Disney Junior's Sofia the First, an animated series about Princess Sofia, an adventurous little girl who is learning how to adjust to royal life after her mom marries the king and she becomes a princess overnight, debuts Friday, January 11 on Disney Channel (9 to 10 a.m. ET/PT) and Disney Junior (5:30 to 6 p.m. ET/PT).
Created for kids 2 to 7 and their parents/caregivers, Sofia the First tells the story of an ordinary girl who becomes a princess and, throughout her journey, learns that possessing the characteristics of a true princess -- honesty, loyalty, compassion and grace -- is what makes one truly royal.
Classic Disney Princesses Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Jasmine make special appearances in event episodes throughout the year, offering Sofia words of wisdom when she needs them most. Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (the beloved fairies seen in Disney's classic Sleeping Beauty) are featured as the headmistresses of Sofia's new school, Royal Prep Academy.
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 TV-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 to 5 (1.5 million/9.1 rating) and girls 2 to 5 (954,000/12.2 rating). The movie also delivered with older kids and adults, attracting more than 3 million kids 2 to 11 and more than 1.4 million adults 18 to 49. Impressively, the movie ranked as the #1 cable TV telecast in 5 years in kids 2 to 5 (since 11/12/2007, Spongebob Atlantis Pantis) and in over 10 years in Girls 2 to 5 (since 5/6/2002, Oswald). Furthermore, it now stands as Disney Channel's #1 telecast in the network's history among girls 2 to 5; its #2 telecast among kids 2 to 5 (behind High School Musical 2); and its #1 preschool telecast ever in total viewers, adults 18 to 49 and women 18 to 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, January 4. The January 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.
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"Oh boy." -- Allan Sherman
(This post was edited by eminovitz on Dec 2, 2012, 1:11 PM)
Re: Disney Junior's "Sofia the First" debuts Jan. 11
[In reply to]
I generally can take or leave the whole 'magical princess' shtick, but I might check out an episode or 2 of Sofia the First. Presently the only show on Disney Junior that I occasionally look in on is Doc McStuffins, which is a cute show, though I tend to walk in on the same episodes a lot.
-Also I read that Sofia was originally going to be Latina; I wonder why Disney chose to drop that angle. The only possible reason I see is that maybe Disney didn't want Sofia to be constantly compared to Dora the Explorer.
Re: Disney Junior's "Sofia the First" debuts Jan. 11
[In reply to]
This could work. This could work very nicely.
Sofia The First is an interesting take on the Disney princess formula. Some Disney princesses are highborn at the outset: Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora. These characters have their adventures after they've gotten the hang of being a princess. Other Disney princesses have the adventure firstly, then marry into the title afterward: Snow White, Cinderella, Belle. Their story ends at the wedding.
However, here is ordinary Sofia, whose mother marries into The Realm, making Sofia a princess at the outset. The viewers now get a glimpse of royal life "in the fishbowl," as it were. This seems roughly parallel to Peter Parker's biograph upon receiving his spider-powers. "With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility." Little Sofia is going to find herself pushed to a much higher standard than a plebeian child.
We're seeing an ascendancy of female characters lately: Kim Possible, My Little Pony, Super Best Friends Forever. Disney is too savvy not to exploit this rising demographic, and Disney rarely fumbles its females. I'm seeing many positive signs in Sofia The First, and its debut on the Disney Channel drew viewers like a binary star. I'm smelling lavender-scented awesome.
