[Via Disney Channel Press Release...]
"SOFIA THE FIRST," AN ANIMATED SERIES ABOUT A LITTLE GIRL
PRINCESS ADJUSTING TO ROYAL LIFE, DEBUTS FRIDAY, JANUARY 11 ON DISNEY
CHANNEL AND DISNEY JUNIOR
Classic Disney Princesses Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Jasmine
Make Special Appearances
Eric Stonestreet, Viola Davis, Bonnie Hunt, Ellie Kemper, Megan
Mullally, Kiernan Shipka and Jeffrey Tambor Among All-Star Guest Voice
Cast
The series stars the voices of Ariel Winter as Sofia, the young princess
in training; Sara Ramirez as Queen Miranda, Sofia's loyal and caring
mother; Wayne Brady as Clover, Sofia's wise-talking rabbit sidekick, and
Tim Gunn as Baileywick, the castle's royal steward. Winter's "Modern Family" co-star, Eric Stonestreet, guest stars in the premiere episode as The Voice
of Sofia's flying horse, Minimus. Other notable guest stars include
Viola Davis ("The Help"), Bonnie Hunt ("Cars"), Ellie Kemper
("Bridesmaids"), Megan Mullally ("Will & Grace"), Kiernan Shipka ("Mad Men") and Jeffrey Tambor ("Arrested Development").
The November 18 premiere of Disney Junior's animated television movie
"Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess" introduced a record number of
viewers to Disney's first little girl princess, Sofia the First,
delivering a crowning glory of 5.2 million Total Viewers on Disney
Channel, handily becoming the #1 cable TV telecast of 2012 among Kids
2-5 (1.5 million/9.1 rating)
and Girls 2-5 (954,000/12.2 rating). The movie also delivered with
older kids and adults, attracting more than 3.0 million Kids 2-11 and
more than 1.4 million Adults 18-49. Impressively, the movie ranked as
the #1 cable TV telecast in 5 years in Kids 2-5 (since 11/12/2007, "SpongeBob
Atlantis Pantis") and in over 10 years in Girls 2-5 (since 5/6/2002,
"Oswald"). Furthermore, it now stands as Disney Channel's #1 telecast in
the network's history among Girls 2-5, its #2 telecast among Kids 2-5
(behind "High School Musical 2") and its #1 preschool telecast ever in
Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49.
In the premiere episode, "Just One of the Princes," Sofia strives to
become the first princess to earn a spot on her school's flying derby
team. Although paired with the overly-anxious horse Minimus (voiced by
Stonestreet), Sofia learns to believe in herself and proves that a
princess can do anything she sets her mind to. While she lives in an
enchanting fairytale world of castles, wizards and flying horses, Sofia
remains a relatable peer-to-peer princess who is experiencing many of
the same social situations as young viewers at home, including fitting
in at school, building sibling relationships, making new friends,
discovering how and when to be brave, learning the importance of telling
the truth, and mastering new skills and good sportsmanship. The stories
are designed to provide young children with fundamental lessons about
developing social and emotional skills to help prepare them for life.
Events across multiple platforms will mark the series debut, with a
preview of the premiere episode available via Disney Channel SVOD, WATCH
Disney Junior and on iTunes beginning Friday, Jan. 4. The Jan. 11
linear premiere on Disney Channel will be simulcast on WATCH Disney
Channel and mobile providers AT&T and Sprint TV. Following the
premiere, throughout January, new episodes will be available one week
prior to their linear premiere via Disney Channel SVOD and WATCH Disney
Junior.
In early January, DisneyJunior.com/Sofia will
launch the new game, "Minimus the Great," where players can help Sofia
take care of her horse Minimus and train for the big Royal Prep Flying
Derby race.
Craig Gerber ("Pixie Hollow Games") developed the series and serves as
co-executive producer and story editor. Jamie Mitchell ("Special Agent
Oso") is executive producer and director. John Kavanaugh ("Winnie the
Pooh: Springtime with Roo") serves as songwriter/music director and
Kevin Kliesch ("Tangled Ever After") is the composer. "Sofia the First"
is a production of Disney Television Animation.
Disney Junior reflects the emotional connection generations of consumers
have to Disney storytelling and Disney characters, both classic and
contemporary. It invites mom and dad to join their child in the Disney
experience of magical, musical and heartfelt stories and characters,
while incorporating specific learning and development themes designed
for kids age 2-7. Disney Junior's series blend Disney's unparalleled
storytelling and characters kids love with learning, including early
math, language skills, healthy eating and lifestyles, and social skills.
Disney Junior launched in February 2011 with a daily programming block
on Disney Channel. In its first year, Disney Junior posted the network's
biggest yearly audience in the daypart in Total Viewers, Kids 2-5, Boys
2-5 and Women 18-49, increasing by double-digit margins in preschooler
demographics over year-ago levels. On March 23, 2012 Disney Junior added
a cable and satellite channel in the U.S. Disney Junior channels in
Japan, India and Disney Junior Portugal launched in fall 2012, bringing
the number of channels worldwide to 33.
