The Wonderful World of Disney Returns to ABC—Plus More in News Briefs

September 18, 2020September 17, 2020

By Courtney Potter

ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney Returns with Guardians of the Galaxy

Mark those calendars for the return of ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney! Yes, the beloved series will make its way back onto our TV screens (or streaming device of choice) beginning Wednesday, September 23, when it features the network broadcast premiere of Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy.

Lest you’re drawing a blank on the hilarious, action-packed plot of the 2014 hit, here’s a refresher: A bounty is placed on impetuous adventurer Peter Quill/Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) after he steals a mysterious orb coveted by the powerful villain Ronan (Lee Pace). To evade Ronan once and for all, Quill is forced to forge an unlikely alliance with a quartet of misfits—Rocket (voice of Bradley Cooper), a gun-toting raccoon; Groot (voice of Vin Diesel), a tree-like humanoid; Gamora (Zoe Saldana), an enigmatic assassin; and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista), a vengeful warrior. But when Quill discovers the true power of the orb and the threat it poses, he must rally his ragtag team for a last stand… all while the cosmos’ fate hangs in the balance.

The Wonderful World of Disney presents iconic feature films currently available on Disney+ in primetime on ABC. Pop some corn and settle in!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Speaking of assembling snacks and finding the comfiest spot on the couch, here’s what you can expect for some choice viewing from around the worlds of Disney this very weekend. If it’s a sports-related rom-com you’re craving, 2002’s Bend It Like Beckham debuts on Disney+ beginning Friday, September 18. And for fans of all things TV, you positively cannot miss the 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, airing live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC. With Kimmel at the helm—and nominees reporting in virtually—it’s sure to be a supremely memorable night… Read up on all these, and more, by clicking here.

Big Milestone for Construction of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom Park

Here’s some great scoop out of Walt Disney World Resort: Walt Disney Imagineering has just reached a major milestone in the development of TRON Lightcycle / Run at Magic Kingdom park. This week, our pals at the Disney Parks Blog shared pictures of the very first piece of canopy being installed in what will become an instant iconic attraction—and portal to The Grid in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom Park.

This was the first of nearly 40 pieces that will create a dramatic “curved wave” canopy, known as the Upload Conduit. Zach Riddley, Walt Disney World Site Portfolio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, told the blog that “each section is strategically assembled before installation, including alignment of the steel, welding, grinding, some painting, and electrical work. It’s an intricate process and something we’ll get to see rise before our eyes over the coming weeks and months.”

The massive, awe-inspiring canopy will swirl organically over guests as they race beneath it aboard a Lightcycle, which serves as a digital bridge for their transition into The Grid. Dynamic stripes of lights will follow along the canopy as the Lightcycles speed by, which is sure to look truly stunning to riders and bystanders alike. We can’t wait to see the whole thing in action!

Tokyo Disneyland Celebrates All-New Fun Beginning September 28

In other Disney Parks and Resorts news: It’s the largest expansion in the park’s history, and it all kicks off later this month… If you’ve kept those eyes peeled here at D23.com, you know that Tokyo Disneyland has been gearing up for the big reveal of incredible new fun stretching across Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and Toontown—and now we know when guests will be able to experience the magic for the first time! Disney Parks Blog just this week announced that these new attractions, restaurants, and shops will debut on Monday, September 28.

The additions to Fantasyland will bring Disney’s iconic 1991 animated film Beauty and the Beast to life through the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast attraction, themed shops, and all-new dining locations. Over in Tomorrowland, guests will experience the fresh new The Happy Ride with Baymax attraction inspired by the Oscar®-winning 2014 hit Big Hero 6. Meanwhile, Toontown will offer a new Disney Character greeting experience called Minnie’s Style Studio, and guests will find new delectable delights at The Big Pop, a specialized popcorn shop.

Congrats to all involved, and let the celebrations commence!

The Mandalorian Season 2 Trailer Revealed!

Show of hands—who’s already counting down the days until the brand-new season of The Mandalorian begins on Disney+? (Truth be told, we’ve been counting down basically since we watched the final episode of season one.) We’ve still got a little over a month to go before the title character, portrayed by Pedro Pascal—and his ridiculously adorable sidekick, the Child—return, but just this week we were gifted with a brand-new second-season trailer to help tide us over… If you haven’t already, check it out, above!

The next season will find this dynamic duo continuing their journey, facing enemies and rallying allies as they make their way through a dangerous galaxy in the tumultuous era after the collapse of the Galactic Empire. In addition to Pascal, The Mandalorian stars Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Carl Weathers as Greef Karga, and Giancarlo Esposito as Moff Gideon. Episode directors this time ’round include such notables as Disney Legend Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Bryce Dallas Howard, Rick Famuyiwa, Weathers, Peyton Reed, and Robert Rodriguez. Look for season two of The Mandalorian beginning Friday, October 30, streaming only on Disney+.

Character Art Revealed for All-New Animated Episode of ABC’s black-ish

We were already totally tickled by the thought of a fully animated episode of ABC’s hit series black-ish—but now that we’ve seen the character art for the special event, we seriously can’t wait! Take a look at the fun animated version of the Johnson family in the just-released image, above.

The animated half-hour is part of a special one-hour event on Sunday, October 4, beginning at 10 p.m. EDT (ahead of the show’s season premiere on Wednesday, October 21). First up, in “Election Special Pt. 1,” Junior (Marcus Scribner) is excited for his first time voting but discovers he’s been purged from the voter polls, so he does a deep dive into why—trying to understand the systems in place for voter registration. Then, in the special animated episode, “Election Special Pt. 2,” Dre’s (Anthony Anderson) colleague Stevens (Peter Mackenzie) makes an ill-advised decision to run for Congress, so Dre enlists his family’s help and campaigns against him… but gets caught up with fundraising and private interest groups. Both parts of the special are directed by Oscar® winner Matthew A. Cherry (Hair Love).

Just a head’s up, for planning purposes: Airdate and timing for this special are subject to change due to the NBA Finals schedule.

Just Announced: Disney+ to Debut The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse

Come along and sing a song, and join the jamboree—an all-new animated shorts series is coming to Disney+, starring the one and only Mickey Mouse! From the good folks behind Disney Channel’s Emmy® Award-winning Mickey Mouse cartoon shorts comes The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, premiering on the streaming service on Mickey’s birthday, November 18. Read all the news that’s currently fit to print about the series by clicking right here.

ABC Reveals Scripted Drama Series Premiere Dates for Fall 2020

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Let the drama begin! Moments ago, ABC announced the highly anticipated premiere dates for its scripted drama series slate, rounding out the network’s fall 2020 schedule. Dates for the network’s new and returning unscripted and comedy series were previously announced.

“Our fall schedule is now complete with a dynamic lineup of new and returning drama series,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment. “From fan-favorite shows like Grey’s Anatomy and The Good Doctor to David E. Kelley’s thrilling new drama Big Sky, our strength is in our storytelling, and we could not be more energized to bring these compelling series to our viewers.”

ABC’s scripted drama series premiere dates are as follows:

Monday, November 2
10–11 p.m. ET/PT: The Good Doctor (Season 4)

Thursday, November 12
8–9 p.m. ET/PT: Station 19 (Season 4)
9–11 p.m. ET/PT: Grey’s Anatomy (Season 17) (Two-Hour Premiere)

Tuesday, November 17
10:01–11 p.m. ET/PT: Big Sky (Series Premiere)

Wednesday, November 18
10–11 p.m. ET/PT: For Life (Season 2)

Thursday, November 19
10:01–11 p.m. ET/PT: A Million Little Things (Season 3)

Note: The Rookie will premiere later in the season.

All the Mousequerade Winners to Inspire You for the Halloween Mousequerade Costume Contest

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020

By Jocelyn Buhlman

While most of us Disney fans have dreamed of twirling in a princess dress or creeping in a villainous cape, those talented enough to craft, create, and sew are able to make those pixie-dusted dreams a reality. There’s no better showcase of the sheer talent that Disney costume crafters possess than Mousequerade—our costume contest highlighting all the wonderful and wacky costumes Disney fans create. Combine Mousequerade with Halloween (the other time of year when talented costume creators emerge to strut their stuff) and we have the perfect recipe for dazzling Disney delights! If you’re thread-y to show off your skills, you can enter our Halloween costume contest now through October 1. Not sure what Disney duds to don? We’ve rounded up the past winners of our costume contests to help give you the spark to create your own enchanting ensembles.

2013

Before there was Mousequerade, there was… Heroes and Villains à la Mode! This costume contest from 2013 featured five awards categories: best original design, best re-creation, best craftsmanship, best young fan, and best in show.

Best Original Design — Antagonista

Best Re-recreation: Merida

Best Craftsmanship: Prince Edward and Giselle

Best Young Fan: The Rocketeer

Best in Show: Queen Amidala

2015

In 2015, the costume contest transformed into the Mousequerade we know and love. Hosted by Disney’s Jim Babcock, the five-category contest was judged by luminaries including Dancing with the Stars winner Alfonso Ribeiro; Once Upon a Time costume designer Eduardo Castro; Global Entertainment Costume Design Lead for Disney Parks, Leigh Slaughter; and former Disney Channel star Zendaya! The five categories in which cosplayers competed were Heroes Unmasked; Once Upon a Costume; The Wonderful Worlds of Disney; Weird, Wild, and Goofy; and Best of Star Wars.

Heroes Unmasked: Spider-Man

Once Upon a Costume: Ursula

The Wonderful Worlds of Disney: Matterhorn Yeti

Weird, Wild, and Goofy: SuperDiamondDisney60TextMeAdliocious

Best of Star Wars: Chewbacca Beast

Best in Show: Matterhorn Yeti

2017

This year saw the debut of two of our current Mousequerade judges: Ashley Eckstein, the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the creator of the Her Universe clothing line; and Yvette Nicole Brown, host of The Big Fib on Disney+. Joining them was another judge with an eye for scary-good design: Descendants 2 costume designer (and Project Runway alum) Kara Saun! The five categories this year brought back some familiar categories along with some new categories that promised to inspire epic costumes: Once Upon a Costume, Worlds of Adventure, Heroes and Villains, Inspired by Disney, and Cast of Characters.

Once Upon a Costume: Sally

Worlds of Adventure: Groot

Heroes and Villains: Te Fiti and Te Ka

Inspired by Disney: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Cast of Characters: Mary Poppins, Bert the Chimney Sweep, and Mr. and Mrs. Banks

Best of the Best: Te Fiti and Te Ka

2019

The 2019 Mousequerade was our most recent display of costume delights, featuring the return of Eckstein and Brown as our faithful judges, along with newcomer Jennifer Leonard—owner and designer of clothing line Raw Threads. The categories remained the same as in 2017—and the costumes were once again beyond anything we’d ever imagined!

Once Upon a Costume: Lumiere

Worlds of Adventure: Princess Shuri

Heroes and Villains: Ursula

Inspired by Disney: The Grim Grinning Gown

Cast of Characters: Mad Princess Party

Best of the Best: The Grim Grinning Gown

Who will take home the Best in Show prize for this year’s Mousequerade? Maybe it’s you! Starting now through October 1, you can enter your costume themed to “All Things Disney” for a chance to win.

Everything New You Can Stream on Disney+ in October 2020

September 17, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Disney+ has spoken.

The second season of the Emmy® Award-winning series The Mandalorian will premiere October 30, capping off an exciting month that includes new episodes of The Big Fib, Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, One Day at Disney, Weird But True!, and more! On October 9, blast off with two episodes of The Right Stuff, a brand-new original series from National Geographic that chronicles the incredible story of the early days of the U.S. space program. Another new series joining Disney+ on October 16 is Meet the Chimps, which takes animal lovers into one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world. That same day, Disney+ will premiere the movie Clouds, inspired by the incredible true story of Zach Sobiech, a musically gifted high school student living with osteosarcoma, a rare bone cancer. And Frozen fans will finally learn more about Olaf’s backstory when the new Walt Disney Animation Studios animated short, Once Upon a Snowman, premieres October 23.

All the confirmed film and television titles coming to Disney+ in October are listed below:

Thursday, October 1
Maleficent

Friday, October 2
Beverly Hills Chihuahua
Cheaper by the Dozen 2
Mr. Holland’s Opus
Secrets of the Zoo: Down Under (Season 1)
The Simpsons (Season 31)
Zenimation Extended Edition (Premiere)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 102—“Happy Birthday, Gino!”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 144—“Pablo Tufino: Ride Show Technician”)
Weird But True! (Episode 308—“Our Solar System”)

Friday, October 9
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
Oil Spill of the Century
Wild Portugal
X2: X-Men United
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 103—“Betty and the Beast”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 145—“Gabriela Clark: Creative Print Marketing”)
The Right Stuff (Premiere) (Episode 101—“Sierra Hotel”) (Episode 102—“Goodies”)
Weird But True! (Episode 309—“Cooking”)

Friday, October 16
Disney Junior The Rocketeer (Season 1)
Drain (Season 3)
Lost on Everest
Marvel’s Iron Man & Captain America: Heroes United
Clouds (Premiere)
One Day at Disney (Episode 146—“Alfredo Ayala: R&D Imagineer”)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 104—“Meet the Mandrills”)
Meet the Chimps (Premiere)
The Right Stuff (Episode 103—“Single Combat Warrior”)
Weird But True! (Episode 310—“Explorers”)

Friday, October 23
Gathering Storm (Season 1)
India from Above (Season 1)
Marvel Super Hero Adventures (Shorts) (Season 4)
Pompeii: Secrets of the Dead
Ultimate Viking Sword
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 105—“Aardvark Love!”)
Once Upon a Snowman (Premiere)
The Big Fib (New Episodes: 116–130)
One Day at Disney (Episode 147—“Jason Benetti: Play-by-Play Commentator”)
The Right Stuff (Episode 104—“Advent”)
Weird But True! (Episode 311—“Scuba Diving”)

Friday, October 30
Disney The Owl House (Season 1)
The Sorcerer’s Apprentice
X-Ray Earth (Season 1)
The Mandalorian (Season Premiere)
Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom (Episode 106—“Peri’s Prickly Pregnancy”)
One Day at Disney (Episode 148—“Dana Amendola: Disney Theatrical Productions”)
The Right Stuff (Episode 105—“The Kona Kai Seance”)
Weird But True! (Episode 312—“Camping”)

Everything You Need to Know About the 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards on ABC

September 17, 2020September 18, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Ready to tune in for television’s biggest night?

The 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards, airing live on ABC, will undoubtedly be a ceremony unlike any other. Returning to host the show for the third time, executive producer Jimmy Kimmel will help bring together 138 stars from 114 locations across 10 countries for one unpredictable night. Due to the global health crisis, he will host the show from inside Los Angeles’ Staples Center, which will have no audience or red carpet. “It’s the biggest possible venue,” says Kimmel. “We want to space the few people that will be there out as much as possible.” That means the majority of the nominees, presenters, and winners will make remote appearances for the first time ever. “It’s a massive undertaking,” explains Kimmel. “Just think about having a Zoom with your family and how complicated that is!”

Since his role as host and executive producer was announced in June, Kimmel has been hard at work to ensure the production is unforgettable. “When I do my show [ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live!] every night, I have a monologue, we write jokes, and we come up with some funny stuff. For the Emmys® or for the Oscars®—or for any big awards show—you want the very best possible jokes. It’s a rare occasion where you’re really trying,” he says with a laugh. “My motto during my talk show is: ‘90 percent is fine.’ In this case, we want to give somewhere in the neighborhood of 98 [percent]… sometimes even up to 100 percent!”

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this year’s show:

How and when can I watch the pre-show?
ABC News Live’s Countdown to the Emmys, a 90-minute live special, will be hosted by Good Morning America weekend co-anchors Eva Pilgrim and Whit Johnson and ABC News correspondent Janai Norman, live from ABC News headquarters in New York City. The live-stream will begin Sunday, September 20, at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. Available globally and to more than 200 million streamers through distribution of ABC News Live, it will feature live interviews with nominees, predict winners and possible upsets, spotlight the unprecedented year for TV production, and revisit some of the greatest red carpet fashions of the past—along with a glimpse at this year’s “couch couture.” Joining Pilgrim, Johnson, and Norman will be ABC News correspondent Chris Connelly and ESPN’s The Undefeated senior entertainment reporter Kelley Carter, who will be posted outside the Staples Center.

How and when can I watch the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards?
ABC will broadcast the show live on Sunday, September 20, beginning at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. Those who subscribe to Hulu + Live TV can also stream the ceremony live on ABC. Preceding the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards at 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT will be a special episode of the game show Celebrity Family Feud (which will air at 9 p.m. MT/11:36 p.m. PT) featuring Brad Garrett vs. Ray Romano and Fall Out Boy vs. Weezer.

Who are the nominees?
The Walt Disney Company received an impressive 145 nominations, led by Disney+’s The Mandalorian with 15. Other nominations spanning ABC, Disney Channel, Disney Television Studios, Disney+, ESPN, FX, Hulu, and National Geographic include The Handmaid’s Tale and Mrs. America with 10; The Oscars with nine; What We Do in the Shadows with eight; Pose with six; Little Fires Everywhere, The Politician, and This Is Us with five; American Horror Story: 1984, black-ish, The Cave, Devs, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Live in Front of a Studio Audience: “All in the Family” and “Good Times,” and Normal People with four; Dancing with the Stars, The Last Dance, The Little Mermaid Live!, Modern Family, Ramy, and The Simpsons with three; The Great, Life Below Zero, Shark Tank, and Tales from the Loop with two; and the 2019 American Music Awards, Bob’s Burgers, Cake, A Celebration of the Music from Coco, Central Park, The Conners, Forky Asks a Question, Godfather of Harlem, Hillary, Homeland, How to Get Away with Murder, The Imagineering Story, National Geographic Presents Cosmos: Creating Possible Worlds, The Rookie, Sea of Shadows, Star Wars Resistance, The World According to Jeff Goldblum, and Wu-Tang: An American Saga with one. To view the full list of the Television Academy’s nominees, please visit Emmys.com. After the ceremony, D23.com will publish a list of winners from across The Walt Disney Company.

Which celebrities will appear during the ceremony?
Familiar faces including Anthony Anderson, Jason Bateman, Sterling K. Brown, Ty Burrell, Laverne Cox, D-Nice, America Ferrera, Morgan Freeman, Ilana Glazer, Abbi Jacobson, Ken Jeong, Mindy Kaling, Tatiana Maslany, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bob Newhart, Randall Park, Issa Rae, RuPaul, Patrick Stewart, Jason Sudeikis, Gabrielle Union, Sesame Street’s Count Von Count, J.J. Watt, Lena Waithe, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey are scheduled to make appearances, with more surprises and special guests to be announced closer to the broadcast. “The show this year will be a mix of celebrities and people to whom we want to pay tribute for their work during this pandemic,” reveals Kimmel. “There will be more noncelebrities involved in this show than there’ve ever been.”

Who will be performing?
Grammy® Award winner H.E.R. has been tapped for a special “In Memoriam” piece.

What will the virtual production look like?
Adhering to social distancing and safety guidelines, camera operators will be remote and on site with most of the nominees—meaning more than 100 live feeds will be wired through the Staples Center’s production facility. “Because we can’t really rely on people operating their equipment at home, we are sending out these video packages. It’s a box and it has a camera in it and it will connect you right to the Emmys. I guess the hope is that after the Emmys, people will send this stuff back. I don’t think I would. If I won, I would send it back,” Kimmel says. “If I didn’t win, I would keep it. That would be my award for the night.”

Everything You Need to Know About Big Hero 6 The Series’ Brand-New Season

September 17, 2020September 17, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

When we pick back up with Hiro, Baymax, and the rest of Big Hero 6 in the third season of Big Hero 6 The Series, they’re defeating villains virtually within a challenging simulation program, leading teenage tech whiz Hiro to declare the team “ready for anything.” But little do they know, an old nemesis is about to embark on a sinister plan, and it will be up to our heroes to save San Fransokyo from Noodle Burger Boy and his team of evil mascot robots. The impastably entertaining season premiere episode airs Monday, September 21 (7:30 p.m. ET/PT), on Disney XD and DisneyNOW.

Following in the footsteps of the Oscar®-winning feature film that inspired it, Big Hero 6 The Series has always delivered a powerful combination of action, comedy, and heart, and that continues as our heroes kick off what Fred enthusiastically dubs “Phase Three.” The series’ sophomore season drew to a heartwarming conclusion with the Big Hero 6 team prevailing over archenemy Trina before they celebrated a major milestone: the graduation of Go Go, Wasabi, and Honey Lemon from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, and Hiro’s poignant speech on behalf of his late brother, Tadashi, who would have received his diploma alongside his friends. “When we finished that, we were kind of like, wow, this feels like the series is over—but it’s not,” says Bob Schooley, who executive produces alongside Mark McCorkle and Nick Filippi. The trio—who were behind another fan-favorite animated series for Disney Channel, Kim Possible—realized they had an opportunity to change things up for season three, which Schooley describes as “a lot lighter and more comedy-focused.”

A generous helping of laughs comes in the season premiere from the return of Noodle Burger Boy. Once an affable restaurant mascot—albeit one built with military grade materials and designed to be completely indestructible—Noodle Burger Boy fell into the wrong hands and became a hench-robot for mega villain Obake. “The idea of a very cute robot who was deadly just felt like a natural for this world,” Schooley shares, crediting the actor who voices Noodle Burger Boy, Lucas Neff, for making him “adorable and creepy at the same time.”

Despite his evil tendencies—or perhaps because of them—Noodle Burger Boy has won the hearts of fans and become a favorite for the creative team, as well. “We love the design and we love the voice,” McCorkle says, explaining, “Early on, when we were trying to find that voice, we gave our story editor, Jeff Poliquin, the challenge of this guy, all of his sayings and aphorisms and whatever, need to be fast food lingo. Jeff really came through and set the tone in season one that everyone else could sort of follow. He’s a fun character.”

In season three, Noodle Burger Boy engages in some truly diabolical doings, but they’re motivated by his super-sized desire for a family. Executive producer Filippi notes that the Big Hero 6 will have their work cut out for them, where their noodle nemesis is concerned. “Because it’s Noodle Burger Boy, his schemes have the potential to be incredibly destructive and hazardous for citizens in the city, but they’re often very random, bizarre plans. He’s definitely a force for random chaos and mischief,” Filippi says.

The executive producers promise that Noodle Burger Boy won’t be the only familiar face cropping up in season three. Hiro may be on summer break from the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology, but Professor Granville will still insinuate herself into his life, which McCorkle says leads to some “great comic fun.” He also reveals that fans can look forward to a romance for Fred this season, and hints that we’ll get to see Mr. Sparkles in a new light, too.

Our heroes may be seeing each other in a new light, as well, this season, which finds Hiro, Fred, and Baymax coming to grips with the fact that half of their group has entered a different phase of their lives as they search for jobs that enable them to use the tech skills they’ve honed at SFIT. “I think the idea that some of the group is moving on and this is our last summer together definitely sort of is overarching the season to a degree,” Schooley shares. But, McCorkle adds, “Even though there’s going to be this shift, it’s not like the three of them are abandoning the team by any stretch.”

Season three kicks off with a 22-minute episode that includes an epic visit to the Hyper-Potamus Pizza-Party-Torium, a dining and entertainment experience that is truly not to be missed, as you can see in this exclusive clip:

But beginning with the next episode (airing on September 28), fans can look forward to two 11-minute stories each week, a new format that presents the creative team with opportunities to try different things that might not have felt organic as part of a larger story. According to Filippi, “Shortening the episodes gives us a chance to spend more time with individual characters instead of having such a big ensemble; and also, not having to set up so much during an episode allows our directors and writers and story artists the ability to explore and go off in some directions that we wouldn’t have been able to in a [22-minute story].” Those directions include a foray into Heathcliff’s past and a song-filled story featuring a popular K-pop band in the Big Hero 6 The Series world, 4 2 Sing, a favorite for Wasabi, who appreciates the symmetry that only comes from a quartet comprised of not one, but two sets of singing twins.

The executive producers cast K-pop stars Nichkhun Horvejkul (“2PM”) and Jae Park (“DAY6”) as the two halves of the four-man boy band. The season three guest cast also includes Kirby Howell-Baptiste (Killing Eve) as Cobra, a charming and crafty villain; and Nichole Bloom (Superstore) as Olivia, a passionate comic book fan. The returning voice cast includes Maya Rudolph as Aunt Cass, Ryan Potter as Hiro, Scott Adsit as Baymax, Jamie Chung as Go Go, Khary Payton as Wasabi, Genesis Rodriguez as Honey Lemon and Brooks Wheelan as Fred; as well as Jenifer Lewis as Professor Granville, Jane Lynch as Supersonic Sue, Horatio Sanz as El Fuego, Andy Richter as Globby, Alan Tudyk as Krei, Haley Tju as Karmi and David Shaughnessy as Heathcliff.

For fans who can’t wait until Monday for a return trip to San Fransokyo, the first two seasons of Big Hero 6 The Series are available for streaming now on Disney+. And be sure to tune in for the start of new adventures on September 21 on Disney XD and DisneyNOW. Filippi emphasizes, “There’s a lot of crazy stuff this season—it’s going to be fun!”

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

September 17, 2020September 16, 2020

By Zach Johnson

Whether you’re an animal lover, a sports fan, or a television fanatic, there’s something for everyone this weekend! You’ll score with the modern classic Bend It Like Beckham, which is joining the Disney+ library Friday. Then, at midnight, tune in to Freeform for the “paw-some” movie The Shaggy Dog, starring Disney Legends Tim Allen and Robert Downey Jr. And join us in celebrating the best in television when FXX airs the Creative Arts Emmy® Awards Saturday and ABC airs the 72nd Primetime Emmy® Awards; the latter will be preceded by a can’t-miss special episode of Celebrity Family Feud, hosted by Steve Harvey.

Bend It Like Beckham—Friday, September 18, on Disney+
All 18-year-old Jess (Parminder Nagra) wants is to play soccer professionally… just like her idol, David Beckham. But her strict Indian parents forbid her from pursuing her passion and instead redirect her towards a more traditional path—one forged by her sister, Pinky (Archie Panjabi), who is about to be married. But after Jess’ fancy footwork catches the eye of Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley), she is convinced to play for a semi-pro team. From then on, Jess concocts elaborate excuses to hide her activities—and a crush on her coach (Jonathan Rhys Meyers)—from her family. Torn between her parents’ expectations and her own aspirations, Jess must weigh whether it’s worth it to bend the rules to reach her goals.

The Shaggy Dog (2006)—Friday, September 18, at 12 a.m. ET on Freeform
This modern retelling of the 1959 Disney classic centers on deputy district attorney Dave Douglas (Tim Allen), a workaholic who puts his job before his family. After taking a case involving an animal laboratory, Dave becomes infected with a secret serum that turns him into a dog. Life gets “ruff,” but it also gives Dave a new perspective on the importance of family. But before he can make things right with his wife (Kristin Davis) and kids (Spencer Breslin and Zena Grey), Dave must sniff out the villains responsible for his transformation.

The Creative Arts Emmy Awards—Saturday, September 19, at 8 p.m. ET on FXX
Hosted by Nicole Byer and presented over five nights, the 2020 Creative Arts Emmy Awards will culminate with an eclectic mix of awards across all genres, including Outstanding Animated Program, Outstanding Children’s Program, Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program, Outstanding Main Title Design, and more. The ceremony will also hand out the awards for Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Guest Actor and Actress in a Drama Series, with Alexis Bledel (The Handmaid’s Tale), Giancarlo Esposito (The Mandalorian), Ron Cephas Jones (This Is Us), Disney Legend Bette Midler (The Politician), Phylicia Rashad (This Is Us), Cicely Tyson (How to Get Away with Murder), and Fred Willard (Modern Family) among the nominees.

Celebrity Family Feud—Sunday, September 20, at 7 p.m. ET on ABC
Survey says…. it’s going to be an unforgettable “family” reunion when Ray Romano and Brad Garrett compete for charity in the fan-favorite game show hosted by Steve Harvey! Romano, playing for Harvest Home, will be joined by his brother and three sons, while Garrett, playing for Maximum Hope Foundation, will be joined by fellow comedians Sam Fedele, Deb Gutierrez, Ralph Harris, and Paul Ogata. Then it will be a battle of the bands when Fall Out Boy’s Andy Hurley, Patrick Stump, Joe Trohman, and Pete Wentz and actor Seth Green play for The Fall Out Boy Fund, facing off against Weezer’s Brian Bell, Rivers Cuomo, Scott Shriner, and Patrick Wilson and producer Suzy Shinn, competing for Reverb.

72nd Primetime Emmy Awards—Sunday, September 20, at 8 p.m. ET on ABC
Executive producer Jimmy Kimmel will return as host of the annual awards show for the third time, after previously hosting both the 64th and 68th ceremonies. Filmed live and remote, television’s biggest night will feature some of the brightest stars in Hollywood, including Anthony Anderson, America Ferrera, Issa Rae, Gabrielle Union, J.J. Watt, Lena Waithe, and Disney Legend Oprah Winfrey. The Walt Disney Company received a total of 145 Primetime Emmy Award nominations this year; Disney+ and Lucasfilm Ltd.’s The Mandalorian leads the pack with 15 nominations, including for Outstanding Dramas Series.

GALLERY: There’s So Much Magic in this Little Golden Book Art from the Walt Disney Archives

September 16, 2020

By the D23 Team

One of the most cherished childhood memories for Disney fans is opening up a Little Golden Book to read a new story based on your favorite characters, movies, and television series. While these gorgeous books, filled with unique artwork and beloved tales, live on in our memories, they also live on in another location—the Walt Disney Archives! We’ve explored the Archives’ collections, from amazing costumes to totally retro merchandise, but did you know the Archives is home to all the wonderful books from across the worlds of Disney? That includes our beloved Little Golden Books! Check out some of their collection (and take a trip down memory lane) with this gallery of classic Little Golden Books covers.

Still feeling nostalgic? You can add some Disney Little Golden Books to your own collection here.

‘This is Halloween’ at Magic Kingdom Park

September 15, 2020

By Ryan March

Boys and girls of every age: Wouldn’t you like to see something strange? Come with us and you will see, a Magic Kingdom Halloween!

With headless horsemen dangling from their drinks and with their churros anchored in what appear to be bags of bugs, Walt Disney World guests are embracing the spirit of the season at Magic Kingdom Park, where D23 got a firsthand look at the ghoulish delights.

wdw halloween — The Oogie Boogie novelty bucket is available with popcorn or churros.

The aforementioned churros, coated this season in orange and black sugar, are available as an option with a new novelty bucket inspired by Oogie Boogie, the burlap bag-o-bugs that creepily crawled to fame in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. That same bucket is available with popcorn, joining a fall lineup of collectible popcorn buckets that also includes crafty containers inspired by Mickey Mouse (in jack-o’-lantern form) and those Hitchhiking Ghosts who follow you home from the Haunted Mansion. (Even if you already have 999 buckets in your popcorn collection… there’s always room for a thousand.)

For those who define the seasons as winter, spring, summer, and pumpkin spice, the park has you covered. Our favorite pumpkin-spice discoveries were the Pumpkin Spice Waffle Sundae at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments in Liberty Square, where vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, a salted caramel drizzle, and sprinkles top pumpkin spice Mickey waffles; and the Pumpkin Spice Milkshake at Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies in Tomorrowland, where the pumpkin-spice ice cream blend is topped with whipped cream, a caramel drizzle, sprinkles, and a Mickey marshmallow straw.

Among the other sweet treats that made us lose our heads was the Headless Horseman Rides Again beverage served this season at Sunshine Tree Terrace in Adventureland, adorning a concoction of Strawberry DOLE Whip soft serve and Fanta Strawberry soda with a Headless Horseman straw. And in Fantasyland, the Poor Unfortunate Souls float at Storybook Treats—a Coke float with cream cheese soft serve and black raspberry syrup, topped with a sugared crown and pearls—left us ready to do business with a sea witch.

By the way, among the tips we followed during our sugar rush through the park was this novelty nugget: Guests may add Oogie Boogie Dice glow cubes to fountain beverages at many of the park’s quick-service restaurants. We didn’t get the complete list of restaurants, so you’ll have to try your luck. (See what we did there?)

We’ve only scratched the surface of the fall food menu, which also features such savory selections as the Mickey Monster Mash Burger (topped with Muenster cheese, potato barrels, bacon, and a sriracha aioli) and Hades Nachos (black bean nacho chips topped with fiery buffalo chicken, lettuce, tomato, sour cream, salsa, and jalapeno)—both served in Frontierland at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe.

As you complete your own fall food quest, be sure to stop for shopping, as the park has debuted dozens of new items celebrating Halloween (Mickey and Minnie go candy corn crazy in some of the most popular new items), the Haunted Mansion (including chew toys and harness costumes for dogs!), and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas (we dig the details of the Oogie Boogie burlap cap, and as transitioning from Halloween to Christmas is a home décor chore, we love the longevity of the Jack Skellington bone wreath).

And you never know who may show up to celebrate the season during your day in the park. We were surprised by Mickey and friends in fall fashions, waving to us from the Walt Disney World Railroad’s Main Street Station, Halloween-costumed Winnie the Pooh and friends following the trolley right down the middle of Main Street, U.S.A., and Jack Skellington and company (including the oft-mentioned Oogie Boogie) carrying on in a cavalcade near Cinderella Castle. We appreciated the spontaneity of these surprise appearances, which made us feel like we were spotting stars in Hollywood (only these stars were delighted by our cameras).

There’s plenty more to consume this Halloween season in the vacation kingdom—from popcorn in a Green Cauldron at EPCOT to the Rotten Apple Punch (Angry Orchard Hard Apple Cider and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky over ice, garnished with a poison apple glow cube and gummy worms) at Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park to the Box of Bones Chocolate Éclair at Backlot Express at Disney’s Hollywood Studios—but before our blood sugar level sets a new high score, we’re going to take a salad break.

Quiz: Which Disney Twin Said This Quote?

September 15, 2020September 15, 2020

Want something twice as nice? Take our twins-inspired quiz!

Throughout Disney history, actresses including Dove Cameron, Lindsay Lohan, and Disney Legend Hayley Mills have pulled double duty by playing twins onscreen. Sometimes, real-life twins, like Dylan and Cole Sprouse, would make us do a double take. And, of course, there are the supremely talented pairings, such as Disney Legends Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill, whose onscreen chemistry is so strong you’d never guess they’re actually unrelated!

From popular films like High School Musical to hit series such as The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, all of these characters share a connection that’s unique to twins… but, of course, they don’t share a brain. So, with that in mind, can you guess which twin recited the following quotes?

Liv and Maddie

1. “Bam, WHAT?”
A) Liv Rooney
B) Maddie Rooney

Alice in Wonderland

2. “If you think we’re waxworks, you ought to pay, you know.”
A) Tweedle Dee
B) Tweedle Dum

The Parent Trap (1998)

3. “If your mom is my mom and my dad is your dad, and we’re both born on October 11, then you and I are, like… sisters!”
A) Annie James
B) Hallie Parker

Avengers: Age of Ultron

4. “You didn’t see that coming?”
A) Pietro Maximoff
B) Wanda Maximoff

High School Musical

5. “We need to save our show from people who don’t know the difference between a Tony Award and Tony Hawk.”
A) Ryan Evans
B) Sharpay Evans

The Parent Trap (1961)

6. “I shan’t tell my aunt about the ants nor the debutantes, shall I?”
A) Sharon McKendrick
B) Susan Evers

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

7. “If I don’t make it back, you’re the only hope for the Alliance.”
A) Leia Organa
B) Luke Skywalker

Twitches

8. “The only person I can ever count on is me!”
A) Alex Fielding/Artemis
B) Camryn Barnes/Apolla

The Suite Life on Deck

9. “I’m here. Your lives just got better.”
A) Cody Martin
B) Zack Martin

Big Business

10. “I hate my job. I hate shopping. I hate New York in June. How about you?”
A) Rose Ratliff
B) Sadie Shelton

Double-Teamed

11. “We’re tall. We’re twins. We’re new. They’ll get over it!”
A) Heather Burge
B) Heidi Burge

Answers:

1. Maddie Rooney (B)
2. Tweedle Dee (A)
3. Hallie Parker (B)
4. Pietro Maximoff (A)
5. Sharpay Evans (B)
6. Susan Evers (B)
7. Luke Skywalker (B)
8. Alex Fielding/Artemis (A)
9. Zack Martin (B)
10. Rose Ratliff (A)
11. Heidi Burge (B)