Marvel Animation has an illustrious year ahead.

Following the series finale of What If…? — and with Season 2 of X-Men ’97 currently in production — Marvel Animation will debut three new series on Disney+ in 2025. Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man will premiere first on Wednesday, January 29, followed by Eyes of Wakanda on Wednesday, August 6, and Marvel Zombies on Friday, October 3.

“Everybody who works on these shows is so passionate and works so hard,” Brad Winderbaum, Head of Marvel Television and Marvel Animation, said. “To feel so much love from Marvel fans — before any of these shows is even out— is really affirming.”

Before each series premieres, here’s a look at what audiences can expect:

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man
Streaming January 29, 2025, on Disney+

From showrunner Jeff Trammell, Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man follows Peter Parker (voiced by Hudson Thames) on his way to becoming a hero. It’s a journey unlike audiences have ever seen with a style that celebrates the character’s comic book origins.

Trammell — an avid comic book reader who fell in love with the animated series Spider-Man (1994–98) as a young child — is excited to tell a new story set outside of the MCU.

“We have the privilege of following the movies and shows, so we pay homage to them as well as the comics,” he said. “We build on things we’ve seen before but present them in new ways. We use those expectations to our advantage and turn things away from where you might expect. I’m excited for people to see new twists on classic characters, and I’m also excited to introduce characters that aren’t normally featured in Spider-Man stories.”

One of the most exciting twists is the series’ take on Norman Osborn, the self-made, ruthless industrialist (voiced by Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo) who plays a big role in Peter’s evolution.

“It was Jeff Trammell who had the idea to cast Colman Domingo as Norman Osborn,” Winderbaum said. “The character is such a rich and complicated mentor for Peter, so we really needed an actor who could deliver many different dimensions. You can see in his work that he’s so multifaceted, so I can’t wait for the world to see his version of Norman.”

Rounding out the voice cast of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are Eugene Byrd, Grace Song, Zeno Robinson, Hugh Dancy, and Charlie Cox (reprising his role as Daredevil).

“You’re going to see some familiar faces — and if you’re a fan of Chameleon, you’re going to see a few of his faces,” Trammell joked. “You’re also going to see Scorpion, as well as a few characters who may seem new, like Speed Demon or Butane. We have a huge rogues gallery to play with, and so we’re looking forward to putting some of them in the forefront.”

Winderbaum added, “There’s a reason why we changed the title to Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man. It’s about the neighborhood. It’s an ensemble show. Every character is well-defined and has amazing arcs, from Peter and Nico to Lonnie and Pearl.”

Eyes of Wakanda
Streaming August 6, 2025, on Disney+

The four-episode series Eyes of Wakanda tells the stories of brave Wakandan warriors throughout history. In this globe-trotting adventure, the heroes — the Hatut Zaraze — must complete dangerous missions to retrieve Vibranium artifacts from Wakanda’s enemies.

“This has been a long time coming,” showrunner Todd Harris said. “The story has been stewing for a long time in my head. I’m a big believer in what Wakanda represents to mankind as a place that’s untethered by expansion. It has drawn a line — a line it won’t cross and it won’t let anybody else cross.”

Think of the Hatut Zaraze “like Wakanda’s CIA,” Winderbaum explained. “They often have to venture out to regain stolen Vibranium, but they also have to keep secrets well-hidden so that Wakanda can ward off invaders and stay safe. The Hatut Zaraze are challenged in different ways to stay loyal to Wakanda as they discover the rest of the world around them.”

Only through the medium of animation could these ambitious, centuries-spanning stories be told, Harris added. “Animation is the ultimate equalizer of locations,” he said. “Egypt costs just as much as New York City, and the moon costs just as much as Ohio. Filming around the globe has inherent limitations that we just don’t have in animation. That freedom allowed us to reimagine an idealized version of an era that’s unaffected by human history.”

Eyes of Wakanda features the voices of Winnie Harlow, Cress Williams, Patricia Belcher, Larry Herron, Adam Gold, Lynn Whitfield, Jacques Colimon, Jona Xiao, Isaac Robinson-Smith, Gary Anthony Williams, Zeke Alton, Steve Toussaint, and Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose. Academy Award nominee Ryan Coogler, the filmmaker behind Marvel Studios’ Black Panther (2018) and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2023), executive produces alongside Winderbaum, Kevin Feige, Louis D’Esposito, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Kalia King, and Dana Vasquez-Eberhardt.

Harris said that “Everyone working on this all loves the same thing: Wakanda.”

Marvel Zombies
Streaming October 3, 2025, on Disney+

The fifth episode from Season 1 of What If…? pondered the possibility of an alternate reality in which the MCU films Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018) ended differently — resulting in a zombie apocalypse that left a few surviving heroes in search of a cure. That episode inspired the new series Marvel Zombies.

“Brad and Kevin loved the What If…? episode so much. They were like, ‘We need more zombies!'” showrunner Bryan Andrews recalled. “They said, ‘Let’s do a sequel to that episode — but let’s do four episodes, like a mini-movie event.’ So, we’re upping the ante.”

“It’s TV-MA, so we don’t have to pull punches,” Andrews continued. “We can be a little bit more hardcore. We go for the throat — no pun intended. It’s pretty wild, pretty out there.”

Perhaps ironically, Marvel Zombies also has a lot of heart.

“In many ways, animation is the most direct access you’ll ever have to a filmmaker’s imagination. If you can conjure it in your mind, you can put it onscreen. Marvel Zombies is proof of that,” Winderbaum said. “It’s not just a zombie story, it’s a sweeping adventure — one with themes of hope and despair, and that’s what you want from a rich zombie story.”

Marvel Zombies features the voices of MCU stars Awkwafina, David Harbour, Simu Liu, Elizabeth Olsen, Randall Park, Florence Pugh, Hailee Steinfeld, Dominique Thorne, and Iman Vellani. “An old favorite also shows up: Zombie Cap makes an appearance,” Andrews teased. “He has quite a scuffle with another main character, and I think fans will love it.”

The post Marvel Animation 2025 Preview: <em>Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man</em>, <em>Eyes of Wakanda</em>, and <em>Marvel Zombies</em> appeared first on D23.

Television fans are no strangers to David Schwimmer. The Emmy® Award nominee is well known for both his comedic and dramatic chops, and in Goosebumps: The Vanishing — which hits Disney+ and Hulu on January 10 — Schwimmer can be seen balancing both of those divergent styles along with what the Goosebumps franchise is best known for: horror. 

The new chapter of the anthology series begins with fraternal twins Devin and Cece adjusting to life with their recently divorced dad, Anthony (Schwimmer). When the duo discovers a threat stirring, they quickly realize that dark secrets are among them, triggering a chain of events that unravel a profound mystery. As they delve into the unknown, Devin, Cece, and their friends — Alex, CJ, and Frankie — find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994.

The cast is rounded out by Ana Ortiz, and up-and-comers Jayden Bartels, Sam McCarthy, Elijah M. Cooper, Francesca Noel, Galilea La Salvia and Stony Blyden.

We spoke with Schwimmer about balancing the variety of tones required for the series, appealing to the whole family, and why Disney+ and Hulu was the perfect place for Goosebumps: The Vanishing. 

Why did you want to do Goosebumps: The Vanishing?

The main reason was I’m a major fan of horror and I’ve never been able to act in a horror film before. I was just excited as an actor to try my hand at this, this action-comedy-horror-drama genre, which I’ve never been able to do before.

And then, of course, knowing Goosebumps and this big, incredible, beloved book series and franchise, frankly, I was like, “Oh my god, it sounds like so much fun. I would love to be a part of it.” I knew my 13-and-a-half-year-old kid would be really excited, too.

In the performance, how did you balance all those sort of divergent elements — like you say, action, horror, or even some comedy as well.

I had several conversations with [Series Co-Creator & Executive Producer] Rob [Letterman] and [Showrunner & Executive Producer] Hilary [Winston] before we started about tone. My instinct was to ground the character in as much real emotion and drama as possible. Because my favorite horror films growing up were those films where the characters were just regular people going through kind of a tough time, whether it’s Rosemary’s Baby or The Shining, you know, grounded, real people.

As the series unfolds, you realize that the big mystery of everything that’s going on, all the havoc and horror has to do with something that happened 30 years ago to my character as a boy. So it was important to me to start really understanding how we can find the tone of grounding the series in this real emotion of loss and pain.

The next thing to me was to find out, “How do you make these characters in these situations in a horror film funny?” And I felt like the best way to do that was to kind of underplay everything. Because everything else is so big, so action packed and horrifying that I thought the nice counterbalance to that was to just throw a line away, have a reaction, underplay everything. And I relied on Rob’s direction, and he was very collaborative in terms of me pitching some lines and things to try to find the funny.

This is also a series that has to balance multiple generations of viewers. How do you think that it’s going to appeal to both a 13-year-old and then someone your age?

That’s the goal, right? I think all of us on the creative team, we’re following the vision of Rob and Hilary, and we just had to trust that. I think we got it. I think we nailed it. I find it hugely entertaining. I find it scary and funny, and I only hope it’ll translate to a much younger audience as well. I think one of the keys to that, as I said, is the comedy and the action.

Casting the way they did was brilliant. They have a really diverse, wonderful cast of young talent. I think that’s going to help in a big way because I think people want to see themselves on screen. Young adults and teenagers are going to hopefully find themselves represented on screen, which is important.

And then what I love about the horror here is that it’s never gratuitous. It’s not gory. So while there’s some genuinely frightening moments, you also feel kind of safe watching the show. It feels like you’re being taken care of. And I think that’s super hard to do, but I think they nailed it.

What are you most excited for audiences to experience when it does premiere?

I’m most excited for the people in my life to see it, and I want to see how the younger generations respond to it — the fans. I got a taste of it at New York Comic Con when we all went. People love these books and the fan base is huge, so I’m really hoping that the fan response is going to be as positive as I believe it will be.

Why is Disney+ the right place to for the fans to find this series?

Because I think only Disney+ could have nailed this specific tone of these books, which is action comedy grounded in real character and emotion and the kind of fun frights that you get where you’re genuinely kind of startled, even scared. But it’s done in a way that you feel taken care of and safe. And I think Disney+ is the only place that can do that.

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Tim Allen has been a staple of Disney storytelling for decades, bringing his signature humor and charm to some of the studio’s most beloved characters and franchises. From voicing an intergalactic space ranger in Pixar’s Toy Story to donning a red suit as the ultimate holiday icon in The Santa Clause, the Disney Legend has become synonymous with roles that capture hearts and spark laughter.

As we rev up for his latest series, Shifting Gears—which premiered on January 8 on ABC, with the episode available the following day on Hulu—now is the perfect time to take a nostalgic look back at all the times Tim Allen left his mark on the Disney universe.

Home Improvement on ABC (1991–1999)

Tim Allen’s breakout role as Tim “The Tool Man” Taylor on ABC’s Home Improvement brought his comedic charm to audiences everywhere. The show was produced by Touchstone Television, a Disney subsidiary, making it Allen’s first collaboration with the studio. Home Improvement gave fans one of TV’s most iconic sitcom dads, proving that no one wields a power drill like Allen—whether it’s fixing a dishwasher or causing a small explosion.

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Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story Franchise (1995–Present)

“To infinity and beyond!” With just four words, Tim Allen became the voice of every kid’s favorite space ranger. Buzz Lightyear started as a delusional action figure and evolved into the dependable (and hilariously self-serious) leader of Andy’s toys. Whether he’s battling Zurg or navigating existential crises about being a toy, Buzz remains proof that Allen’s humor has universal appeal—just like the Toy Story franchise itself.

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The Santa Clause Trilogy (1994, 2002, 2006)

Who knew falling off a roof could lead to a career in Christmas cheer? As Scott Calvin, Tim Allen took an unconventional route to becoming Santa Claus—complete with legal loopholes and a sleigh-load of sass. The trilogy redefined holiday movies with its mix of heart and humor, cementing Allen as the go-to guy for bringing the magic of Christmas to life (with a side of sarcasm).

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Jungle 2 Jungle (1997)

Parenting is tough—especially when your estranged teenage son has been raised in the Amazon and thinks Manhattan is just a bigger jungle. In this fish-out-of-water comedy, Allen’s quick wit meets vine-swinging chaos as he navigates the collision of fatherhood and city life. It’s an underrated gem that proves even Allen’s trademark sarcasm has a soft side when it comes to family.

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The Shaggy Dog (2006)

Tim Allen barks orders, literally, in this furry romp. In this update of the original classic, Allen transforms from a no-nonsense lawyer into a sheepdog, offering plenty of canine-inspired hijinks. Whether sniffing out trouble or chasing his tail—metaphorically and otherwise—Allen dives headfirst into the absurdity, proving that he’s not afraid to get a little shaggy for a laugh.

Last Man Standing (2011)
Last Man Standing marked Allen’s return to TV, this time as Mike Baxter, a dad navigating life with his wife, three daughters, and a workplace that keeps him on his toes. With his classic blend of deadpan humor and fatherly wisdom, Allen effortlessly balanced family drama and witty commentary, proving once again that the sitcom king still knows how to bring the laughs—and the heart.

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The Santa Clauses on Disney+ (2022)
Scott Calvin is back—and so is the chaos. In The Santa Clauses, Tim Allen picks up right where he left off, delivering the perfect mix of dad jokes, holiday mishaps, and Christmas magic. With a new set of challenges and plenty of festive laughs, Allen reminds us why we fell in love with his Santa in the first place.

Watch here

Shifting Gears (2025)
What happens when you mix classic cars, family drama, and Tim Allen’s signature wit? Shifting Gears revs up the sitcom game as Allen plays a stubborn widower juggling an estranged daughter, rebellious grandkids, and a car restoration shop.

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Ready to start the year with thrills and chills? Anyone with a New Year’s resolution to have scary good fun should tune into Goosebumps: The Vanishing, an all-new season of the anthology series premiering January 10 on Disney+ and Hulu. This new season promises secrets, mysteries, and stories all based on fan-favorite Goosebumps books! Twins Cece and Devin Brewer are spending the summer in Gravesend, a neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, with their divorced dad—but their summer fun takes a turn when they realize dark secrets are among them… As they delve into the unknown, Cece, Devin, and their friends find themselves entangled in the chilling tale of four teenagers who mysteriously vanished in 1994. While you’ll have to watch the new season to see how the mystery unfolds, there’s one mystery we can solve for you right now: Who’s who in this spine-tingling new season?

Anthony Brewer (David Schwimmer)
Ever since his teenage brother mysteriously disappeared, former world-class botanist Anthony has immersed himself in science. However, his world turns upside down when he winds up juggling the responsibilities of overseeing an aging parent while also having his teenage twins, Devin and Cece, over for the summer.

Cece Brewer (Jayden Bartels)
Naturally gifted with many talents, Cece’s latest obsession is debate. While her view of the world is limited by the lens of her own experiences and successes, she remains a dependable friend when truly needed.

Devin Brewer (Sam McCarthy)
Like his sister, Devin is a smart kid. Unlike his sister, he skirts by with just enough effort. Since his Type A fraternal twin sister Cece always seems to be flawless in contrast to him, Devin refuses to conform to societal expectations and often gets in trouble as a result.

Jen Diaz (Ana Ortiz)
Jen’s history with her Brooklyn neighborhood has fostered a commitment to safety. She’s been rooted to her neighborhood ever since she experienced a tragic event in her adolescence involving her friends. Now, she acts as both a dedicated police detective and strict mother to her daughter, Alex.

 Alex Diaz (Francesca Noel)
Alex is tough girl who has a long track record of defying rules and laws. Always wanting to run with the big kids, she engages in rebellious behavior and strives to impress them by being “bad.” These habits might help her social life, but she faces challenging consequences when she comes back home to her police detective mother.

C.J. Lewis (Elijah M. Cooper)
As the eyes and ears of Gravesend, C.J. is outgoing and thrives on gossip—but that hides his reluctance to venture beyond Brooklyn’s borders. Working at his parents’ restaurant, C.J. is constantly running late with food deliveries and struggles to convince his skeptical parents with his excuses.

Frankie Garcia Bravo (Galilea La Salvia)
Frankie has a friendly, warm demeanor paired with the heart of an artist. Though ambitious, she hesitates to take risks—grappling with the loss of her father and the absence of her hardworking nurse mother. 

Joseph “Trey” Jimenez III (Stony Blyden)
Trey is a Brooklyn local and thinks more often with his ego than his brain. Feeling threatened by Devin’s friendship with Frankie, Trey challenges him to go into the abandoned military site where four teens disappeared decades earlier.

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“It’s POOH-fectly TIGGER-ific!” That’s the winsome way in which Disney proclaimed the release of its “all Nooh” featurette, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too in December 1974. Celebrating its 50th anniversary last month, this whimsical whirl through the world of Pooh is the third entrancing entry in Disney’s series of animated adventures of the beloved “silly old bear” and his lovable friends—including a certain striped superstar. So get your bounce on as we go on an “explore” of this bouncy, trouncy, flouncy, pouncy (fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!) animated featurette.

Tigger Bounces Back
The follow-up to the silly old bear’s first big screen entry, Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree (1966),  Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day (1968) was an even bigger hit than its Pooh predecessor, winning an Academy Award® as Best Cartoon Short Subject. The breakout—make that bounce-out—star was Tigger, who burst onto the screen for the first time, instantly joining the colorful canon of favorite Disney characters. Another animated offering from the Hundred Acre Wood was a must, with Tigger as its lead character.

In Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, everything centers on boisterous Tigger, whose bouncing is becoming increasingly bothersome, as the hyperactive tiger knocks his friends flat on their backs and otherwise wreaks havoc throughout the Hundred Acre Wood. Rabbit holds a “protest meeting” and determines Tigger must be “unbounced,”  with merrily mixed results.

Always Faithful to A.A. Milne
Producer and Disney Legend Wolfgang “Woolie” Reitherman noted that “maintaining that timeless charm” created by Winnie-the-Pooh author A. A. Milne and illustrator Ernest H. Shepard was his primary objective.  “It was a real challenge to put Pooh on film and retain his intrinsic innocence and sweetness without making him dull or boring,” he said.

A member of Walt’s elite animation team known as the Nine Old Men and director of the first two Pooh featurettes, Reitherman revealed that the secret in conveying the gentle flavor of the original books was to stick to the playfully quaint dialogue written by Milne and to pattern the character and environmental designs after Shepard’s charming illustrations. “Most cartoons nowadays rely on slapstick and a lot of action,” Reitherman said. “But in Pooh there isn’t any of that. The beauty is in the tenderness and warmth of the characters.”

The directive to maintain Milne’s whimsy was a decree that came directly from Walt Disney. “Originally, Walt sent down the Pooh stories to me,” recalled Disney Legend Bill Justice, who was among the first artists responsible for bringing the character to Disney Animation. “He told us to stick to what Milne had written. He said there’s a certain charm in the writing and characters and we shouldn’t change too much.”

In keeping with that tradition, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too is in essence an adaptation of three of Milne’s chapters: “In Which Pooh and Piglet Go Hunting and Nearly Catch a Woozle” from Winnie-the-Pooh (1926), and “In Which Tigger Is Unbounced” and “In Which It Is Shown That Tiggers Don’t Climb Trees” from The House at Pooh Corner (1928).

Pooh’s Old Pros
For this new addition to Pooh’s animated annals, Reitherman (seen above, left, with Sebastian Cabot and story artist Larry Clemmons) handed the directorial reins to his fellow member of the Nine Old Men John Lounsbery, marking this Disney Legend and veteran supervising animator’s directorial debut. In addition to Reitherman and Lounsbery, four other Nine Old Men (and Disney Legends) were among Tigger Too’s creative forces as directing animators: Frank Thomas and Ollie Johnston, Milne aficionados both; Eric Larson, who was spearheading the training of the new animators; and Milt Kahl, who had masterfully designed and animated Tigger for Blustery Day. Interestingly, Kahl was the directing animator for another famous—and very different—Disney tiger aside from Tigger: Shere Khan in The Jungle Book (1967).

Pooh’s New Pros
Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too also featured animation by the new generation of animators who were being trained by the old guard. Under the supervision of Frank Thomas, John Pomeroy animated a scene of Tigger. A particularly challenging assignment as the character emoted feelings not seen in his previous appearance, the scene was animated by Pomeroy nearly 20 times before he got it just right. “I got very frustrated but never angry because I knew I was working for a genius,” Pomeroy told animation historian John Canemaker. “There would always be something wrong. As Tigger trudges away in the snow he was going up too high or going down too low in the squash [position], or the tail is too active, or the stripes [aren’t] working right, or the overlap on the ears. Everything had to be perfectly choreographed, especially on a pathos scene. ’Cause you never want to be aware that it’s drawn. You want this illusion complete and if there’s any little thing wrong you spoil it.”

Then-new animator Andy Gaskill also worked on the featurette. “I have a total of 40 feet that’s all mine in the film, but that doesn’t last very long on the screen—and it took me six months to do! It’s an incredible art.”  Working uncredited on Tigger Too was Ron Clements, the future director (with John Musker) of such hits as The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), and The Princess and the Frog (2009).

A Colorful Vocal Cast for Cuddly Characters
As always with Disney Animation, the voices of Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too were key. “Sincerity is an all-important factor,” observed Reitherman of the challenge of casting voices in Disney Animation, especially the Pooh films. “Even though our characters are caricatured, they have to have warmth and actors with trick, gimmicky deliveries come off [as] too hokey for our particular needs.”

The repertory company of Pooh actors performed a vocal encore for this third film. In what is his most beloved role, Disney Legend Sterling Holloway once again voiced the bear of little brain. In the midst of his six-season run as timid Mr. Peterson on the hit TV series The Bob Newhart Show, John Fiedler again performed the sweetly stammering speech of Piglet. Celebrated for his crotchety characterization as Archimedes the owl in The Sword in the Stone (1963), character actor Junius Matthews was in his mid-70s when originally cast as Rabbit. When production began on Tigger Too a decade later, the Disney animators assumed Matthews would no longer be available given his advanced age,  but when they were unable to find a suitable replacement, they finally sought out the aged actor, only to discover he was not only available, but was as full of vibrant personality as ever as the neighborly but easily irritated Rabbit.

The Voice of the Ventriloquist: Paul Winchell
Also returning for another star turn: Paul Winchell, whose brilliant vocals as Tigger helped in no small part to make the one-of-a-kind critter an immediate favorite in Blustery Day. An acclaimed ventriloquist, Winchell was also an inventor with more than 40 patents, including for an artificial heart. In addition, he was a character actor in such classic TV series as The Beverly Hillbillies, The Lucy Show, and The Dick Van Dyke Show.

As for his most famous role, “Tigger was an extremely rambunctious kind of a guy with an awful lot of enthusiasm in his voice,” observed Winchell, “and silly at the same time and full of laughter. I even wrote one line just by ad-libbing, every time when he left [Pooh], he would say, ‘Well, TTFN, ta-ta for now!’”

“I’m the Narrator”: Sebastian Cabot
In Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too, Sebastian Cabot once again serves as the gentle, genteel narrator. Best known as Mr. French, the proper gentleman’s gentleman in the Family Affair TV series— where he sometimes was known to read Milne’s Pooh stories—Cabot was the gruff voice of Sir Ector in The Sword in the Stone and Bagheera the stern panther in The Jungle Book. The British character actor even appeared on camera in Walt Disney’s Johnny Tremain (1957) sans his trademark beard, shaved off at the insistence of Walt himself.

The Tigger Too filmmakers  continued the clever concept of incorporating the pages of the Milne books into the animation. They brought this conceit to new heights when—spoiler alert!—the narrator “narrates” Tigger from his precarious perch atop a treetop, which is too high for Tigger.  In the sequence, the narrator cleverly tilts the book, allowing the scaredy cat to slide down the text to terra firma.

“In our animation, we show pages turning, characters springing into action from still poses and Tigger using the printed lines like a ladder,” Reitherman noted. The producer relied on Cabot’s genial off-screen performance to tie it all together, claiming the use of the English actor’s dulcet tones made watching the featurette more like listening to a bedtime story: “The narration helps the book come to life.”

Roo Bounces Into the Spotlight
Although introduced along with the main cast of cuddly Hundred Acre Wood citizens in Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Kanga’s little son, Roo, had his first chance to shine in this new Pooh featurette. Since the Milne originals established Roo as Tigger’s playmate, this production offered the perfect story to integrate the egotistical tiger’s fellow bouncer into his new adventures.

In his initial 1966 appearance, Roo was voiced by Clint Howard (today a character actor who frequently appears in the films of his director brother, Ron Howard), but in Tigger Too, the voice of Roo is Dori Whitaker (seen above with Larry Clemmons). The sister of Johnny Whitaker, another Family Affair cast member and the star of Disney’s Napoleon and Samantha (1972), Dori gives a delightfully scene-stealing performance.

Bouncy Bonus: Roo’s extended role also meant a bigger part for Kanga, voiced by Barbara Luddy. The voice of Lady in Lady and the Tramp (1955) and the good fairy Merryweather in Sleeping Beauty (1959), the legendary vocal artist also gave voice to Mother Rabbit in Robin Hood (1973). Mother Rabbit was the mother of Tagalong—who, coincidentally, was voiced by Dori Whitaker. 

Winnie the Pooh and Memorabilia Too
Released on December 20, 1974, on the same bill as Disney’s live-action epic The Island at the Top of the World, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too brought with it a slew of tasty tie-ins. Aside from reissued story and activity books connected to other Pooh projects, there was a Tigger Too sticker fun book, a coloring book, a Tell-A-Tale Book titled Winnie the Pooh and the Unbouncing of Tigger, and a classic View-Master® set of stereoscopic reels. A comic-strip adaptation of this instant Disney classic was serialized in the Walt Disney’s Treasury of Classic Tales Sunday page, published in 40 newspapers with an estimated 50 million readers.

Honors for Pooh and Tigger Too
Most winning of all was the Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too LP record album, specially produced to celebrate Pooh’s return to the screen. The album won a Grammy® Award as Best Recording for Children. The film itself garnered a honey of an Oscar® nomination as Best Animated Short Film by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.   

Reitherman knew why audiences of all ages were delighted by Disney’s Pooh: “People love Disney’s version of Pooh. He’s as real as the Pooh they’ve been reading about all their lives. Milne’s type of writing is so unusual that it appeals to the young and old alike, which makes the Pooh adventures classic pieces of prose.” Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too was incorporated into the feature compilation, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1977), and its endearing legacy endures today, with new misadventures here, there, and everywhere—all starring the silly old bear and that bouncy forever-in-motion feline known as Tigger.

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As we welcome the New Year, many of us resolve to embrace change, pursue growth, and become the best version of ourselves. Disney characters have long inspired us with tales of personal transformation, showing that growth often comes from within. Here’s a look at six Disney characters who undergo remarkable journeys of self-discovery and transformation—and how their stories can inspire us to take on the new year with courage and optimism.

Beast – Beauty and the Beast
Initially bitter and self-absorbed, the Beast (voiced by Robby Benson) undergoes a profound transformation as he learns to love and be loved in return. Through his relationship with Belle (voiced by Disney Legend Paige O’Hara), he sheds his selfishness and anger, revealing a compassionate and selfless heart. The Beast’s story is a powerful reminder that change is possible when we open ourselves up to vulnerability and connection.

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Mulan – Mulan
Mulan (voiced by Disney Legend Ming-Na Wen) begins her journey unsure of her place in the world, disguising herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army. Her courage, resilience, and resourcefulness lead her to become a celebrated hero. Mulan’s story inspires us to step out of our comfort zones and embrace challenges that reveal our inner strength.

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Carl Fredricksen – Up
Carl (voiced by Ed Asner) begins as a grumpy, closed-off widower stuck in the past. Over the course of the film, he learns to let go of his grief; open his heart to new relationships; and embrace the adventures that life still has to offer.

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Tiana – The Princess and the Frog 
Tiana (voiced by Disney Legend Anika Noni Rose) has a hardworking nature and a dream of owning her own restaurant that define her character. However, through her adventures as a frog, she learns that relationships and love are just as important as ambition. Tiana’s growth teaches us the value of staying determined while making space for connection and joy.

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Merida – Brave
Merida (voiced by Kelly Macdonald) starts as a headstrong princess clashing with her family’s expectations. Through her journey, she gains a deeper understanding of her family’s perspective and learns the value of compromise and mutual respect while remaining true to herself.

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Moana – Moana
Moana’s (voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) story is about finding her purpose and embracing her connection to her ancestors. An inner transformation comes from her courage to break from tradition, trust herself, and forge her own path.

Watch here

The post A Year of Change: 6 Disney Characters Who Embody Inner Transformation appeared first on D23.

Happy New Year, ultimate Disney fans! The new year is bringing plenty of excitement to Disney+, with a lineup that’s sure to kick off 2025 in style. From the thrilling premiere of Goosebumps: The Vanishing to the debut of the second season of A Real Bug’s Life and the highly anticipated arrival of Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, there’s no better way to start the year.

Following is a list of what’s new on Disney+ in January 2025, day by day:

Wednesday, January 1
Morphle: Shorts (S1, 10 Episodes)

Tuesday, January 7
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Episode 7)

Thursday, January 9
UFOs: Investigating the Unknown (S2, 6 Episodes)

Friday, January 10
Goosebumps: The Vanishing (Premiere – All Episodes Streaming)

Saturday, January 11
My Best Friend’s an Animal (S1, 6 Episodes)

Tuesday, January 14
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (Episode 8)

Wednesday, January 15
A Real Bug’s Life (Season 2) (Premiere – All Episodes Streaming)
America’s Funniest Home Videos: Global (S30-31 and 12, 58 Episodes)
History’s Greatest Mysteries (S5, 15 Episodes)

Saturday, January 18
Me & Winnie the Pooh (S2, 3 Episodes)

Sunday, January 22
Kiff: Lore of the Ring Light
To Catch a Smuggler: Tropical Takedown (S1, 10 Episodes)

Wednesday January 29
Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man (Two-Episode Premiere)
Foods that Built America (S5, 12 Episodes)
Gypsy Rose: Life After Lockup (S1, 8 Episodes)
Pirates: Behind the Legends (S1, 8 Episodes)

The post Everything Coming to Disney+ in January 2025 appeared first on D23.

Two journeys, connected by one legendary legacy…

Despite being an engineering marvel of its day, Sir Edward Shackleton’s Endurance sank over a century ago beneath the Antarctic ice. The famous shipwreck was eventually found by the S.A. Agulhas II—which is considered to be the modern-day equivalent of Endurance and demonstrates how far polar vessels have evolved.

Watch National Geographic and historian Dan Snow compare these two incredible ships and explain the innovation behind them:

You can now watch the entire story unfold in National Geographic’s latest documentary, Endurance, which follows the S.A. Agulhas II along its search for the legendary wreck and captures the amazing moment of discovery. Endurance is available to watch now on Disney+ and Hulu. Check out the trailer for the documentary, below.

From deep below Antarctic sea ice to high above frozen Arctic rock faces, there’s so much to explore with National Geographic! Discover more about the wonders of our world—and be inspired by today’s greatest adventurers—by watching National Geographic on Disney+, and stay up to date on all things Nat Geo by checking out the Nat Geo collection page on D23.

The post Two Iconic Ships, 100 Years Apart: Climb Aboard <em>Endurance</em> and <em>S.A. Agulhas II</em> with National Geographic appeared first on D23.

The post Mickey’s Magical Mission: Spreading Joy Across the Globe appeared first on D23.

Topps fans, here’s some incredible news to kick off your New Year!

Beginning in January, our friends at Topps will be releasing two brand-new collections of physical cards—yes, ones you can hold in your hands IRL (that’s “in real life,” for those that need a refresher in internet speak)—themed to several of your favorite worlds of Disney!

First up, Topps Genesis will debut one of the first-ever card sets to spotlight characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm all in one collection! Keep your eyes peeled for cards featuring Mickey Mouse, Buzz Lightyear, Spider Man, Darth Vader, and more! There’s no end to the magic Topps Genesis has in store for this collection, so don’t miss a moment. Fans can find the first drop of these cards available exclusively on Topps.com beginning early January.

Then, just a few weeks later, look out for the Topps Finest X-Men ‘97 collection! It’s Topps’ first Marvel trading card release, and it’s the perfect combination of collectable card fun and ’90s nostalgia. Look for cards featuring characters and storylines from season 1—such as Storm and Wolverine—and a cool, retro aesthetic alongside modern touches… all creating a truly unique look! You’ll find the Topps Finest X-Men ’97 collection in hobby and comic book shops nationwide in late January.

Stay tuned for more Topps updates in the coming months!

The post Coming Soon: New Collectable Cards from Topps appeared first on D23.