Emmy Award-winning creator and EP Craig Gerber helms the new animated musical adventure coming in September on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and Disney+; celebrity guest voice cast includes Padma Lakshmi, Melissa Rauch, Oscar Nuñez, José Andrés, Pamela Adlon, 'Weird Al' Yankovic, Lisa Loeb, and Patton Oswalt.
Disney Branded Television’s new musical animated comedy-adventure series, Firebuds, follows a team of young first responders who embark on adventures with their talking sidekick vehicles to help their community and learn what it truly means to be a hero. The show’s simulcast debut is September 21 on Disney Channel and Disney Junior. The first batch of episodes will premiere the same day on on-demand platforms and Disney+.
Set in a world where talking vehicles live, work, and play with the humans who drive them, Firebuds follows a boy named Bo and his fire engine best friend Flash as they team up with their first responder friends to help others in their community with problems, big and small.
Each episode is two 11-minute stories highlighting the importance of teamwork, helping fellow citizens, and volunteering. The creative team worked with consultants from RespectAbility to help populate the diverse communities of Gearbox Grove, and Motopolis featured in the series.
Check out the trailer:
The voice cast includes Declan Whaley; Terrence Little Gardenhigh; Vivian Vencer; Lily Sanfelippo; JeCobi Swain; and Caleb Paddock. Lou Diamond Phillips and Yvette Nicole Brown also star as co-fire Chief Bill Bayani and Chief Faye Fireson, respectively.
Cast members and guest stars include Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef); Melissa Rauch (The Big Bang Theory); Oscar Nuñez (The Office); Pamela Adlon (Better Things); "Weird Al" Yankovic (Milo Murphy's Law); Lisa Loeb (Jake and the Never Land Pirates); Patton Oswalt (Ratatouille); Nat Faxon (Loot); Ali Stroker (Broadway's Oklahoma!); LaChanze (Broadway's The Color Purple); Aimee Carrero (Elena of Avalor); Natalie Morales (Dead to Me); Allison Case (Broadway's Matilda the Musical); Rich Sommer (Mad Men); Atticus Shaffer (The Middle); Tatiana Lee (Speechless); and Lauren "Lolo" Spencer (Give Me Liberty), who join the previously announced voice cast.
Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Elena of Avalor, Sofia the First) helms the series with Matt Hoverman as story editor; Francis Giglio as art director; and Robb Pratt and Craig Simpson as supervising director and producer, respectively. The writing team includes Krystal Banzon; Leanna Dindal; Norma Sepulveda; Jeremy Shipp; and Alyssa Stratton, and the episodic directors are Kris Wimberly and Julius Aguimatang.
The Disney Junior Music: Firebuds digital soundtrack from Walt Disney Records debuts September 16, and storybooks from Disney Publishing will release later next year. Spin Master is the North American toy licensee for the series and will debut a toy line in Summer 2023 featuring vehicles, figures, and playsets. In addition, Bo and Flash will appear in Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza, launching September 2, with stops at more than 80 North American cities throughout 2022.
Source: Disney Branded Television
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
