Disney Jr. unveiled a slate of new series, specials, casting news, and premiere dates this Friday, including the new Cars: Lightning Racers series, the first-ever preschool Avengers series, and two more seasons of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+.
Disney Jr. Announcements
Disney Branded Television president Ayo Davis made the announcements at the Disney Jr. Let’s Play! fan celebration in Disney California Adventure. The celebration will continue in Downtown Disney District through the weekend.
“Disney Jr. is where preschool magic begins — and no one does it bigger or better,” said Davis.” Our shows are often a child’s very first connection to the world of Disney, sparking the songs they sing, the characters they adore, and the adventures they want to live again and again.”
She added, “Today’s announcements build on that leadership, expanding the worlds kids already love and introducing new multiplatform stories that will capture the hearts of the next generation.”
New Disney Jr. Series, Specials, and Shorts
CARS: LIGHTNING RACERS (New Series)
- Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Disney Television Animation in association with Pixar
- Executive Producers: Travis Braun and Frank Montagna
- Story Editor: Dana Starfield
- Supervising Director: Nathan Chew
Building on Disney and Pixar’s beloved Cars franchise, Cars: Lightning Racers follows Lightning McQueen as he gears up for all-new adventures in Radiator Springs alongside his hilarious best friend Mater and new friends thrill-seeking drag car Pipes and mud-loving monster truck Miles. The all-star cast returning to their original roles includes Owen Wilson as Lightning McQueen, Larry the Cable Guy as Mater, Tony Shalhoub as Luigi, Cheech Marin as Ramone, Bob Peterson as Chick Hicks and John Ratzenberger as Mack. Leah Lewis (Elemental) and Yuri Lowenthal (Marvel Rivals video game) join the cast as Pipes and Miles, respectively. Sheryl Lee Ralph (Abbott Elementary) will also voice a new character, Ms. Blinker.
MARVEL’S AVENGERS: MIGHTIEST FRIENDS (New Series)
- Debuts 2027 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
- Executive Producers: Sean Coyle, Bart Jennett and Harrison Wilcox
Evolving from the new Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends series (premiering Aug. 11 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+), Marvel’s Avengers: Mightiest Friends introduces kid versions of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Iron Man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rogers), Hulk (Bruce Banner), Black Panther (T’Challa), Black Widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Thor. Together, the young Avengers strive to be their best selves while facing off against classic Super Baddies.
MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND IRON MAN: AVENGERS TEAM UP! (New Specials + First-Look)
- Two New 22-Minute Specials Debut: Special #1 premieres Oct. 16 on Disney Jr., next day on Disney+; Special #2 premieres 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Disney Jr. and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
- Executive Producers: Bart Jennett, Chris Moreno and Harrison Wilcox
- Co-Producer: Becca Topol
The first special sees Iron Man and the Avengers joining Spidey to stop Ultron and Green Goblin from taking control of the city’s devices. A second Halloween-themed special will premiere in the fall of 2026.
MICKEY & MINNIE’S HOLIDAY SONGS: HALLOWEEN (New Stop-Motion Shorts)
- Debuts Sept. 29 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 2 on Disney+
- Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.
- Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
- Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV
These new sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Halloween mood.
MICKEY & MINNIE’S HOLIDAY SONGS: CHRISTMAS (New Stop-Motion Shorts)
- Debuts this December on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Jr.
- Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
- Supervising Producer/Director: John Harvatine IV
These sing-along stop-motion music videos feature Mickey, Minnie and the gang as they get into the Holiday spirit.
Returning Series
MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE+ (New Season Orders — Seasons 2 and 3)
- Season 2 debuts 2027; Season 3 debuts 2028 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Disney Television Animation
- Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca
- Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran
The premiere of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ on July 22 on Disney+ was the biggest original Disney Jr. launch on the platform to date and was the #1 streaming series in average audience for Kids 2-5 in its premiere week, according to Nielsen. The show is a continuation of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which originally ran from 2006 to 2016.
The first 10 episodes of Season 1 are currently streaming on Disney+. Additional episodes will debut this fall.
SUPERKITTIES (First-Look)
- Season 3 debuts Sept. 22 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 1 on Disney+
- Produced by Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Jr.
- Creator: Paula Rosenthal
- Executive Producers: Sarah Mullervy, Kirk Van Wormer and Audu Paden
SuperKitties — Top 10 most-watched streaming series for preschoolers — is an adorable and action-packed series about four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and “pawesome” place. Season 3 introduces the new “Su-Purr Wild” story arc in which the SuperKitties travel into the Kittydale Wild Jungle to adventure with their wildcat friend, Willa, and new jungle critters.
Casting News
SOFIA THE FIRST: ROYAL MAGIC
- New series set to debut 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Disney Television Animation
- Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Sofia the First: Royal Magic follows Sofia as she attends The Charmswell School for Royal Magic, where she discovers she is the most magical princess in the realm and must learn how to master her powers while making new royal friends.
Ariel Winter (Modern Family) returns as the voice of Sofia in this new series. Additional returning cast members include Wayne Brady (Let’s Make A Deal) as Clover, Tim Gunn (Project Runway) as Baileywick, Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family) as Minimus, Sara Ramirez (Grey’s Anatomy) as Queen Miranda, and Travis Willingham (The Legend of Vox Machina) as King Roland.
Hey A.J.!
- Debuts 2026 on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Surfing Giant Studios
- Executive Producers: Martellus Bennett, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh and Michael Hodges
Inspired by former Super Bowl champion and children’s book author Martellus Bennett, the upcoming new family comedy series Hey A.J.! is a whimsical and music-filled family comedy about an imaginative young girl who, along with her stuffed bunny sidekick, uses her big imagination to make ordinary life moments extraordinary.
Amari McCoy (Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends) will star as lead character A.J. Martellus Bennett will voice her father, Marty. GRAMMY Award-nominated Jhené Aiko voices A.J.’s mom, Siggi. The cast also includes Juliet Donenfeld (Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures) as A.J.’s best friend Jessie, Innocent Ekakitie (Bunk’d) as Jazz, and David Mitchell (Phineas and Ferb) as A.J.’s bunny sidekick Theo. GRAMMY Award winner Meghan Trainor will recur as A.J.’ s best friend Jessie’s mom.
Premiere Dates
DISNEY JR. ARIEL – THE LITTLE MERMAID (Aug. 22)
- New 22-minute special debuts Aug. 22 on Disney Jr. and Disney+
- Produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Jr.
- Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland
Disney Jr. Ariel – The Little Mermaid: The Glow Crystals will air in rotation as part of Disney Jr.’s World Princess Week programming line-up (August 24 – 30). The special follows Ariel as she and her friends use their special gifts to rescue her family after a glitch in Ursula’s crystal ball sends her, Triton, and Sebastian into a mystical cavern.
FIREBUDS (Sept. 15 on Disney Jr., Oct. 29 on Disney+)
- Season 3 to debut Sept. 15 on Disney Jr. and Oct. 29 on Disney+
- Produced by Disney Television Animation
- Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Firebuds follows a team of young kids who are the children of first responders, living in the fantastical world of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis, where humans and their talking vehicle sidekicks work and play together. Season 3 introduces a new “Aquabuds” story arc and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in daring water rescues.
STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES — (Fall 2025)
- Season 3 to Debut this Fall on Disney Jr., then Disney+
- Produced by Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Jr.
- Executive Producers: Michael Olson, James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez and Josh Rimes
The anticipated third season will debut this Fall. Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. Season 3 follows the young Jedi as they delve into the world of droid care, befriending a droid shop owner named Dotti and three new droids: Beepers, Dozer and Gigi.
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