It’s a Family Thang! Celebrate 20 Years of The Proud Family with a D23-Exclusive Pin

By the D23 Team

D23-Exclusive The Proud Family 20th Anniversary Pin – Limited Edition

Celebrate 20 years of The Proud Family with this stylish pin created just for D23. The pin features a fan-favorite lyric, along with family members Penny, Oscar, Trudy, Suga Mama, and BeBe and CeCe! This D23 Gold Member-exclusive pin, created in hard enamel, is the perfect way to celebrate this magical Disney Channel milestone!

proud family pin

Our The Proud Family pin, offered in a limited edition of 1,500, will be available exclusively to D23 Gold Members on shopDisney at 7 a.m. PT on September 13, 2021.

*Available while supplies last. To purchase, you must log in to shopDisney.com with the Disney account tied to D23 Gold Membership. Pins are sold for $12.99 each, plus applicable sales tax. Maximum of two (2) pins of this style for purchase per D23 Gold Member for online orders. Shipping not available to PO boxes; shipping and handling fees may vary for all online orders. Other restrictions may apply. All information is subject to change including, but not limited to, artwork, release dates, editions sizes, and retail prices.

The Lion King and TikTok to Make Broadway History with Live Streaming Event

By Zach Johnson

There’s more to see than can ever be seen… on Broadway and on TikTok!

In a Broadway first, The Lion King will exclusively partner with TikTok to stream the production’s iconic opening number, “Circle of Life,” on September 14 in celebration of the hit show’s return to the stage, 18 months after the Broadway shutdown. The live stream event will start at 7 p.m. ET and can be viewed on the Disney on Broadway TikTok account.

Disney on Broadway needs your help! Follow the Disney on Broadway TikTok account today to be part of history and join the cast on September 14 to watch this memorable live stream performance of “Circle of Life.” The live stream will include a pre-show hosted by Broadway cast member Adrienne Walker (Nala) that will bring viewers behind the scenes to meet the people who bring The Lion King to life on a daily basis. The event will culminate with a live feed of “Circle of Life” from the Minskoff Theatre, giving fans across the globe the chance to be a part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience that would otherwise be limited to the 1,700 guests inside the theater that night. Click here to watch a video of Walker announcing the partnership.

The live stream event is in support of The Actors Fund, which has provided more than $22.7 million in direct financial assistance to more than 16,700 people since the beginning of the Broadway shutdown. Earlier this year, TikTok firmly established itself as the leading platform for all things musical theatre, as creators and The Actors Fund came together to build out a crowd-sourced version of Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical. Since then, TikTok has remained the hub for fans and creators of theatre, dance, music, and all things Broadway.

The Lion King TikTok

“We are thrilled to welcome audiences back to Broadway. But realizing that only 1,700 guests would get to experience our first performance in the theatre, we wanted to find a way for everyone to be part of this historic Broadway moment,” said Angelo Desimini, Disney Theatrical Productions VP, Marketing, Publicity, Sales & Education. “Partnering with TikTok allows us to literally bring The Lion King into the hands of theatre lovers wherever they are to share in this once-in-a-lifetime evening.”

“TikTok has become a home for Broadway and musical theatre lovers around the world, so we are excited to celebrate this milestone for the industry as the lights go back up on stages,” said Catherine Halaby, Entertainment Content Partnerships Lead, TikTok. “With our partners, we are bringing the most innovative, entertaining and creative content to the thriving musical theatre community on platform. By partnering with major productions like The Lion King, along with our community of creators and top Broadway stars, we want to bring Broadway entertainment to everyone and provide an inside look into the talent and magic of musical theatre.”

“We’re honored to celebrate the return of Broadway with our good friends at Disney Theatrical, The Lion King, and TikTok,” said Joe Benincasa, President & CEO of The Actors Fund. “We can’t wait for the very first ‘Circle of Life’ live performance back at the Minskoff Theatre—which, thanks to the live stream, will also be available to TikTok fans around the world who can experience the magic of Broadway and share their support for the performing arts community.”

Disneyland Paris Announces 30th Anniversary Celebrations—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

Disneyland Paris 30th Anniversary

Disneyland Paris to Celebrate 30 Incredible Years Next Spring

The year was 1992. Some fantastic, fan-fave Disney movies were released across those 12 months: Aladdin, Newsies, The Mighty Ducks… but that’s not all: On April 12, our pals at Disneyland Paris officially welcomed guests for the very first time, after years of planning and imagination to bring Walt Disney’s magical dream to life in Europe. Three full decades later, the resort has continued to delight guests while expanding with new stories, characters, and adventures—including franchises such as Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel—becoming the No. 1 tourist destination in Europe.

With such a major milestone approaching in just six months, guests can anticipate more magic on the horizon as Disneyland Paris kicks off its 30th Anniversary on March 6, 2022. This once-in-a-lifetime celebration of the resort’s enchanting past and exciting future will invite guests to enter a shining new era—one where they will dream bigger, laugh louder, and smile wider! (Check out the anniversary’s gleaming new logo, above.)

Disneyland Paris’ 30th Anniversary will feature a host of unique and festive experiences across Disneyland Park, Walt Disney Studios Park, and the entire resort. Stay tuned as more details of the celebration are released in the coming months.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

It may not be a three-day weekend this time ‘round, but there’s still plenty of chances to catch some choice viewing from around the worlds of Disney. Look for all-new episode of Disney’s Magic Bake-Off themed to The Lion King on Disney Channel; meanwhile, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides joins the Disney+ library, and ABC premieres all-new eps of Celebrity Family Feud and To Tell the Truth. And trust us, there’s more where that came from…

Grogu

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade® to Debut a Funko Pop!-Inspired Grogu Balloon

We know summertime’s a favorite for many—but your proprietors here at News Briefs are big, big fans of fall… and this just-released news from the good folks over at StarWars.com has us counting down the days like never before.

Funko and Macy’s, in collaboration with Lucasfilm, have announced that Grogu—the beloved Force-sensitive being from the Emmy® Award-winning series The Mandalorian—will debut as a huge Funko Pop!-inspired balloon in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 25! Taking flight in the annual spectacle, the Grogu-inspired balloon will emulate the Funko Pop! version of the character—and it’s set to measure 41 feet high, 29 feet long, and 37 feet wide. Travelling through Manhattan on Thanksgiving Day, it’s sure to be an adorably memorable tribute to a modern Star Wars fan favorite.

But that’s not all: A limited-edition Macy’s Parade balloon-inspired product line will be available for sale on Funko.com, and Macy’s will have select items from Funko available for purchase at Macy’s Herald Square this fall. For a sneak peek, head over to StarWars.com—and be sure to watch Grogu soar through New York City when NBC broadcasts the 95th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, November 25, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. in all time zones.

Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House: 20 Spooktacular Seasons

Now that Halloween Time has begun at the Disneyland Resort (huzzah!), it means another truly breathtaking new gingerbread house inside Haunted Mansion Holiday at Disneyland park! But this year, to celebrate the 20th season of this most merriest of mansion makeovers (inspired, of course, by Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas), the cast members from Disneyland Resort Central Bakery and Entertainment Technical Services have truly outdone themselves—paying homage to all previous houses in celebration of this beloved tradition’s milestone anniversary.

In the video above, courtesy our pals at the Disney Parks Blog, viewers can get a taste of how pastry chefs spend hundreds of hours baking and decorating the nearly 13-foot-tall house from scratch, and how the technicians move and assemble the five main pieces in the “St. Nick” of time for all foolish mortals to enjoy.

See (and smell) the gingerbread house in person, now through January 9, 2022, at Haunted Mansion Holiday!

Disney+’s Hallowstream Starts September 24

For the second year in a row, Disney+ is offering up thrilling new originals and beloved Halloween classics as part of their Hallowstream programming event! Mark your calendars for the debut of LEGO® Star Wars Terrifying Tales, Just Beyond, and Muppets Haunted Mansion, plus a slew of Halloween-themed episodes and fave films including Hocus Pocus. Check out D23’s Hallowstream rundown for more.

New Trailer for LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales

Speaking of new (trick-or-)treats coming to Disney+ in time for All Hallows’ Eve, the streaming service just premiered a new trailer for LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, the all-new scary special from Lucasfilm and the LEGO Group that will have fans ready for a frighteningly fun Halloween season.

The trailer features a look at the three tales that Darth Vader’s loyal servant Vaneé will spin during the special: “The Lost Boy,” the story of how a young Ben Solo first meets Ren; “The Dueling Monstrosities,” which imagines how Darth Maul and General Grievous were reborn; and “The Wookiee’s Paw,” which gives a look at what might have happened if all of Luke Skywalker’s greatest wishes were immediately granted. The special will leave fans with spine-tingling chills and goose-bricks! (Get it? Bricks?)

After the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Poe and BB-8 are forced make an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar, where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt—who’s purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa and Dean—a plucky kid who works as Graballa’s mechanic—venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé. Along the way, Vaneé shares these creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. But as Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With the help of Dean, Poe and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising, and escape to make it back to their friends.

Look for LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales to debut October 1, exclusively on the streaming service.

Sneak Peek at New Song for Disney Enchanted at Magic Kingdom Park

As part of “The World’s Most Magical Celebration,” honoring five extraordinary decades of Walt Disney World Resort, Magic Kingdom park will be premiering an all-new nighttime spectacular called Disney Enchantment this October 1. The show will take guests on a journey filled with adventure, wonder, and empowerment, inspiring guests to believe in magic.

Disney Enchantment will feature music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks, and—for the first time—immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A. But wait, there’s more: Grammy®-winning songwriter and producer Philip Lawrence (Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk”) has written an original song for the nighttime spectacular, entitled “You Are the Magic.” Lawrence has certainly pursued his dreams and made them come true; he got his start in show biz as a cast member at Walt Disney World Resort, performing in shows like Festival of the Lion King and Tarzan Rocks! Lawrence sings on “You Are the Magic,” as does another former Walt Disney World cast member, actor and singer Kayla Alvarez.

Check out the creation of the tune in the video, above… and get ready to hear the complete version of the song when Disney Enchantment Presented by Pandora Jewelry makes its big debut next month!

ICYMI: ABC’s Dancing with the Stars Announces Season 30 Cast

It’s time for another cache of celebrities to start their quest for the coveted Mirrorball Trophy! Earlier this week, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars announced the cast of their upcoming 30th season—and it boasts everyone from a recent Olympic gold medalist and a former Radio City Rockette to a Spice Girl and a graduate of West Beverly High. See who to expect on the dancefloor in a few weeks’ time by clicking here.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Honors Doogie Howser, M.D.

By Zach Johnson

The coming-of-age dramedy Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., which premiered on Disney+ September 8, is, of course, inspired by the hit medical series Doogie Howser, M.D.—something that will no doubt be immediately obvious to fans who watched the original drama, which aired on ABC for four seasons from 1989-1993. For starters, the theme song—a fresh take on the original—is performed on ukulele by Hawaiian artist Jake Shimabukuro.

“There were a few key things I remember from growing up watching the show, and one of them was definitely the theme song,” Kourtney Kang, creator and executive producer of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D., recalled last month during the TCA Summer Press Tour. The reimagined theme song was always part of her vision, which is why Kang feels “lucky” that Shimabukuro helped make her dream a reality: “He is the best ukulele player in the world!”

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. follows the adventures of Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee) as she juggles a nascent medical career with the everyday trials and tribulations that come with being a teenager. With the support of her caring and comical family and friends, she is determined to make the most of this time and forge her own path.

In addition to referencing the original theme song, another element Kang was keen to borrow from Doogie Howser, M.D. was creating a BFF like Vinnie Delpino (Max Casella), who famously felt so at home with Doogie Howser (Neil Patrick Harris) that he would climb through the young doctor’s window rather than use the front door. It’s a quirky tradition that Steph Denisco (Emma Meisel) continues in Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. “As we were looking for the perfect house for the Kamealoha family to live in, in Hawai‘i, I kept saying, ‘It has to be two stories,’” Kang said. “Steph loves her so much that she’s climbing up two stories to crawl through this window. It’s just not the same if it’s a one-story house.” Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. also updates the journaling scene from the end of each episode of Doogie Howser, M.D., with Lahela recording video diary messages about her day.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

As for how Lahela gets the “Doogie” nickname? Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. is set in a world in which Harris was an actor who played a character named Doogie Howser on television. “Apparently, this is a thing that happens sometimes to young doctors,” Kang explained. “They get nicknamed ‘Doogie,’ so we thought it was fun that she gets nicknamed ‘Doogie.’”

Lee said she had “not personally spoken” to Harris, but she “would love to” do so one day. “We need to connect Peyton and Neil!” said Kang. “And yes, we have been in touch with Neil. I worked with him for nine years on How I Met Your Mother. He is so wonderful. As soon as this all started coming together, we reached out. He has been so supportive of this project and so lovely. We were trying to get him to come out in season one and do something with us.” For a number of reasons, it didn’t work out. But hope is not lost, said Kang: “He was like, ‘In season two’—if there’s a season two—‘I would love to come out.’”

Although Doogie Howser, M.D. creator Steven Bochco passed away in 2018, his widow, Dayna Bochco, and his son, Jesse Bochco, continue his legacy by serving as executive producers of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. Jesse said he was “blown away” by Lee, and Dayna praised the creative team behind the new series, saying, “Steven would love these people.”

“We felt very confident going forward because they were always respectful of what Steven had done and were also respectful of the ideas behind the concept: a child prodigy who doesn’t fit in either world,” Dayna said. “He would have loved the show. I know he would.”

New episodes of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. stream Wednesdays on Disney+.

The Ron’s Gone Wrong Creators Discuss Technology, Relationships, and the Heart of Friendship

By Jim Frye

Ron may be wrong. But in the end, it’s all right.

Ron’s Gone Wrong, a new animated feature coming out this October from 20th Century Studios and Locksmith Animation, explores what happens when every kid in the country gets a B-Bot—a walking, talking, digitally connected device that is supposed to be their “Best Friend Out of the Box.” But when awkward middle-schooler Barney gets a broken B-Bot named Ron, he has to move past his own insecurities and try to teach it what true friendship is… before it ruins his social life forever.

The specter of over-reaching technology and what it means to our culture is central to the story of Ron’s Gone Wrong. People are connected to their phones, their social media, and their technology in ways we never dreamed a generation ago. It’s into this setting that the creators of Ron’s Gone Wrong have cast their net, telling the story of Barney and Ron, two very different “people” (Ron’s a B-Bot) who crush through their barriers to explore true friendship. Who are our true friends? Can technology substitute for actual relationships? And what does it all mean in today’s society?

The creative team behind Ron’s Gone Wrong recently gathered to talk about their film and how its themes of relationships, technology, and the intersection of the two are so timely with what’s going on in our world today. We heard from writer/director of Ron’s Gone Wong and co-founder of Locksmith Animation, Sarah Smith; director Jean-Philippe Vine; producer and co-founder of Locksmith Animation Julie Lockhart; co-director Octavio Rodriguez; and scriptwriter Peter Baynhamn.

ron's gone wrong

PETER BAYNHAM: “The frustration with technology is that on an hourly basis I want to smash something up! You just get things that make your life better and I become instantly dependent on them and then I’m furious when they won’t work. So, it’ll be terrifying to depend on a device for friendship, because I know, just at the moment it doesn’t work, I would be melting down in a small corner somewhere.”

JEAN-PHILIPPE VINE: “Our movie really talks about friendship and what is a good healthy friendship and how messy that can be. I really connected to it, especially as a parent because my oldest son was really struggling with friendships in his pre-teen period and kind of really struggling with which group he belonged to. And it helped me as we worked with Barney, the main character, and just thematically—this idea that a good friendship has conflict and that’s okay. And that’s a good thing; that’s a healthy friendship. I think that’s a beautiful idea, so I connect with that.”

SARAH SMITH: “My passion as a movie-maker is wanting to do movies that actually talk to stuff that really matters to kids. And I was very aware of my own daughter, as every parent is. At some point your kid comes home and says, ‘They all had someone to play with at recess except me.’ You feel like ‘Oh my God,’ and then you remember having that experience yourself. It’s like the universal problem we all have of feeling like everyone else has it down except us, and at the same time being super aware of how technology made all that really even more complicated for kids. I literally remember sitting on a sofa with a glass of wine watching her, thinking, ‘We have to make that movie for kids, because kids don’t understand that maybe what their experience is online, maybe there’s different.’ Then it became a kind of journey to try and find how could you put the idea of our online relationships into a fun, animated format. And the answer is, the idea that there’s a device out there that replaces your phone and your iPad, but it runs around and talks to you.”

SARAH SMITH: “We watched all of the robot movies. And all of those movies have one thing in common—they’re either the evil baddy or they’re the goodie. And in a way this movie’s not really so much about the robot A.I. idea, it’s not about that kind of Artificial Intelligence. It’s actually about something which kids have in their homes. It’s about the way their iPad talks to them. It’s really about social media and the online experience.”

PETER BAYNHAM: “Ron just wants to help you and wants to learn. And that, therefore, then teaches Barney about friendship. So, Barney sets out to teach Ron friendship, and in the end Barney’s the one who gets the real lesson, and Ron’s the one who teaches him.”

SARAH SMITH: “The movie is the not saying that technology’s bad or even good. The thing is, it’s here to stay, and there was a time at the beginning when I thought I wanted the end of the movie to be that all the B-Bots were gone, and the kids were back in the playground looking at each other and relating again. And then eventually someone said to me, ‘You know that’s not going to happen, right?’ And we realized we needed to make a more challenging movie, which is about how do we—as parents, as children, as kids growing up in a world in which this is all they’ve ever known—how do we learn to live with the tech?”

Ron’s Gone Wrong opens October 22.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

By Zach Johnson

We’re not saying we make our plans around what to watch… but we’re not not saying that! This Friday, Disney Channel will present an all-new episode of Disney’s Magic Bake-Off that’s themed to one of our favorite films: The Lion King! That same day, the sensational, swashbuckling film Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides will join the Disney+ library. On Sunday, ABC will broadcast all-new episodes of Celebrity Family Feud and To Tell the Truth, while Freeform’s movie marathon will include another fan-favorite: The Game Plan.

5 fantastic things

Disney’s Magic Bake-Off—Friday, September 10, at 8 p.m. ET on Disney Channel
Be prepared! In this episode, co-hosts Issac Ryan Brown and Dara Reneé help guide the contestants as they bake spectacular cakes inspired by The Lion King. Baking influencer Jocelyn Adams joins Disneyland Resort pastry chef Gracie Gomez as the kid bakers showcase the majestic animal kingdom and the beauty of Africa in their delicious creations.

5 fantastic things

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides—Friday, September 10, on Disney+
Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, director Rob Marshall’s 2011 action-adventure introduces Angelica (Penélope Cruz), a ravishing pirate who shares a dubious past with Captain Jack Sparrow (Disney Legend Johnny Depp) and forces him aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge—aka the ship of the legendary pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane)! Jack soon finds himself on an unexpected journey to find the fabled Fountain of Youth. Along the way, he must use all his wiles to deal with Blackbeard and his crew of zombies, not to mention Angelica, some enchanting mermaids, and crews of Spaniards also looking for the fountain.

5 fantastic things

Celebrity Family Feud—Sunday, September 12, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The Nanny co-stars Fran Drescher and Charles Shaughnessy will reunite and battle it out for their chosen charity: Cancer Schmancer, which Drescher founded. In the next game, country music star Jessie James Decker, former NFL player Eric Decker, and their family take on NBA star Chris Bosh and his family and friends. The Decker family will play for Graham’s Foundation, while “Team Bosh” will play for the Boys and Girls Club of America.

5 fantastic things

The Game Plan—Sunday, September 12, at 8:30 p.m. ET on Freeform
Famous quarterback Joe Kingman (Dwayne Johnson) is shocked when Peyton (Madison Pettis), the 8-year-old daughter he never knew existed, shows up on the doorstep of his not-so-kid-friendly bachelor pad. But as an all-important game nears, Joe starts to realize the most meaningful win he can achieve is the heart of the little fan who counts the most.

5 fantastic things

To Tell the Truth—Sunday, September 12, at 10 p.m. ET on ABC
D’Arcy Carden, Brad Garrett, and J.B. Smoove make up the celebrity panel. Join the party this week with an explosive group that features the Hollywood Sign caretaker, a NASCAR tire changer, the prettiest pie winner, a manure specialist, and a master piñata maker!

Marvel Launches All-New Marvel Unlimited App

By Zach Johnson

Marvel Unlimited really lives up to its name!

Today, Marvel relaunched its award-winning digital comics subscription service, Marvel Unlimited. The fan-favorite app offers members access to over 29,000 issues of classic and newer titles. From the roots of Marvel’s iconic characters to the ever-evolving universe behind its blockbuster films, games, and series, the app boasts over 80 years of storytelling!

marvel unlimited

Want to follow all the adventures of your favorite Super Heroes and Villains? Need a curated reading guide? Curious about a comic creator? Marvel Unlimited has you covered!

That’s not all! As part of the relaunch, Marvel Unlimited is also introducing its exclusive Infinity Comics: full screen high-resolution vertical comics designed for phone and tablet. There are currently 27 Infinity Comics available on the app, with over 100 issues planned by the end of 2021. The comics, which live in universe, come from top Marvel creators including Gerry Duggan, Geoffo, Dax Gordine, Jonathan Hickman, Declan Shalvey, Nathan Stockman, Kelly Thompson, Lucas Werneck, Alyssa Wong, and Skottie Young, among others. Infinity Comics will feature series including Amazing Fantasy, Black Widow, Captain America, Deadpool, Giant-Size Little Marvels, It’s Jeff, Shang-Chi, Venom/Carnage, and X-Men Unlimited. Take a peek at just a few of the Infinity Comics covers in the gallery below:

“The goal for Marvel Unlimited has always been to provide the best digital experience for our fans by giving them direct access to all of their favorite Marvel comics,” says Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Entertainment. “With this relaunch, we’re bringing fans an even richer experience with Marvel stories designed in a vertical format for the first time. Our new Infinity Comics give our creators a chance to tell stories in entirely new ways, and we’re looking forward to connecting our fans to those stories in the months to come.”

Marvel, working with Technology teams in Disney Media & Entertainment Distribution (DMED), is relaunching Marvel Unlimited with new capabilities to dramatically improve how fans discover and read comics. The app now offers unlimited downloads, so fans can dive into new stories anytime and anywhere. The app also features best-in-class speed and search tools, greater stability, and personalized reading guides based on user preferences. Other new additions include content sharing capabilities outside of the app, an annual plan app subscription option, and new comic titles added weekly. New titles are added as soon as three months after they’re in stores.

“These updates and a focus on personalization will allow us to reach a new generation of Marvel fans and enhance the experience of current fans,” says Doug Vance, VP of Product and Marketing, DMED Technology. “When we redesign apps like this from the ground up, we align with business goals of our different partners and subsidiaries of The Walt Disney Company with the ultimate goal of growing our audience and digital subscriptions while also delivering an even more visually immersive experience.”

Marvel Unlimited, available to download on both iOS and Android, now has multiple subscription tiers for members to choose from. There is a monthly tier for $9.99, an annual subscription for $69/year, and an annual plus subscription for $99/year. The new annual plus subscription comes with the benefits included in monthly and annual tiers, as well as an exclusive membership kit, invites to in-person events, and 10% off ShopDisney.com. Marvel Insider loyalists will also benefit from the new in-app integration. Members can earn points, see their progress as they consume, and get rewarded for returning to the app.

For the latest updates, follow Marvel Unlimited on Facebook and Twitter.

Director Aphton Corbin Talks Pixar SparkShorts’ Twenty Something

By Courtney Potter

Picture it: You’re a filmmaker, and you’re given six months to pull together a team and create an animated short. No real “rules” apply—all you need is the passion to tell a story and a clever, resourceful approach.

That’s the premise behind Pixar Animation Studios’ SparkShorts program, where Pixar’s up-and-coming animators are paired with a producer and given the chance to make something totally personal and unique, exploring fresh new storytelling techniques along the way. SparkShorts is responsible for several beloved Pixar shorts, including Oscar® nominees Kitbull and Burrow. And this month, Pixar is releasing two brand-new SparkShorts, beginning with Twenty Something—which premieres on Disney+ this Friday, September 10.

Directed by Aphton Corbin, Twenty Something demonstrates that adulting can be hard; some days you’re nailing it, while other days, you’re just a stack of kids hiding in a trench coat hoping no one notices. Gia, our Twenty Something protagonist, finds herself in this exact scenario the night of her 21st birthday. All told, sometimes—as the short hilariously, vividly confirms—you’ve gotta “fake it ‘til you make it.”

D23 recently attended a special virtual look at the short, presented by Corbin herself; here are a few memorable highlights:

Twenty Something sparkshorts

On when she was asked to participate in the SparkShorts program:
“I’ve been at Pixar since 2016,” Corbin explains, “and I worked on Toy Story 4 and Soul… While I was working on Soul, I was asked if I wanted to direct my very own SparkShort. I did what many of you might’ve done: I panicked. ‘What were they thinking?’ I felt like I had been at the studio for such a short time; were they asking the right person? After hyperventilating for what felt like months, I decided to dig deeper into my imposter syndrome. I like to draw comics, especially when I’m feeling insecure, and this comic I drew back in 2018 [dealt with those feelings]… After I was given this opportunity to direct a SparkShort, that [insecure] feeling crept back up again—feeling like an adult one minute [and] feeling like kids stacked in a trench coat the next. Something about this idea clicked… So, the first part of my journey was taking that [comic] idea and turning it into a fleshed-out story.”

On the process of brainstorming the story, and starting work with the short’s producer:
“After I finished my time on Soul, I went on vacation and tried to [storyboard] the whole idea from beginning to end,” she says. “I placed my main character, Gia, in an office setting, and came up with how an entertaining story would unfold. After time at the office, she and her friends would go to a club and continue shenanigans there. But something about this story didn’t feel right,,, it felt like the story didn’t really take off until Gia entered the club with said friends. Given my more introverted personality, the awkwardness of going out to the club felt so relatable and a better location to tell the story. So, I scrapped my boards, which was a hard thing to do—but I realized it was necessary.”“To make the film run smoothly, I had Erik Langley, my fearless producer extraordinaire,” Corbin continues. “We didn’t know each other before this experience, and we both were new to our respective leadership positions. Erik immediately got to work, scheduling out a ‘game plan’ for how this film would be made.”

On why she decided to make the short in 2D:
“In order to pull off this crazy idea, I knew I was going to need to make this a 2D film,” she explains. “Since we’re a SparkShort, our budget is a little smaller. And if I was going to pull off a movie with dialogue and all of these extra characters—in the club setting, too—it was the route to go. It’s honestly my first love; I got into animation because I loved drawings, and seeing those drawings come to life [is a] super special moment. And I was encouraged by seeing amazing 2D SparkShorts that had come out before, like Burrow and Kitbull, and I knew it was a path for me.”

On some of the short’s visual inspirations:
“I was really inspired by older, ‘vintage’ cartoons—specifically in the ’60s and ’70s; trying to get some of that charm and that appeal into the design. But it didn’t just stop there. Yingzong [the short’s character design artist] had design a whole slew of background characters, with both adult and baby forms, [which are] important in Act 3 of the short. So, it really put her to the test—and she delivered in an amazing way.”

Twenty Something sparkshorts

On the challenges that came with, well, everything about 2020:
“We were feeling really confident and ready to get started with animation,” admits Corbin, “and then COVID-19 global pandemic [hit] and we thought, ‘What are we going to do?!’ We weren’t sure it was going to happen, as the [Pixar] campus completely shut down and we all had to go home. We scrambled onto Zoom and brainstormed a ‘work from home’ plan. Led by [SparkShorts production supervisor] Mike O’Brien and [producer] Erik, our ‘offline’ work flow started to gain traction, and we were determined to make our film happen. Adjustments were made, [our] haircuts were postponed,” she says, laughing, “but we kept motivation up and moved forward into animation.”

“I knew I was going to need a very skilled animation supervisor,” she adds. “I picked Lucas Pacheco, who is a friend from school and a very skilled animator; I knew he’d be perfect for the job. Lucas assembled an awesome team of equally amazing animators to work from home and rally together to create this short. Lucas was instrumental in creating model sheets for all of the characters, complete with expression sheets and style guides,,, Lucas did an amazing amount of work, and earned himself the title of ‘fluid animator,’ as he volunteered to take on most of the liquids [seen in] the short—including projectile baby [spit-up] and a huge amount of tears,” Corbin explains, chuckling.

On seeing the finished product:
“Ultimately, we had to get to sound editing and ‘last looks,’” the director says. “And we were able to head into [Pixar Animation Studios] for a socially distanced sound check… it was our first time meeting [in person] in several months—and like a magical, perfect scenario, somehow all the colors worked and it sounded great. And like that, the production was finished. I’m extremely thankful to have the chance to work on this film. As you can see, it was a huge amount of work and it speaks to my amazing team. It was such an exciting [project], and I can’t wait for everyone to finally see it!”

The Pixar SparkShort Twenty Something debuts this Friday, September 10—only on Disney+!

Disney+ Runs Amok with Second Annual Hallowstream Celebration

By Zach Johnson

Do you believe in magic?

Disney+ is brewing up another year of spooky programming for Hallowstream with exciting new originals and beloved Halloween classics. Starting September 24, enjoy your favorite Halloween-themed episodes and films in the new Halloween collection on the streaming service. Disney+ will debut three original programs—LEGO® Star Wars Terrifying Tales, Muppets Haunted Mansion. and Just Beyond—as a part of the All Hallow’s Eve celebration.

Premiering October 1, LEGO® Star Wars Terrifying Tales is a seasonal celebration of the villainous dark side of the Star Wars galaxy—just in time for Halloween. After the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Poe (voice of Jake Green) and BB-8 must make an emergency landing on the volcanic planet Mustafar where they meet the greedy and conniving Graballa the Hutt (voice of Dana Snyder), who has purchased Darth Vader’s castle and is renovating it into the galaxy’s first all-inclusive Sith-inspired luxury hotel. While waiting for his X-Wing to be repaired, Poe, BB-8, Graballa and Dean (voice of Raphael Alejandro), a plucky and courageous young boy who works as Graballa’s mechanic, venture deep into the mysterious castle with Vader’s loyal servant, Vaneé (voice of Tony Hale). Along the way, Vaneé shares three creepy stories linked to ancient artifacts and iconic villains from across all eras of Star Wars. As Vaneé spins his tales and lures our heroes deeper into the shadowy underbelly of the castle, a sinister plan emerges. With the help of Dean, Poe, and BB-8 will have to face their fears, stop an ancient evil from rising and escape to make it back to their friends. Watch a trailer for the Halloween special here.

disney+ hallowstream

The Muppets’ first-ever Halloween special, Muppets Haunted Mansion, will premiere Friday, October 8, on Disney+. The brand-new special will feature a star-studded Muppets cast, celebrity cameos, all-new music, and spooky fun for families to enjoy together. Muppets Haunted Mansion takes place on Halloween night, when Gonzo is challenged to spend one very daring night in the most grim grinning place on Earth… the Haunted Mansion!

disney+ hallowstream

All eight episodes of the supernatural anthology series Just Beyond will premiere Wednesday, October 13, as a part of the Disney+ Hallowstream celebration. Inspired by the writings of R.L. Stine, the series tells astonishing and thought-provoking stories of a reality just beyond the one we know. Each episode introduces viewers to a new cast of characters who must go on a surprising journey of self-discovery in a supernatural world of witches, aliens, ghosts, and parallel universes.

disney+ hallowstream

Kick off the celebration early by watching the latest episode in Marvel Studios’ first-ever animated series, What If…?—premiering today on Disney+. In this eerie episode, The Avengers are infected by a zombie plague, and the surviving heroes must search for a cure.

2021 Halloween Collection Featuring Fan–Favorite Spooky Content
In addition to the Disney+ original content premiering in October, the Halloween collection will feature a lineup of memorable films and Halloween-themed episodes from fan-favorite series. Celebrate the spooky holiday at home with classic films Halloweentown, The Haunted Mansion, Hocus Pocus, Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, Twitches, and many more. The new Disney Channel Original Movie Under Wraps will also be available starting Friday, October 8, on Disney+.

Below is a full list of content included in the Halloween collection, which will be available to all Disney+ subscribers September 24:

disney+ hallowstream

Movies and Series
Bride of Boogedy
Can of Worms
Don’t Look Under the Bed
Edward Scissorhands
Frankenweenie (2012)
Gargoyles
Girl vs. Monster
Gravity Falls
Halloweentown
Halloweentown High
Halloweentown II: Kalabar’s Revenge
Hocus Pocus
Invisible Sister
James and the Giant Peach
Just Beyond (All Episodes Streaming Wednesday, October 13)
LEGO® Star Wars Terrifying Tales (Premieres Friday, October 1)
Maleficent
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire
Mr. Boogedy
Muppets Haunted Mansion (Premieres Friday, October 8)
Phantom of the Megaplex
Return to Halloweentown
So Weird
Spooky Buddies
The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
The Ghosts of Buxley Hall
The Haunted Mansion
The Scream Team
The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror (I–XXX)
The Simpsons Horror Collection
Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas
Twitches
Twitches Too
Vampirina
Wizards of Waverly Place
Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie
ZOMBIES
ZOMBIES 2

Shorts and Specials
Captain Sparky Vs. The Flying Saucers
Frankenweenie (1984)
The Legend of Mor’du
Lonesome Ghosts
Mater and the Ghostlight
Toy Story of Terror!
Trick or Treat
Vampirina Ghoul Girls Rock!

disney+ hallowstream

Haunting Episodes
WandaVision – “All-New Halloween Spooktacular!”
What If…? – “What If…Zombies?!”
The Muppet Show – “Vincent Price”
Behind the Attraction – “The Haunted Mansion”
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse – “Houseghosts”
The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse – “Once Upon an Apple”
Prop Culture – “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
Earth to Ned – “Night of the Living Ned”
The Incredible Dr. Pol – “Pol-tergeist”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Scared Silly, Trick or Treat, and a Home Wrecking Rodent”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Tricks & Treats, Costume Party, and Baby Monsters”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Halloween Classics, Magic Mishaps and Spiders”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Halloweenies and Creepy Crawlies”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Halloween, Instant Karma, and Scared Stupid”
America’s Funniest Home Videos – “Halloweenies 2012 and Second Guy Bites It”

disney+ hallowstream

Disney Channel Halloween Episodes
A.N.T Farm – “Mutant Farm”
Big City Greens – “Blood Moon Part 1 / Blood Moon Part 2”
BUNK’D – “Camp Kiki–slasher”
DuckTales (2017) – “Terror of the Terra-firmians!”
Even Stevens – “A Very Scary Story”
Girl Meets World – “Girl Meets World of Terror”
Good Luck Charlie – “Scary Had a Little Lamb”
Goof Troop – “Hallow–Weenies”
Gravity Falls – “Summerween”
Hannah Montana – “Torn Between Two Hannahs”
Jessie – “The Whining”
K.C. Undercover – “All Howls Eve”
Kim Possible – “October 31st”
Lab Rats – “Night of The Living Virus”
Liv and Maddie – “Haunt-a-Rooney”
Lizzie McGuire – “Night of the Day of the Dead”
Mickey Mouse (Shorts) – “Ghoul Friend”
Phil of the Future – “Halloween”
Phineas and Ferb – “Terrifying Tri-State Trilogy of Terror” (Parts 1 and 2)
The Proud Family – “A Hero for Halloween”
Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure – “The Wrath of Ruthless Ruth”
Raven’s Home – “Switch-or-Treat”
Recess – “Terrifying Tales of Recess”
Shake It Up – “Haunt It Up”
Sonny With a Chance – “A So Random Halloween Special”
Star vs. The Forces of Evil – “Hungry Larry / Spider with a Top Hat”
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody – “Ghost of 613”
The Suite Life on Deck – “Sea Monster Mash”
That’s So Raven – “Don’t Have a Cow”
Wizards of Waverly Place – “Halloween”

disney+ hallowstream

Disney Junior Halloween Episodes
Doc McStuffins – “Boo-Hoo to You! / It’s Glow Time”
Doc McStuffins – “Hallie Halloween / Don’t Fence Me In”
Doc McStuffins “Mirror, Mirror on My Penguin / Hide and Eek!”
Fancy Nancy – “Nancy’s Costume Clash / Nancy’s Ghostly Halloween”
Goldie & Bear – “Witch Cat is Which? / Trick or Treat Trouble”
Handy Manny – “Halloween / Squeeze’s Magic Show”
Henry Hugglemonster – “Halloween Scramble / Scouts Night Out”
Henry Hugglemonster – “Huggleween Moon”
Imagination Movers – “A Monster Problem”
Imagination Movers – “Haunted Halloween”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates – “Escape from Ghost Island / The Island of Doctor Undergear”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates – “Night of the Golden Pumpkin / Trick or Treasure!”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates – “Phantoms of Never–Nether Land / Magical Mayhem”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates – “Pirate Ghost Story / Queen Izzybella”
Jake and the Never Land Pirates – “Tricks, Treats, and Treasure! / Season of the Sea Witch”
Little Einsteins – “A Little Einsteins Halloween”
Mickey and the Roadster Racers – “Goof Mansion / A Doozy Night of Mystery”
Mickey and the Roadster Racers – “The Haunted Hot Rod / Pete’s Ghostly Gala”
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – “Mickey’s Monster Musical” (Part 1 and 2)
Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – “Mickey’s Treat”
Miles from Tomorrowland – “Ghost Moon / Stormy Night in a Dark Nebula”
Muppet Babies – “Happy Hallowocka! / The Teeth-Chattering Tale of the Haunted Pancakes”
Out of the Box – “Trick or Treat”
Puppy Dog Pals – “Return to the Pumpkin Patch / Haunted Howl-oween”
Sheriff Callie’s Wild West – “The Great Hallow”
Sofia the First – “Cauldronation Day”
Sofia the First – “Ghostly Gala”
Sofia the First – “Princess Butterfly”
The Lion Guard – “Beware the Zimwi”
Vampirina – “Hauntleyween / Frankenflower”

Meet the Characters of Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Sure, not all of us are teen geniuses—but that doesn’t mean that Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha and her friends and family aren’t going to take us on relatable, heartfelt adventures in the new Disney+ original series Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. The series, inspired by the 1989 sitcom Doogie Howser, M.D., follows Lahela as she tries to navigate her unusual coming of age. Before you tune into the new series, debuting on Disney+ Wednesday, September 8, meet Lahela, her ‘ohana, and her pals:

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha (Peyton Elizabeth Lee)
It’s already tough to be a 16-year-old, juggling school, crushes, and all the chaos teenage life brings—now try doing all that and being a prodigy with a budding medical career! Lahela “Doogie” Kamealoha faces that challenge with determination, relying on the support of her silly and sweet family and friends to help her find the balance between teen genius and complicated high schooler.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Kai Kamealoha (Matthew Sato)
Speaking of Lahela’s family—her brothers Kai and Brian Patrick are key to keeping the teen genius grounded. “We’re the ones who can bring her back down to 16,” Sato explains. “She’s doing all these crazy things like surgeries and heart transplants, and she needs someone to remind her that she’s still a teenager.”

A free spirit, Kai is Lahela’s older brother, but despite being ahead of her in years, he’s fallen behind when it comes to life plans. “He is the older sibling of a sister who is doing all these insane, amazing things, and he doesn’t even know what he wants to do when he grows up,” Sato says of his character.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Brian Patrick Kamealoha (Wes Tian)
The younger of Lahela’s brothers who keep her down-to-earth, Brian Patrick is sociable and curious, ready to discover the wacky world around him.  Tian describes Brian Patrick as, “the adventurous type. He’s just trying to find something to do—he’s exploring.”

“He has this crazy imagination,” adds Jason Scott Lee, who plays the father of the Kamealoha siblings. Brian Patrick’s curiosity and imagination offer ample opportunity for wacky hijinks while his sister is busy at work being a teen genius

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Benny Kamealoha (Jason Scott Lee)
It wasn’t hard for Lee to slip into the character of doting father Benny: “It’s very similar to my life now, because I have three kids at three different stages of life,” he explains, “And you have to constantly juggle to give them a certain kind of attention when you’re one-on-one.” Between free-spirited Kai, precocious Lahela, and adventurous Brain Patrick, Benny certainly has his hands full parenting three very different kids. But with his big heart and extra warmth, Benny always makes sure to keep his kids connected to what matters most.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Dr. Clara Hannon (Kathleen Rose Perkins)
Teen-parent relationships are notoriously tricky, and Lahela and Dr. Clara Hannon have their work cut out for them. Dr. Clara isn’t just Lahela’s mom—she’s also her boss, the supervisor at the hospital where Lahela works! Even though Dr. Clara is the one in charge, it doesn’t mean she’s only there to teach. “She’s got a lot of lessons to learn still!” Perkins says of her character, adding, “People have to grow, and it doesn’t stop when you turn 40.”

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Steph Denisco (Emma Meisel)
“Who wouldn’t want to be Steph and be goofy and wear fun clothes and be Lahela’s best friend?” Meisel asks—it’s hard to argue with that logic! Meisel describes Steph as the “yin to Lahela’s yang,” as they are best friends who have known each other since childhood. Meisel adds, “[Lahela’s] such an analytical thinker and then Steph is this right-brained, artsy girl who’s in love with love.”

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Charles Zeller (Jeffrey Bowyer-Chapman)
Charles Zeller is a fish out of water, a Chicagoan doing his residency on the island of Oahu. “He is so excited to be there,” Chapman says. “He’s living the dream. He is very much the eyes into the island from the mainland viewers. The audience will get to learn along with him.” Much of his insight into island life comes from his friend, a fellow resident at the hospital, Noelani Nakayama, who helps the fun-loving Charles adapt to his new home.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.

Noelani Nakayama (Mapuana Makia)
In contrast to Charles, Noelani is  “as local as they come,” says Makia. She describes Noelani as “a fun, vivacious, happy-to-be-there doctor.” When she isn’t working as a doctor, she’s fostering her friendship with Charles, teaching him a little bit about culture in Hawai’i, his new home during his residency.

Watch Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. starting Wednesday, September 8, on Disney+.