourself and saving each other. Yes, they're saving the world. But it starts from an internal place, and that felt like a really rich thing to explore with actors of this caliber who can really bring that to life.

Director Jake Schreier looks at a monitor on the set of Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts*.

Each of these characters is coming into this film battling their own personal demons. How do their complex emotions color the story amid all the action and adventure?

When we're stuck in our own thought loops and reflecting on our shame, there's often a tendency to feel like we're alone in that place, that no one else can understand it. While they all have their individual traumas and their different perspectives on how they feel, if they open themselves up to that connection, they [begin] see that there are others who can understand them, even if they haven't gone through another's specific experience.

Look, we want to have a lot of fun in this movie. There's a ton of action. We're in IMAX®, we're blowing things up, cranes are falling, limos are exploding — but you never want that stuff to get ahead of where the characters are along the story. You want to feel like that action is coming from a story perspective and it's all working together to build a narrative.

The Houghton Brothers Celebrate 100 Episodes of Big City Greens

By Zach Johnson

In the landmark 100th episode of Disney Branded Television’s Big City Greens, the Green family is determined to make their 100th adventure their best — whether that means unleashing monstrous chickens, venturing into the afterlife, or delivering a mysterious box.

Created and executive produced by brothers Chris and Shane Houghton, the Emmy® Award-nominated animated series premiered on Disney Channel in June 2018. The comedy-adventure follows the offbeat adventures of 10-year-old Cricket Green (voiced by Chris Houghton), a mischievous and optimistic country boy who moves to the big city with his wildly out-of-place family: older sister Tilly Green (voiced by Marieve Herington), father Bill Green (voiced by Bob Joles), and Gramma Alice (voiced by Artemis Pebdani). The series is heavily influenced by the Houghton brothers’ youth in rural St. Johns, Michigan.

In Big City Greens' 100th episode, Tilly (left) and Gramma Alice (right) try to make contact with the spirit of Ernest "Grampa" Green.

Over the years, Big City Greens has borne fruit across The Walt Disney Company, with the Green family appearing in interstitials for Disney Channel and Disney+, as well as in Disney Branded Television’s short-form series Broken Karaoke, Chibi Tiny Tales, and How NOT to Draw. In 2023, Big City Greens collaborated with ESPN for the NHL Big City Greens Classic — a live, animated NHL game telecast, powered by volumetric and motion capture technologies. And, in 2024, the Big City Greens franchise expanded with its first feature-length film, Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation.

Before the 100th episode debuts May 3 on Disney Channel and May 7 on Disney+, the Houghton brothers — who entered into an overall deal with Disney Branded Television in 2024 — reflect on Big City Greens‘ impact and the surprising opportunities it’s given them.

In Big City Greens' 100th episode, Gloria, Tilly, Gramma Alice, Bill, and Cricket realize they are "on the precipice of a major milestone event" — their 100th adventure.

Without spoiling anything, what is the 100th episode about?

Chris: There was a lot of pressure to come up with a new, exciting, very big story for the 100th adventure. We were banging our heads against the wall, thinking, “What could we do? And what haven’t we done?” And it was Shane who actually came up with the story.

Shane: We’ve covered so much in 100 episodes of Big City Greens that we knew we had to go bigger, better, crazier than we’d ever gone before. So… we did that! I don’t want to give too much away, [but it has all the things] audiences have come to love about Big City Greens. It’s super funny, full of heart and emotion. It’s a celebration and a look back at all 99 episodes that came before it. I’m very proud of it — very happy with how it turned out.

Chris: We hope our fans love it. And [Disney Legend] Mark Hamill guest stars in it!

In Big City Greens' 100th episode, Cricket (left) asks Bill (right) to finish the story of his adventure.

The success of Big City Greens led to a feature film, several shorts and specials, and even an alternate sportscast. What unexpected opportunities has the show given you?

Chris: When we came to Disney, it felt like this was our chance to really make Big City Greens as a project as big as it could possibly be. We were making the TV series, but then when opportunities came to do some shorts, or to do ancillary projects like the NHL partnership, we jumped at every one of them. The fun part of this job, of being at Disney, is getting opportunities to grow well beyond a TV series.

Shane: What I love is that everybody who works on the show brings something different to it — a different perspective, a different idea. We, as the showrunners, then get to look at all of those great ideas, like a menu of options, and say, “Oh, that’s great. That’s great.” And that has led to a lot of really fun and interesting episodes or opportunities. We did our Christmas special in CG animation using Epic’s video game engine, Unreal. It was so unique and so different from anything we’ve ever done. We were able to make a movie, which was a dream come true. That was something we had wanted to do ever since we came to Hollywood, and it was cool that we got to do it with people from the series. I couldn’t be prouder of our crew and the people who make the show with us at Disney TV Animation.

Chris: It’s so much bigger than just us. We have the honor to lead this massive team, and, as Shane said, pick and choose which great idea we’re going to go with next. That collaboration is so fun. Animation is a team sport. It’s great to go in every day and try to make stuff that’s funny and entertaining, that people might still want to watch in 30 years.

In Big City Greens' 100th episode, Remy (left) and Cricket (right) unleash monstrous chickens.

How have you evolved creatively since Big City Greens premiered seven years ago?

Shane: This is the longest job I’ve ever had, and it’s cool to look back at how much we’ve grown as people. We’ve been in production for nine years, and a lot of our crew members have been with us since Season 1 of the show. We aren’t the spring chickens we used to be, but it’s cool. We’ve cultivated this crew that we’re really proud of. We’ve told stories that we’re very proud of, and I think we’re doing a lot more. So, to the fans: thanks for watching!

Chris: We couldn’t have done it without you. It’s an honor to have this job. It’s so fun to come in each week and think of crazy stuff for Cricket and Tilly to do.

The cast and creative team of Disney Branded Television's Big City Greens — Shane Houghton, Meredith Roberts, Chris Houghton, Bob Joles, Zeno Robinson, Marieve Herington, and Artemis Pebdani — gathered to celebrate the hit animated series' 100th episode.

Celebrate May the 4th With New and Fan-Favorite Star Wars Releases on Disney+

“This is where the fun begins!” Star Wars fans are preparing to commemorate May the 4th, a day of celebration created by fans to celebrate everything they love about a galaxy far, far away. To prepare for this out-of-this-world celebration, Disney+ has Star Wars fans covered with exciting new releases, as well as the stories they know and love. Here’s a roundup of some extra special Disney+ content perfect for Star Wars Day viewing.

Light & Magic Season 2

Star Wars fans seeking to learn more about Industrial Light & Magic—the visual effects company responsible for bringing some of the most memorable Star Wars moments to life—were treated to the Season 2 premiere of Light & Magic on April 18. Season 2 follows ILM into a particularly challenging and innovative period in Lucasfilm’s history as they worked to bring Star Wars into the digital age. The three-part season is a testament to Industrial Light & Magic’s relentless pursuit of excellence in storytelling and a fantastic way for fans to celebrate the company’s 50th anniversary and the artists behind some of their favorite stories.

Andor Season 2

The highly anticipated second season of Lucasfilm’s Emmy®-nominated thriller Andor premiered April 22. Set five years before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the galaxy has grown dark under the looming threat of war. The Rebel Alliance finds itself in a period of great turbulence, with betrayals and conflicting agendas plaguing the movement in its quest to restore light to the galaxy. Amid this chaos, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) rises to prominence as an increasingly important member of the Rebel Alliance, transforming himself from a cynical nobody from Kenari to one of the galaxy’s most courageous heroes. The final season of Andor is a thrilling drama filled with the danger and adventure that Star Wars fans know and love.

Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld – Premieres May 4

May the 4th brings plenty of fun for Star Wars fans, including the release of Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld, the new Dave Filoni series that fans at Star Wars Celebration Japan got a sneak preview of last month. The series features two of the galaxy’s most dangerous and iconic villains: outlaw Cade Bane (Corey Burton) and former assassin and bounty hunter Asajj Ventress (Nika Futterman). The six-episode series follows the unlikely alliance these two characters form while on the run from Bane’s not-so-friendly former friend. Explore the dangerous underworld of the Star Wars galaxy in this brand-new series.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Walkthrough Videos – Premieres May 4

Bright suns, travelers! Take a trip to a galaxy far, far away with unique content from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort! Fans can experience Batuu as they’ve never seen it before in this exclusive content made especially to celebrate Star Wars Day as well as the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration beginning May 16th! The POV-style videos will feature a unique look at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, inviting you to explore Batuu after hours, where droids work diligently, heroes emerge, and the First Order looms around almost every corner, and experience a thrilling ride-through of the extremely popular attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, where you can uncover if you have what it takes to rise with the Resistance. Prepare to make the jump to light speed when these exciting Disney Parks exclusive P.O.V. content premieres May the 4th, only on Disney+.

Presented by Coca-Cola.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III) – 20th Anniversary on May 19

There are so many beloved stories in Star Wars that are perfect to watch on May the 4th, including Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (Episode III), which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on May 19. The epic third installment of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy chronicles Anakin Skywalker’s (Hayden Christensen) desperate turn to the Dark Side as he tries in vain to save Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). This tragic story has captivated audiences for the past 20 years and remains a fan-favorite to this day. We would say that you should absolutely celebrate Star Wars Day by watching this film, but then again, “only a Sith deals in absolutes.”

There are so many amazing Star Wars stories to watch on Disney+ to celebrate May the 4th. Happy watching, and May the Force be with you!

Claim Your Free TIE-Fighter TOKEN in MONOPOLY GO!

Free in-game TIE-Fighter TOKEN when you play MONOPOLY GO
Where: Disney+ Perks
What: Free TIE-Fighter Token
Expires: July 2, 2025

From now through July 2nd, you can receive a free in-game TIE-Fighter TOKEN when you play MONOPOLY GO!. Get ready to play, race, and soar through the galaxy in this epic crossover event! One redemption per subscriber. Terms Apply.*

CLAIM NOW

NOTE
*Limited time offer. This offer is open to adults only to legal residents of the United States and its territories, commonwealths and possessions, eighteen (18) or older as of the date of entry from May 1st, 2025 through July 2nd, 2025. This promotion is void where prohibited. Players that are eligible, have access to MONOPOLY GO! prior to the Promotion start date and have a valid game account in good standing. View the Scopely terms and conditions. Clicking on third party links and their associated images, including "Redeem", Scopely, Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube, will take you away from our Disney site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

Phone featuring the 2024 D23 Gold Member Card and surrounded by sparkles.

Access Your D23 Benefits Anytime, Anywhere
With the Disney D23 app, your membership card is just a few taps away. Access your benefits from your phone!

Access Your D23 Benefits Anytime, Anywhere
With the Disney D23 app, your membership card is just a few taps away. Access your benefits from your phone!

Showcased are the four 2025 D23 Gold Member Premiums: Disneyland 70th Collection, including The Happiest Place on Earth, a replica Disneyland Park entrance plaque, and a reproduction of the Disneyland Entrance plaque text draft; Gold Member Fan Pack including a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse water bottle, crossbody bag, and hat; a Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey Mouse Spirit Jersey; and a 10-piece Pin Set.

Where Disney Fans Belong
Enjoy access to exclusive screenings, special shopping events, immersive experiences, and unique merchandise.

JOIN TODAY

Powerline’s “I2I” Performance from Disney’s A Goofy Movie Comes to Life Like Never Before with Immersive VR Experience

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the animated classic A Goofy Movie, Disney has released an all-new virtual reality version of the film's iconic concert scene, featuring the hit song "I2I" from the fictional pop superstar, Powerline. Utilizing innovative digital technology combined with the timeless artistry of classic animation, the VR concert gives fans the chance to fully experience the thrill of a Powerline performance like never before, as if they were on stage in front of the sold-out audience.

Thirty years after its theatrical release, A Goofy Movie has become a cultural phenomenon, solidifying its place within Disney's unparalleled storytelling legacy and influencing an entire generation of fans around the world. This immersive concert experience was carefully crafted to evoke the same heartwarming humor, emotional depth, and visual charm that fans have cherished for decades, while also providing a modern, interactive way for viewers to engage with the beloved film.

The video showcases the iconic climactic scene from the film where Goofy and his son, Max, find themselves backstage at a concert featuring Powerline, voiced by celebrated entertainer and Grammy-nominated R&B artist Tevin Campbell. However, instead of following the off-stage antics of Goofy and Max throughout the concert arena, viewers can watch Powerline's performance of "I2I" in its entirety, with the moments from the chaotic scene playing out in various places within the immersive VR experience before the stars join on stage to close out the number.

Through the immersive VR experience, users can move the screen to see a full 360-degree view of Powerline performing "I2I" in Disney's A Goofy Movie, seen here.

Since the film's 1995 release, "I2I" has remained an enduring anthem of the era to fans around the world. With tens of millions of streams and countless viral dance trends on social media, the song was also recently covered by pop punk band Magnolia Park as part of Disney's A Whole New Sound album, released last year.

"I am just truly grateful and extremely blessed to be the voice of Powerline," Campbell said. "When you're a kid you never think about 30 years down the line. It's really great to be a part of something that's a part of people's childhood."

Exclusive features of the video include:

  • Immersive VR Experience: Explore the Powerline "I2I" performance in its entirety from a never-before-seen panoramic perspective.
  • Iconic Characters and Moments: Featuring some fan-favorites, including Goofy, Max Goof, Powerline, Bigfoot, and more
  • Technical Innovation: Reimagining classic animation for immersive VR, creating a "theater in the round" experience
  • Easter Eggs: Discover hidden details and surprises with every viewing.
  • 360 Audio: A dynamic soundscape that reacts to the viewer's head movements, enhancing the immersive feel

To bring this concept to life, Disney collaborated with Brooklyn-based animation studio Cartuna.

QUIZ: How Well Do You Know the Thunderbolts *The New Avengers?

QUIZ: How Well Do You Know the Thunderbolts *The New Avengers?

Introducing the Thunderbolts *the New Avengers, the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s least anticipated band of misfits. The members of Marvel Studios’ newest team of superpowered individuals need a little redemption to clean up all the dirty deeds in their pasts. To prepare for this unlikely troop hitting screens on May 2, let’s find out how much you know about these antiheroes’ backstories:

What is the first word in the Winter Soldier’s activation phrase, as heard in Captain America: Civil War (2016)?(Required)
What was the name of the covert S.H.I.E.L.D. research facility that Alexei Shostakov infiltrated while undercover in Ohio in Black Widow (2021)?(Required)
Besides being the director of the CIA, what other title does Valentina Allegra de Fontaine have?(Required)
When John Walker is stripped of his title as Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), his shield gets confiscated. What does he attach to the inside of the new shield he makes for himself?(Required)
Who does Ava Starr stay with as a child, after losing her parents in an experiment gone wrong, in Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)?(Required)
When does Antonia Dreykov become the Taskmaster?(Required)
In Hawkeye (2021), what is one of the landmarks that Yelena Belova wants to visit while hunting down Clint Barton in New York City?(Required)

Disney’s Animation Studios Join AnimAID Fundraising Campaign

By Courtney Potter

“Togetherness, for me, means teamwork,” said Walt Disney. This ideal can often been seen at the heart of the stories we tell across the worlds of Disney… as well as in the camaraderie and support shown by (and to) fellow cast members, employees, and fans—especially in times of hardship—from all corners of the company.

Case in point: As part of its ongoing commitment in helping its hometown recover from the devastating wildfires earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company joined its animation industry colleagues at ASIFA-Hollywood in participating in AnimAID—a fundraising campaign to support those impacted. This incredible initiative looks to provide critical funds to artists and professionals working within the animation industry, many of whom lost their homes or faced displacement due to the disaster. The campaign kicked off at the 2025 ASIFA-Hollywood 52nd annual Annie Awards—and this week, AnimAID begins its next chapter, with an amazing online auction in partnership with Sotheby’s.

Featuring a veritable treasure trove of rare and one-of-a-kind pieces of animation history tied to some of the most beloved films and TV classics, the AnimAID auction includes items from Snow White, The Simpsons, Inside Out, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Wild Robot, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and more! The lots include original drawings, paintings, animation cels, signed posters, maquette figures, and even some once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as voicing a character in an upcoming feature—all donated by animation studios including The Walt Disney Company, Warner Brothers, DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures Animation, and Paramount, among others.

The pieces, many of which are being seen by the public for the very first time, are now available for bidding online via Sotheby’s, through Tuesday, May 6. Proceeds will directly benefit multiple animation families who have been affected by the disaster.

Every animation studio within Disney—including Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Disney Television Animation, Marvel Animation, and Lucasfilm Animation—contributed to this campaign.

An original character design concept drawing from Disney’s Hercules, which is available in the AnimAID fundraising auction, being held by ASIFA-Hollywood.

“I have a lot of friends who lost their homes in the L.A. fires,” says Pete Docter, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, “and it felt like the least we could do would be to contribute some of what we love doing anyway to those who need it. It is very unique and rare to be able to own some of the pieces that Pixar is donating. And I think this is the first time that every major animation studio—including Disney and Pixar and DreamWorks and Sony and Warner Brothers, et cetera—has come together to support a cause like this.”

Adds Meredith Roberts, executive vice president, Disney Television Animation, “Los Angeles is our hometown and the heart of the animation community. Many members of the Disney Television Animation family—and of neighboring studios—suffered catastrophic losses in the fires. Rallying the creative community to donate artwork felt like the most meaningful way we could support our own.”

The historic Walt Disney Animation Research Library not only helped locate items, but they’re also offering up the chance at an exclusive, in-person tour! So, what’s in store? “[The winning bidder will] get to see artwork that not too many people get to see,” Fox Carney, ARL research manager, tells D23. “They’ll get to visit our dimensional objects vault… Essentially, they’ll see how we identify, organize, and rehouse artwork every day, from the 100 years of our animation history; how we catalog it, photograph it, and digitize it so everybody within The Walt Disney Company can reference it and make [future work] as true to the originals as possible.”

An original cel from The Simpsons, which is available in the AnimAID fundraising auction, being held by ASIFA-Hollywood.

Among the Walt Disney Company-related items available for bidding are a cel from the 1988 TV special Here’s to You, Mickey Mouse!; a cel from The Simpsons; and Frozen maquettes signed by directors Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee.

“Here at Pixar, when we announced this, so many people came out of the woodwork to do anything they could to support the cause,” says Docter. “For example, if you like Elemental, that film’s director, Peter Sohn, has entered a drawing of Wade and Ember. If you like Inside Out 2, the artist who designed the character of Anxiety has a beautiful collage in the auction. We have Turning Red artwork from director Domee Shi. I can keep going. Just tons of great artwork.”

But that’s not all—items are being specially created just for this auction. For instance: “From me, I’m going to draw whatever the winner wants me to,” Docter adds. “Whatever they want, full color. That’s what I’m contributing, and I couldn’t love it more.”

On the Disney Television Animation side, “we donated one‑of‑a‑kind production artwork—from hand‑painted cels and backgrounds to original character designs and storyboards,” Roberts says, “spanning fan‑favorite series such as Gummi Bears (our very first show), Chip ’n Dale Rescue Rangers, Darkwing Duck, DuckTales, Kim Possible, Sofia the First, and our current hit series Big City Greens. We also contributed exclusive, signed pieces created just for AnimAID by acclaimed artists including Bruce Smith (The Proud Family, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder); Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh (Phineas and Ferb); and Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers (Prep & Landing).”

“This company started with animation,” Carney explains. “Animation is in our DNA. And the people who create animation made us who we are. I think this auction is our way of not only giving back and providing support and relief—but also honoring them and honoring that legacy.”

For more information on all the truly incredible items and experiences up for bid through ASIFA-Hollywood’s AnimAID fundraising campaign—and to make a bid yourself, for an extremely worthy cause—visit https://www.sothebys.com/AnimAID.

Rockhopper Record-Breaker: World-First Footage Captured for Nat Geo’s Secrets of the Penguins

By the D23 Team

It’s Earth Month, and that means that National Geographic is back with another installment of its eye-opening Secrets Of franchise. This year, Nat Geo is exposing the incredible world of penguins-from emperor penguins surviving in Antarctica to industrious Galapagos penguins living above the equator.

To capture the lives of these amazing, resilient birds, National Geographic also had to be adaptive and create new methods for filming in the hard-to-reach places where penguins live. The series was filmed over two years-and over 70 personnel were deployed across nine locations around the globe, where an incredible 14-plus different camera systems were developed and used on land, underwater, and aerially.

Due to this amazing production, the Secret of the Penguins team was able to observe previously unseen penguin behaviors and capture exclusive, world-first footage of truly jaw-dropping moments! Check out this sneak peek of what’s in store for viewers of this latest Nat Geo series:

A large group of Emperor penguin chicks jumping off the ice shelf edge for their first swim in the dark blue waters of Atka Bay, Antarctica. The cliff is quite high and several penguins are mid-dive.
Emperor penguin chicks jumping off the ice shelf edge for their first swim, Atka Bay, Antarctica. (National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

Emperor penguin chicks base-jumping off a 50-ft cliff

Emperor chicks have long been witnessed slipping into the water from the sea-ice’s edge, just several feet high. Capturing the bold leap of hundreds off a 50-ft ice-cliff was an incredible world-first moment, filmed in amazing detail.

An adult Gentoo penguin standing on its nest with its two young chicks. There are several other penguins in the background, set against a blue, cloud-filled sky.
An adult Gentoo penguin standing on its nest with its two young chicks. (credit: National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

Rockaroni chicks

In the Falkland Islands, the team captured very rare, mixed-species penguin pairs in unprecedented detail. These Macaroni and Rockhopper couples were followed through courtship into parenthood. In the wild, most mixed-species pairings are doomed to infertility and failure-but these penguins seem to, fortunately, buck the trend.

The team also filmed healthy Rockaroni chicks, sometimes also called Machoppers, for the very first time.  While scientists aren’t yet ready to claim this as the emergence of a new species, it is a potential sign of evolution, and an exciting genetic adaptation for future generations.

An Emperor penguin in a snowstorm; their beak and upper body is covered with ice.
An Emperor penguin in a snowstorm. (credit: National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

Emperor penguin parents practicing egg transfers with clumps of ice

Captured during winter, a bonded pair passed an egg-sized lump of ice between them. While it’s been recorded that other penguin species attempt to incubate false eggs, the passing of ice between emperors has never been filmed before, to Nat Geo’s knowledge.

Galapagos penguins hunting black-striped salema fish in the water off the coast of Galapagos Islands. Sun streams through the water on the upper left of the image.
Galapagos penguins hunting black striped salema fish in the water off the coast of Galapagos Islands. (National Geographic/Bertie Gregory)

A rockhopper penguin fights back against a sea lion

In the Falklands, the team captured a breathtaking and unplanned moment when a small rockhopper spun around to fight back against a true “goliath”: a giant Southern Sea Lion. Despite it being many times her size, the rockhopper screamed and flapped at the sea lion, shocking it into submission… and retreat!

Excited for more? Stream Secrets of the Penguins on Disney+ and watch all these incredible world-first moments get captured in real time, alongside the experts behind the camera at National Geographic.

Meet the Characters of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts *The New Avengers

Meet the Characters of Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts *The New Avengers

By Cassandra Pinkney

There are good guys. There are bad guys. And then, there are the Thunderbolts*. Marvel Studios’ Thunderbolts *the New Avengers follows the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s least anticipated band of misfits as they team up against an enemy unlike any the world has ever seen (and that’s saying something).

The film features a star-studded cast—some of whom are seen above, in an D23-exclusive image from the recent Cinema Con in Las Vegas: Florence Pugh (Yelena Belova), David Harbour (Alexei Shostakov/Red Guardian), Wyatt Russell (John Walker/U.S. Agent), Hannah John-Kamen (Ava Starr/Ghost), and Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Valentina Allegra De Fontaine).

Here’s a helpful rundown of who’s who in the Thunderbolts*:

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh) is wearing a black Super Hero suit and standing in rocky terrain. It’s dusk, and she’s looking off camera to the right, with a serious expression.

Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)
Yelena Belova is no fan of posers (which might be a problem for the Thunderbolts*). After her mind control was broken by a former Black Widow, she and her sister, Natasha Romanoff, destroyed General Dreykov’s Red Room Academy. Belova made it her life’s mission to free all the other Black Widows, a mission which got interrupted after she disappeared for five years during the Blip. She learned from Valentina De Fontaine (remember that name) that Romanoff died because of Clint Barton, and Belova’s new mission was to hunt him down. However, she had a last-minute change of heart and decided not to complete her mission. Belova now finds herself drifting aimlessly through the world until a new enemy gives her a purpose.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Bucky Barnes (Winter Soldier) is wearing a black leather outfit and sunglasses and is on the back of a motorcycle, surrounded by rocky terrain. It’s daylight and he’s looking at something off camera to the right.

James “Bucky” Barnes, Winter Soldier (Sebastian Stan)
James “Bucky” Barnes has been a hero, a villain, and everything in between throughout his (deceptively long) life. Beginning his journey as Steve Rogers’ right-hand man, he was presumed dead after falling to his death while on a mission with the Howling Commandos. It was only when he resurfaced decades later as the Winter Soldier that Rogers realized that history’s most infamous assassin was his best friend all along. Breaking free from HYDRA’s brainwashing was Barnes’ first step on a long road to redemption, evident by the plethora of therapy sessions and political campaign stops that litter his path. Despite his efforts, his past always seemed to catch up with him, cementing his anti-hero status and securing him a spot on the Thunderbolts*.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, John Walker (U.S. Agent), in his Super Hero suit, is standing in a darkened hallway somewhat illuminated by long red neon lights. He is looking at something off camera to the right.

John Walker, U.S. Agent (Wyatt Russell)
John Walker was the quintessential All-American man. The high school football team captain turned three-time Medal of Honor recipient seemed like the perfect successor capable of taking on the Captain America mantle from Steve Rogers. But Walker’s stint in red, white and blue was short-lived. After the death of his partner Lemar Hoskins sent him into a blind rage, he was stripped of his title. Feeling disposed of by the government he devoted his life to, Walker decided he would do anything to feel like a hero again.  (What else was he supposed to do with the Super Soldier Serum he took?) With a little help from Valentina De Fontaine (keep remembering that name), he rebranded himself as U.S. Agent, a “hero” for a post-Blip world and is a much needed tolerated member of the Thunderbolts*.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Antonia Dreykov (Taskmaster), in her Super Hero outfit, is holding a shield and weapon and standing near several boxes, to the left, in a dimly lit room. Her face is covered by a white mask and dark cloak.

Antonia Dreykov, Taskmaster (Olga Kurylenko)
Antonia Dreykov had a normal childhood, unlike the Black Widows her father trained as leader of the Red Room Academy. That all changed when she and her father survived an attempt on his life. General Dreykov implanted a chip into his daughter’s neck to control her emotions and trained her in the Red Room to become a ruthless Black Widow. Her talent for mimicking the fighting style of her enemy made her the head of the Black Widows and earned her the monicker Taskmaster. She broke free of her father’s control after Natasha Romanoff used Red Dust on her, allowing her to join a group of other freed Black Widows. There’s no telling what Dreykov’s path to redemption holds.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Bob (Lewis Pullman) is wearing a light bluish-gray inmate uniform and standing behind a column and black plastic boxes, looking at something behind the camera’s vantage point. The room he’s in is dimly lit by red neon lights.

Robert Reynolds, ****** (Lewis Pullman)
Robert Reynolds is a man known by many names, including ******, Bob, and perhaps most importantly, *** ****. After a life of ******** and ********, he became incredibly ****** ***** ****** * *****. Bob’s involvement with the Thunderbolts* is characterized by his ********* *****, which ultimately leads to **** ** ********. How will he ******* ********* **** *******? That’s between him and the Thunderbolts*.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian (David Harbour) is in his Super Hero suit and standing in smoky downtown street. He’s looking over his shoulder at something off camera to the right. There are bystanders behind him, looking in the same direction, and there is a car behind him to the right.

Alexei Shostakov, Red Guardian (David Harbour)
There are many rocky relationships between members of the Thunderbolts*, but only one father-daughter duo in the form of Alexei Shostakov and Yelena Belova. Red Guardian was the Soviet Union’s first and only super soldier, a fact Shostakov will never let anyone forget. He often regaled his unwilling audiences with tales from his glory days (and he never let the truth get in the way of a good story). After helping his daughters free the Black Widows, Shostakov’s days are now spent “protecting you from boring evening” at Red Guardian Limo Service.

In an image from Marvel’s Thunderbolts* The New Avengers, Ava Starr (Ghost) is wearing her Super Hero suit and pointing a weapon at something off camera to the left.

Ava Starr, Ghost (Hannah John-Kamen)
Following a quantum accident in her childhood, Ava Starr spent her life phasing between physical and intangible states. S.H.I.E.L.D. took an interest in her powers and trained her to become a ruthless stealth operative. Her abilities, though useful to some, cause Starr a great deal of pain. She tried to extract energy from the Quantum Realm to control her condition but was instead given a special suit to stabilize her pain to save Janet van Dyne, who was stuck in the Quantum Realm and needed that energy to survive. Still stuck phasing between the physical and the intangible, Starr must now use her powers to help the Thunderbolts*.

Valentina Allegra De Fontaine wearing a dark suit and holding a glass of champagne while talking to Yelena Belova.

Valentina Allegra De Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus)
CIA director Valentina Allegra De Fontaine likes having powerful people on her side and will use whatever means necessary to get them there (told you she would be important). As noted earlier, she convinced John Walker to become U.S. Agent after the hearing which stripped him of his Captain America title and assigned Yelena Belova to track down Clint Barton when she visited her sister’s grave. She also wanted to get her hands on Wakanda’s vibranium supply and used her ex-husband Everett Ross to help her do so. De Fontaine does not believe that there are “good” and “bad” people, but that there are “bad” and “worse” people (how cheerful).

Well, that’s our roundup of the MCU’s least expected Super anti-hero group... see them in action in now, only in theaters, in Marvel Studios’ *The New Avengers!