Tim Gunn

An All-star Cast Brings Sofia the First to Life on Disney Junior November 18

22 September 2012 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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!

First Sneak Peek at Sofia the First on Disney Junior

13 June 2012 by Suzannah Otis 4 Comments

We’ve been patiently waiting for Sofia the First to appear on Disney Junior since first hearing about her at the 2011 Disney Social Media Moms Celebration. Having a daughter named Sophia, we were particularly excited for this new show. Now thanks to Entertainment Tonight, we can see a clip of Sofia in her first episode.

Source: Entertainment Tonight Online

June 13, 2012

Exclusive Peek: ‘Modern Family’ Star Gets Animated

By David Weiner

Modern Family star Ariel Winter is getting animated for the new Disney Junior princess series Sofia the First, and we have an exclusive first look!

Sofia the First centers on a young girl whose life changes dramatically when her mom marries the king and she is suddenly whisked off to live in a castle. There, she must learn what it’s like to be a true princess.

Grey’s Anatomy star Sara Ramirez lends her voice to Sofia’s mom, Queen Miranda, while Wayne Brady (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) plays one of the cute woodland creatures who hangs around the castle and Project Runway guru Tim Gunn voices Baileywick, the castle’s royal steward

Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming, and General Manager of Disney Junior Worldwide revealed the trailer during the Las Vegas Licensing Expo earlier this week. Sofia the First debuts this fall as a primetime television movie on Disney Channel, followed by the series premiere in early 2013.

Tim Gunn Joins Disney Junior in Sofia the First Movie and Series

13 December 2011 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

We first learned of Disney Junior’s upcoming series Sofia the First back in March at Disney’s Social Media Moms conference. I was particularly excited since my daughter’s name is Sophia. More news is now out about Sofia the First – a movie will premier in 2012, with the series starting in 2013. An all-star cast provide the voices for this new set of stories.

Here’s the latest press release below:

Disney will introduce a little girl princess to its celebrated legacy of princess fairytales in an animated television movie and series, “Sofia the First,” premiering in fall 2012 and spring 2013 respectively, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior channels around the world. While Disney princess fairytales have been enchanting audiences for more than 70 years, this is the first time a series has centered around a princess as a little girl. The stories are designed to communicate positive messages and life lessons that are applicable to preschool-aged children. The series and movie are productions of Disney Television Animation.

“Sofia the First” stories are set in the storybook world of young Sofia who starts out life as a regular girl. But when her mom marries the king, she is whisked off to a glamorous, but sometimes confusing, castle world of royalty, pomp and new step-siblings, Amber and James. “Sofia the First” will include appearances by Fauna, Flora and Merryweather (fairies seen in Disney’s classic “Sleeping Beauty”) as the headmistresses of Royal Prep, the academy that Sofia, along with other princes and princesses, attends. Special event appearances will be made by classic characters including Cinderella and other Disney Princesses.

In announcing the series, Nancy Kanter, Senior Vice President, Original Programming and General Manager, Disney Junior Worldwide, said, “In Sofia, we have a ‘peer to peer princess,’ a relatable girl experiencing the same social issues as our young viewers – learning how to fit in, making new friends, conquering new skills and building sibling relationships.” She continued, “Although Sofia will have plenty of pretty dresses and sparkly shoes, our stories will show Sofia, and our viewers, that what makes a real princess is what’s inside, not what’s outside. That the inner character of kindness, generosity, loyalty, honesty and grace make you special, not the dress you wear.”

Providing the voice of Sofia is Ariel Winter (ABC’s “Modern Family”). Also highlighting the voice cast is Sara Ramirez (ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”) as Queen Miranda; Wayne Brady (“Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as Clover, a wise-talking Rabbit; and Tim Gunn (ABC’s “The Revolution,” “Project Runway”) as Baileywick, the family’s Royal Steward. The actors providing the voices of King Roland, Amber and James will be announced soon.

The series was developed by Craig Gerber (“Pixie Hollow Games”) who also wrote the movie. Jamie Mitchell (“Special Agent Oso”) serves as both Executive Producer and Director on the series. Gerber is Co-Executive Producer and serves as the Story Editor.

Will your little one be watching Sofia the First? I’m excited to see where the series goes. Sofia’s pretty cute too, she sort of sounds like she could be Cinderella’s sister.