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Disney Animation and Kugali's Iwájú, a first-of-its-kind animated series, will premiere on Disney+ on February 28, 2024. Set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, the series explores deep themes such as class, innocence, and challenging the status quo. Iwájú follows the story of Tola, a young girl from a wealthy island, and her best friend Kole, a self-taught tech expert, as they uncover secrets and dangers in their different worlds.

Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Pan-African entertainment company Kugali have revealed our first look at their upcoming animated Disney+ series, Iwájú. Alongside a teaser and a batch of new images, a release date has also been revealed, with all six episodes of Iwájú now set to stream on Disney+ beginning Feb. 28, 2024. The series is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pan-African entertainment company Kugali, and is set in a futuristic Lagos, Nigeria, with the series set to explore an...

American Ballet Theatre (Abt) made its anticipated seasonal return to Lincoln Center for its annual Fall Season at the David H. Koch Theater.

Mick Jagger and Katie Couric

Credit/Copyright: Getty Images

The centerpiece of the two-week engagement was last week’s Fall Gala, a one-night, special Gala program – featuring all of Abt’s star Principal Dancers, who performed excerpts from celebrated choreographers Harald Lander, Kenneth MacMillan, and Antony Tudor, alongside a World Premiere pas de deux by Abt Principal Dancer James Whiteside.

Gala guests who gathered for the black-tie dinner and dancing on the Promenade of the David H. Koch Theater included Annette Bening, Mick Jagger & Melanie Hamrick, Amy Astley, Anh Duong, Brandon Maxwell, Brynn Whitfield, Candace Bushnell, Carly Cushnie, Crystal Kung Minkoff, Ivy Getty, Jessel Tank, Jonathan Cohen, Jordan Roth, Molly Ringwald, Morena Baccarin, Pritika Swarup, Sutton Stracke, Tommy Dorfman, Ubah Hassan, Zac Posen & Harrison Ball and more.

For the Disney+ program “Sketchbook,” Gabby Capili was told she could choose any Disney character she wanted to draw and for her, it was Kuzco from “The Emperor’s New Groove.” She recalls, “That’s my main guy. I say in the episode that it was the first Disney movie that I saw in theaters. I was pulled out of school and it was a very special memory for me.” The artist joins Gold Derby as part of our Meet the Experts: TV Animation panel (watch the exclusive video interview above). In addition to the experience, she also loved the performances of the voice actors and how the characters would constantly break the fourth wall. “It’s just a very funny movie and I relate to the character a lot because he starts out very self-obsessed, but he learns throughout the course of the story that the power of friendship…makes you a better person.

Disney+’s “Sketchbook,” streaming now, is a fascinating and emotional look at the artists behind your favorite Disney characters.

The set-up is simple: each episode has an animator instructing you on how to draw a Disney character. Their instructions are informative and easy to follow, but the real treat of each episode is getting to know the animators a little better. You hear them talk about coming to the studio and navigating various productions, all the while offering helpful hints and gentle encouragement.

One of the very best episodes involves Eric Goldberg, the animator behind the Genie in “Aladdin” (the character he instructs you how to draw), Louis in “The Princess and the Frog” and Phil in “Hercules,” among many others. (He also co-directed “Pocahontas” and directed two segments of the underrated “Fantasia 2000.”) Incredibly, he stuck with the studio after it almost exclusively switched to computer animation, providing 2D...

“Sketchbook,” Disney’s six-part documentary series devoted to the art of hand-drawn animation (streaming April 27 on Disney+), arrives as the studio embarks on the welcome return of traditional 2D — just ahead of its 100th anniversary in 2023. Produced by the team behind “Chef’s Table” and Walt Disney Animation Studios (via executive producer Amy Astley), the series provides an intimate look at six Disney artists and their distinctive talents and passions as they draw favorite iconic characters. It’s more than instructional — it’s a journey into their styles and personalities and overcoming personal obstacles. Story artist Gabby Capili (“Encanto”) draws Kuzco from “The Emperor’s New Groove,” 2D animator-director Eric Goldberg draws The Genie from “Aladdin,” 2D animator Mark Henn draws Simba from “The Lion King,” visual development artist Jin Kim draws Captain Hook from “Peter Pan,” supervising animator Hyun Min Lee draws Olaf from “Frozen,” and story artist Samantha Vilfort...

Anyone who has ever been enchanted by a Disney animated film at a young age has also probably tried to draw their favorite character from that film, to admittedly mixed results. Disney+’s new documentary series “Sketchbook” aims to instruct viewers on how to draw those classic Disney characters, with the lesson being given by the animators themselves.

The new series, from “Chef’s Table” production company Supper Club and “Into the Unknown: The Making of Frozen 2” producer Amy Astley, in partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios, centers on various characters from a range of periods in Disney history – newer characters like Mirabel from “Encanto” and Olaf from “Frozen” and more classic characters like the Genie from “Aladdin” and Captain Hook from “Aladdin.” Plus Kuzco from “The Emperor’s New Groove” (a deliciously out-of-left field choice).

Among the animators chosen for the documentary are Disney legends like Eric Goldberg and Mark Henn,...

Longtime Disney veterans Amy Astley and Mandesa Tindal have been promoted to new positions within Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Astley has been promoted to senior VP of publicity and communications, creative legacy and brand strategy, while Tindal has been upped to VP of marketing and franchise. Both report to Clark Spencer, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios.

In her new role, Astley and her team will now oversee publicity and communications, digital, internal communications, unscripted/documentary content, the animation research library and brand strategy. The team will also oversee creative legacy, partnering with Walt Disney Imagineering, parks and resorts on Walt Disney Animation Studios-themed attractions and experiences.

Astley started her career in 1999 as a semi-senior secretary at Touchstone Television, then worked as a publicist at Buena Vista International Television and ABC before joining Walt Disney Animation Studios in 2012 as director of publicity, rising up the ranks to become VP of publicity.

Disney+ has ordered a second season of its animated short-form series and soundscape experience Zenimation. The streaming service also dropped some adorable first-look images of Baby Moana and Bambi. You can see below. Disney+ also set a July premiere for the series debut of Monsters At Work. The news was revealed during Disney+’s presentation Wednesday at the virtual TCA press tour.

Season 2 of Zenimation is slated to premiere Friday, June 11. The new season will feature moments from over eight decades of acclaimed films, including scenes from Disney’s first feature Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to the Studios’ latest, anticipated animated film, Raya and the Last Dragon, set for release Friday, March 5. Zenimation creates a soundscape experience that pays tribute to both the visual and sound artists who have created Disney Animation films. Created and edited by David Bess, Zenimation is executive produced by Amy Astley and produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios.

“Loki,” the next Marvel Studios project for Disney Plus, will premiere June 11 on the streamer.

Additionally, Disney Plus announced the rest of its spring and early summer slate as follows: “Big Shot” will premiere April 16; “Star Wars: The Bad Batch” will launch May 4; “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” Season 2 will begin on May 14; “Zenimation” Season 2 will premiere June 11; “The Mysterious Benedict Society” will debut June 25; “Monsters at Work” will begin July 2; “Turner & Hooch” will launch July 16, and “Chip ‘N’ Dale: Park Live” will premiere July 23.

Following “WandaVision” and “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier,” “Loki” will be the latest MCU project to shift from big screen to small. It follows the titular God of Mischief (played by Tom Hiddleston) as he steps out of his brother’s shadow and takes places after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.” The show comes from head writer Michael Waldron and director...