Disney Junior launches two short-form animated series

Who is not fascinated by the enchanting world of Disney? We bet, everyone is. Characters like Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, Aladdin and many others, are a part and parcel of every child’s life. The best part is that these cartoon characters not only entertain children, but they also educate them on diverse issues. Now, yesterday (19 December 2011), Disney Junior, the learning-focused block for kids aged between two to seven on Disney Channel, launched two brand new short-form series – A Poem Is … and Tasty Time with Chef ZeFronk – to usher in the holiday season. Both the shows will be played out multiple times daily on Disney Channel. Commenting on the launch, Arnab Chaudhuri, executive director content and creative, Walt Disney Television International India says, “The launch of these new series further demonstrates Disney Junior’s dedication to programming that highlights the importance of great, heartfelt storytelling with learning components, including poetry and life skills.” Now, here’s the backdrop of both the shows. A Poem Is… is a short-form animated series showcasing poems for children set to scenes and imagery from classic Disney films including Dumbo, Bambi and Lady and the Tramp. And guess what? Actress Shabana Azmi is the Hindi narrator and well-known actor, director Suhasini Ratnam will narrate the poems in Tamil and Telugu. Featured poems include works by Robert Louis Stevenson, John Howard Payne, A.A. Milne and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, among others. “Children these days know poetry only to score marks in school. This series is about making poetry interesting for them and it’s only right that somebody fond of the language does it,”says Suhasini. On the other hand, Shabana opines, “Children typically respond well to reading and writing poetry, as it fuels their imagination and creativity and allows them to express themselves. What a great way to learn, memorize and share.” Now, the other offering Tasty Time with ZeFronk, is a series of five-minute long shorts, encouraging kids to cook with their families and have lots of fun along the way. And Omi Vaidya –of 3 Idiots fame –is lending his voice to chef ZeFronk, who is hosting a fun-filled cooking show for kids from his doghouse with his assistant, a songbird named Sue. “Being an ardent fan of the channel since childhood, it feels great to be in a Disney show. Little ones love to watch cooking from an early age and the highlight of the show is that it involves a lot of fun and learning at the same time,” says an elated Omi. Wow, two new super cool shows on Disney. It sounds like nothing but fun unlimited.