Disney Channel will return its Marvel Studios-produced animated action series Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur for a sophomore season run on February 3.

The series will continue to follow the exploits of 13-year-old super-genius Lunella Lafayette and her 10-ton T-Rex dinosaur as they protect her New York City neighborhood from danger, according to the network. Diamond White will return as the voice of Lafayette for the second season along with series regulars Alfre Woodard, Fred Tatasciore, Libe Barer, Gary Anthony Williams and Laurence Fishburne. 

Season two will feature guest stars Jonathan Banks, Cynthia Erivo, Giancarlo Esposito, Andy Garcia, Arsenio Hall, Edward James Olmos, Robin Thede, and Peter Weller.

Marvel’s Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is executive produced by Fishburne and Steve Loter.

Streaming service Disney Plus will spread some Marvel-themed holiday cheer to viewers with the December 22 second season debut of its animated series What If …?, with new episodes running over consecutive nights.

The nine-episode, Marvel Studios-produced series continues the journey as series host “The Watcher” guides viewers through the vast multiverse, introducing brand new and familiar faces throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, said the company. This season is expected to feature such MCU characters as Nebula, Hela and Happy Hogan, according to Disney Plus.

Disney Plus debuted the first season of What If ...? in 2021. Season two of What If …? is executive produced by Bryan Andrews and AC Bradley.

Netflix drops a new adult animated special based on the music of Scott “Kid Cudi” Mescudi with the September 30 premiere of Entergalactic.

The special, produced by Mescudi and Kenya Barris (Black-ish), fuses animation with songs from Kid Cudi’s upcoming album of the same name, said the streaming service. Entergalactic follows the exploits of a young man who attempts to balance success and love when moves into his dream Manhattan apartment and falls for his next-door neighbor, Netflix said.

Also: 'The Crown' Season Five Arrives in November

Entergalactic’s cast features the voices of Mescudi, Jessica Williams, Vanessa Hudgens, Macaulay Culkin, Teyana Taylor, Ty Dolla $ign, Keith David and Timothée Chalamet. ■

The Prouds clan will return to Disney Plus for a second season. The streaming service has begun production on the sophomore campaign for its animated series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder in advance of the show’s first season finale April 20.

The series, a spinoff of the 2000s Disney Channel series, continues the hijinks of central character Penny Proud along with her family and friends. Cast members reprising their roles for the second season include Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, JoMarie Payton, Cedric the Entertainer, Karen Malina White, Soleil Moon Frye, Alisa Reyes, Keke Palmer and Billy Porter. 

Also: Content Spotlight: Tommy Davidson Returns as Oscar Proud in 'The Proud Family' Reboot

The new season will also feature guest stars Chance the Rapper, Gabrielle Union, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Anderson, Holly Robinson Peete, Jane Lynch and Courtney B. Vance.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is executive-produced by its creator Bruce W. Smith, as well as Ralph Farquhar and Calvin Brown, Jr.

Also: 'Dancing With the Stars' Moves From ABC to Disney Plus 

Amazon Prime Video’s new trailer for its animated series Undone continues to explore the elastic nature of reality in advance of the show’s season-two premiere on April 29.

The eight-episode animated series series, from BoJack Horseman creators Kate Purdy and Raphael Bob-Waksberg, continues the journey of Alma (Rosa Salazar) who, after a severe car accident, discovers the ability to bend the nature of reality, which she uses to find out the truth about her father’s death.

Also: Prime Video Taps Al Michaels to Lead 'Thursday Night Football' Coverage 

According to Prime Video, season two finds Alma realizing that there are deeper mysteries in her family’s past that no one in her family wants to dig up. She eventually convinces her sister Becca (Angelique Cabral) to search for answers, and together they unravel a complex network of memories and motivations that have shaped who they are today.

Constance Marie and Bob Odenkirk also lend their voices to the series, which is executive produced by Purdy, Bob-Waksberg, Noel Bright, Steven A. Cohen, Tommy Pallotta, Femke Wolting, Bruno Felix, and Hisko Hulsing. ■ 

Cartoon Network has renewed its animated series Teen Titans Go! for an eighth season and will premiere a feature film, Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse, this Memorial Day weekend, the network announced during its TCA Winter Press Tour presentation Monday.

The eighth season of Teen Titans Go!, produced by Warner Bros. Animation, will premiere later this year and will continue to expand the Teen Titans universe, said the network. The upcoming season will also mark the series’ 400th episode.

"The undeniable success of Teen Titans Go!, with its signature blend of action and subversive super hero humor, is a testament to the phenomenal work of executive producer Pete Michail and the show team,” Sam Register, president of Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network Studios, said in a statement. “Seven seasons, one theatrical feature film, multiple specials, celebrity cameos and no end in sight, this show has carved out its own lane in the acclaimed legacy established by the original Teen Titans animated series."

In addition, the Teen Titans and DC Super Hero Girls will appear in a new theatrical movie, Titans Go! & DC Super Hero Girls: Mayhem in the Multiverse, which will debut on Cartoon Network May 28 and on HBO Max June 28, said network officials. ■ 

Disney Plus will debut its revival of 2000s animated series The Proud Family on February 23, the network said Friday during its virtual Television Critics Association Winter tour session.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder follows up on the original The Proud Family series – which ran on Disney Channel from 2001-2005 – with most of the original cast reprising their roles, according to Disney Plus.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder continues the story of its central character, Penny Proud, her parents Oscar and Trudy, twin siblings BeBe and CeCe, grandmother Suga Mama, and friends Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez and Zoey Howzer, said the streaming service.

The cast includes returning voices Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, JoMarie Payton, Cedric The Entertainer, Karen Malina White, Soleil Moon Frye, Alisa Reyes, Carlos Mencia, Maria canals-Barera and Alvaro Gutierrez. Recurring cast members include Keke Palmer, Bill Porter and Zachary Quinto, said the company officials.

 The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder brand extensions will include a cross-category product line of apparel, home, stationery and toys timed to the series launch. Additionally, the complete library of the original series will be available on digital February 15 and DVD March 15 and the The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder digital soundtrack will be available later this year on Walt Disney Records, said Disney Plus.

Nickelodeon Animation president Ramsey Naito will add oversight of Paramount Pictures Animation to her job portfolio after being tapped Thursday to lead that unit of the movie studio. 

As president of animation and development for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation, Naito will oversee all projects for the film studio as well as for the kids-targeted cable network, where she has served as president since last year. Naito replaces current Paramount Animation president Mireille Soria, who is leaving the company. 

Naito, who joined Nickelodeon Animation in 2018, has orchestrated the launch of the network's largest animation slate in network history, feeding its content pipeline across all formats and platforms. In 2021 alone Naito has overseen the launch of such projects as PAW Patrol: The Movie; The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run and two original spinoffs, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years and The Patrick Star Show; Baby Shark; Blue’s Clues & You!; Santiago of the Seas; The Loud House Movie; and Rugrats, which was recently renewed for a second season. 

Read Also: The Five Spot: Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation 

“Ramsey is one of the savviest executives and creative minds in our industry,”  Paramount Pictures president and CEO Brian Robbins said in a statement. “During her time at Nick, she has transformed and reinvigorated the Animation Studio division with her sharp business instincts, deep stable of relationships and unique eye for great storytelling, and I’m thrilled to have her bring her talents to this expanded role where she can further elevate our overall animation business.” 

Naito will now oversee several upcoming projects for both Paramount and Nickelodeon, including Star Trek: Prodigy from Nickelodeon Animation and CBS Studios; the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theatrical motion picture, best selling book adaptations of Big Nate and Real Pigeons Fight Crime, an original Transformers series and an animated series based on the Monster High franchise. 

Soria had led the Paramount Animation division since 2017. ”Mireille has been a driving force in building out a new, dynamic and modern chapter of Paramount Animation,“ Robbins said. ”We thank her for her many contributions to the organization and wish her the best in her future endeavors.“   

Paramount Plus will offer more baby hijinks with the renewal of its animated series Rugrats for a second season, the streaming service said Tuesday.

The series, a reboot of the popular 1990s Nickelodeon series, returns for its sophomore campaign on Oct. 7 and will once again feature the imaginative exploits of Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Susie, Phil and Lil as they embark on new adventures, said the streaming service. Season one of the series debuted on Paramount Plus in May.

Read also: Familiarity Breeds Audience for Kids Show Reboots

The new season also includes a Halloween-themed special in which Tommy needs his friends’ help to save Angelica after she turns into a werewolf at a Halloween party as their parents seem to disappear one by one, according to the service.

“Kids series are a key driver of engagement for Paramount Plus,” said Tanya Giles, Chief Programming Officer for Paramount Plus in a statement. “With the renewal of Rugrats for a second season, we look forward to bringing even more adventures with Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica and the rest of the Rugrats for kids and families to enjoy.”

Added Nickelodeon Animation President Ramsey Naito: “This next season of Rugrats will dive even deeper into the secret life of babies and their unsuspecting parents, while continuing to highlight the main themes of friendship and family. For 30 years, the Rugrats have resonated with fans around the globe and we can’t wait to continue telling original and fresh stories with these beloved characters.” 

Disney Plus has set a July 28 premiere date for its original animated series Chip 'n' Dale: Park Life.

The series, comprised of three seven-minute stories per episode, follows the two tiny troublemakers trying to live the good life in a big city park while having giant-sized, sky-high adventures, according to the streaming service. 

Disney Plus has released the opening title sequence of the series, which is produced by Xilam Animation.

Read Also: Disney Plus Sets 'Beauty and the Beast' Prequel Series 

Brian Keane will be joining Nickelodeon Animation Studios as executive VP of production and operations, a new position, as ViacomCBS’s kids business staffs up its animation division.

Keene, previously COO and executive VP at Blue Sky Studios, will oversee plans to scale and support Nickelodeon series, movies and its studio business. He will be based in New York and report to Ramsey Naito, president of Nickelodeon Animation. 

Angelique Yen, head of physical production at Nickelodeon Animation, will report to Keane.

“Brian’s love of animation, operational expertise and producorial spirit will greatly contribute to Nickelodeon’s culture and success,” said Naito. “Keane and Yen’s partnership fortifies our studio’s mission to produce and deliver the highest quality content for kids and families everywhere across multiple platforms.”

“I have always admired Nickelodeon’s irreverent and creator-driven spirit, and I’m so excited to be joining the studio at a time of global growth and evolution,” said Keane. “I look forward to working with the Nick team on this transformative chapter ahead.”

Nickelodeon’s animation operation also named Jennie Monica VP, series production and Kara Lord Piersimoni has been hired as VP of production for Nickelodeon Movies.

Monica had been co-executive producer on SpongeBob SquarePants and began her career at Nickelodeon in 1998.

Lord Piersimoni had been VP of production at GURU Studios.

Dean Hoff, VP series production and Patty Henry-Robinson, VP series production, will continue reporting to Yen.

Disney has signed producers Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar to a multi-year production agreement, the company announced Tuesday.

As part of the “wide-ranging” agreement, Smith and Farquhar -- who produced Disney Channel’s animated series The Proud Family and the upcoming Disney Plus series The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder -- will also produce new animated and live-action series and movies for Disney Branded Television, said the company.

Also Read: Disney Plus Revives 'The Proud Family' Animated Series 

Smith (Hair Love) and Farquhar (Moesha) will also have access to separate funding to find and develop emerging talent as well as to leverage their combined experience to bring unique projects and voices to Disney, said the company. 

"With virtually every studio and platform reaching out to them, it speaks volumes that talented storytellers Ralph and Bruce have chosen Disney as the home for their boundless creativity and inspired social commentary, not to mention their commitment to identifying emerging talent. We are proud to have them as members of our family," said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television in a statement.

Added Smith and Farquhar: “We are very happy to be continuing our relationship with Disney and look forward to creating even more truly authentic and diverse stories and characters for audiences worldwide. We are also excited to have the opportunity to bring along a new wave of talented voices that will deepen the connection to Disney storytelling for years to come."

Disney Plus Thursday released the official trailer for its holiday-themed original movie Godmothered, which debuts Dec. 4.

Godmothered stars Jillian Bell as an inexperienced fairy godmother-in-training who, in her quest to show that people still need fairy godmothers, tracks down a single mom (Isla Fisher) through a decades old letter in an effort to give her a happiness makeover, whether she likes it or not, said the service.

Godmothered is directed by Sharon Maguire and executive produced by Justin Springer, Diane L. Sabatini, Tom Pollock, Ivan Reitman and Amie Karp.

Disney Plus will debut a new Lego animated holiday special on Nov. 17. 

The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special is the first special from Lego to debut on Disney Plus, and will pick up directly following the events of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, and will feature the voices of franchise Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian) and Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), as well as “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” vets Matt Lanter (Anakin Skywalker), Tom Kane (Yoda, Qui-Gon Jinn), James Arnold Taylor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Dee Bradley Baker (clone troopers). 

The animated special is a production of Atomic Cartoons, the LEGO Group, and Lucasfilm.

Disney Plus Wednesday dropped a promo trailer for its original movie, Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe, which premieres Aug. 28.

The movie, based on the Phineas and Ferb animated series, which ran on Disney Channel from 2007-2015, follows stepbrothers Phineas and Ferb as they set out across the galaxy to rescue their older sister Candace, who was abducted by aliens, according to the streaming service. 

Voice talent reprising their roles from the original series and movie include: Ashley Tisdale as Candace Flynn; Vincent Martella as Phineas Flynn; Caroline Rhea as their mom, Linda; Dee Bradley Baker as Perry the Platypus; Alyson Stoner as Isabella; Maulik Pancholy as Baljeet; Bobby Gaylor as Buford; Olivia Olson as Vanessa Doofenshmirtz; Tyler Mann as Carl; and Povenmire and Marsh as Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz and Major Monogram, respectively. David Errigo Jr. joins the cast as Ferb Fletcher. 

 Black voices matter now in Springfield.

“Moving forward, The Simpsons will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters,” the long-running show said in a statement released by Fox Entertainment.

The move comes as more businesses are making statements about ending violence against African-American  and promoting racial equality following the death of George Floyd at the hands of police on May 25

Most of the voices of the myriad characters on the on the long-running animated show are done by small troupe of actors

Harry Shearer has provided the voice of Dr. Hibbert, the family doctor with an IQ of 155

Hank Azaria has been the voice of Lou, the smartest officer on the Springfield police force and Carl, an African-American who works with Homer Simpson at the nuclear power plant. 

Azaria stepped down as Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, the convenience store owner after a documentary criticized the character as stereotyping South Asians.

On Thursday Jenny Slate, who has been the voice of the Black character Missy on Big Mouth, which is on Netflix, said she would no longer play the part.

"At the start of the show, I reasoned with myself that it was permissible for me to play Missy because her mom is Jewish and White — as am I," Slate wrote in a statement. "But Missy is also Black, and Black characters on an animated show should be played by Black people...In my playing Missy, I was engaging in an act of erasure of Black people."

Also on Thursday, Kristen Bell said she would no longer provide the voice for Molly Tillermand on Apple TV Plus’s animated series Central Park.

"This is a time to acknowledge our acts of complicity," said Bell in a statement. "Casting a mixed race character with a white actress undermines the specificity of the mixed race and Black American experience."

Shortly after George Floyd’s death, Cops was canceled by ViacomCBS’s Paramount Network and Live PD was ended by A&E Network 

Disney+ will resurrect the animated series The Proud Family 18 years after its initial premiere on Disney Channel, the network said Thursday.

The new series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, will feature original series creators and executive producers Bruce Smith and Ralph Farquhar, and will feature most of the original cast, including Kyla Pratt, Tommy Davidson, Paula Jai Parker, Jo Marie Payton, Karen Malina White, Soleil Moon Frye, Alisa Reyes and Cedric the Entertainer.

The series, which ran on Disney channel from September 2001 to August 2005, follows the exploits of a young African-American girl, Penny Proud (Pratt), along with her family and friends. 

“The show’s humor and relatable stories are as relevant with audiences today as ever,” said Agnes Chu, senior VP, Content, Disney+ in a statement. “Our audiences have loved rediscovering their favorite episodes of The Proud Family, and we’re excited Bruce, Ralph, Calvin, and the returning cast are creating new stories for their new home on Disney+.”

Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide added: "The genius of the original Proud Family series was that, under the guise of a family comedy, it provided a brilliant social commentary on our life and times.  With this new series, Bruce and Ralph will once again challenge everyone to think differently about the world we share." 

Disney+ will bring back animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars for a seventh and final season beginning Feb. 21.

An additional 12 episodes of the Star Wars spinoff series -- which last aired on Netflix in 2014 -- will continue the storylines introduced in the original series, exploring the events leading up to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, according to the streaming service.

Star Wars: Clone Wars -- created by George Lucas and executive produced by  Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian) -- stars Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Katee Sackhoff and Sam Witwer.

Disney+ will stream the seventh and final season of the animated series Star Wars: The Clone Wars beginning Feb. 21. 

An additional 12 episodes of the Star Wars spinoff series -- which last aired on Netflix in 2014 -- will continue the storylines introduced in the original series, exploring the events leading up to Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, according to the streaming service.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars -- created by George Lucas and executive produced by Dave Filoni (The Mandalorian) -- stars Matt Lanter, Ashley Eckstein, Dee Bradley Baker, James Arnold Taylor, Katee Sackhoff and Sam Witwer.

TBS has renewed its animated comedy series American Dad! for two more seasons, the network announced during its Television Critics Association press tour event.

“American Dad! has achieved an incredible milestone,” said Brett Weitz, General Manager for TNT, TBS, & truTV in a statement. “Matt and Brian are brilliant writers who consistently overdeliver on big comedy and even bigger absurdity. We look forward to continuing the momentum by giving devoted fans two more seasons of the Smith family.”

The series, which is reaching an audience of nearly 18 million viewers across all TBS platforms during its current season, will reach its 300th episode this year. The Seth MacFarlane-created series is produced by 20th Century Fox. 

“TBS has been a spectacular partner to us on this hilarious series, and we’re thrilled the partnership will continue,” said Marci Proietto, Executive Vice President 20th Century Fox Television Animation. “It’s a win for the show and most of all a win for the millions of fans who love it as much as we do.”

Netflix Friday released a trailer for its new Dr. Seuss-inspired animated series Green Eggs and Ham, set to premiere on the streaming service Nov. 8. 

The series follows the exploits of polar opposites Guy and Sam who, on a road trip to save an endangered animal, learn to try new things like friendship -- and a certain delectable dish, according to Netflix officials. 

Green Eggs and Ham stars Adam Devine, Michael Douglas, Ilana Glazer, Diane Keaton, Keegan-Michael Key, Eddie Izzard, Jeffrey Wright, Jillian Bell, John Turturro, Tracy Morgan and Daveed Diggs. The series is executive produced by Ellen DeGeneres, Jared Stern, Sam Register, Mike Karz, David Dobkin and Jeff Kleeman.

Nickelodeon has greenlit Kamp Koral, a spinoff series from its popular SpongeBob Squarepants animated franchise, the network said Tuesday.

The 13-episode, CG-animated series chronicles SpongeBob SquarePants as a 10-year old during his summer sleepaway camp, said network officials. In the series, SpongeBob and his pals spend the summer building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck at Kamp Koral. The series marks the first spinoff for the animated series, which debuted in 1999.

SpogeBobSquarePants producers Marc Ceccarelli and Vincent Waller will serve as co-executive producers on the series, said the network.

“SpongeBob has an incredible universe to expand upon and the greenlight for Kamp Koral is a testament to the strength and longevity of these characters known and loved by generations of fans around the world,” said Ramsey Naito, executive vice president of animation production and development for Nickelodeon in a statement. 

RELATED: Nickelodeon Renews 'SpongeBob SquarePants'

On Friday (Feb. 15) Disney Channel will resurrect its teenage heroine Kim Possible in a new live-action film based on the popular animated series, which ran on Disney Channel from 2002-07. Sadie Stanley stars as Kim Possible, with Sean Giambrone playing the role of Ron Stoppable, Kim’s sidekick and best friend.

Veteran actor Todd Stashwick and Taylor Ortega star as Kim Possible’s arch villains Dr. Drakken and Shego, respectively. I had the chance to speak to Stashwick (12 Monkeys) and Ortega (Succession) about the new Kim Possible live-action movie and its potential appeal to a new generation of Disney Channel viewers.

Were you familiar with the animated Kim Possible series prior to starting this project?

Taylor Ortega: I grew up watching Kim Possible -- I was the demographic that Disney was targeting in the first place when the series debuted, so I was super familiar with it. When I found out at the auditions that I was reading for Shego I said I’m perfect for this.

Did you have any concerns about the Kim Possible franchise making the transition from a popular animated series to a live-action movie?

Todd Stashwick: There was so much care and attention put in making the transition from animated series to live-action feature, and you’ll see that on the screen. The vibe is there -- it feels like Kim Possible, the costumes the look -- and even Rufus (a naked mole rat and pet friend of Ron Stoppable) is there (laughter). The characters of Drakken and Shego loomed large on the channel before we ever got there, so the fact that we’re taking it into the future is really a thrill, and Disney has been super amazing towards us.

Was it a challenge to play the villains in the movie?

TO: No. I was very familiar with the first incarnation of Shego, and having a background in comedy made it easy to take the fantastic script that we had and do some improvisation to make the character come alive.

Does the Kim Possible brand and message translate to this new generation of Disney viewers?

TS: I actually think it could not be a better time to bring Kim as a heroine to live action. My (11-year old) daughter is lucky to grow up in an era with Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, Rey in Star Wars, and now Kim Possible marching alongside all of them. My daughter doesn’t blink when she sees strong, female heroes on TV or in the movies. When Kim came out back in the day she was a pioneer. What’s also great about the movie is that it isn’t just for girls, its for boys and families as well.

TO: I’m so proud to be able to inspire young girls who want to be evil (laughter). 

Netflix on Nov. 20 will premiere a new animated series, Motown Magic, which looks to introduce iconic songs from the Detroit-based R&B music company to a new generation viewers.

The series, which follows a young boy who uses is magic paintbrush to bring to life the street art decorating his city, will feature classic Motown hits in each episode to help inform the story line.

Emmy-winning producer Josh Wakely, who created Netflix’s animated series Beat Bugs – inspired by the music of the Beatles -- serves as creator and executive producer of Motown Magic, with Motown legend Smokey Robinson serving as executive music producer.

I recently spoke to Wakely about the origins of Motown Magic along with his mission to keep classic songs alive for future generations. An edited version of the interview appears below.

What was the appeal for you of creating an animated, kids-targeted series around the Motown library of songs?

Motown has always held a special place for me as it has for the world. When I was eight years old Stevie Wonder came to Australia, and my mom took me to his concert. I remember it being the most celestial and amazing music ever, and I’ve never really changed that point of view. Even before I did the show Beat Bugs on Netflix I wanted to do something around the Motown catalog. I was convinced it was the most extraordinary music formed for families because it was melodically engaging enough for the children’s mind, but also had some often-challenging social messages.

How do you translate the Motown sound to a new generation of viewers who may not ever heard of Motown?

I think 100 years from now people will still be talking about the fact that [Motown] made that many number ones in a fairly condensed period of time, and the architecture of the songs are so advanced. I think this is my small part in imparting that to a younger generation. The music is still perfect, so we’re doing [Motown Magic] to make it more accessible to a modern era. We have the latest animation techniques and technologies, so I thought the alchemy of bringing this timeless music from the 60’s with cutting edge animation would be a good combination for viewers. Everybody knows that Motown music is good, but I don’t think they realize that in 100 years a Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder or Smokey Robinson song is going to sound just as amazing as it did in the 1960s. Each episode uses the narrative of an iconic Motown song, which serves as the platform and inspiration for the story.

What role does Smokey Robinson play in the development of the series, and how was it to work with him on the project?

Working with him was the best thing ever! There would be days when we were working on the show, and Smokey would turn to me and say “how do you want to chart this song?’ In what world does Smokey Robinson ask me that question? He was a great collaborator – I wouldn’t have done it unless I had his blessing. I gave him the first couple of scripts and he really loved it.

Along with Motown Magic, Beat Bugs returned to Netflix this month for its third season. Are you surprised by the success of that show?

I was relieved by it (laughs). After three years of securing the rights and three years of working on it I was glad to see it launch. I remember 48 hours before it came out it suddenly occurred to me that it might not be a success, but now that it has had some success it's not my show anymore; it's the audience’s show. To see people talking about it; to see people dressing up as the characters for Halloween; to see toys based on the show in stores; and to see the live shows is both energizing and exciting. With Beat Bugs and with Motown Magic I owe a lot to the fact that the music [in the shows] is some of the best music of all time, and that people want that in their lives.

Disney Junior has renewed its animated series Fancy Nancy ahead of the show’s July 13 premiere, the network announced Thursday.

The series, based on the New York Times bestselling book series by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser, centers around high-spirited six-year-old girl whose zest and enthusiasm for all that is exquisite – including language, nature, art and color -- transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, according to Disney Junior.

"A creator and true optimist, Nancy is a relatable, imperfect character who exemplifies the problem-solving power of imagination through the comical situations she gets herself into,” said Nancy Kanter, executive vice president, Content and Creative Strategy, Disney Channels Worldwide and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide in a statement. “We look forward to the series' premiere and sharing even more heartfelt stories that showcase Nancy's creative endeavors and her unwavering belief that she can accomplish her grand ideas while encouraging those around her to do the same."

Adam ruins everything is trying something new on tru, as the series’ midseason start offers a half-dozen animated episodes starting March 20. Under the title Adam Ruins Everything Presents Reanimated History, the show continues to tackle historical topics, as host Adam Conover debunks universally accepted narratives.

Conover spoke with Multichannel News about the new episodes, which see him take on the American Revolution, Native Americans and the Cold War, among other hot topics. An edited transcript follows.

MCN:Why animated episodes?
Adam Conover: We really have a “kitchen sink” approach to making the show. We do digital effects, we do animation, we do puppets, we’ve done Claymation. I come from a sketch comedy background, so I love to parody every single format under the sun. Last year, we did an all-animated episode for the first time, a Magic School Bus parody. We had a ton of fun doing it.

It’s fun and rewarding to think about how to make a whole show with animation. I was a huge fan of animation growing up, and I still watch cartoons. We and the network decided it would be a cool way to extend what we’re doing.

Part of it was just practical. Adam Ruins Everything is such a production-intensive shoot — it takes four full days to shoot an episode, not including the editing time. We realized, if we animate some episodes, we could have a little miniseries to fill up part of the year and get our comedy and content out there at the same time we’re making a live action show.

MCN:Which animated shows do you watch?
AC: I’m a huge, huge fan of Steven Universe on Cartoon Network. For those who haven’t seen it, you’ve got to go watch it right way. It’s so gorgeous; the animation is the best I’ve seen on television. The message and themes of that show are so heartwarming, it makes me c`ry almost every single episode.

Rick and Morty does such incredible things I’ve never seen done on an animated series.

Animation is one of the most vibrant, experimental, innovative spaces on TV right now. I was really excited to get to do something in that space.

MCN:You tackle George Washington in the premiere episode. What will viewers learn about the father of our country?
AC: We have this very rosy, romantic view of the American Revolution that we get from the sort of afterschool special version and what we’ve seen in other cartoons. On this show, it’s like watching a 1960s-era cartoon where a smug narrator tells us about the great revolutionaries overcoming tyranny. I pop in and tell them the real version over the narrator’s protest.

And George Washington is where all of our biggest myths reside. With the Revolutionary Army, the story we tell ourselves is that it’s brave patriots who said, “No, we want to throw off British oppression,” and they pick up arms. The reality was, and any history book will tell you, these people were farmers and working people and a lot of them just wanted to be left alone. They saw it as a rich man’s war. It was wealthy landowners who were upset about British taxation.

The soldiers had to be bribed and cajoled and sometimes even forced to fight. There was very low morale. Mutiny was a constant problem. George Washington had to take some pretty drastic and unfortunately violent measures to keep his troops in fighting formation. That’s the fact of the matter, but it’s not a story we tell because it doesn’t align with our national myth.

MCN:Ever fear you’ll run out of topics to tackle on the show?
AC: [Laughs] No. Never, never, never, never, never. Anything that people are incorrect about that you can look into more deeply is a topic for our show, and there are an infinite number of topics. Every day in the news, there’s a topic that people misunderstand and we’re ready to talk about. People are talking about how video games cause violence. That’s a myth we need to tackle.

I don’t think we’ll ever run out. We did do the easiest ones to tackle first. Some of the low-hanging fruit is off the tree. But new fruits of ignorance blossom on that tree faster than we can possibly pull them down. I think our supply is inexhaustible. Luckily so, because we have a great time doing it and people love to see it happen.

Netflix has taken on an adult animated comedy series from Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, ordering 20 episodes of Disenchantment.

The series is set in the “crumbling medieval kingdom of Dreamland,” Netflix said, and “will follow the misadventures of hard-drinking young princess Bean, feisty elf companion Elfo, and her personal demon, Luci. Along the way, the oddball trio will encounter ogres, sprites, harpies, imps, trolls, walruses and lots of human fools.”

Disenchantment will premiere on Netflix 10 episodes at a time, starting in 2018.

"Matt Groening's brilliant work has resonated with generations around the world and we couldn't be happier to work with him on Disenchantment," said Cindy Holland, vice president of original content at Netflix. "The series will bear his trademark animation style and biting wit, and we think it's a perfect fit for our many Netflix animation fans."

Read more at broadcastingcable.com.

Netflix has greenlit a second season of animated series Castlevania.

The series, based on the popular video series of the same name, launched its first season on Netflix July 7. Castlevania will double its episode run in its second season to eight from four, according to company officials.

Castlevania is a dark medieval fantasy that follows the last surviving member of a disgraced clan who is trying to save Eastern Europe from extinction at the hand of Vlad Dracula Tepes himself.

The series is produced by Frederator Studios under the umbrella of parent company WOW! Unlimited Media, and is executive produced by Warren Ellis, Kevin Kolde, Adi Shankar and Fred Seibert.

Disney XD has ordered a second season of its original animated series Ducktales, months in advance of the show’s network premiere.

Ducktales, based on the 1980s animated series of the same name, will premiere later this summer on the boys-targeted network. The series will feature the voices of David Tennant as Scrooge McDuck; Danny Pudi, Ben Schwartz and Bobby Moynihan as the voices of Huey, Dewey and Louie, respectively; Kate Micucci as Webby Vanderquack; Beck Bennett as Launchpad McQuack and Toks Olagundoye as Mrs. Beakley.

Ducktales will be executively produced by Matt Matt Youngberg (Ben 10: Omniverse), with Francisco Angones (Wander Over Yonder) serving as story editor and co-producer and Sean Jimenez (Gravity Falls) serving as art director.

“Fans around the world are eager and we're looking forward to introducing viewers to the all-new DuckTales,” said Marc Buhaj, Disney XD senior vice president of programming and general manager in a statement. “This early season two order is a testament to the quality work the creative team, led by Matt and Frank, and the cast are delivering."

Disney Channel will launch its new animated series Tangled: The Series on March 24, the network announced Tuesday.

Preceding the premiere of the series -- which is based on the popular 2010 theatrical film Tangled -- on Disney Channel will be a March 10 original film, Tangled Ever After, said network officials. Reprising their roles from the theatrical film for both the series and tele-movie are Mandy Moore and Zachary Levi as lead characters Rapunzel and Eugene respectively.

Also lending their voices to the series are Eden Espinosa, Julie Bowen, and Clancy Brown, with Jeffrey Tambor, Sean Hayes, Jeremy Jordan, Jonathan Banks and Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje making recurring guest voice appearances, said the network.

Netflix has renewed Kong: King of the Apesfor season two, debuting next year, and also said it will launch five original animated shows for kids over the next two years.

The first of the new five shows, action-comedy Skylanders Academyfrom Activision Blizzard Studios, follows the adventures of a ragtag group of heroes protecting the Skylands universe from evildoers. Eric Rogers (Futurama) runs the show, with voice help from Justin Long, Ashley Tisdale and Breaking Bad tough guy Jonathan Banks. Thirteen episodes debut this fall, with a second season in late 2017.

The other four shows include Llama Llama, based on the book series by Anna Dewdney and set to premiere in 2017; Spirit Riding Free, inspired by the film Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, about a wild mustang that could not be tamed, also coming out in 2017; Spy Kids: Mission Critical, based on the family film franchise of the same name and due in 2018; and Hilda, based the Luke Pearson graphic novels about the journey of a fearless blue-haired girl, coming in 2018.

Read more about the shows at broadcastingcable.com.

Amazon continues to build on its kids-targeted original lineup with the November debut of six animated pilots, the OTT service said Friday.

The animated pilots, which will debut Nov. 5 on Amazon Video, include pre-school targeted shows The Numberlys, which follows best friends who encourage children to think beyond the way things are always done; and a show based on the book series If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, said network executives.

Animated pilots targeted to children 6 to 11 include Danger & Eggs, following the adventures of a fearless youngster and her timid egg friend; Eddie of the Realms Eternal, about a meek teen balancing a hero’s life while dealing with the ordinary pressures of middle school life; Everstar, which follows a 12-year-old girl accidentally brought aboard a rogue spaceship that travels the universe; and Yoyotoki HappyEars!,  which follows a fox whose family accidentally lands on Mytholopia and encounters its unusual citizens who stir up their lives in extraordinary way.

Amazon customers will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the shows they want to see turned into full series for Prime members, said company officials. All pilots will be available via the Amazon Video app for TVs, connected devices and mobile devices, or online at Amazon.com/amazonvideo.

Netflix is looking to boost its kids-targeted programming lineup with four new animated series set to debut over the next 12 months, the OTT service said Wednesday.

The new series include Kulipari: An Army of Frogs, based on a trilogy of books created by football star Trevor Pryce inspired by his childhood fear of frogs; and Edgar Rice Burroughs Tarzan and Jane,a new take on the iconic characters Tarzan and Jane in which a 16 year-old Tarzan returns from the African jungle to attend a London boarding school.

Two new series targeting pre-schoolers included Puffin Rock, a pre-school focused series in which two siblings explore the diverse array of sea, sky, land and underground creatures; and Cirque du Soleil - Luna Petunia (pictured), which follows a girl who lives in our world but plays in a dreamland where she learns how to make the impossible possible, said Netflix officials.

Netflix will also add three new first-run exclusive series including Russian-produced Masha and the Bear, Canadian-based The Day My Butt Went Psycho, and Norwegian pre-school series Elias.

"We couldn't be more excited to be partnering with such a diverse group of creative talent on these new Netflix series for kids," says Erik Barmack, Netflix vice president of Global Independent Content in a statement. "The flexibility of our platform allows us to continually bring the best TV shows from around the world to our members, and these titles compliment and extend what we currently offer - particularly for preschoolers and grade school adventure fans."

Disney Jr. is betting that Fancy Nancy, the children's books sensation, will prove appealing as an animated TV series and telefilm.

The network has optioned the rights and plans to develop an original animated TV movie and series, while Disney's consumer products group will look to capitalize with attendant products. 

Created by Jane O'Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser, the Fancy Nancy stories are written for children ages 2 through 7, centering on a girl donned with an extensive vocabulary and elegant wardrobe. She's been the central character spanning 60 books that have been translated into 20 languages and  sold 28 million copies worldwide.

Fancy Nancy publisher HarperCollins and Disney Publishing will collaborate on books based on the television series.

"Children have been captivated by Fancy Nancy's wit and irrepressible spirit for a decade and we are very eager to give her an even bigger stage on which to perform" said Nancy Kanter, executive vice president, original programming and general manager, Disney Jr. Worldwide.