Disney Channels Worldwide Announces Animated Programming For 2013-2014 Season

Disney Channels Worldwide held its Kids Upfront presentation in New York City yesterday to announce to advertisers and sponsors its plans for the 2013-2014 television season. New animated shows along with returning favorites were highlighted for Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney Junior.

Perennial favorite Phineas and Ferb is returning to Disney Channel for more days of summer. Also announced was a new animated special called Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel, which is the first ever crossover animated special to include both Disney and Marvel characters. According to the press release:

“The special will follow Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor and Hulk as they enter Danville after Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s latest ‘inator’ scheme accidentally removes their powers and immobilizes them. Now it’s up to Phineas and Ferb to team up with the Marvel Super Heroes to help them regain their powers and defeat Marvel Super Villains – Red Skull, Whiplash, Venom and M.O.D.O.K. – who are working together with Dr. Doofenshmirtz to use his power-draining technology to create mayhem.”

The Marvel characters have been designed to fit into the Phineas and Ferb world by the show’s creators and executive producers Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh. (Editor’s Note: Drake Bell gave us some additional information on this special when we interviewed him.)

Set to debut this summer on Disney Channel is Wander Over Yonder, a new animated comedy from animator and producer Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends).  From the press release:

“Wander is an overly optimistic intergalactic traveler who, along with his loyal but bullish steed Sylvia, goes from planet to planet helping people to live free and have fun, all against the evil reign of Lord Hater and his army of Watchdogs.”

Voice talent includes Jack McBrayer (30 Rock, Wreck-It Ralph), Tom Kenny (SpongeBob SquarePants) and Keith Ferguson (Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends).

Gravity Falls will be returning with new episodes. Also coming to Disney Channel is the new animated series Star and the Forces of Evil which is scheduled to premiere in Fall 2014.

For Disney XD, look for the cool new Marvel animated series Marvel’s Avengers Assemble and Marvel’s Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H., both premiering this summer.

Disney’s 24-hour Disney Junior channel turns one this month. For the age 2-7 set, three shows were highlighted. First is Henry Hugglemonster, which premiers this April. Based on the children’s book series I’m a Happy Hugglewug by Niamh Sharkey, the show “follows the adventures of five-year-old Henry Hugglemonster, the middle child in a happy, close-knit monster family, as he shares everyday life lessons that are relatable to kids age 2-7.” The show is produced by UK-based Brown Bag Films (Doc McStuffins). Vocal cast include Geri Halliwell (of Spice Girls fame), Brenda Blethyn (Atonement) and Brian Blessed (Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace). The show is directed by Norton Virgien (Rugrats, Doc McStuffins) with executive producers Cathal Gaffney, Darragh O’Connell and Niamh Sharkey.

Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, coming to Disney Junior Fall 2013, is the first western made for preschool-aged kids. Sheriff Callie, voiced by Mandy Moore (Tangled), makes sure that “the town of Nice and Friendly Corners remains the friendliest town in the West.” Denis Morella and George Evelyn (Higglytown Heroes) serve as executive producers along with Holly Huckins (Recess). The show is produced by DHX Media in association with Disney Junior.

Lastly, The 7D is a comedic take on the Seven Dwarfs before Snow White shows up. With character designs from Noah Z. Jones (Fish Hooks, Almost Naked Animals), and Animaniacs vets Tom Ruegger, Alfred Gimeno, and Sherri Stoner producing, the show is set in a “contemporary storybook world designed for viewers age 2-7 and their families.”

According to the press release:

Queen Delightful of Jollywood “relies on the 7D – Happy, Bashful, Sleepy, Sneezy, Dopey, Grumpy and Doc – to keep the kingdom in order. Standing in their way are two laughably evil villains, Grim and Hildy Gloom, who plot to take over the kingdom by stealing the magical jewels in the 7D’s mine. With seven very distinct personalities, the 7D always manage to save the day and send Grim and Hildy running back to their evil lair to try another day.”

(Editor’s Note: When we interviewed voice acting legend Bill Farmer he said he would be voicing a character on this series as well.)