-

Disney Junior Teams Up With Questlove and Black Thought From The Roots for New Animated Short Series 'Rise Up, Sing Out,' Focused on Race, Racism and Social Justice

-- Produced in Collaboration With Academy Award®-Winning Lion Forge Animation --

BURBANK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As kids and parents continue to navigate and understand the current issues happening in our country and around the world, Disney Junior—home to the #1 preschool network—announced today the new animated short series "Rise Up, Sing Out." Presenting important concepts around race, racism and social justice for the youngest viewers, the series consists of music-based shorts that are designed to provide an inspiring and empowering message about noticing and celebrating differences and providing a framework for conversation. The shorts are slated to premiere later this year across all Disney Junior platforms.

The shorts will feature music by Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter of the GRAMMY Award®-winning musical group The Roots, who are executive producing through their Two One Five Entertainment production company alongside Latoya Raveneau (Disney+'s highly anticipated "The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder"), who also serves as executive producer. The Conscious Kid, an organization dedicated to equity and promoting healthy racial identity development in youth, is consulting on the series and will develop a viewing companion guide for parents. "Rise Up, Sing Out" is produced in collaboration with Academy Award-winning animation studio Lion Forge Animation ("Hair Love") for Disney Junior.

Photos are available here.

Joe D'Ambrosia, senior vice president, Original Programming and general manager, Disney Junior, said, "We recognize that many kids are experiencing a multitude of feelings around what's happening in our world today and know that many families are struggling with how to discuss sensitive issues around race. Our goal with these shorts is to open up the conversation and provide families with the tools and knowledge to address these important topics with their preschoolers in an age-appropriate manner through music and relatable kid experiences."

In a joint statement, Thompson and Trotter said, "It is an honor to work with the Disney Junior team to help create a series of shorts that will empower and uplift the future generations in the way we know best, through music. We hope these shorts will encourage the young audience to recognize and celebrate our differences as human beings while learning the tools to navigate real-world issues of racial injustice."

Press materials are available at www.dgepress.com.

Follow on Instagram and Twitter for up-to-date news on #RiseUpSingOut

Contacts

Disney Junior Media Relations
Erica McCearley
erica.mccearley@disney.com

Disney Junior


Release Summary
Disney Junior Teams up With Questlove and Black Thought From The Roots for New Animated Short Series 'Rise Up, Sing Out'
Release Versions

Contacts

Disney Junior Media Relations
Erica McCearley
erica.mccearley@disney.com

More News From Disney Junior

Disney+ Reveals Exclusive ‘American Born Chinese’ Poster Art Designed by Acclaimed Artist James Jean at SXSW World Premiere Event

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This afternoon, “American Born Chinese” revealed exclusive poster art created by multidisciplinary visual artist James Jean at the Disney+ Original series’ world premiere at SXSW at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Texas. In attendance at the event were cast members Ben Wang, Daniel Wu, Chin Han and Sydney Taylor, and executive producers Kelvin Yu, Gene Luen Yang and Melvin Mar, all celebrating their fellow cast members Michelle Yeoh’s and Ke Huy Quan’s historic...

What Is Lurking in Room 205?

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Branded Television revealed today the trailer and key art for season three of the Disney Channel series "Secrets of Sulphur Springs." The series, created and executive produced by Tracey Thomson and Charles Pratt Jr., who serves as showrunner and executive producer, follows the adventures of Griffin Campbell and his family when they move into The Tremont, a hotel with a paranormal past. The Children's and Family Emmy® Awards-nominated series premieres on Fri...

It's the Place Where Everyone Brings It Together!

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Disney Branded Television revealed today the trailer and key art for the new Disney Channel series "Saturdays," set to premiere on Friday, March 24. The series, executive produced by Marsai Martin (“Little,” “Fantasy Football”), created and executive produced by Norman Vance Jr. ("Girlfriends," "Roll Bounce"), follows teen Paris Johnson and her roller-skate crew, the We-B-Girlz, on their quest to becoming Goldens, the best skaters at the Saturdays Roller Palace. Ep...
Back to Newsroom