Disney Interactive to Produce ‘Swampy,’ Future Web Series in YouTube Partnership
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Disney Interactive and YouTube are joining forces to bring family-friendly video entertainment to the web. The alliance will bring together the leading provider of family-friendly entertainment with the Internet’s most popular destination for video programming.
Complementary online video destinations tailored to Disney audiences will be made available on both Disney.com and YouTube in early 2012, furthering Disney Interactive’s strategy to deliver the most relevant and immersive online experiences to its guests wherever they are.
Disney Interactive will produce and program the co-branded video destinations for both Disney.com and YouTube, providing a family-friendly experience for viewers across both platforms. Programming will include video drawn from relevant family-friendly content currently available across YouTube, original video produced by Disney, as well as a blend of current Disney Interactive original series, select Disney Channel programming and Disney user created content. An original video series based on Disney’s hit mobile game “Where’s My Water?” and its main character Swampy will be the first project to launch in February and will be followed by other similarly short-form, family-oriented programming.
“With online video consumption exploding and YouTube at the center of that trend, we see an opportunity for Disney Interactive and YouTube to bring Disney’s legacy of storytelling to a new generation of families and Disney enthusiasts on the platforms they prefer,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Co-President of Disney Interactive. “As we prepare to re-launch Disney.com in fall 2012, the Disney/YouTube destination will play a critical part in our next generation platform.”
“Disney has established itself as one of the world’s most loved brands,” said Robert Kyncl, Global Head of Content Partnerships at YouTube. “We are thrilled to work with them to bring amazing new, family-friendly entertainment to YouTube’s audience of 800 million users worldwide.”
Categories: Business, Internet Tags: Disney Interactive Studios, Disney Online, Swampy, Where's My Water, YouTube
Have a Taste for Design? Enter Pixie Hollow Online’s ‘Sweet Treat’ Design Contest
October is in full force in Pixie Hollow and everyone is busy celebrating all the autumn events. The Animal Masquerade has everyone putting on their critterific costumes to trick or treat and players are busy entering the “Sweet Treat Design Contest”!
Have you ever imagined sitting on a cotton candy sofa or looking into a lollipop mirror? Imagine no longer because the fairies and sparrow men in Pixie Hollow all agree that sweet treats aren’t just for eating. Pixie Hollow’s Never Council wants to see how creative YOU can get with edible sweet treats!
The contest, which runs until noon on November 1st, invites Disney Fairies Fans to design and share any Pixie Hollow home item inspired by an edible sweet treat, with the grand prize winner receiving a designer’s dream.
Enter NOW for a chance to win the ultimate designers dream grand prize which includes:
- A real-life Disney Fairies furniture set including a Disney Fairies canopy bed, desk, nightstand and bedding set
- Their design made available as a seasonal tinkering blueprint in Pixie Hollow for all players to enjoy
- 1 One-Month Pixie Hollow Membership Card
Ten first prize winners will receive 1 One-Month Pixie Hollow Membership Card and a Tinker Bell Vinylmation Bakery Series 3” Figure. To enter the “Sweet Treat Design Contest,” fans can submit their design and entry form either by U.S. Mail or by Internet via http://pixiehollow.go.com/contests_home.html.
Categories: Contests, Internet Tags: Contest, Disney Online, Pixie Hollow
Disney’s ‘Secret Agent X’ Online Community That Does Only Everything
If there’s blood under my fingernails, it’s only from scratching my head too much over this little revelation. Recent trademark applications by Disney Online are identifying an online social networking service(s) going under the title of ‘Secret Agent X.’
So what exactly is ‘Secret Agent X’? Well, other than a 1930s pulp magazine celebrating the ‘man with a thousand faces,’ a second trademark application explains it as: Computer services, namely, creating an online virtual community for registered users to participate in and hold competitions, showcase their skills, improve their talent, participate in incentive award programs, get feedback from their peers, form virtual communities, trade, buy and sell virtual goods, conduct virtual tours, facilitate interaction among users, rank users, engage in social networking, and participate in on-line discussion boards; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, and creating blogs regarding computer games via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices; providing temporary use of non-downloadable software to enable viewing, previewing, sharing, manipulating, enhancements for computer games, online games, and game applications and information relating to computer games and game enhancements via global computer networks and electronic communication networks for use in connection with computers, mobile computers, media players, cellular phones, wireless devices and portable and handheld digital electronic devices.
Categories: Internet Tags: Disney Online, Secret Agent X
Disney Parks InsidEARS Update
Back in November, we reported on the mysterious Disney Park InsidEARS, a website to feature advice and information, news and commentary in the field of travel as well as the field of entertainment.
We thought it’d be a good time to check up on the state of the new source of travel and entertainment information, especially in light of Disney registering several anti-InsidEAR domain names, presumably in a move to block potential for spoofing/criticism. Among the domain names registered are outsidear.com, outsidear.net,outsidear.org, outsidears.com, outsidears.net and outsidears.org. Either that, or Ponyboy will be the resident Disney Parks expert.
More importantly, however, is that DisneyParksInsidEARS.com now resolves, going to its own website located at http://insidears.disneyparks.disney.go.com, which is currently returning a 403 Not Authorized error (although we can probably expect that to change by mid-morning, for better or for worse).
In addition, there is a Disney Parks InsidEARS Facebook page as well as an InsidEARS Twitter account, but no indication yet if these are official pages or simply squatters, although it is interesting that the Twitter account is following @DisneyParks and @WaltDisneyWorld but not @Disneyland.
On a mild tangent, Disney also recently registered AdventureInsiders.com.
Categories: Internet, Theme Parks Tags: Disney Online, InsidEARS
Disney.com Offers ‘Disney Friends for Change Games’ Exclusive Content
To support the “Disney Friends for Change Games” on Disney Channel and Disney XD, Disney.com has launched an online destination at Disney.com/ProjectGreen, where kids and families can take part in the Games from home and help the planet — by making personal pledges of their own, playing online versions of the Games, and making art that matters! When kids play online versions of the Games at Disney.com/ProjectGreen, they can donate the points they earn to one of the four charities involved. At the end of the Games, the charity with the most points given by the Disney.com online community will receive $100K.
In addition to playing online games for charity, kids can view exclusive video content and participate in a number of fun online activities. Kids can create online art on the Friends for Change Group Wall at Disney.com/Create, where they can see the transformative power of friends everywhere pitching in to make a difference. The Disney.com/ProjectGreen site will also feature exclusive videos from the “Disney Friends for Change Games,” including a special wrap-up show hosted by Tiffany Thornton and Jason Earles. Kids can also download the official 2011 Friends for Change anthem “We Can Change the World” featuring Bridgit Mendler on Disney.com/Project Green.
Over 30 Disney Channel and Disney XD stars from around the globe will compete in “Disney Friends for Change Games.” Four teams will play on behalf of a global charity — Fauna and Flora International, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy and UNICEF. For five weeks beginning Friday, June 24, Disney Channel will present “Disney Friends for Change Games” in interstitials during its Friday, Saturday and Sunday primetime original series programming, and Disney XD will present a special episode from the games Monday nights beginning June 27 (9:30 p.m., ET/PT). The Games will culminate with a special half-hour episode Sunday, July 31 on Disney Channel.
Categories: Internet, Television Tags: DC, Disney Channel, Disney Online, Disney.com, Friends for Change
Marvel’s ‘The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes’ Comic Creator Gives Kids Chance to Have Creation Appear in a Marvel Adventures Comic Book
Starting in May, kids are invited to show off their creativity in Marvel The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Comic Creator Contest. One grand prize winner will get their comic featured as an insert in an upcoming Marvel Adventures comic book and five finalists will win a fantastic Thor prize pack. To enter, kids can go to Disney.com/Create to design their own comic and then save and share it online for a chance to win.
The Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes Comic Creator app on Disney.com/Create lets kids tell their own story by adding characters, backgrounds and dialogue to a series of comic book panels. Kids can also use a variety of unique drawing tools to create their own characters and scenes, just like a real comic book artist.
To help kids find their inner artist, two exclusive videos featuring Marvel Entertainment Chief Creative Officer, Joe Quesada will be featured on the site. In the first video, Quesada offers insights into what it means to be creative, where his inspiration comes from, and his advice for young artists. The second video gives kids an over-the-shoulder view of Quesada drawing Marvel’s Thor character, in a time lapse video that showcases the artistic process.
The contest ends May 31, 2011 and official rules can be found here.
Categories: Contests, Internet Tags: Contest, Disney Online, EMH, Marvel, The Avengers
Disney Online Offers Ways for Families to Celebrate Halloween in the Month of October
Families can now celebrate Halloween through the entire month of October with a diverse line-up of fun Halloween content offered on Disney Online’s Mom and Family Portfolio of Web sites. From Disney-inspired homemade costumes and recipes to loads of unique Halloween games and Halloween crafts for parties, families will be able to find everything they need to enjoy this beloved holiday.
On Disney Family.com families can celebrate Halloween all month long with 31 days of Disney Halloween ideas perfect for Disney fans of all ages. Families will have a blast creating their very own Mickey Mouse Pumpkin and then eating spooky Jack Skellington Cupcakes or Pirate Skull Cookies. Visitors to FamilyFun.com can choose from an array of unique homemade costume ideas for kids and find tips and tricks to carving the perfect pumpkin. Even the littlest ones can get in on the Halloween fun with baby costume ideas found on BabyZone.com. On Kaboose.com, visitors can find 30 creative and tasty Halloween party recipes perfect for the ultimate celebration.
“To ensure families have the best Halloween ever this year, we’re leveraging our entire portfolio of sites for moms and families to offer a comprehensive collection of Halloween content,” said Emily Smith, vice president, Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio. “Inspirational ideas for useful and creative Halloween crafts and costume ideas plus super fun contests that get the whole family involved are just some of the exciting activities we’re featuring on our sites.”
Additionally, for the first time, the entire Disney Mom and Family portfolio of sites will simultaneously run themed photo costume contests for families to enter. The frightfully fun “Halloween Costume Contest Spook-tacular” categories include:
- Ghoulishly Great Family Costumes – Submit photos of the entire family in costume
- Boo-Tiful Baby Photo Costume Contest – Submit cute baby costumes
- Terror-ific Kids Costume Contest – Submit favorite kids’ Halloween costumes
- Bow-Meow-Ween Pet Photo Costume Contest – Pets can get in on the action with costumes of their very own
Categories: Internet Tags: Disney Online, Halloween, Holidays
Jim Henson Company’s ‘The Possibility Shop’ Returns for Second Season on Disney Online
Disney Online, part of the Disney Interactive Media Group, today debuts a second season of “The Possibility Shop“, an original web series produced by The Jim Henson Company. The site, which can be accessed through DisneyFamily.com, will be updated every two to three weeks with content designed to inspire the imagination of the entire family through creative projects, activities and games. The Clorox Company returns as the exclusive sponsor for all 20 webisodes in season two of “The Possibility Shop.”
Building on the success of its first season, season two of “The Possibility Shop” features creator and host Courtney Watkins engaging directly with moms as they discover their own “how to, can do” attitude on projects that will surprise, intrigue and delight their families and themselves. The second season will run through August 2011 with webisodes focusing on finding whimsy in the every day, as well as fun, out-of-the-box ideas for celebrating holidays, the change of seasons, and more. New to season two, each webisode will also feature one of Courtney Watkins’ ‘Bright Ideas,’ a quick and easy family activity related to that webisode’s content that will also feature products from The Clorox Company.
“We are excited to debut a second season of ‘The Possibility Shop’ with the goal of reaching and engaging an even broader audience of moms, building on the success of the first season,” said Emily Smith, vice president, Disney Online Mom and Family Portfolio. “Moms specifically, will benefit from the useful and creative advice the show offers for finding fun in their everyday lives.”
“We’re known for fostering imagination at The Jim Henson Company and Courtney Watkins’ irreverence, whimsy and ability to inspire creativity make her a perfect partner in bringing ‘The Possibility Shop’ to DisneyFamily.com,” said Lisa Henson, CEO of The Jim Henson Company, the licensor for all merchandising and licensing for the property.
“Whether it’s designing and building a haunted house, offering instructions for a make-your-own board game, jump starting a conversation or finding ways to carry the spirit of the holidays throughout the entire year, season two of ‘The Possibility Shop’ is going to energize parents and kids alike to pursue the infinite possibilities for every day creative adventures,” stated Courtney Watkins.
Season two kicks off with Courtney stepping outside the shop and into the real world as she visits a real family experiencing a creative conundrum. Courtney assists the family with fantastic ideas on how to refuel the imagination and spark creative adventures. Future episodes from both inside The Possibility Shop and out in the world will highlight creative ideas for themes and holidays such as Halloween, Winter Wonderland, Father’s Day and Summer Fun!
Categories: Internet Tags: Disney Online, Jim Henson Company, Possibility Shop
Cat Cora Joins the Muppets in Disney Online’s ‘Muppets Kitchen’ and ‘Hasty Tasty’ Web Series
Disney Online, part of the Disney Interactive Media Group, launched two new original video series today featuring The Muppets and celebrity chef Cat Cora. “The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora” on Disney.com (www.Disney.com/MuppetsKitchen) inspires and entertains families through cooking and classic Muppet comedy, while “Hasty Tasty Cooking Tips with Cat Cora and the Muppets” on Disney Family.com (www.Family.com/HastyTasty) was created specifically for moms, offering recipes, step-by-step cooking tips and fun family-time ideas. “Muppets Kitchen” and “Hasty Tasty” are exclusively sponsored by the all-new Honda Odyssey and the National Milk Mustache “got milk?”® Campaign.
Joining Cat Cora in the kitchen is her new Muppet cooking partner, Angelo. A chef with style, panache and a quirky habit of cooking up chaos, Angelo can spice up any meal. And with Muppet favorites like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo dropping by, one thing is certain: everything is funnier in Muppets Kitchen.
“This has been a great partnership between Disney Online, the Muppets and Cat Cora, and the end result is a fantastic line-up of original content that will entertain families, while offering moms great tips and ideas for ways to create magical meals and spend more time together,” stated Paul Yanover, executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online.
“As a chef and a mother of four boys, meal time is family time at our house,” said Chef Cat Cora. “I hope the delicious and easy to make recipes featured on ‘Muppets Kitchen’ and ‘Hasty Tasty’ inspire more families to get creative and get cooking in their own kitchens!”
“Muppets Kitchen” episodes will offer a variety of entertaining themes including “Game Day,” “Movie Night,” “Slumber Party,” “World’s Biggest Sandwich,” “Breakfast Isn’t Just Breakfast Anymore” and “Birthday Cat-astrophe.”
“Hasty Tasty” will feature short episodes that focus on giving moms access to step-by-step cooking instructions, specific culinary information, helpful tips, nutritional guidance and advice on how to get kids excited about cooking. Episodes include “Dough-Re-Mi,” “Egg-straordinary Wraps,” “The Really Cheesey Episode,” “Chicken: the Dredge Report,” “Chicken Ins and Outs,” “Herb – The ‘H’ is Silent” and “Frozen Fruit Fun.” Additionally, the “Hasty Tasty” site will offer complete recipes and other helpful culinary content designed specifically for moms. “Hasty Tasty” also has a mobile web site giving moms access to all online videos and recipe ingredient lists on the go, as well as a mix the ingredients recipe game. Text HASTY to DISNEY (347639)* or visit Disney.com/HastyTasty.
Categories: Internet Tags: Cat Cora, Disney Online, Muppets
Muppet Video Newsflash: Cat Cora Joins the Muppets in New Online Show
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Categories: Internet Tags: Cat Cora, Disney Online, Muppets
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