Disney and Pixar’s Luca Concept Art

April 28, 2021April 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Disney and Pixar’s original feature film Luca is a fun and heartwarming story about two teenage sea monsters who share a life-changing summer on the Italian Riviera. Premiering June 18 on Disney+, the film follows new best friends Luca Paguro (voice of Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto Scorfano (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer) as they venture above the water’s surface and attempt to blend in with other humans in town. It’s exciting, but it’s also dangerous. Because whenever they get wet, they risk revealing their true identities!

Luca hails from Enrico Casarosa, who made his directorial debut with the short film La Luna, which earned an Academy Award® nomination after it screened theatrically with Brave in 2012. For Luca, Casarosa reverted to his roots. Born and raised in Genoa, Italy, he found early influences in Japanese animation—which, years later, inspired the look of Luca. And because Pixar so skillfully blends art and technology, Casarosa was able to bring his deeply personal story to life just as he’d always imagined. “I always felt there was a way to make something even more special by the meeting of the two things,” he says. “It’s more immersive… There’s something about the 3-D world that I find a little bit more transportive.”

The result is stunning, as the film’s visuals indeed transport the audience from the depths of uncharted waters to an idealized version of Italian Riviera, as seen in the concept art below. Luca and Alberto, meanwhile, are whimsical in both human and sea monster forms.

Before Luca debuts on June 18, take a deep dive into the film’s visual development:

Celebrating the Friendships at the Heart of Disney and Pixar’s Luca

April 28, 2021April 28, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Debuting June 18 on Disney+, Disney and Pixar’s Luca is a fin-tastic coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of teenage sea monsters Luca Paguro (voice of Jacob Tremblay) and Alberto Scorfano (voice of Jack Dylan Grazer) over the course of one life-changing summer on the Italian Riviera. Though their friendship may seem somewhat unlikely at first, Luca and Alberto’s instant bond runs as deep as the waters they call home.

Whereas Luca is careful and logical, Alberto is adventurous and outgoing. It doesn’t take long before Alberto rubs off on Luca, convincing him to swim above the water’s surface for the first time. With a newfound bravado, Luca sets foot—er, fin—on land, where he soon discovers he has the magical ability to transform into a human. Riveted by this revelation, Luca finds himself spending more and more time broaching the surface to plan the “perfect” summer with Alberto—one filled with delicious food and endless scooter rides.

“Their friendship brings out the best in Luca and gives him the confidence to spread his wings and take more risks,” says executive producer Kiri Hart. “It’s an absolutely lovely, heartwarming story about friendship and how our friends can unlock certain parts of us, giving us the opportunity to discover something about ourselves.”

Alberto is named after director Enrico Casarosa’s best friend from childhood. Born and raised in Genoa, Italy, he never forgot the most formative friendship of his youth. “He had a family that wasn’t there for him, and I had a family that was there for me a little bit too much,” he recalls. “I was timid and kind of shy, but he followed a new passion every week.”

In the film, Luca and Alberto help each other grow in different ways. “It’s the kind of friendship that pushes you into trouble, pushes you into change, pushes you into finding yourself,” Casarosa says. “And it comes at a moment when Luca is leaving the bubble of his family. They’re not really seeing Luca; Grandma’s the only one who can see him a little bit.”

Both Luca and Alberto relate to feeling “odd and lonely,” Casarosa adds. Those feelings are as common as they are isolating, and they aren’t easily forgotten. So, when Luca and Alberto meet a local girl named Giulia Marcovaldo (voice of Emma Berman), it’s easy for them to recognize a similar longing in her. “We wanted to make sure there’s a little loneliness,” Casarosa says, “so there’s a space that gets filled with an important friendship.”

Feisty and friendly Giulia invites Luca and Alberto her home, where her fisherman father, Massimo (Marco Barricelli), prepares pesto pasta that fills their stomachs and their souls. According to producer Andrea Warren, “Luca, as a film, celebrates so many of those beautiful, meaningful things in our lives: connection, family, friends, and eating together.”

When Luca is released on Disney+ this summer, Casarosa hopes viewers will consider their own relationships. “This is a movie that talks about a specific, important kind of friendship with someone who is very different from you, someone who actually challenges you in good ways,” he says. “We wanted to make this a delightful, joyful, big journey about the ups and downs of friendships. We put these characters and their friendships through a lot.”

Exclusive Q&A with 22 vs. Earth Director Kevin Nolting

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Still wondering what 22 had against Earth in Disney and Pixar’s Soul? Wonder no more!

In 22 vs. Earth, a new short from Pixar Animation Studios, Tina Fey returns as the voice of the quick-witted and sarcastic 22. Set before the events of the feature film Soul, which recently won the Oscars® for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score, 22 defies the rules of The Great Before and refuses to go to Earth, enlisting five new souls to join her rebellion. But when the new souls’ activities lead to unexpected results, 22 discovers her subversive scheme might have unearthed a surprising revelation about the meaning of life.

Before 22 vs. Earth debuts exclusively on Disney+ on Friday, April 30, we spoke with director Kevin Nolting—a 21-year Pixar veteran who edited Soul and has also worked on films such as Finding Nemo, Up, and Inside Out—to learn more about the animated short.

D23: What was it like to direct your first Pixar project?
Kevin Nolting (KN): I’ve only been an editor at Pixar. I’ve directed some live-action things outside of Pixar, but this is my first time directing anything with any kind of infrastructure, let’s say; it wasn’t just friends getting together! I’m lucky that in my job as an editor, I work closely with the director and a lot of the production departments, so it wasn’t as foreign to me as it could have been. I’m pretty well versed in the process at Pixar, and I know the players, so that made it much easier for me. And then to be working with characters I’d been working with for four years already [as editor of Soul], I had the easiest set-up by far.

D23: How did you assemble your team for 22 vs. Earth?
KN: After the story department on Soul wrapped, we grabbed Rejean Bourdages and Hyein Park to storyboard; Josh Cooley had already written the script, and we had them board it. By the time layout had wrapped on Soul, we were ready to go into layout, so we grabbed Andy Grisdale, one of the leads, and he became our director of photography [with Luke Martorelli]. We’re very fortunate to have a pool of people who’d already worked on the movie become available. The soul world, technically, is a complex thing to deal with, so to have the people who had actually created that world continue it in the short was fantastic.

D23: You’d worked with Josh before. Why did you bring him on as a writer?
KN: We’re dealing with a cynical character who’s funny, and I can’t think of anyone more perfect than Josh for something like that, frankly! He’s so fast and so smart with his humor.

D23: What was Tina Fey’s response when you approached her reprising her role?
KN: It was great! She immediately jumped on board. She’s a pro.

D23: In addition to the setting, a few of the characters were previously established in Soul. How did you find room to play while also following the feature film’s blueprint?
KN: The nice thing about doing one of these—and why you can do it in five or six minutes—is that you don’t have to establish a new world and new characters from scratch. On the one hand, you could say it’s limiting to make something where you’re working in the same word. On the other hand, it’s totally freeing, because you’ve got that out of the way. You can concentrate on other things you want to do with the story, so that was great.

D23: In the short, 22 gives her “unstoppable gang” a team name: A.P.O.C.A.L.Y.P.S.E. We won’t spoil what the acronym stands for, but how did you come up with that idea?
KN: Initially, Josh had actually written it as C.H.A.O.S. My brain went straight to Get Smart, the TV show, and the evil organization KAOS. So, we started kicking around other ideas. Eventually A.P.O.C.A.L.Y.P.S.E. came up, then Josh thought up some words for the acronym.

D23: What inspired the codenames 22 gives the A.P.O.C.A.L.Y.P.S.E. team: Macaroni (voice of Karee Ducharme), Zimmy (voice of Aiyanna Miorin), Peanut (voice of Adela Drabek), D-pac (voice of Samantha Ho), and Moonbeam (voice of Micah Chen)?
KN: Josh came up with the idea of codenames initially, and then we all played around with different forms. Some were inside jokes, so we had to find the right balance. We started kicking around childlike ones, and then everybody in the room came up with more. I honestly couldn’t say who specifically came up with what; it was very much a group effort.

D23: Lastly, how would you sum up your experience directing 22 vs. Earth?
KN: Working on Soul was the cherry on top of my editing experience, so getting to direct this short was a great honor. There’s this great movie, Soul—and 22 was a big part of that. She’s a character that people love, and I hope this short gives a little more insight into her.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Dara Reneé and Issac Ryan Brown to Host Disney’s Magic Bake-Off on Disney Channel

April 27, 2021April 26, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Mmm… Someone’s baking dreams are about to crumb true!

Disney Channel is teaming up with modern media company Tastemade for Disney’s Magic Bake-Off, a new competitive series for kids that combines the wonder of baking with the ingenuity of young pastry chefs. Dara Reneé (High School Musical: The Musical: The Series) and Issac Ryan Brown (Raven’s Home) will co-host the 13-episode series and—along with Disneyland resort pastry chef Graciela Gomez—guide kid contestants through a series of challenges and surprises as they create extraordinary cakes inspired by the magic of Disney.

Imagination rules and teamwork triumphs in Disney’s Magic Bake-Off. In each episode, three teams of two must race against the clock to design a Disney-inspired cake utilizing Tastemade’s signature recipe videos and an enchanted pantry filled with a wonderful world of ingredients and surprises. Challenges, games, and twists are designed to take the contestants’ baking abilities, techniques, and creativity to new culinary heights. Each episode will declare a winning team to be named Disney Baking Champion, and the winning recipe will become a featured Tastemade video, available on Disney Channel and Tastemade social media platforms. Production is already underway for a summer premiere.

“Tastemade’s unique and innovative approach in the food programming space has made this partnership invaluable as we embark on Disney Channel’s first-ever baking competition series,” said Claire McCabe, vice president, Alternative Programming and Development, Disney Branded Television. “With our magnetic hosts, Dara Reneé and Issac Ryan Brown, leading the way for a group of talented young bakers, there’s no limit to the imagination, fun, and magic this series will deliver.”

Added Emily Mraz, head of Development at Tastemade, “The unsurpassed imagination and creativity of Disney paired with Tastemade’s attention to detail, premium aesthetic, and dynamic approach to the food genre make for an extraordinary partnership. Disney and Tastemade share a love for storytelling and are always looking for dynamic ways to engage audiences, so working together in this new way represents a truly special opportunity.”

Created by Tastemade, the series is executive produced by Mraz, Joey Lucas, and Julie Reading.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Disney Kicks Off Global Ultimate Princess Celebration

April 27, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

It’s a celebration befitting Disney royalty, and everyone is invited!

The Walt Disney Company today announced the launch of the Ultimate Princess Celebration, a yearlong event spotlighting the courage and kindness these Disney heroines inspire in fans all around the world. From Cinderella’s generosity and Belle’s ingenuity to Mulan’s selflessness and Moana’s adventurous spirit, Disney is honoring these strong women through music, experiences, products, and a campaign to give back to children around the country.

The Celebration kicks off with a new original song called “Starting Now,” from global superstar and Grammy^® Award-winning recording artist Brandy, who starred as the beloved princess in The Wonderful World of Disney, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella. The new single, produced by Grammy^® Award nominee Oak Felder and written by Jason Mater, Jordan Powers, and Darren Criss, will be released by Walt Disney Records on May 21 along with a lyric video. Of course if that feels like it’s too long to wait, our friends at Walt Disney Records have shared a curated playlist that’s available now and features favorite songs such as “How Far I’ll Go,” “Part of Your World,” “Into the Unknown,” and more.

Brandy will also debut a music video for “Starting Now,” the Celebration’s anthem, which will be featured in Disney Princess Remixed – An Ultimate Princess Celebration, a music special premiering this August on Disney Channel. The half-hour show will celebrate the empowering attributes of Disney princesses and queens through reimagined performances of their iconic songs by several of Disney’s multitalented stars. After its premiere on Disney Channel in the U.S., the special will also be available on Disney+ for kids and families around the world to enjoy.

Disney will also mark the Ultimate Princess Celebration with special events, unforgettable experiences, and unique products:

Disney Publishing Worldwide

Today, Disney Publishing Worldwide is releasing Tales of Courage and Kindness, a new, empowering short story collection that seeks to inspire children to create a kinder world. The 14 original stories feature beautiful new illustrations and demonstrate how the Disney Princesses, as well as Queens Anna and Elsa, are kind and courageous, each in her own way. In celebration of the storybook launch, Disney Princess voice talent, including Mandy Moore, Auli‘i Cravalho, Anika Noni Rose, and Kelly Marie Tran, will read stories from the collection including those inspired by Mulan, Tiana, and Moana, which can be viewed at princess.disney.com. Tales of Courage and Kindness will be available for free download beginning today through the end of August.

Disney Princess – The Concert
Disney Concerts presents Disney Princess – The Concert, a nationwide tour kicking off November 1, 2021. “Be our guest” as an all-star quartet of Broadway and animated film icons celebrates all the Disney Princesses in an unforgettable evening of story, animation, and song, alongside their magical music director and an enchanting guest Prince. Tony^® nominee Susan Egan, two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes, Grammy^® nominee Courtney Reed, and rising star Aisha Jackson join forces in this once-in-a-lifetime concert sponsored by Pandora Jewelry.

Collaboration with Starlight Children’s Foundation

To celebrate the courage that Disney Princess characters possess, Disney is teaming up with Starlight Children’s Foundation to bring Disney Princess- and Frozen-themed hospital gowns and deliveries of toys, books, and games to courageous children during their hospital stays. Starlight Gowns are a fun, personalized alternative to traditional hospital attire and help provide a sense of comfort and normalcy. Disney-themed deliveries, including Starlight Gowns, are part of Disney’s commitment to children’s hospitals to deliver comfort and inspiration to seriously ill children and their families.

Princess-Themed Products and Collectibles

Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing will help bring the Ultimate Princess Celebration to life through a broad range of new product collaborations for fans of all ages across toys, fashion and accessories, beauty, home décor, books, games, and more. In keeping with the theme of the program, Disney collaborated with brands such as Lokai and Love Your Melon, which emphasize kindness through charitable giving. New products tied to the Ultimate Princess Celebration will launch throughout the year, including toys and collectibles from Hasbro, Jakks Pacific, The LEGO Group, Just Play, Funko, and Huffy, plus fashion, beauty, and accessories from adidas, Coach, Chaser Brand, Hanna Andersson, Enchanted Disney Fine Jewelry, Besame Cosmetics, POPSUGAR, and others.

D23 will be your ultimate source for all of the details about this very special celebration. Stay tuned for more dazzling details throughout the year.

EXCLUSIVE: Out-Of-This-World Images from The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

April 26, 2021April 27, 2021

By the D23 Team

Lightspeed to gorgeous art! Hitting shelves tomorrow, April 27, The Art of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge by Amy Ratcliffe takes fans inside the Star Wars-themed lands at Disneyland park and Disney Hollywood Studios. The book features hundreds of full-color concept artworks, sketches, blueprints, photographs, and more, providing insight on how Walt Disney Imagineering created the stunning land from concept to execution. Check out two exclusive images from the book below:

Get more details about this must-have book here, and check out even more stunning images from the book in the gallery below:

Wins for Nomadland and Soul Among Most Magical Moments from the 93rd Oscars®

April 26, 2021

By Beth Deitchman

Disney releases combined to win five Academy Awards® during The Oscars®, which aired live last night on ABC. Searchlight Pictures’ Nomadland earned three Oscars: Best Motion Picture, Best Actress in a Leading Role, and a history-making win for its director, Chloé Zhao. Zhao became the first Chinese woman to receive the Oscar for Best Achievement in Directing and she’s just the second woman to win the award in the Oscars’ 93-year history.

As she reflected on her Nomadland journey and on what inspires her to keep going, Zhao expressed her enduring belief that “People are inherently good,” and she shared that she’s found that goodness in people wherever she’s gone in the world. “This,” Zhao said, “is for anyone who had the faith and the courage to hold on to the goodness in themselves and to hold on to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that.”

Frances McDormand stars in Nomadland as Fern, who packs up her van and takes to the road to explore life outside of conventional society, following the death of her husband and the economic collapse of the Nevada mining town she’s called home. Accepting her award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, she said, “I have no words. My voice is in my sword. We know the sword is our work. And I like work. Thank you for knowing that, and thanks for this.”

Disney and Pixar’s Soul—the film that asks the question, “What is it that makes you…YOU?”—received two Oscars for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score. As home to Disney and Pixar’s Soul, Disney+ received its first Oscar wins since launching in 2019. Additionally, Soul earned Pixar the studio’s 11th Best Animated Feature Film award, and it marks the third Oscar for Soul director and Pixar Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter, who previously won for Up and Inside Out.

“This film started as a love letter to jazz but we had no idea how much jazz would teach us about life. We don’t get to control what happens but we can, like a jazz musician, turn whatever happens into something of value and beauty,” said Docter, who accepted the Oscar for Best Animated Feature with the film’s producer, Dana Murray. Noting that Soul’s protagonist, Joe Gardner, is a music teacher, Docter expressed his gratitude to music and art teachers everywhere. “You make the world a better place,” Docter said, adding, “My wish for all of us tonight is that we can follow the example of jazz musicians, wherever we are, whatever we have, and turn it into something beautiful.”

The film’s unforgettable music, which drifts between the real and soul worlds, was also honored with the Oscar for Best Original Score. “You know what’s deep is God gave us 12 notes, it’s the same 12 notes Duke Ellington had, Bach had… Nina Simone,” Batiste said. “Every contribution with music that comes from the divine into the instruments, into the film, into the minds and hearts and souls of every person who hears it, the stories that happen when you listen to it and watch it and the stories you share, the moments you create, the memories you make. Man, it’s just so incredibly special.”

Of course, the Oscar wins weren’t the only Disney magic we experienced during the live broadcast, which the show’s producers created with an “awards-show-as-a-movie approach.”

Disney fans watching The Oscars on ABC were the first to see the inaugural teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, from 20th Century Studios. The new film adaptation of the musical West Side Story will open in U.S. theaters on December 10, 2021.

Academy Award winner Steven Spielberg directs from a screenplay by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Tony Kushner. This reimagining of the beloved musical, which tells the classic tale of fierce rivalries and young love in 1957 New York City, stars Ansel Elgort (Tony); Rachel Zegler (María); Ariana DeBose (Anita); David Alvarez (Bernardo); Mike Faist (Riff); Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino); Ana Isabelle (Rosalía); Corey Stoll (Lieutenant Schrank); Brian d’Arcy James (Officer Krupke); and Rita Moreno (as Valentina, who owns the corner store in which Tony works). Moreno, who is one of only three artists to be honored with Academy, Emmy®, GRAMMY®, Tony®, and Peabody Awards, also serves as one of the film’s executive producers.

The film’s creative team brings together the best of both Broadway and Hollywood and includes Kushner, who also serves as an executive producer; Tony Award winner Justin Peck, who choreographed the musical numbers in the film; renowned Los Angeles Philharmonic conductor and GRAMMY Award winner Gustavo Dudamel, who helmed the recording of the iconic score; Academy Award-nominated composer and conductor David Newman (Anastasia), who arranged the score; Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Thoroughly Modern Millie), who supervised the cast on vocals; and Grammy-nominated music supervisor Matt Sullivan (Beauty and the Beast, Chicago), who served as executive music producer for the film. The film is produced by Spielberg, Academy Award-nominated producer Kristie Macosko Krieger, and Tony Award-winning producer Kevin McCollum. West Side Story has been adapted for the screen from the original 1957 Broadway show, with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and concept, direction, and choreography by Jerome Robbins.

Below is the complete list of The Walt Disney Company’s Oscar winners for 2021; to view the full list of winners, visit the Oscars site now.

Nomadland (Searchlight Pictures): 3 Academy Awards
Best Motion Picture—Frances McDormand, Peter Spears, Dan Janvey, Mollye Asher, Chloé Zhao
Best Actress in a Leading Role—Frances McDormand
Best Achievement in Directing—Chloé Zhao

Soul (Pixar Animation Studios / Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Disney+ / Disney Music Group): 2 Academy Awards
Best Animated Feature—Pete Docter, Kemp Powers, Dana Murray
Best Original Score—Jon Batiste, Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor

Your Guide to a Dino-Mite Disney+ Marathon

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the fan-favorite ABC television series Dinosaurs, which means only one thing: It’s time for a re-watch! If you are a dinosaur enthusiast, (much like this author) you might ask yourself: Why stop there? Your journey into the dinos of Disney has only begun, and thanks to Disney+ making all our streams come true, we can keep watching more about our primeval pals in these epic movies and series that are now streaming

Dinosaurs
Today’s the 30th anniversary of the funniest family from 60 million and three, BC—so it makes sense to kick off your T-rex-cellent marathon with this classic ABC series showcasing awesome character design from Jim Henson Associates and a Jurassic twist on the humor in everyday life. Catch all four seasons of the Emmy Award®-winning series on Disney+ and you’ll be roaring with laughter in no time.

Dinosaur
The next item in your Dinosaur-themed marathon is helpfully named Dinosaur. And boy, is that title not lying: You will definitely be seeing a lot of cool dinosaurs in this animated film from 2000 about an Iguanodon named Aladar who was raised by Lemurs, only to rejoin his own kind during a mass migration. It’s a fish-out-of-water story anyone can relate to—human or dinosaur—and it features a visually awesome combination of computer-generated animation and live-action backgrounds.

The Good Dinosaur
Okay, listen: While all dinosaurs are good dinosaurs, only one of them is The Good Dinosaur, the titular character of Pixar’s 2015 movie. This film is a twist on the “boy and his dog” tale—instead it’s a story about a dino and his boy! Arlo has to adventure back to his home after being caught in a storm, while overcoming his fears of the world around him in the process.

Fantasia
This film was groundbreaking for its gorgeous animation combined with some of the best classical music, creating an amazing illustration of how sight and sound come together to move us emotionally and delight our senses. On top of that, it has an extremely epic dinosaur sequence that went on to inspire the Primeval World scenes in the Disneyland Railroad. If you’re just watching for dinosaurs, keep your ears open for the Rite of Spring sequence, which culminates in an iconic battle between a T-Rex and a Stegosaur.

Meet the Robinsons
Fine, we’ll be honest: Most of this movie isn’t about dinosaurs. However, when there is a dinosaur, it’s in the form of an extremely memorable mind-controlled T-Rex named Tiny, who was originally the family pet of the Robinsons before falling under mind control by the mysterious Bowler Hat Guy. If you’re really dedicated to Tiny the T-Rex, we also recommend rewatching Wreck-It Ralph and keeping an eye out for Tiny’s cameo during one of the film’s Game Central Station sequences.

The Toy Story Films and Toy Story That Time Forgot
If you’ve read this far into the article, you might be the kind of dinosaur enthusiast who had plastic versions of our favorite prehistoric pals. Relive your childhood memories of dinosaurs ruling the earth (and your toy box) with the Toy Story Films. Rex, an anxious dino we can’t help but love, is featured in all four films—but to maximize your number of dinosaurs, be sure to watch Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4 which feature Trixie the triceratops along with Rex. Finish up your Toy Story dinosaur extravaganza with Toy Story That Time Forgot, an animated short featuring our favorite Toy Story friends in a new adventure with some extremely epic dinosaur-themed action figures.

Bizarre Dinosaurs
Now that you’ve enjoyed fictional tales of dazzling dinosaurs, dive into National Geographic’s movie about the strangest dinosaurs who once roamed the Earth! Paleontologists take us inside the lives of the strangest of the strange dinosaurs and discover how they got that way.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021

By Zach Johnson

Familiar and friendly faces abound in the new documentary Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days, airing Monday on ABC. That same night, Keegan-Michael Key will embark on the journey of a lifetime in a new episode of National Geographic’s Running Wild with Bear Grylls. Then, on Wednesday, the first three episodes from season four of the critically acclaimed series The Handmaid’s Tale will debut on Hulu. On Friday, Disney+ will add the third season of Disney XD’s DuckTales, plus a new installment of Marvel Studios: Assembled.

Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days —Monday, April 26, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
The two-hour documentary, produced by TIME Studios, will celebrate the decades-long impact of Sesame Street and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the iconic program. Featuring appearances by W. Kamau Bell, First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden, Gloria Estefan, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Disney Legend Whoopi Goldberg, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Christopher Jackson, Angelina Jolie, John Legend, Lucy Liu, Olivia Munn, John Oliver, Rosie Perez, Questlove, Chrissy Teigen, and Usher, the documentary will feature Stevie Wonder performing a re-imagined version of the classic song “Sunny Days.” Sesame Street: 50 Years of Sunny Days will also include never-before-seen footage of an episode produced in 1992 focusing on the topic of divorce. In addition, the documentary will chronicle the creation and introduction of a Black family of Sesame Street Muppets, Wes and Elijah Walker, who are the heart of Coming Together, Sesame Workshop’s racial justice initiative.

Running Wild with Bear Grylls—Monday, April 26, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic
As if right out of a science fiction movie, Bear Grylls swoops in on a jetpack to pick up funnyman Keegan-Michael Key, kicking off their adrenaline-pumping adventure in the lava fields of Iceland. The actor—known to Disney fans for hosting the National Geographic series Brain Games and for starring in the films The Lion King, Tomorrowland, and Toy Story 4—must put all jokes aside to face some of his greatest fears and conquer the lunar landscape. From a perilous rappel off a sheer 200-foot cliff to an endurance-testing jumar climb, Key is pushed beyond mental and physical limits in a truly life-changing experience.

The Handmaid’s Tale—Wednesday, April 28, on Hulu
The Emmy®- and Golden Globe®-winning drama series returns for its highly anticipated fourth season, which finds June (Elisabeth Moss) striking back against Gilead as a fierce rebel leader. In the season premiere, June and the fugitive Handmaids find refuge at a farm, where June is nursed back to health. Meanwhile, in Gilead, an imprisoned Lawrence (Bradley Whitford) tries to avoid a death sentence as Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) reels from the loss of 86 children on Angels’ Flight. Meanwhile, the Waterfords (Joseph Fiennes and Yvonne Strahovski), who are in custody in Toronto, learn of June’s feat. Throughout the season, the risks June takes bring unexpected and dangerous new challenges. Her quest for justice and revenge threatens to consume her and destroy her most cherished relationships.

DuckTales (Season 3)—Friday, April 30, on Disney+
Less than two months after the series finale aired on Disney XD, all episodes of the animated series will be available to stream on Disney+. The final season of the animated comedy-adventure series continues to chronicle the high-flying adventures of Duckburg’s most famous trillionaire, Scrooge McDuck (voice of David Tennant), and his mischief-making triplet grandnephews Huey Duck (voice of Danny Pudi), Dewey Duck (voice of Ben Schwartz), and Louie Duck (voice of Bobby Moynihan). Joining their fun escapades are Donald Duck (voice of Tony Anselmo), Scrooge’s moody nephew; Webby Vanderquack (voice of Kate Micucci), the triplets’ fierce friend; and Launchpad McQuack (voice of Beck Bennett) and Mrs. Beakley (voice of Toks Olagundoye), both from the McDuck Manor staff.

Marvel Studios: Assembled—Friday, April 30, on Disney+
Go behind the scenes of Marvel Studios’ hit series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier in a brand-new episode of the comprehensive documentary series. Stars including Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Daniel Brühl, Emily VanCamp, Wyatt Russell, and Erin Kellyman, plus director Kari Skogland and head writer Malcolm Spellman, provide a fresh and immersive look at the Disney+ original.

Announcing 2022 Adventures® by Disney vacations.

April 23, 2021

By The D23 Team

Come discover a different kind of magic as Adventures by Disney_® ventures to some of the most fascinating destinations on earth.

Adventures by Disney is returning to more than two dozen destinations around the world on six continents. From Asia to South America and Europe to Australia, odds are Adventures by Disney visits a destination that you’ve been dreaming to visit.

You can take part in a special after-hours tour of the Vatican when exploring Italy or witness a thrilling match of the ancient sport of sumo wrestling in Japan. Head down to Peru where you’ll be surrounded by ancient Inca traditions or discover the folklore and green vistas of Ireland. Venture to Iceland whose mysterious landscapes will enchant you. But then there’s Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia where centuries-old ruins will delight and ignite your imagination. If you are an animal lover, consider the South Africa itinerary where a safari vehicle awaits.

With Adventures by Disney you truly immerse yourself in the local culture and stories of your destination. On every itinerary you’ll enjoy authentic meals, hands-on activities and so much more. Every detail is attended to and Adventures by Disney removes all the worry out of planning world travels. The Adventure Guides are the real secret, though, as they are trained to anticipate your needs. They love to share what’s at the heart of every great Disney adventure…a great story. Rather than just restate historical facts, they’ll weave together the tales of the destination in a riveting and engaging way that appeals to all ages. During your trip, you’ll feel like a VIP as you and your group bypass the lines and queues at various popular destinations. Rest assured that each adventure is crafted with families in mind so that both adults and Junior Adventurers will have the time of their lives.

Plus, if you book by July 15, 2021, you can save $500 per person on select Adventures by Disney Land Adventures departing from March 11, 2022–April 1, 2023.* Book your adventure today and start getting excited about all that Adventures by Disney has to offer.

In addition, in a short while Adventures by Disney will be announcing brand-new Land Adventures and Private Adventure itineraries, so stay tuned.

DISCLAIMER: *Early Booking Rate offer valid for select Adventures by Disney land package departures with travel start dates between March 11, 2022 and April 1, 2023, inclusive. This offer is not valid for Adventures by Disney Private Adventures, River Cruises, Expedition Cruises, Escape Land packages and Disney Cruise Line related packages. Qualifying land package departures have an Early Booking Rate designation on the applicable Rates and Dates page on AdventuresbyDisney.com. The Early Booking Rate designation may not reflect real-time offer availability; accordingly, availability of the Early Booking Rate is subject to confirmation at time of booking reservation with Adventures by Disney and paying the standard trip deposit. Any courtesy hold, without payment of the standard trip deposit, will not guarantee availability of the Early Booking Rate for selected departure date. Early Booking Rate offer terminates on July 15, 2021, or when the limited spaces on the applicable departure date have been booked, whichever is earlier. The Early Booking Rate is $500 less than the rate applicable to the same departure date and Adventures by Disney package after the termination of the Early Booking Rate offer. A limited number of spaces are available on each applicable departure date at the Early Booking Rate. Spaces on the land packages at the Early Booking Rate are subject to availability. Early Booking Rate is valid on new bookings only. Lead Guest of the booking party must travel on the land package booked. Offer not transferable or redeemable for cash in whole or in part. Early Booking Rate cannot be combined with any other offers, discounts or promotions. Not valid for group bookings. Offer is subject to change without notice. Offer valid for residents of the U.S. and Canada, except for Quebec. Bookings subject to restrictions and Adventures by Disney standard terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.