Play A Goofy Movie Bingo!

April 10, 2020

By the D23 Team

Instructions:

Download and print out the bingo cards on 8.5-inch x 11-inch white paper—be sure to “fit to page.”
Randomly distribute cards to each player (up to 4 players).
Have them look over (and see eye-to-eye with) their bingo cards to familiarize themselves with the movie scenes.
Play A Goofy Movie and when a player recognizes scenes from the movie that matches their bingo card, mark it!
The first player to get four in a row wins the game.

Get ready for the ultimate A Goofy Movie party! Join D23 and the cast and creative team behind the film for a special virtual event and watch party today.

Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate with Destiny’ Debuts on Disney+—Plus More in News Briefs

April 10, 2020

By Courtney Potter

The Simpsons Short Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate with Destiny’ Debuts on Disney+

Leave it to our hilarious pals at The Simpsons to offer up a cool surprise to add to our Disney+ viewing this weekend… Matt Groening, creator of the long-running animated series, took to Disney+’s Instagram account mere hours ago to announce that the short film Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate with Destiny’ will debut on the streaming service on Friday, April 10.

The film begins with what seems like just another day at the park for lil’ Maggie Simpson. But when she faces playground peril, a heroic young baby whisks her from danger—and steals her heart. After a blissful first playdate, Maggie can’t wait to see her new baby beau again the following day, but things don’t go exactly as planned. Will fate (or Homer) get in Maggie’s way? D’oh!

Originally released in theaters before Disney and Pixar’s Onward (also now streaming on Disney+), Maggie Simpson in ‘Playdate with Destiny’ comes after the big-time success of the 2012 Academy Award®-nominated film, Maggie Simpson in ‘The Longest Daycare,’ which will also begin streaming on Disney+ later this month. Both films join Disney+’s amazing The Simpsons collection, including The Simpsons Movie and 30 seasons of the Emmy®-winning TV series. Happy viewing!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

Besides the aforementioned The Simpsons short, there’s a slew of fabulous shows and movies to watch this weekend from all over the worlds of Disney—including Spider-Man: Homecoming on Freeform; a new episode of Disney Channel’s Sydney to the Max; and (of course!) D23’s big A Goofy Movie virtual viewing party! Click here and make sure to add all the fun to your viewing calendar…

Stars Align for One World: Together at Home Multi-Network TV Special

On the heels of the success of the One World: Together at Home online series, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Citizen have announced a very special TV event—of the same name—to air live across multiple networks and platforms, including ABC, on Saturday, April 18, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Curated by the one and only Lady Gaga, One World: Together at Home is not a telethon—but rather a global broad entertainment special to celebrate the heroic efforts of community health workers, and to support WHO and the global fight to end COVID-19. The event is set to feature comedy sketches, fantastic music performances, and surprises galore! Superstars including Alanis Morissette, Andrea Bocelli, Billie Eilish, Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, Burna Boy, Chris Martin, David Beckham, Eddie Vedder, Elton John, FINNEAS, Idris and Sabrina Elba, J Balvin, John Legend, Kacey Musgraves, Keith Urban, Kerry Washington, Lang Lang, Lizzo, Maluma, Paul McCartney, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Shah Rukh Khan, and Stevie Wonder are all set to appear… as are our fuzzy friends from Sesame Street!

The two-hour special will be hosted by a trio of network late-night hosts—ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel, NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, and CBS’ Stephen Colbert—and will also include interviews with experts from WHO, stories of frontline healthcare workers from around the world, and some truly incredible pledges to the WHO’s Solidarity Response Fund.

For more information, and for a list of networks and platforms where you can watch the special, visit www.globalcitizen.org/togetherathome.

National Geographic Offers Family Fun with New NatGeo@Home Digital Hub

Got some kids in your life? Looking for something fresh and new to enjoy together? Starting this week, National Geographic has an all-new digital hub called NatGeo@Home—and it’s chock full of resources for those looking for a window into this great big world of ours, through entertaining, science-forward content…

The new hub comes with lessons for educators, hands-on activities, games, quizzes, videos, tips for parents, and access to National Geographic Society’s Learn at Home portal—a curated collection of K–12 content made to spark the spirit of exploration. The resources on the site are organized by grade and come with skill-building lessons on social studies, geography, science, and so much more!

Through the Explorer Classroom available on the hub, kids can even meet face-to-face with Nat Geo Explorers through live talks—as filmmakers, scientists, and others share experiences from around the globe. Upcoming Explorer Classrooms include a live chat with a conservationist working to protect the adorable but endangered cotton-top tamarin monkey, and a conversation with the head of Nat Geo’s Shark Tales team.

NatGeo@Home is also part of #DisneyMagicMoments, which features all manner of Disney content for kids, families, and fans… click here for more National Geographic-specific information.

Visit At Home With Olaf, Courtesy #DisneyMagicMoments

Speaking of #DisneyMagicMoments: In News Briefs previous, we’ve already clued you in on some of the incredible new online fun like Storytime with… and #VoicesFromHome, but now you can access this—and more—all in one convenient place! This week, The Walt Disney Company officially launched DisneyMagicMoments.com, a free website that is home to some of the best Disney content, stories, and resources for the young and young-at-heart. Expect contributions from Disney, Marvel, National Geographic, Pixar and Star Wars, as well as Disney Parks Blog, D23: The Official Disney Fan Club (hey, that’s us!), Walt Disney Animation Studios, and more. During this difficult and unprecedented time, the new website invites you to experience the magic of Disney wherever you may be through curated content intended to inspire imagination.

And to that end, our favorite sunny snowman is getting into the #DisneyMagicMoments action too… Hyrum Osmond, supervising animator of Olaf from the first Frozen film, has created a brand-new animated content series (from the comfort of his home) entitled At Home With Olaf. With the help of Josh Gad (recording from his own home), Osmond will bring Olaf to life in 20 all-new vignettes. Check out the latest installment, entitled Leaves, above—and visit DisneyMagicMoments.com for more.

ICYMI: The Walt Disney Studios Announces New Dates for Upcoming Films

Calendars have been needing a lot of updating lately—but that’s quite all right, because it gives us lots to look forward to! The Walt Disney Studios has announced some new dates for their slate of upcoming films; click here to read D23’s rundown, and keep your eyes peeled here at D23.com for the latest news. We promise to keep ya “in the know”…

Aulani Resort Donates Fresh Food to Community

Lovely news from our friends across the Pacific… The fresh food normally enjoyed by guests at Aulani Resort won’t go to waste during its temporary closure. Instead, it will be used to feed the community through a donation made to Aloha Harvest, a food collection and redistribution organization located on Oahu.

Aulani Resort just this past week donated approximately 7,000 lbs. of perishable food to Aloha Harvest, which delivers it the same day to social service agencies across the island to help feed those in need. “Donations like this are so important during times of uncertainty,” Aloha Harvest executive director “Phil” Augustus Acosta told the Disney Parks Blog; “This food helps ensure that people who are already faced with hunger continue to receive resources.”

The donation included fresh fruit and vegetables such as pineapples, watermelons, lemons, lettuce, and onions; bread and milk products; and treats such as cupcakes, cookies, and popcorn.

UPDATED: The Disney Family Singalong is Bringing Musical Magic to ABC

April 10, 2020April 13, 2020

By the D23 Team

We’ve got breaking news that will bring music to your ears—literally! ABC has just announced it will broadcast a magical one-hour television special, The Disney Family Singalong, on Thursday, April 16 (8–9 p.m. EDT), hosted by Ryan Seacrest and featuring an unbelievable lineup of celebrities and their families who will take on favorite Disney songs from their own homes. Among the familiar faces we can look for are Disney Legend Christina Aguilera, Erin Andrews, Bobby Bones, Michael Bublé, Kristin Chenoweth, Auliʻi Cravalho, Luke Evans, Jordan Fisher, Josh Gad, Derek Hough, Julianne Hough, Carrie Ann Inaba, Little Big Town, Disney Legend Kenny Ortega, Donny Osmond, Thomas Rhett, Amber Riley, John Stamos, and many more from across The Walt Disney Company portfolio, including The Walt Disney Studios, Walt Disney Television, Disney Music Group, Disney Theatrical Productions, and beyond.

UPDATED, APRIL 13: Today, ABC revealed an exciting list of stars who have just been added to the already impressive lineup of performers! Joining the singalong fun are Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Alan Menken, Elle Fanning, Josh Groban, Darren Criss, Tori Kelly, and Marcus Scribner.

The network also announced that The Disney Family Singalong will feature the most epic performance ever of “We’re All in This Together” with Kenny Ortega and his friends from High School Musical, Descendants, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, ZOMBIES, and beyond, who’ll rock the house from their own respective houses. Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, KayCee Stroh, Raven-Symoné, Dove Cameron, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, Sara Jeffery, Meg Donnelly, Milo Manheim, Joshua Bassett, Olivia Rodrigo, Sofia Wylie, Matt Cornett, Dara Reneé, Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein, Frankie Rodriguez, Joe Serafini, Tik Tok sensations Charli D’Amelio and Dixie D’Amelio, Chucky Klapow, Jared Murillo, Ro Malaga, Britt Stewart, Kim Klapow and Bayli Baker Thompson are all taking part in this amazing musical moment.

The magical evening will also feature James Monroe Iglehart and the Broadway Company of Disney’s ALADDIN, who will come together for a can’t-miss performance of “Friend Like Me.”

The television event will feature a vocal warm up by Kristin Chenoweth, a special introduction by Elle Fanning, and performances throughout the evening will include the following:

“A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes”—Demi Lovato and Michael Bublé

“A Spoonful of Sugar”—Little Big Town

“Be Our Guest”—Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert, with a special appearance by Julianne Hough

“Can You Feel the Love Tonight”—Christina Aguilera

“Colors of the Wind”—Tori Kelly

“Do You Want to Build a Snowman”—Thomas Rhett

“Friend Like Me”—James Monroe Iglehart with Broadway Company of Disney’s ALADDIN

“Gaston”—Josh Gad, Luke Evans and Alan Menken

“How Far I’ll Go”—Auliʻi Cravalho

“I Won’t Say I’m In Love”—Ariana Grande

“I Wan’na Be Like You”—Darren Criss

“I’ll Make A Man Out Of You”—Donny Osmond

“It’s a Small World”—John Stamos

“Let It Go”—Amber Riley

“The Bare Necessities”—Erin Andrews, Bobby Bones, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Marcus Scribner

“Under The Sea”—Jordan Fisher

“You’ve Got a Friend In Me”—Josh Groban

“We’re All in This Together”—Kenny Ortega and his friends from High School Musical, Descendants, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, ZOMBIES, and more

Need a little help remembering the lyrics as you sing along with your favorite celebs? No worries—an animated character will guide the on-screen lyrics so that audiences, families, roommates, and loved ones can follow along in perfect harmony with the stars as they sing beloved melodies from Disney classics, including Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Toy Story, along with more recent fan favorites like Moana, Frozen, and High School Musical.

“If there’s something that we’ve all learned in the past few weeks, it’s to cherish every moment and the importance of connection, whether through laughter, stories, or music. We hope that we can help create some new unforgettable moments in everyone’s homes in a way that only the magic of Disney can,” said Karey Burke, president, ABC Entertainment.

During the special, fans will also see PSAs featuring talent from across Walt Disney Television to raise awareness about Feeding America’s vast network and resources for people in the country who are finding themselves in unfamiliar circumstances and facing hunger for the first time due to COVID-19. Families and vulnerable members of the community who need help can visit FeedingAmerica.org/FeedTheLove to learn more about Feeding America’s COVID-19 response and how to locate local food banks for help.

The Disney Family Singalong is one of many ways The Walt Disney Company is bringing the magic of Disney into homes right now. At DisneyMagicMoments.com, fans and families can find more entertaining stories, videos, and activities from Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, and National Geographic that inspire imagination and discovery.

Additional guests and performances for The Disney Family Singalong will be revealed soon. Stay tuned to D23.com for all of the news as it’s announced.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend

April 9, 2020April 9, 2020

By Savannah Salazar

This weekend is full of stand-out programming. On Friday, we’re celebrating A Goofy Movie with a big virtual celebration that’ll have fans seeing eye to eye with the cast and creative team! Just one night later, on Saturday, Freeform has their web-slinging premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming while Nat Geo WILD premieres a brand-new show, Alaska Animal Rescue: Fly Like an Eagle; and that’s just the half of it! From exciting films to fun television shows for kids of all ages, this weekend has something for everyone—so plan accordingly because we’ve rounded up five fantastic things for you to watch this weekend. Check it out, below!

A Goofy Movie—Friday, April 10, at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT on D23.com then Disney+
D23 is celebrating A Goofy Movie’s 25th anniversary in a huge way. Videos, articles, how-tos, and, to top it all off, a cast reunion and virtual watch party of the film itself! Following the hilarious misadventures of father-son duo Goofy (voiced by Disney Legend Bill Farmer) and Max (voiced by Jason Marsden), this fan-favorite film has captured hearts for 25 years and counting, so don’t miss the ultimate party to celebrate it!

First, toon in at 7:30 p.m. ET/ 4:30 p.m. PT for “A Goofy Reunion: 25 Years of A Goofy Movie” right here on D23.com to hear behind-the-scenes stories from the film’s cast and creative team!

Then, at 8:00 p.m. ET/ 5:00 p.m. PT watch A Goofy Movie on Disney+, play along with our virtual bingo cards, and live tweet with us using #D23GoofyMovie.

Sydney to the Max—Friday, April 10, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Check out a brand-new episode of Disney Channel’s multi-generational tale Sydney to the Max. In “Mrs. Harris’ Opus,” Sydney (Ruth Righi) and Olive’s (Ava Kolker) hijinks find them accidentally destroying a museum exhibit, leading their teacher, Mrs. Harris (Melissa Peterman), to be deemed at fault. Melissa Peterman and Rizwan Manji guest star in this upcoming episode.

Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals—Friday, April 10, on Disney+
Looking for something to show your young kids? Well, new to the Disney+ library this week is the entire first season of a Disney Junior favorite: Playtime with Puppy Dog Pals! This series of shorts follow the pawsome adventures of two young pug puppies named Bingo and Rolly. Explore the world, the neighborhood, and more with Bingo and Rolly in this fun series!

Spider-Man: Homecoming—Saturday, April 11, at 8:10 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Spider-Man might have first web-slinged into our hearts in Captain America: Civil War but it wasn’t until Spider-Man: Homecoming that we got to see Tom Holland’s friendly neighborhood crime fighter leading his first feature film. This Saturday marks Spider-Man: Homecoming’s Freeform premiere! Following the aftermath of Civil War, Peter Parker returns home and struggles to juggle his life as Spider-Man with his life as an ordinary high schooler.

Alaska Animal Rescue: Fly Like an Eagle—Saturday, April 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD
National Geographic takes viewers all around the world and now, Nat Geo WILD’s latest series is taking us to America’s last frontier! Follow Dr. Vic, a veterinarian for the Alaska Raptor Center, in the thrilling series premiere of Alaska Animal Rescue as she climbs a 75-foot fire truck ladder to rescue and treat a bald eagle that’s fallen from its nest. Dr. Vic is joined in the series by a team of wildlife heroes as they rescue, rehabilitate, research, and celebrate the wild animals of Alaska, including baby musk oxen, elephant seals, and more.

Disney+ Paid Subscriber Count Surpasses 50 Million Milestone

April 8, 2020

By Beth Deitchman

Continuing to delight consumers around the world, Disney+ has now achieved another new milestone, with 50 million paid subscribers globally within five months after its U.S. launch.

“We’re truly humbled that Disney+ is resonating with millions around the globe, and believe this bodes well for our continued expansion throughout Western Europe and into Japan and all of Latin America later this year,” said Kevin Mayer, Chairman of Walt Disney Direct-to-Consumer & International. “Great storytelling inspires and uplifts, and we are in the fortunate position of being able to deliver a vast array of great entertainment rooted in joy and optimism on Disney+.”

In the past two weeks, Disney+ rolled out in eight Western European countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Austria, and Switzerland. Additionally, Disney+ became available last week in India, where it is offered in conjunction with the existing Hotstar service, and already accounts for approximately 8 million of Disney+’s 50 million paid subscribers.

Disney+ is the dedicated streaming home for movies and shows from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more. As part of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment, Disney+ is available on most internet-connected devices and offers commercial-free programming with a variety of original feature-length films, documentaries, live-action and animated series, and short-form content. Alongside unprecedented access to Disney’s incredible library of film and television entertainment, the service is also the exclusive streaming home for the latest releases from The Walt Disney Studios.

Visit DisneyPlus.com to subscribe and/or learn more about the service.

Take Your Virtual Meetings on the Open Road with These A Goofy Movie-inspired Backgrounds

April 7, 2020

By the D23 Team

Max and Goofy’s famous father-son road trip took them to a wide selection of interesting locations, from Lester’s Possum Park to the World’s Biggest Ball of Yarn—even to the stage of a Powerline concert! If you’ve ever wanted to visit one of these places for yourself, now you can… virtually, of course! Download these backgrounds featuring famous locations from A Goofy Movie so that your next virtual meeting can have you calling in from Powerline’s world tour—or wherever in the goofy world you want to be. Make sure to take a picture or screenshot and share using #D23GoofyMovie on social media to join in our week-long 25th anniversary celebration.

Click here to download

Keep checking D23.com all week for more ways to celebrate the 25th anniversary of A Goofy Movie, including a special A Goofy Movie virtual watch party.

Just a Spoonful of Chili…

April 7, 2020February 14, 2024

By Nicole Carroll, Walt Disney Archives

Anyone familiar with Walt Disney has probably heard that one of his favorite foods was chili. Simply put, Walt was a Midwestern boy and had a Midwestern appetite; he stuck to familiar “meat and potatoes” dishes. So, of course, Walt liked his chili. As his wife Lillian recalled, “He liked basic foods. He loved chili.” Walt would eat this favorite food at high-end restaurants like the iconic Chasen’s in Beverly Hills, but was equally happy eating it at home. His quick, no-fuss, at-home preference? A mixture of Gebhardt’s and Dennison’s canned chili.

In addition to the canned variety, Walt enjoyed fresh chili at home and at the Disney studio Commissary. The two chili and beans recipes seen here both come from a file in the Walt Disney Archives marked, “Walt’s Favorite Foods.” Although the exact dates are unknown, one recipe is marked revised on March 25, 1958. Based on the ingredients in the other, namely the chopped suet, we can determine that is the earlier recipe. Suet is a raw, hard fat that’s part of beef or mutton and later was often replaced by ground beef, as seen in the revised recipe. The other clue that hints at the first recipe being earlier? It called for more spices. Walt famously preferred milder foods and the second recipe reflected those preferences. The main part of the recipe calls for less spice, but at the bottom there’s an option for making it spicier. It is likely that this revised recipe not only accounted for the then-newer and more popular usage of ground beef, but Walt’s personal tastes.

walts chili — Earlier Chili and Bean recipe made with chopped suet (pre-1958)

Today, chili still plays an important role in Disney company culture and heritage. It can be enjoyed by Guests at Disney Parks and Resorts around the world and by employees at the Disney studio Commissary in Burbank, where Walt’s Famous Chili is on the menu daily!

Walt’s favorite combo, chili and crackers served at Disneyland Park (1976)

Next time you’re planning dinner, why not try Walt’s recipe? And if you don’t feel like making chili from scratch, you can still “eat like Walt” by cracking open your favorite canned variety! No matter what chili you have, be sure to serve it with plenty of crackers. Walt was often guilty of eating chili at the studio Commissary, then forgetting crackers and crumbs in his pockets only to be discovered when his clothes were sent out for dry cleaning.

For more information on Walt’s favorite foods and some favorites from around Disneyland Park, check out Eat Like Walt: The Wonderful World of Disney Food by Marcy Smothers. Marcy spent countless hours poring over the Walt Disney Archives’ most delicious (and enlightening) collections to understand Walt, food, and its history at Disneyland Park. I recently had the opportunity to talk to Marcy about her book and time spent researching in the Archives. The most surprising thing she learned? “Walt often ate at home on a TV stand with his family,” wrote Smothers. “I was really interested in where Walt ate when he wasn’t eating at the Commissary or at a restaurant.” She was pleasantly surprised to learn that Walt—ever the family man—could typically be found eating at home in front of the television. Smothers shares many endearing stories surrounding the Disney family dinnertime in her book, including this one looking at how meals were planned: “Lillian arranged with Walt’s secretary to call and report what Walt had for lunch, ‘because when he didn’t like the dinner, he often used the excuse he had it for lunch.’”

After the success of Eat Like Walt, Smothers’ next book project is called A Walk in the Park with Walt Disney. She describes it as “a guide to Disneyland told in Walt's words and those that worked alongside him."

We hope you’ve enjoyed this toast to Walt! Prepare your chili and beans, fill your pockets with crackers, and raise your scotch mist (Walt’s drink of choice)! If you choose to try out the recipes above, be sure to share photos of your creations using the hashtags #waltdisneyarchives and #eatlikewalt!

Walt in the studio Commissary with future President of Mexico Miguel Alemán Valdés in 1942. Note the crackers in the center of the table.

EXCLUSIVE: First Look at Ellie Makes A Friend, An Adorable New Book Celebrating Artistic Differences

April 6, 2020

By the D23 Team

If you need an extra dose of adorableness in your life, be sure to pick up the new book Ellie Makes a Friend, heading to shelves on April 7. We have the chance to share some exclusive art from this new book by author Mike Wu, which explores what happens when an artistic elephant befriends a panda named Ping with impressive painting skills. After everyone starts praising Ping’s art, Ellie begins to doubt her own skills—but soon she learns an important lesson about how different perspectives lead to fresh inspiration. To get some perspective on the book ourselves, we sat down with Wu to discuss his super cute story.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: What was the inspiration behind Ellie Makes A Friend?
Mike Wu (MW): I wanted to go back to my roots. I thought it was important to write a story that was honest and with experiences I’ve had. Besides, who doesn’t want to draw cute a Panda.

D23: When did you first realize you wanted to write children’s books?
MW: I’ve wanted to write children’s books since I was young. Growing up in New York City, I was influenced by art, illustration, comics, and visual storytelling. Children’s books combined all of these things. I love working on the Pixar films but I felt I needed to tell my own stories as well and Children’s books were a perfect way to express that.

D23: How do you balance working as an animator at Pixar and writing and illustrating your stories?
MW: It is challenging to juggle both, but I keep the Pixar work at the studio and I carve out time in the evening after my kids go to bed. This is my time to be creative and work on my personal art.

D23: What advice would you give to young artists and writers?
MW: Believe in your work. Everyone has a story to tell because we are all unique with different experiences. Keep writing and drawing or whatever medium you use to express yourself. Share your work and accept feedback even if it is critical. Then go back and rewrite and redraw and keep improving.

D23: This is the third book in the Ellie series—what made you want to keep going with Ellie’s story?
MW: Ellie is a champion of the arts and I feel Ellie’s story is just beginning. I have many Ellie stories I’d like to write and I love that kids respond so positively to her.

D23: What do you hope young readers take away from this story?
MW: I hope they take away an important message we have facing us today. We should not give into fear, but rather celebrate our differences so that you can accept and learn about new things and new people. We have so much we can learn about others that will in turn, help us grow as individuals.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

April 6, 2020April 7, 2020

By Zach Johnson

It’s the end of an era. On Wednesday, ABC’s Modern Family caps its 11-season run with a one-hour documentary special and a two-part series finale that we predict will make you laugh as hard as you cry. (More on that here.) The next night, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy will sign off—and if we’ve learned anything over the last 16 seasons, it’s to expect a crazy cliffhanger! Meanwhile, National Geographic delivers two new episodes of Cosmos: Possible Worlds and Disney Channel rolls out five new episodes of its shorts series Marvel Super Hero Adventures. And on Friday, Disney+ invites the whole family to join in the Celebration of the Music from Coco. Now that’s music to our ears! Plan accordingly, because we’ve rounded up five programs you should watch this week:

Marvel Super Hero Adventures—Monday, April 6, at 11:55 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
The first episode in season four, “Charge Ahead,” features Spidey swinging into action with his arc-powered pal, Ironheart, after the city loses electricity. Each short airs on Disney Channel and in DisneyNOW, with a new short rolling out daily through April 10.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds—Monday, April 6, at 8 p.m. on National Geographic
Once again, host Neil deGrasse Tyson brings us two back-to-back episodes of the popular series. The first, “Magic Without Lies,” spotlights the man who discovered a hole in reality and the technology that it made possible. The second, “A Tale of Two Atoms,” examines how a deadly embrace between two atoms altered the world’s fate.

Modern Family—Wednesday, April 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
After 11 seasons, the award-winning comedy concludes with a heartwarming and hilarious two-part series finale at 9 p.m. ET/PT, preceded by a one-hour retrospective, A Modern Farewell, at 8 p.m ET/PT. In the first part, Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cam (Eric Stonestreet) adjust to having a new baby, while Phil (Ty Burrell) and Claire (Julie Bowen) realize they need one of the kids to move out in order to take control of their house again. Meanwhile, as Gloria (Sofía Vergara) becomes more successful at work, she notices Jay (Ed O’Neill), Manny (Rico Rodriguez), and Joe (Jeremy Maguire) don’t seem to need her as much. In part two, the Dunphy-Pritchett-Tucker family discovers saying goodbye is much harder than it seems.

Grey’s Anatomy—Thursday, April 9, at 9 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
Mark Driscoll and Tameson Duffy wrote the highly anticipated season 16 finale, titled “Put on a Happy Face.” Directed by Deborah Pratt, the episode centers on Link (Chris Carmack) trying to convince Amelia (Caterina Scorsone) to take it easy during the final stage of her pregnancy. Meanwhile, Hayes (Richard Flood) asks Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) a surprising question, and Owen (Kevin McKidd) makes a shocking discovery.

A Celebration of the Music from Coco—Friday, April 10, on Disney+
A reimagined live-to-film concert experience recorded last year at the Hollywood Bowl, the special brings to life performances from the spectacular Disney and Pixar film Coco. Featuring a full 60-piece orchestra, enjoy performances of the Academy Award®-winning Original Song “Remember Me,” plus “Un Poco Loco,” “The World Es Mi Familia,” and “Proud Corazón,” as well as some fan favorites from the Latin-American soundtrack, including “La Bikina,” “Bésame Mucho,” “Recuérdame,” and more. Directed by Ron de Moraes, the special includes special appearances and performances by Benjamin Bratt, Jaime Camil, Felipe Fernández del Paso, Alex Gonzalez, Sarah Hicks, Natalia Jiménez, Eva Longoria, Rudy Mancuso, Mariachi Divas, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Miguel, Carlos Rivera, Alanna Ubach, and Coco director Lee Unkrich.

Inside the Stop-Motion Magic of Isle of Dogs

April 6, 2020April 6, 2020

By Jennifer Vanoni, Walt Disney Archives

The 2018 film Isle of Dogs was the second stop-motion animated feature from director Wes Anderson and his right-hand man, master puppet maker Andy Gent. The two forged a dynamic bond while working on Anderson’s first stop motion foray, The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009). Their creative synergy was crucial in bringing the vision of Isle of Dogs to life.

Gent and his team at Arch Model Studio Ltd. in London spent close to 34 months sculpting and breathing life into the various scale models that would eventually become the canine stars of the film. The team builds all of their puppets by hand beginning with the articulated metal skeletons, working outward to eventually place silicone skin and hair strand by strand.

Three of the film’s star puppets, Duke, Rex, and Boss, are currently on display as part of the Inside the Walt Disney Archives exhibit at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. Until the museum reopens to the public, we invite you to enjoy a collection of film stills and close-up photos of our canine friends.