The Walt Disney Company Wins 9 Golden Globe® Awards

By Zach Johnson

It was a golden night, all right! 

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association awarded The Walt Disney Company nine Golden Globes® on Monday—more than any other entertainment company. The accolades spanned multiple content brands and studios: ABC Entertainment, Disney Television Studios’ 20th Television, FX, FX Productions, Hulu Originals, Marvel Studios, Searchlight Pictures, Searchlight Television, and Walt Disney Studios. Searchlight Pictures’ The Banshees of Inisherin and ABC and 20th Television’s Abbott Elementary were the evening’s big winners, earning three awards each during the glitzy ceremony.

Join us in congratulating all of Disney’s Golden Globe winners: 

Brendan Gleeson is sitting outside on the Irish coastline. In front of him is a nearly empty pint of beer. Rolling green hills are in the distance, while the backside of a horse is seen just behind him. The weather is overcast. Gleeson is wearing a brown corduroy vest, a long-sleeved blue shirt, and corduroy pants. His hair is slicked back. 

The Banshees of Inisherin (Searchlight Pictures)

  • Best Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy)
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical/Comedy) – Colin Farrell
  • Best Screenplay – Martin McDonagh

Tyler James Williams smiles and clasps his hands together. He is wearing a black zip-up polo, a black cardigan with a gray trim, and a blue lanyard that reads “Willard R. Abbott Elementary” in a white serif font. The lanyard holds his school ID. Williams is standing in a classroom, with blurred books, a globe, and more behind him.

Abbott Elementary (ABC/20th Television)

  • Best Television Series (Musical/Comedy)
  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series (Musical/Comedy) – Quinta Brunson
  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical-Comedy or Drama Television Series – Tyler James Williams

Jeremy Allen White sits on a somewhat dirty steel countertop in an industrial kitchen. He is wearing a white T-shirt, exposing multiple tattoos on each arm. The tattoos include Cupid, a snail, slot machine numbers, and more. White is wearing a blue apron over his shirt. His curly blond hair is messy, and he appears exasperated.

The Bear (FX)

  • Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical/Comedy) – Jeremy Allen White

A close-up of Angela Bassett shows her wearing cream and white funeral attire. She stands on the coastline with trees in the background and the sun shining.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Marvel Studios)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Any Motion Picture – Angela Bassett

Amanda Seyfried sits alone in a row of wooden chairs—the first of several rows. Her messy blond hair is pulled back into a loose ponytail. She wears a black blazer over a black turtleneck, as well as smudged red lipstick and heavy black eyeliner.

The Dropout (Hulu Originals/20th Television/Searchlight Television)

  • Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series, or Motion Picture Made for Television – Amanda Seyfried

Every Amazing Disney Parks Announcement from This Week!

By Sarah Sterling

We’re only one full week into 2023 and there is already so much to look forward to at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort this year! The Disney Parks news has been non-stop the last few days—from attraction openings and new food locations, to lots of updates for Passholders and Magic Key holders.

“These changes are centered on creating a better experience for our guests and building a future where we are constantly introducing new stories and experiences across the globe,” Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro recently said.

Don’t worry: We’ve compiled everything you need to know in one convenient place. Here are all the announcements, updates, and news on what’s coming soon to Disneyland and Walt Disney World!

Walt Disney World Resort:

Promotional graphic for TRON LightCycle / Run at Walt Disney World. It features four guests on lightcycle bikes, two orange and two blue, racing along the futuristic Grid from the TRON franchise. On the left side of the image is the Walt Disney World logo in bright blue. Underneath is the TRON logo in white and the attraction’s opening date, 04.04.2023.

TRON Lightcycle / Run Opens April 4 at Magic Kingdom Park
The highly anticipated TRON Lightcycle / Run will open at Magic Kingdom Park on April 4, 2023.

The story of TRON Lightcycle / Run picks up after TRON: Legacy, and finds Kevin’s son, Sam Flynn, opening a second gateway into a digital realm called the Grid. The first of the portals he created is found at Shanghai Disneyland with the original TRON Lightcycle Power Run. Magic Kingdom Cast Members will be the first to enter the Grid during special previews before the attraction officially opens—but there will be additional preview opportunities for guests too, including Annual Passholders and eligible Disney Vacation Club Members.

A finale shot from Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom Park. Cinderella Castle is illuminated with bright projection-mapped images of Disney characters, including Mulan, Tarzan, Cinderella, Aladdin, Woody, Merida, and more. Fireworks illuminate the sky behind the castle.

Happily Ever After Returns to Magic Kingdom Park
Meanwhile, fan-favorite nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After returns to the Magic Kingdom on April 3, featuring all-new projections down Main Street, U.S.A. Plus, Disney Enchantment will be offered through April 2. We can’t wait to reach out and find our happily ever after again this Spring!

Guests stand against the railing at the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT. They stare out over the water with excited looks and smiles as they watch the show. Fireworks light up the sky above them.

EPCOT Forever Returns to EPCOT’s World Showcase Lagoon
An all-new nighttime spectacular is planned to debut at EPCOT later this year—but in the meantime, guests can enjoy EPCOT Forever as an interim show over the skies of World Showcase Lagoon starting April 3. A limited-time spectacle of lasers, lighting, special effects, and fireworks, EPCOT Forever returns with a collection of songs that offer both a trip down memory lane and a look toward the future. Harmonious will have its final performance on April 2.

Complimentary Self-parking When Staying at a Disney Resort hotel
Beginning this evening—yes, tonight, Tuesday, January 10—overnight self-parking will once again be offered complimentary to guests staying at Disney Resort hotels at Walt Disney World!

Relaxed Park Reservation Requirements
Beginning in the next few months, Walt Disney World Annual Passholders will be able to visit the theme parks after 2 p.m. without needing a park reservation, except on Saturdays and Sundays at Magic Kingdom Park. Pass block-out dates will continue to apply like they do today.

A collage of three images of guests at Walt Disney World using the Disney PhotoPass Lenses. The first image is a woman with a computer generated image of Grogu on her back. In the middle is a young man with Cinderella Castle behind him, but it has been transformed into the pink 25th anniversary “cake castle”. Finally, a woman with long brown hair takes a photo with a fake chef’s hat on her head. Inside the hat you can see an image of Remy from Ratatouille pulling on her hair.

Disney Genie+ Attraction Photo Downloads & Passholder Disney PhotoPass Lenses
Also beginning in the next few months, guests purchasing Disney Genie+ service will receive digital downloads of their Disney PhotoPass attraction photos taken in the park on the day of their purchase at no additional charge. Walt Disney World Resort Passholders will receive access to Disney PhotoPass lenses and one complimentary Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories experience (age restrictions apply). Visit Cinderella Castle Mural of Memories and Disney PhotoPass Lenses for details, restrictions, and other information.

Disneyland Resort:

A rendering of Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle decorated for the Disney100 celebration. There are iridescent banners hanging from each turret and a large banner over the gateway reading “Disney 100”. Two fountains flank the drawbridge and the banners are being held up by Flora, Fauna, and Merrywether from Sleeping Beauty.

Switch Between Parks Even Earlier with Park Hopper Tickets
Beginning February 4, 2023, guests who enter a Disneyland Resort theme park with a Magic Key pass or a Park Hopper ticket may begin crossing over between the parks two hours earlier—starting at 11 a.m. PT! This means even more magic and more fun for your day as you enjoy the best of what both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have to offer.

Even More Opportunities to Visit with $104 Park Ticket
We’re happy to share that the Disneyland Resort reservation calendar will offer nearly two months’ worth of $104 park ticket dates throughout 2023—which means additional opportunities to enjoy our lowest one-day, one-park ticket price while creating moments destined to become memories. And with so many exciting new offerings, from the two new nighttime spectaculars—Wondrous Journeys at Disneyland and World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure—to Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, all opening January 27, plus returning favorite festivals, there’s so much to see and do coming up for guests to enjoy!

Complimentary Disney PhotoPass Digital Attraction Photos
Throughout the Disney100 celebration at the Disneyland Resort, Disney PhotoPass digital photo downloads will be complimentary for all ticketed park guests on the Disneyland app starting February 4. This includes any PhotoPass digital photo captured on any Disney PhotoPass available attraction during a park visit.

More Opportunities to Join the Magic Key program
Disneyland Resort will make select Magic Key passes available for new sales from time to time throughout 2023 as pass inventory becomes available. Continue to check Disneyland.com/MagicKey for pass on sale dates and availability.

Disneyland Resort Downtown Disney District: 

A sandwich, drink, and pile of chips from Earl of Sandwich. A large chicken sandwich with avocado, bacon, and lettuce sits next to a to-go cup featuring the Earl of Sandwich logo.

Downtown Disney District Welcomes Back Earl of Sandwich
Earl of Sandwich will return to the Downtown Disney District this February! Earl of Sandwich and table service options at Earl of Sandwich Tavern will both be temporarily located at the La Brea Bakery location. Keep your eyes peeled for Earl of Sandwich opening in the coming weeks.

Porto’s Bakery
Porto’s Bakery will be bringing their famous California-Cuban cuisine (we’re partial to their cheese rolls and potato balls) to the Downtown Disney District! Plans are underway to design and construct an all-new Porto’s location near the Esplanade on the footprint of the La Brea Bakery location. Look out for more details on these exciting plans coming soon.

Concept art of the upcoming Din Tai Fung restaurant coming to Downtown Disney. It features a round bar at the center of the restaurant under a beautiful, beaded centerpiece hanging from the ceiling. Individual tables and booth surround the bar and the entire restaurant is bathed in gold lighting.

Din Tai Fung
... And to end this Downtown Disney District update on one more delicious note, check out this exciting look at concept art for the Din Tai Fung restaurant, which will open on the west side of the district in the future. With so many delicious dining options coming to Downtown Disney, we don’t know which one we want to visit first!

Let’s not forget we also have Lunar New Year and the Food & Wine Festival to enjoy this Spring at Disney California Adventure, plus the opening of the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown and return of the Magic Happens parade at Disneyland Park! No matter which coast you frequent, there is endless magic to experience at Disney Parks this year. What tasty treat, nighttime spectacular, or Passholder perk are you looking forward to? Let us know on social media and keep an eye on D23.com for more updates on these projects at Disney Parks.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Week

By Andie Hagemann

From superhero kittens to treasure hunting, this week has something for every member of the family to enjoy. On Monday, mature audiences can watch the all-new animated series Koala Man, exclusively on Hulu. The paw-some new superhero series SuperKitties premieres Wednesday on Disney Channel and Disney Junior, followed by a new episode of The Conners airing that evening on ABC, as well as the latest installment of National Treasure: Edge of History on Disney+. Last but not least, new contestants test their wits on The Chase, airing Thursday on ABC.

In a scene from the Hulu animated series Koala Man, a man wears a koala mask; a blue blanket as a cape; a green, short-sleeved T-shirt; and blue jean shorts. He’s in a backyard fighting long green vines.

Koala Man—Monday, January 9, on Hulu
The all-new animated series—intended for mature audiences only—follows middle-aged dad Kevin (voiced by series creator Michael Cusack) and his not-so-secret identity as Koala Man, whose only superpower is passion for following rules and snuffing out petty crime. While it may seem like any other Australian suburb, Dapto has evil forces both cosmic and man-made brewing. However, Koala Man is ready to defeat criminal masterminds, supernatural horrors, and more. The voice cast also includes Sarah Snook and Demi Lardner, and guest stars Hugh Jackman, Jemaine Clement, Rachel House, Hugo Weaving, and Jarrad Wright.

In a scene from the Disney Channel animated series SuperKitties, kittens wear colorful super hero masks and uniforms and walk down a city sidewalk.

SuperKitties—Wednesday, January 11, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel and Disney Junior
The all-new series from Disney Branded Television introduces four adorable kittens who are ready to pounce into action. In the series premiere, the SuperKitties—Ginny (voiced by Luca’s Emma Berman), Sparks (voiced by Cruz Flateau), Buddy (voiced by JeCobi Swain), and Bitsy (voiced by Pyper Braun)—investigate who is stealing all the yarn in Kittydale. The second story follows the devious Lab Rat, who invents a giant boot to smash all the flowers at the Kittydale Flower Festival. In addition to the simulcast, an initial batch of episodes will be available to stream on Disney+.

In a scene from ABC series The Conners, actors William H. Macy as Smitty and Disney Legend John Goodman as Dan Conner stand over a wooden table and argue in a bar. Actor Katey Sagal as Louise sits on a wooden chair next to the table and looks at Macy. Macy wears a black turtleneck, a black blazer, and black pants, and holds a beer bottle down by his right leg. Goodman wears denim jeans and a red letterman’s jacket with tan leather sleeves. Sagal wears a black long-sleeved T-shirt.

The Conners—Wednesday, January 11, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
After a beloved high school teacher dies, former classmates of Dan (Disney Legend John Goodman) and Jackie (Laurie Metcalf) come to down to pay their respects and reminisce about the good old days. Elsewhere, Becky (Alicia Goranson) asks Darlene (Sara Gilbert) and Ben (Jay R. Ferguson) for a big favor. William H. Macy guest stars as Smitty.

In a scene from Disney+’s National Treasure: Edge of History, actor Lisette Olivera as Jess stands with her hands touching a large, wooden bookcase. She wears a cream long-sleeved T-shirt, a brown leather belt, and light blue denim jeans.

National Treasure: Edge of History—Wednesday, January 11, on Disney+
Jess (Lisette Olivera) works with Billie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) to decipher a hundreds-year-old clue that is tied to a famous 18th century landmark. Together, they plan a near-impossible heist during a historical reenactment to retrieve the next piece of the treasure map. However, things don’t go as planned—and Jess is face with a difficult decision. All episodes are available to binge on the streaming service.

In a scene from ABC competition series The Chase, Brandon Blackwell sits above a large digital screen that reads “$40,000.” He wears a black blazer; a white button-down shirt; and a purple and silver-striped tie.

The Chase—Thursday, January 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
Hosted by Sara Haines, the trivia competition series returns with three all-new contestants vying for the chance to take down the Chaser. Will the combined wits of a heavy metal music enthusiast, a high school teacher, and an oncologist be enough to take down Brandon “The Lightning Bolt” Blackwell? Tune in to find out!

Colorful New World of Color – One Details—Plus More in News Briefs

By Courtney Potter

New Look at World of Color – One at Disney California Adventure Park

We’re now officially celebrating Disney100—and as part of the party, the brand-new nighttime spectacular World of Color – One will debut at Disney California Adventure Park on January 27. Our friends at Disney Parks Blog just released a new peek at the spectacular, and it looks to live up to that moniker:

This new spectacular honors how a single action, like a drop of water, creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change. Guests will discover how it only takes one action to make an impact on the people in their lives, as well the world around them—just as one man, Walt Disney, started the wave that has continued to inspire people around the globe for a century. It’s the first Disneyland Resort nighttime spectacular to feature characters, music, and moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, the Avengers, and Star Wars in the same production; moments from films including The Lion King, Moana, Coco, Mulan, Soul, and so many more will materialize on an incredible water screen that can span up to 380 feet across.

With an inspiring message that illustrates the storytelling legacy Walt began 100 years ago, World of Color – One is just one of many new experiences and special offerings coming to Disneyland Resort in honor of The Walt Disney Company’s 100th anniversary in 2023… including the premiere of another all-new nighttime spectacular, Wondrous Journeys, at Disneyland Park, also on January 27!

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

Here we are, officially arriving at the first full weekend of the new year! What’s in store from around the worlds of Disney? Perhaps most notably, the broadcast debut of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney Channel! Meanwhile, ABC’s The Wonderful World of Disney returns with Beauty and the Beast … and there’s much more where that came from.

Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Announces Disney+ Streaming Date 

Here’s some thrilling news for Disney+ viewers: Earlier this week, it was announced that Marvel Studios’ Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will debut on the streaming service February 1.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will join 16 other Marvel Cinematic Universe movies now streaming in IMAX Enhanced on Disney+, which gives subscribers more picture, with an expanded aspect ratio for an immersive viewing experience at home (content availability varies by region).

In anticipation of the film’s upcoming streaming debut, Proximity Media, in collaboration with Marvel Studios and Marvel Entertainment, released Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast. Audiences are invited to listen and learn about the exciting and emotional journey to make the film over the course of six episodes. The first episode is out now on the Wakanda Forever: The Official Black Panther Podcast feed, available on all major podcast platforms and at ProximityMedia.com. Five additional episodes will be available weekly beginning January 18.

The calendar for runDisney’s 2023-24 race season is seen in graphic form—listing various dates of race series or weekend, with the runDisney logo on the left-hand side. Next to each series or weekend, there is a smaller logo: 2023 runDisney Virtual Series has a yellow logo depicting a silhouette of Mickey Mouse; 2023 Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend has a red logo depicting shoes; 2024 Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend has a navy blue logo depicting a silhouette of Mickey Mouse; 2024 Disneyland Half-Marathon Weekend has a purple logo with a large letter “D”; 2024 Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend has a pink logo with a large letter “P”; and 2024 runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend has a green and white flower logo.

runDisney Reveals Dates for 2023-24 Race Season

Here’s a great way to keep up a New Year’s resolution: The good folks at runDisney recently shared event and registration dates for the 2023-24 race season, including information on the highly anticipated return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend in 2024!

With entertainment, beloved characters, and Disney magic at every mile, every runDisney race is an unforgettable experience for runners of all ages and skill levels. The image above (courtesy of Disney Parks Blog) shows a calendar of events for the upcoming season.

The 2023 runDisney Virtual Series will take place from June–August 2023; general registration for the virtual series begins on April 25. All virtual races are for U.S. participants only. Meanwhile, the fan-favorite Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend will return to the Happiest Place on Earth between January 11-14, 2024, and will include three endurance events, a challenge, and more!

With the return of the Disneyland Half Marathon Weekend, runDisney will also reintroduce the runDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge in 2024! More information about the challenge and how to qualify will be available on runDisney.com later this month.

Go Behind the Scenes with SuperKitties

There are four paw-some new hero kittens arriving on the animated-series scene, courtesy of Disney Branded Television, in the form of SuperKitties—and D23 was lucky enough to chat with series creator Paula Rosenthal about how the show came to be. Check it out by clicking here.

Disney Cruise Line Debuts Pixar Day at Sea

This very weekend, Pixar Day at Sea will make its big Disney Cruise Line debut onboard the Disney Fantasy—bringing to life the ever-evolving stories of our favorite Pixar toys, monsters, and heroes during one truly incredible day at sea! Take a look at some Pixar friends getting the Disney Fantasy ready for all the fun in the video above.

On select seven-night sailings through mid-March, families will encounter more Pixar characters than ever before during this day-long celebration… including meet-and-greet opportunities, dance and pool parties, family activities, and even an all-new nighttime spectacular. Tons of new themed food and beverage items will also be available during these voyages, including a breakfast with Toy Story’s Woody and friends, sweet treats that are sure to delight, and a Pixar-inspired dinner.

For more info on all manner of amazing upcoming sailings, visit DisneyCruiseLine.com.

ICYMI: Remembering Disney Legend Barbara Walters

Barbara Walters, named a Disney Legend in 2008, passed away last week at the age of 93. From her early days on NBC’s Today through to her creation of ABC’s long-running talk show The View, Walters was a true broadcasting pioneer. Read more about her extraordinary—and groundbreaking—life, including thoughts from Disney CEO Bob Iger, here at D23.com.

Start the New Year with Star Wars-Inspired Self Care, Courtesy of Ashley Eckstein

By Jocelyn Buhlman

Whether you’re a Jedi in a galaxy far, far away or a Star Wars fan a little bit closer on Earth, everyone needs time to take care of their mental health. Luke learned to find balance in the Force through Yoda... for us Earthlings, we can use YouTube—specifically, the Star Wars Mindful Matters series on the Star Wars Kids YouTube channel! As you make your resolutions for the new year and plan your 2023, we hope you’ll plan to take care of yourself, and thankfully the Star Wars Mindful Matters series is here to help.

Launched on May the 4th in 2022, Star Wars Mindful Matters was created by Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars and beyond) and produced in collaboration with Citrone 33. Each of the five episodes is hosted by Eckstein, who guides viewers through exercises that better connect you to your mental health—and the Force. Sometimes that means practicing breathing techniques; other times it could be roaring like a Wookiee!

If this series is sounding like an out-of-this-world way to fulfill a new year’s resolution or two, read on to hear from Eckstein herself about the series and why it means so much to her:

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: How did you originally come up with the concept of the Star Wars Mindful Matter series?
Ashley Eckstein (AE): Star Wars Mindful Matters goes way back to when I first debuted as the voice of Ahsoka Tano in 2008. I started doing Star Wars Weekends at the [Disney] Parks and would do autograph signings every day and meet a ton of kids. The number one questions from kids was how they could be a Jedi, just like Ahsoka. We learned from the Star Wars story that training your mind is just as important as physically training your body. Jedi Master Yoda teaches us that a Jedi must have the deepest commitment; the most serious mind. Luke Skywalker teaches Rey that confronting fear is the destiny of a Jedi. Each episode of Star Wars Mindful Matters is a lesson that we learn in Star Wars paired with a clinically based mindfulness exercise or lesson. I worked with the Lucasfilm Story Group to make sure that the lessons from Star Wars were accurate and truly based in the Star Wars story. Then I worked with Nationwide Children’s Hospital to make sure each exercise or lesson was clinically based, and I paired the two together.

D23: How do you go about creating an episode of Star Wars Mindful Matters? Do you start with the mental health exercise or the Star Wars connection first?
AE: It’s important to me that it starts with the story, because as fans, we really relate to these characters, and we really relate to the lessons from our favorite Disney stories. Then I work with the doctors and the child-life specialists to make sure we pair the right clinically based exercise with that moment and the lesson that you’re learning. The nice part is that all of these very, very important life lessons are already in the stories. We’re not making anything up.

D23: Do you have a favorite out of the exercises you’ve done so far for the series?
AE: My favorite is the Cave Challenge, because I’ve watched these scenes with Luke and Yoda training in Degobah, or Rey training with Luke on Ahch-to, over and over again, but for the longest time I didn’t realize that the cave represented their mind. When I made that connection, I realized that on a daily basis, I’m failing this Cave Challenge. I’m approaching certain things with fear and worry and doubt, and then I’m bringing that fear, worry, and doubt to my everyday life. The Cave Challenge helped me with Star Wars Mindful Matters because it was the first time that I ever wrote a script for Star Wars!

I was incredibly nervous and incredibly doubtful. I really had severe writer’s block. My doubt was so strong that I paralyzed myself with fear and I didn’t think that I could do it. So, I had to do the Cave Challenge for myself and then I also took some deep breaths, I calmed my mind, I got my mind to a place of peace and calm. Then I walked back into my cave with calm and peace and positivity. When I broke it down into small steps, and when I brought in a positive attitude, I was able to write all five scripts.

D23: Speaking to a specific video from the Star Wars Mindfulness Matters series, did you practice the roars you did in the Wookiee Roars video? Or did you come up with them in the moment?
AE: Okay, well here’s the whole story behind it. I couldn’t do a Wookiee roar. I put out a call to action on social media prior to filming the video, and I asked fans for their help, and they gave me some really, really good tips. I practiced for a couple of days and I still couldn’t do it. I had this kind of guttural thing that sounded more like a truck backing up!

When we went to film it, I said, “Look, I still can’t really do a Wookiee roar, so can we do something in post-production that enhances it a little bit?” That’s what I thought that we were going to do. So, I wasn’t really even trying, because I’m like, “Oh, it’s going be fixed in post-production.” Then Ian Bucknell, our director from Lucasfilm Home Video production, tells me afterwards, “Ashley, we’re going use them exactly as is.”

It ended up being perfect—because part of being mindful is just letting go of your fears of something not being perfect. And my Wookiee roars are not perfect, but for the majority of people doing this exercise, they’re not going have a perfect Wookiee roar. That’s part of the lesson, to let go of your fear of not being perfect and just letting it all out and being silly.

D23: How did you get involved with On Our Sleeves, the movement for children’s mental health, powered by the behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital?
AE: I was on a book tour for my very first book that I ever wrote for Disney called It’s Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make it Happen. In the middle of this book tour, I was set to do a book signing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. They are the leaders in children’s mental health in our nation. In the middle of doing this book tour, I became a victim of cyber bullying. It was awful—it was extremely overwhelming. I showed up to this signing at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, completely broken. I went to help the patients and their families, but really, I showed up in need of help. The hospital just wrapped their arms around me.

After about five days, we were able to get the cyber bullying under control. The biggest thing that concerned me was that I’m an adult going through this, and it really, really affected my mind. I don’t know how a kid would go through something like this and without the same support that I had. I pledged to be a voice for others from that day on. Oftentimes kids don’t know how to share their emotions.; they don’t know how to reach out and ask for help. That’s what’s been very important to me is to teach others the tools that they need for their mental health.

If there’s one lesson that I could share, and this is one thing that Ahsoka has really taught me, is that there’s always light, even in the darkest of times. Sometimes you just feel so consumed by darkness, but there’s always light. And sometimes you find it just by taking the smallest of steps.

D23: Why is teaching mindfulness important to you?
AE: Our mental health is just as important as our physical health. You can’t have one without the other—and one is not more important than the other. There’s been such a stigma surrounding mental health and there shouldn’t be—especially after the past years that we’ve been through. There’s not a single person that is untouched from the past three years. It’s all affected us in some way. We wanted to create a free resource for fans to be able to learn and benefit from this series.

Our goal is to be able to teach these very important life skills, but in a way where it’s accessible and safe and friendly for everyone. Sometimes I need the extra motivation. If I feel like I am training to be a Jedi—well, then that is so much more exciting! I’m just really hoping that by creating this free resource for all fans, that they will feel comfortable doing them. These are meant to be daily exercises that whenever you’re feeling nervous or worried or you just need to start your day on the right foot, that you’ll be able to turn to these exercises.

Ready to start training like a Jedi? You can watch all the videos in the Star Wars Mindful Matters series here.

5 Fantastic Things to Watch This Weekend Presented by State Farm®

By Andie Hagemann

From the gridiron to the galaxy, this weekend’s slate of content highlights wacky families and chosen families. On Saturday, The Game Plan airs on FX, and later that same day, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder makes its broadcast debut on Disney Channel. A special presentation of Freaky Friday airs Sunday on Freeform, while The Wonderful World of Disney returns with Beauty and the Beast on ABC, and Guardians of the Galaxy airs on FX that night.

In a scene from the feature film The Game Plan, actor Dwayne Johnson portrays Joe Kingman and holds actor Madison Pettis, who plays Peyton, a young girl, in his arms. Johnson and Pettis both wear maroon football jerseys with white and black stripes and lettering. Red and white confetti falls from the sky.

The Game Plan—Saturday, January 7, at 8 a.m. ET/PT on FX
Professional football player Joe Kingman (Dwayne Johnson) has is all. He’s wealthy and carefree, and his team is bound for the playoffs. But Joe is tackled by the surprising news that he has an 8-year-old daughter. Now, he must learn how to balance his personal and professional lives as he tries to be the best father in the world to Peyton (Madison Pettis). The heartwarming film also stars Kyra Sedgwick, Roselyn Sanchez, Morris Chestnut, Jamal Duff, Brian White, and Paige Turco.

In a scene from animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, four teenagers stand side by side: Zoey, Penny, Michael, and Dijonay. Zoey wears eyeglasses, a blue jacket, and a green dress and holds a tray of nachos. Penny wears a white tank top, a maroon sweater, and a maroon skirt. Michael wears eyeglasses, black suspenders, a black and white long-sleeved blouse, and a pair of purple pants. Dijonay wears a lavender blouse, a light blue sweater, and a blue skirt.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder—Saturday, January 7, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel
Ahead of the Season 2 premiere on Disney+ in February, the first season of the hit animated series will air all month long on Disney Channel and Disney XD, beginning this weekend with the first two episodes. Episode 1 follows Penny (voiced by Kyla Pratt) as her world is rocked following the arrival of two new kids in the neighborhood: Maya (voiced by Keke Palmer) and KG (voiced by Artist “A Boogie” Dubose). Penny dabbles as a social media influencer in Episode 2, but she soon realizes it’s not a picture-perfect life.

In a scene from Freaky Friday, actors Lindsay Lohan as teenage daughter Anna and Jamie Lee Curtis as mother Tess stand facing one another. Lohan wears a blue button-down shirt and her hair styled in a tight bun. Curtis wears a white, ribbed tank top and a pair of black pants. The two both hold onto a black belt and stand in a pink bedroom decorated with dozens of posters and photos on the walls.

Freaky Friday (2003)—Sunday, January 8, at 6:50 p.m. ET/PT on Freeform
Tess Coleman (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her teenage daughter, Anna (Lindsay Lohan), couldn’t be more different‑and they can’t stand it! After receiving mysterious fortunes at a Chinese restaurant, the two wake up the next day to discover that they have switched bodies. Unable to switch back, Tess and Anna are forced to act as each other until a solution can be found. The hilarious comedy also stars Mark Harmon, Chad Michael Murray, Lucille Soong, Harold Gould, Willie Garson, and Stephen Tobolowsky.

In a scene from Beauty and the Beast, actors Emma Watson as Belle and Luke Evans as Gaston stand in a town square. Watson wears a white, long-sleeved blouse and a light blue dress while she holds a book with a brown cover in her hands. Evans holds a bouquet of pink peonies and pink hyacinths in his right hand and wears a tan coat with a red lapel and a red collar.

The Wonderful World of Disney: Beauty and the Beast (2017)—Sunday, January 8, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on ABC
The live-action retelling of the animated classic follows Belle (Emma Watson), a bright and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by the Beast (Dan Stevens) in his enchanted castle. Despite her reservations, she befriends the castle’s staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s grisly appearance and see the kind heart within. The star-studded cast includes Luke Evans as Gaston, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Disney Legend Josh Gad as Lefou, Ewan McGregor as Lumière, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.

In a scene from Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy, actors Zoe Saldaña as Gamora, Chris Pratt as Peter Quill, and Dave Bautista as Drax walk through a futuristic town. Saldaña has long black hair with a red ombre and green skin and wears a black, sleeveless top and black pants. Pratt wears a maroon leather jacket, black pants, and a gray T-shirt. Bautista is shirtless, exposing his gray skin and red markings, and wears black pants. Behind the group walks Groot, a large, tree-like humanoid.

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)—Sunday, January 8, at 10:30 p.m. ET/PT on FX
Space ravager Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) finds himself the target of ruthless bounty hunters after he steals an orb coveted by the powerful Ronan (Lee Pace). To evade Ronan, Peter enlists the help of four misfits: Rocket Raccoon (voiced by Bradley Cooper), Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel), Gamora (Zoe Saldaña), and Drax the Destroyer (Dave Bautista). However, when Peter discovers the orb’s true power and the threat it poses, he must rally the ragtag group to save the universe.

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Behind the Scenes with Disneyland Resort’s Holiday Toy Drummers

By Courtney Potter

The holidays at Disneyland Resort are truly a feast for the senses… with delicious treats to eat on; incredible decorations that are a sight to behold; and memorable performances in every corner of both parks. Case in point: The Holiday Toy Drummers at Disney California Adventure Park!

From now through January 8, 2023, you’ll find these merry musicians playing with percussive precision on their drums—supplied by Yamaha, the official supplier of musical instruments to the Disneyland Resort—multiple times a day near the Obelisk in Paradise Gardens Park. D23 recently had the good fortune of chatting with the show’s director, Linda Simmons, about what goes into creating such a holly, jolly presentation.

D23: The Official Disney Fan Club: Hi Linda! Can you give us a bit of background about you, and about the Holiday Toy Drummers? How long have you worked on the show?
Linda Simmons (LS): I’m the show director and choreographer for the Disneyland Band, since its new version in 2015, and also the All-American College Band. The Holiday Toy Drummers actually started at Disneyland Park around 10 years ago, and I took over the Disney California Adventure version of it about five years ago. We really worked on the storytelling; I partnered with Glenn Kelman, who was the original show director; we worked together—it was quite extraordinary because we wanted to make it more choreographed, more staged, and give it a little bit more dimension… It’s just been such a collaborative experience—not only with myself, but with the creative directors and producers at Disneyland. We partnered together to fine-tune it, and make sure that it was an extraordinary offering.

D23: What’s the process for putting together each year’s show? Do you hold auditions? If so, what do you look for in a drummer?
LS: Well, we don’t hold auditions every year, if the people that we know we used the year before are all at the resort, and we have enough depth. But sometimes people get different jobs or different shows… This year, we did have an audition—and we auditioned new people, as well as asked that all of our cast who’d previously participated in Holiday Toy Drummers come to the callback… We have 16 people on our roster now, to cover both Holiday Toy Drummers and the drummers in Mickey’s Happy Holidays; that includes three new people, and a couple people who’d been gone for a while and came back.

We look for a lot of things: Personality and showmanship, for sure! And also the ability to do drum tricks and stick tricks. A lot of the Holiday Toy Drummers toured with Drum Corps International, [with famous groups including] the Cavaliers or Pacific Crest—they’re true “drum corps” people. So, it’s a different skill set—although it crosses over—than, say the Disneyland Band, where you’re working as a “kit” ensemble; the Holiday Toy Drummers have to have rudimentary skills as well as tricks, and really understand marching and movement. The whole show is completely staged and choreographed—and the rehearsal process is pretty grueling, over a six- to eight-day period.

D23: Do the pieces the drummers play change each year?
LS: No, the show is what we would call “baked”—it’s the same music from previous incarnations; but when I came in, I kind of tweaked it… so there’s a progression of the performance technique, in the acting choices as well.

D23: Is there someone who’s been with the Holiday Toy Drummers the longest?
LS: Alex Blake—he’s been with the group pretty much since the beginning. He has become the leader of the ensemble, so I really lean on him a lot to make sure that the drumming and the music stays consistent. He also creates the beats for the drummers in Mickey’s Happy Holidays, as well as Jammin’ Chefs. So he’s really become my partner-in-crime.

D23: Do you have a favorite part of the process? What about a challenge that you needed to meet, maybe in an interesting or unique way?
LS: Honestly, it’s always been so collaborative. Even from the very beginning… it was just one of those truly creative, magical times that don’t happen very often, but when they do you remember them forever.

And I would say, for sure, the biggest challenge was when we did it six feet apart [during some of the early COVID-19 restrictions]. The show has all this drum-on-drum interaction, and times where they’re tossing sticks. Last year, they had to be six feet apart—and we were on the Palisades stage, on a high stage, so we couldn’t do any hard stick tosses because if they dropped their sticks, they would land in the World of Color moat! Obviously, we had to adjust the show… but we made those concessions, and then this year we brought the full show back.

D23: Do you have a stand-out memory from your time with the show?
LS: That’s a daily occurrence! I love that the drummers are so committed to excellence. The show is consistent, and the show is always clean. And when I watch people watch it and say, “Oh my gosh, wow—that’s amazing!”, I couldn’t pick one time, because every time I’m so proud of the work that we’ve done together. And I’m proud of the support that I’ve had. You know, it’s never one person—it’s me, it’s my boss, it’s the producers, it’s the operations partners, it’s a partner like Yamaha… it’s all such a partnership, and I love that.

These drummers—they’re my guys! And we’ve been on lots of adventures together, creating the show and putting it back on its feet every year. It’s just joyful!

Behind the Scenes of SuperKitties, Disney Branded Television’s Purr-fect New Superhero Series

By Andie Hagemann

Brave, smart, strong, and kind—meet the fearsome feline foursome who are ready to pounce into action when cat-astrophe strikes.

From Disney Branded Television, the new animated series SuperKitties features four adorable kittens—Ginny, Sparks, Buddy, and Bitsy—with plenty of super skills and gadgets at their disposal to protect the city of Kittydale from a slew of villains.

“I’ve always loved cats and I’ve always loved superheroes,” series creator and executive producer Paula Rosenthal tells D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. “There are many shows that pay homage to one or the other, but I noticed there was a void to pay homage to both, and I was looking to do it in a way that was different.”

While ruminating the concept, Rosenthal watched dozens upon dozens of cat videos for inspiration in developing the humor and action of the core group of heroes. The videos also helped with creating villains who are still likable to viewers despite their devious actions.

The creation of SuperKitties also marks Rosenthal’s return to the Disney family, previously serving as an executive for Playhouse Disney. “I feel a little bit like a unicorn,” she shares with a laugh. “How many people can say that they’ve been on both sides of [the creative process]?” When the time came to pitch the show, there was no doubt Disney would be her first stop.

In a scene from animated series SuperKitties, four kittens wear colorful superhero suits and masks and stand side by side. The group looks at another cat wearing a blue beanie on its head, a navy mask, and a navy superhero suit. Behind the cats is an enormous ball of yarn.

“From the beginning, it was always [this]: Being SuperKitties is what they do and being cats is who they are. I didn’t want to lose the cat-like behavior,” Rosenthal says, “but we wanted to tell these stories in a way that kids could see themselves as or aspire to be like these heroes we’re portraying.”

Each of the paw-some kittens possess a unique superpower. Ginny (voiced by Luca’s Emma Berman), the leader of the group, is a master at parkour. “When Ginny’s claws come out, she can jump and grab onto something, swing herself around, and leap from object to object,” Rosenthal says. Buddy (voiced by JeCobi Swain) can turn himself into a furball and knock things down, while his brother, Sparks (voiced by Cruz Flateau), is the brainiac who creates all the gadgets. The littlest cat, Bitsy (voiced by Pyper Braun), serves as the eyes of the audience. “She’s learning the way our audience will learn,” Rosenthal says. “She can go fast, and when she’s got her boots on, she can go with the speed of light.”

With so many different cat breeds, patterns, and markings to choose from, Rosenthal credits the collaboration with the creative team at Disney for the kittens’ purr-fect fur coats. “We wanted to keep them looking real and relatable, getting those beautiful colors and the combination of the eyes and the glitter in the eyes,” Rosenthal says. Unintentionally, Ginny bears a strong resemblance to Rosenthal’s very first cat, Daisy, a tabby with orange stripes.

In a scene from animated series SuperKitties, a rat pops out of a large contraption and laughs. It wears a red and white striped shirt and a white lab coat and a pair of goggles. Next to the rat a purple octopus wears a pair of large blue goggles and a white lab coat and sits on a blue platform.

SuperKitties features the recurring comedic villains Cat Burglar (voiced by Justin Guarini), Mr. Puppypaws (voiced by Aladdin on Broadway’s James Monroe Iglehart), Lab Rat (voiced by Ruth Pferdehirt), and Zsa-Zsa the cockatoo (voiced by Isabella Crovetti). “They all get into trouble trying to do something for themselves while unintentionally impacting the greater [city of] Kittydale,” Rosenthal says. In an upcoming episode, Cat Burglar lures animals with charms and gems into a faux mobile salon so he can make a bejeweled coat for his grandmother with the stolen items. But the SuperKitties teach Cat Burglar that stealing is wrong and encourage him to return the gems.

Rosenthal also teases an upcoming Christmas-themed episode—one of her favorite stories thus far—that features Cat Burglar. “You really get to see Cat Burglar’s heart,” she says. “It has beautiful music, incredible heart, an emotional journey, and great Christmas music—in addition to all the action and comedy.”

From the young to the young at heart, there’s something in SuperKitties for everyone. “It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s high energy, but most of all there are beautiful lessons to be told in how with a little kindness, bravery, and strength you can make your home a better place,” says Rosenthal.

SuperKitties premieres Wednesday, January 11, at 10:30 a.m. ET/PT with a simulcast on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. An initial batch of episodes will be available to stream that same day on Disney+ and on-demand platforms.