Disney Junior ordered a third season of top show Jake and the Never Land Pirates, bringing the episode tally to 100 thus far.
The top show in cable among boys 2-5, according to Disney, Jake revolves around a crew of kid pirates -- leader Jake and pals Izzy and Cubby -- and follows their Never Land adventures as they work to outwit two infamous characters, Captain Hook and Mister Smee from Disney's Peter Pan.
The stories emphasize teamwork and features original pirate rock music performed by Sharky and Bones of The Never Land Pirate Band. It launched in February 2011 and was a hit right off the bat.
Disney Junior is graduating from a preschool block on Disney Channel to a 24-hour U.S. basic channel on March 23, under Nancy Kanter, senior vice president, original programming and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide.
Jake and the Never Land Pirates has already lent itself to other Disney brand extensions, too. It's a prominent part of the Disney Junior Live on Stage! attraction at Disney Parks & Resorts, and is featured in a Disney Junior magazine from Disney Publishing, in a soundtrack and DVD from Disney Studios and a Disney Consumer Products line set to debut in stores nationwide in spring 2012.
Jake is cable TV's #1 series among Boys 2-5 and Disney Channel's #1 preschool series of all time among total viewers, kids 2-5, boys 2-5 and women 18-49, according to Disney.
The series stars Cameron Boyce as Jake; Madison Pettis as Izzy; Jonathan Morgan Heit as Cubby; David Arquette as Skully; Corey Burton as Captain Hook; Jeff Bennett as Mister Smee and Bones and Loren Hoskins as Sharky. Many of the key creative professionals behind Disney Junior's Emmy-nominated Mickey Mouse Clubhouse are behind Jake and the Never Land Pirates including executive producer Rob LaDuca (far left in photo), producer/story editor Mark Seidenberg (far right) and director Howy Parkins. The series is produced by Disney Television Animation.
