‘Sofia the First’ App Now Available; Movie on DVD March 5

On the day its new Disney Junior series, ‘Sofia the First,’ launches, Disney has also released Sofia the First: Story Theater for Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad devices.

The app contains two modes: the first is an interactive storybook, a retelling of the Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess movie which is narrated by Sofia (Ariel Winter) and features audio clips from the movie as well as dozens of individual animations.

The other mode is the theater mode in which the user chooses multiple ‘cutout’ elements such as main characters, backdrops, props and even background music. Once each of the elements is chosen, the user is able to press the record button and record an audio track (dialogue) while moving the elements around the backdrop. After halting recording, the ‘production’ can be played back and even saved for later enjoyment.

The innovative theater mode appears to work well, although there was a bit of a learning curve. For example, though the backdrop consists of just a small portion of the stage, the theater mode records only elements that are in front of it. This actually means that you are able to keep props and characters out of view until desired. Also, characters are abnormally large against the backdrop by default (and props are small), but they can be resized with the usual pinch to zoom, as well as rotated. The resize and rotate functions even work while recording, allowing for some interesting use of perspective and overall weirdness. The app’s description even boasts multi-touch to allow friends to work together to move multiple characters at once.

For more information or to purchase ‘Sofia the First: Story Theater,’ click here.

As for the original televised film itself, it will be available to own on Disney DVD with special Royal Sing-Along mode on March 5, 2013 and is now available for pre-order. The DVD is set to include bonuses such as a ‘Princess in Training Activity Kit’ featuring stickers and tiaras.