I’ve been talking about Sofia the First for a while now, since we were first teased about her arrival back at Disney’s Social Media Moms Celebration in 2011. Now the time is near and the more I read about Sofia the First, the more excited I get.
First, it’s a fun and unique concept, putting an ordinary girl into a royal environment where now she must learn how to “be a princess” and all that title entails. It reminds me a bit of the Cinderella 2 story, where we follow Cinderella trying to actually fit in with the castle life. And speaking of Cinderella, she’ll be making some appearances in the show, as will the three fairies, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather, and some other familiar faces too!
Next, there are some great names in acting and voice talent on the show – I think I’m most excited about Tim Gunn, who will voice Baileywick, the butler. Just hearing his voice on the commercial makes me giddy. In addition, the lovely Ashley Eckstein of Star Wars Weekends and Star Wars Clone Wars fame will voice the Bluebird. Disney Legend Russi Taylor, voice of Minnie Mouse, along with Barbara Dirickson and Tress MacNeille (Daisy Duck), bring Fauna, Flora and Merryweather, respectively, to life. Other voices include: Ariel Winter (“Modern Family”) as Sofia; Sara Ramirez (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady (“Let’s Make A Deal”) as Clover; Darcy Rose Byrnes (“Desperate Housewives”) as Amber; Zach Callison (“Land of the Lost”) as James; Travis Willingham (“Ultimate Spider-Man”) as King Roland II; Jess Harnell (“Doc McStuffins”) as Cedric and Jennifer Hale as Cinderella.
Finally, it will be exciting to have an official Disney princess who we watch develop and grow before our eyes. Aimed of course at the 2-7 year-old set watching Disney Junior, it will be interesting to have a princess who that age group can really relate to. I wonder if we’ll see Princess Sofia within the Parks like we do with Jake from the Jake and the Neverland Pirates series. I could definitely see her roaming around New Fantasyland, for example, but I would understand if they decide to keep her in the Studios because of the TV series. In any event, it looks like a great addition to the Disney Junior family. Here is some more official info on Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess:
Sofia’s royal adventure begins as she prepares to move into the castle with her mom, starting a new family with her step-father, King Roland II, and step-siblings, Amber and James. Helping Sofia in her journey are the three headmistresses of Royal Prep Academy – Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (the beloved fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) and royal steward, Baileywick, as well as a group of cute woodland creatures led by a wise-talking rabbit, Clover. Sofia soon discovers that looking like a princess isn’t all that difficult, but displaying honesty, loyalty, courage, independence, compassion and grace is what makes one truly royal.
Created for kids age 2-7 and their families, the stories of “Sofia the First” communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to young children. While she lives in a captivating 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 learning how to fit in, making new friends and mastering new skills.
Events across multiple platforms will mark the debut of “Sofia the First: Once Upon A Princess” beginning Wednesday September 19 with the launch of the DisneyJunior.com/Sofia website featuring an introductory character gallery (I just checked this out with my almost 4-year-old and he loved it). On Friday, November 2, the site will expand to include a fully immersive experience where kids can create and personalize their own prince or princess avatars. A digital EP featuring five songs from the movie will be available on iTunes and other online retailers beginning Tuesday, November 13. A live simulcast on WATCH Disney Channel and mobile VOD for AT&T and Sprint customers will be presented in conjunction with the movie premiere on Sunday, November 18. The movie will also be available the following day on WATCH Disney Junior, Disney Junior On Demand and DisneyJunior.com.
What do you think about Sofia the First? You can watch the trailer for the show at the above DisneyJunior site if you haven’t seen it on TV with your little ones already. I know where I’ll be November 18!
