After several years of speculation, Disney Channel’s first animated original series, The Proud Family, made an official comeback this past February. Ever since, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder has been a hit on Disney+.
As early as Apr. 2022, Disney announced Penny, Oscar and Suga Mama would already be returning for a second season, with the show already in production! Now we are getting more details on just what to expect when the Prouds make their comeback.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 2 Trailer
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Cast
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder brings back all the original characters and the actors who voiced them all. That includes Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy, Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama and Cedric the Entertainer as Uncle Bobby Proud. Viewers were also introduced to new characters in the first season, including Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, voiced by Keke Palmer and Randall, voiced by Billy Porter.
Season two is bringing in tons of special guests like R&B artist Normani, Gabrielle Union, Olympic gymnasts Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, and Laurie Hernandez, Chance The Rapper Hamilton’s Leslie Odom Jr., Jane Lynch, Holly Robinson Peete, Maury Povich, Anthony Anderson, Courtney B. Vance, and Liana Mendoza.
Disney+
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 2 Plot
The trailer gives away some topics that the Prouds will navigate in season two. Among them are Suga Mama’s sleep apnea machine, a Disney princess party, and a protest for justice.
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder Season 2 Release Date
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder season two will debut on Disney+ sometime in Feb. 2023. While that’s still five months away, you can spend the time catching up on all the original episodes on the streaming service now, plus season one.
Bell is all of us trying to get through another viewing of ‘Frozen’
Every parent with kids of a certain age has listened incessantly to Elsa belt out the lyrics to “Let It Go.” We’ve been subjected to watching Frozen or Frozen 2 on repeat. We’ve nodded our collective heads while our children ask, “Are you watching? ARE YOU WATCHING?” While the movie and soundtrack are both catchy and adorable, watching anything 547 times can get a little, well, unnerving.
Anna’s voice actress and mom-of-two, Kristen Bell, has some words for all of us, and they recently came in the form of an apology of sorts for putting us all through the hours and hours (and hours) of monotony.
Bell and her Frozen co-star Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, were both inducted as Disney Legends during the D23 Expo. During Bell’s speech, she hilariously said, “I would like to say that I’m sorry to every parent who has had to listen to Frozen on a loop. I feel you, I see you, I am you. I get it.”
Of course, Disney is nowhere near done with Frozen. Both movies were announced as sing-alongs on their streaming service, Disney+ during the conference. Now, kids “will be able to fully immerse themselves in the music with on-screen lyrics,” according to the organization, similar to the “bouncing ball” icon in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse sing-alongs of yesterday.
“Disney taught me to dream big and follow your heart,” Bell continued. “And that it is totally appropriate to bust out into song at any moment, which I really appreciate. Playing Princess Anna has been the highlight of my life I think — I mean other than my kids and stuff.”
Of course, the iconic character is beloved by generations already, and Bell has said in the past she’d be in for another movie in the series franchise. She also shared some recent pics from a family trip to Disneyland.
Along with Bell and Gad, Black-ish’s TV couple Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, Grey’s Anatomy’s Patrick Dempsey and Ellen Pompeo, and Black Panther’s Chadwick Boseman also received Disney Legend awards at D23.
And if you still haven’t had enough Frozen in your life, both Frozen movies are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Really, you owe it to yourself and your child to give it just one more watch.
Now, the whole family can sing along to the ‘Frozen’ franchise
In case you missed it and need another reason to watch the Frozen movies again, Disney announced as a part of Disney+ Day on September 8 that Frozen and Frozen 2 sing-along versions have dropped. Hey, if they’re gonna sing “Let It Go” from sun up to sun down, they may as well be accurate with the lyrics.
Now, kids “will be able to fully immerse themselves in the music with on-screen lyrics,” according to the streaming service, similar to the “bouncing ball” icon in Mickey Mouse Clubhouse sing-alongs of yesterday, so the kids know what to sing and when.
Families can again enjoy the voices of Kristen Bell as Anna, Idina Menzel as Elsa, Jonathan Groff as Kristoff, and Josh Gad as Olaf the Snowman, along with Sterling K. Brown, Martha Plimpton, Rachel Matthews, Ciarán Hinds, Evan Rachel Wood, and more. This time, however, there’s a little help for that family member who always seems to sing the wrong words.
The new Frozen and Frozen II sing-alongs are the full movies that your kids know, love, and have watched to death, but show captioning during the song sequences. The words will change color as the characters begin to sing, so your child (hopefully of reading age), can follow along and chime right in. If your child cannot read on their own, strap in for a long, long afternoon singing to them.
Additional titles dropping as a part of the big celebration were Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder and Assembled: The Making of Thor: Love and Thunder, Obi-Wan Kenobi: A Jedi’s Return, Remembering, Dancing with the Stars: The Pros’ Most Memorable Dances, and Tierra Incógnita.
If you don’t have Disney+ and want to add another streaming service to your repertoire, now is the time to think about it. New and returning subscribers can get their first month for just $1.99 through Sept. 19. After the first month, you’re looking at $7.99 each month—a small price to pay for the Frozen soundtrack to be permanently lodged in your brain forever.
Netflix is planning on making kid’s content ad free on its new ad-supported plan
With all of the recent discussion about crackdowns on passwords and new price-tiering happening over at Netflix, it can get confusing to determine who can watch what and what each plan will cost. In all the chaos, at least one thing is positive for kids—for now.
The popular streaming service has announced that all children’s programming and original movies will be advertising-free on its new cheaper, ad-supported plan, according to a report from Bloomberg. In case you’d forgotten, Netflix announced a new, cheaper plan earlier this year for people who felt the service was too pricey and weren’t bothered by sitting through ads.
The move came after the company announced on an earnings call in July that it lost 1.3 million subscribers in the second quarter of 2022 .
The ad-supported plan is set to start at the beginning of 2023 and will cost less than the current “standard” plan, which sits at $15.49/mo for HD streaming. No official price has yet been announced. While it’s good news that kids won’t be subjected to ads while they’re trying to get their Octonauts on, there may be stipulations. Bloomberg reported “no ads on kid’s content or original movies” but also mentioned “some” third parties that license children’s programming have asked Netflix not to run ads on their shows. This leaves room for interpretation that others may have them after all. Original movies, they said, will be ad-free “at first.”
In total, the plans haven’t become official, meaning things could change at any time. The publication also said analysts estimate Netflix could “generate $3 billion to $4 billion a year in ad sales,” so it’s a lucrative business. It seems an easy decision for those who want to pay a lower subscription now that they’ll be kicked off their parent’s account (once password lockdowns are in place) and don’t mind ads.
If you do plan to sign up for the ad-supported plan, a gentle reminder you will not have the option to download shows or movies to view offline at a later time. It’s a bummer if you travel frequently and want to watch your favorite series on your next flight, but a small price to pay (literally) for paying less a month to stream.
Brendan Fraser fans are not happy about the decision to abandon ‘Batgirl’
Warner Bros. announced this week that the Batgirl film, which was set to bring the DC Comics character to the big screen, has been canceled. This comes after filming wrapped and the studio was said to have spent $90 million on its production. The worst part? Brendan Fraser’s big screen comeback as the villainous Firefly dies with it.
Batgirl, which was slated for release on HBO Max this year, would have also featured rising star Leslie Grace (In the Heights) in the title role and Michael Keaton reprising his role as Batman. “The decision to not release ‘Batgirl’ reflects our leadership’s strategic shift as it relates to the DC universe and HBO Max,” a Warner Bros. spokesperson said in a statement on Tuesday.
The original intent of Batgirl when it was announced in 2021 was to provide new superhero content for the HBO Max streaming service. Now, with WarnerMedia’s merger with Discovery Inc, apparently its DC superheroes are only good enough if they star in blockbusters specifically on the big screen, a head-scratcher given the popularity of streaming services and low theater attendance. Batgirl, it seems, was not worthy.
Brendan Fraser fans who have been waiting patiently to see his return to movies are less than thrilled:
A movie featuring a Latina Batgirl, a trans character & actress, Brendan Fraser’s comeback & Michael Keaton has been cancelled.. just wow.
Congratulations David Zaslav, you officially killed the DC Extended Universe. #RELEASETHEBATGIRLMOVIE
— black canary updates 🎙️ (@BlackCanaryNews) August 2, 2022
If it wasn't cancelled, Batgirl would have been: -One of the first, if not the first, superhero movies with a latina actress as the lead -One of the first superhero movies with a trans person playing a trans person -BRENDAN FRASER'S RETURN TO THE BIG SCREEN!
— The Big Bat Theory #DROPHEAD🩸👁️ (@BigBatTheory) August 2, 2022
Leslie Grace, Adil El Arbi, Bilall Fallah, Michael Keaton, Brendan Fraser, Ivory Aquino, Jacob Scipio and the entire BATGIRL Crew did not deserve this.
Everything I've heard about Batgirl makes me feel so sorry for the entire team behind it. Also from my Cliffie, I would give everything to see Brendan Fraser as Firefly😢 pic.twitter.com/hFdmJBVsD1
So allegedly Warner Bros have cancelled Batgirl. A film in which Brendan Fraser, a great actor who was blacklisted for speaking out about sexual assault, was in the process of making his comeback. Yet Aquaman 2: The Abuser Returns is still going ahead. Seems fair right?
Brendan Fraser wasn’t new to the universe, having worked with Warner Bros. in the past in the HBO Max series Doom Patrol, but fans were ready to see him take on the role of pyromaniac Firefly in this latest film.
“We are saddened and shocked by the news. We still can’t believe it,” Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah said in a statement Wednesday. “As directors, it is critical that our work be shown to audiences, and while the film was far from finished, we wish that fans all over the world would have had the opportunity to see and embrace the final film themselves. Maybe one day they will insha’Allah (if God wills).”
The directors said it was a “privilege and an honor” to work on the film, “even if it was for a brief moment,” signing their statement, “Batgirl For Life.”
Netflix announced it will be introducing commercials to its service, a new ad-supported tier that will give prospective customers (who don’t mind regular breaks) a lower-priced option.
Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed the streaming service will be testing this new subscription tier, a move that comes as the organization suffers months of lost subscribers and dropping share prices. They’ve lost 200,000 subscribers in the first three months of 2022 alone and are expected to lose another two million by the end of June. The company also announced it will be cracking down on password sharing in an effort to stop the bleeding, as it was forced to lay off around 450 staffers as of yesterday (150 of those were in May).
Ads are coming to Netflix, and $NFLX is huddling with potential business partners to make it happen.https://t.co/2gd1Oaeqlu
By introducing ads, Netflix is hoping to make up for that lost revenue. They certainly aren’t the first streaming service to do so. Hulu and HBO Max already offer ad-based plans that are cheaper for subscribers, and Disney+ announced in March that it will have an ad-supported subscription tier sometime this year.
The current monthly subscription model in the U.S. states that subscribers can use their account on one, two, or four screens at once and their pricing model is tiered as such, from $9.99 and $19.99.
“We’ve left a big customer segment off the table, which is people who say, ‘Hey, Netflix is too expensive for me and I don’t mind advertising,’” Sarandos said. “We’re adding an ad tier. We’re not adding ads to Netflix as you know it today.”
“Those who have followed Netflix know that I’ve been against the complexity of advertising and a big fan of the simplicity of subscription. But as much as I’m a fan of that, I’m a bigger fan of consumer choice,” Netflix co-CEO Reed Hastings said during an earnings call. “And allowing consumers who like to have a lower price, and are advertising tolerant, to get what they want makes a lot of sense.”
For those of us who grew up in a time where you became a ninja at using the bathroom, grabbing a snack, and having a 15-second conversation with whoever was in the room during commercial breaks, it’s not the end of the world. It gives more people an option for finally getting in on those binge-worthy shows, and if you simply can’t fathom the idea, you can stay ad-free, just as you are today.
Movie night is the perfect opportunity for some family bonding—provided you can agree on something to watch. Finding a movie that’s kid-safe and won’t leave the grownups bored to tears isn’t always the easiest. If you’ve got Disney+, however, the task gets a whole lot easier. The streaming service has so many options that every member of the family will love, so get the popcorn ready and check out our list of the best family movies on Disney+.
Disney+ has decades worth of classics, but The Lion King still roars above so much of the competition. The beloved tale of Simba, Scar, and Mufasa is often ranked among the best Disney movies of all time, and with its gripping storyline and epic soundtrack, it’s not hard to see why. If the kiddos fall for the 1994 animated flick, they can also check out the live-action version.
There’s no family quite like the family Madrigal. Sure, you might have seen Encanto a hundred times by now, but we’re willing to bet “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure” will still have the whole family singing along at top volume.
Hand’s down one of the best family movies on Disney+, Moana gives Encanto some stiff competition in the catchiest song category—which shouldn’t be a surprise, since famed composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda contributed to both films. The massively talented Auli’i Cravalho voices Moana, a young girl who sets out on an epic adventure to save her people with the reluctant help of a demigod brought to life by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
With comedians John Mulaney and Andy Samberg voicing the title duo, you’re just about guaranteed non-stop humor to keep both parents and kids rolling with laughter (but don’t worry, it’s all PG) in the new family movie on Disney+. The cute flick brings up the origin story of Chip and Dale, as the friends and co-stars reunite to find out who’s been kidnapping toons all over town.
If your kiddos love the live-action/cartoon hybrid style of Chip ‘n Dale, they might also dig Who Framed Roger Rabbit?—the three-time Academy Award winner that helped bring back an animation boom. Private detective Eddie Valiant is hired to figure out why Roger Rabbit’s star seems to be falling, which ends up getting both wrapped up in a murder mystery. The themes may make it more appropriate for slightly older kids, but the flick still earned a PG rating.
Pixar’s latest flick dropped on Disney+ in February. Turning Red introduces us to 13-year-old Mei Lee, who can’t stop herself from turning into a giant red panda when her emotions run amok. The sweet and funny flick is sure to spark some conversations about growing up and making the transition from kid to teen.
This full-on blast from the past is just as funny today as it was back in the 1980s. Rick Moranis stars as Wayne Szalinski, a whacky inventor whose latest gadget accidentally turns his kids super tiny. If your little ones love it, there’s not one but two sequels available to stream next.
This 2022 remake puts a modern spin on the tale first brought to screen way back in 1950. The big family at the heart of the film is now a blended one, with a mom and dad played by Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. The funny film features plenty of cute kid hijinks, but it also isn’t afraid to get serious, tackling tough topics like racism, addiction, and bullying.
Quack, quack, quack! The Mighty Ducks will have you cheering for this team of underdogs. Emilio Estevez stars as Gordon Bombay, a businessman who’s forced to coach a kids hockey team after a brush with the law. The classic flicks spawned a whole franchise, including two movie sequels and a TV series reboot that debuted last year—all on Disney+, naturally.
Speaking of underdogs, Miracle tells the story of the real-life hockey team that shocked the world back in 1980. Kurt Russell stars as Herb Brooks, the coach who led Team U.S.A. to a massive upset over the Soviet Union.
Every year, we dedicate a day to acknowledging, appreciating, and preserving our planet. Earth Day is a beautiful way to teach children the importance of keeping our world healthy and clean. This year, Portland has a whole host of events planned for getting out into the communities we love and cherish to do our part in keeping our environment happy. Bringing the kids along to these events is the perfect way to help them understand the importance of protecting our ecosystem, as well as having a little outdoor fun! Need help finding out where to go? No problem – scroll down to see our list of 2022 Earth Day events for kids!
Let’s face it – we live in a city, and in a city there is trash. We might not always have the time to stop and pick up some of that garbage we see on our daily commutes, but this April, we can make time. Bring the kiddos out to northwest Portland to spend a Saturday morning cleaning up the neighborhood! The Hostel Cafe is acting as the hub for this Earth Day tradition, and they’ll have you covered. SOLVE Oregon will provide the bags, the litter grabbers, the gloves, and the refreshments – all you need to do is show up in your best pair of walking shoes, but you can bring all of your own materials if you’d like!
Where: Northwest Portland International Hostel – 479 NW 18th Ave., Portland, OR When: Apr. 23, 2022 from 9- 11 a.m. Online: Event Details
Trail Work in Forest Park
Portland is home the largest urban forest in the country. It offers local families gorgeous trials to bike and hike throughout the year. What better way to celebrate Earth Day then by keeping Forest Park trails clean and healthy. Join Portland families in our city's beloved Forest Park for the annual trail work party with the Forest Park Conservancy. Attendees will work throughout the morning until noon working on the trails. Sign-up is required in advance.
Cleaning up the streets and giving to outdoor programs are great ways to get involved for Earth Day this year, but what if you need a little something extra to challenge your green-ness? Corvallis Environmental Center [CEC] has just the thing for you! Take up the challenge of diminishing your transportation-carbon footprint for all of April by getting creative for when you’re on the go! Gather the kids and brainstorm all the fun ways to get to the park, the store, or their friends’ houses! By bus? By bike? By foot? The options are nearly limitless, especially here in Portland. See how much of a difference you can make this month, and as a bonus, you’ll avoid the crazy gas prices at your neighborhood fuel spot.
As Portlanders, we spend a lot of time enjoying the beauty that is Forest Park. But how often do we take the time to tend to it? This April, the Forest Park Conservancy is giving you and your family an opportunity to do just that. Teaching the kids about the harm caused by invasive species is a great way to introduce them to the makeup of their surrounding environment. And then they get to help rid the park of all that ivy! Suit the whole family up in long pants and close-toed shoes, and spend your Saturday at the Birch Trailhead – Forest Park Conservancy will provide all necessary trainings, tools, and gloves.
This full-day event is sure to get the kids pumped about celebrating our awesome planet. Get to know your neighbors and show up on Earth Day at Washington Highschool to enjoy an afternoon of panel discussions, arts & crafts, and live music! Make sure to bring props, homemade signs, and your best Earth accessories so you can take part in the parade that happens at 5 PM! After that, you can make your way to Clinton Street Records for a little pre-screening bash before settling in at the Clinton Theater to watch Rad Earth [$10/person] with your family. There is no better way to get out into your community, have quality family time, and appreciate the beautiful place we call home.
Where: Revolution Hall Field [AKA Washington Highschool] – 1300 SE Stark St., Portland, OR When: Apr. 22, 1- 9 p.m. Online:Event Details
There’s nothing quite like an afternoon at the movies, but the pandemic and overall cost of loading up on tickets and concessions keeps lots of families away. Never fear, you won’t have to miss out on the newest installation of Sing!
A box office sensation, Vudu, Fandango’s premium video streaming service, has revealed that Sing 2 is already available for purchase and will be available to rent beginning Mar. 29! But wait, what is Vudu?
photo: Courtesy of Illumination
The streaming service offers both free and paid rentals and purchases of thousands of television shows and films. You don’t need a subscription or paid plan to watch, and can purchase or rent as often as you like.
Vudu hasn’t released the price of the rental for Sing 2, but its predecessor, Sing is available to rent for $4 or to buy for $10. To purchase, you can choose between standard, HDX and UHD options, all for $20 each.
Make sure to create your free account to be ready come Mar. 29 to catch up with Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton and Bono!
Wakanda Forever will be available to stream on Disney+ starting tonight
The world is headed back to Wakanda. After topping the box office and earning $821 million at theaters worldwide, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever will be available to watch at home when it hits Disney+ at 12:01 am tonight. This is the longest wait for a Marvel movie to hit the streaming platform, which has some wondering what that means for upcoming releases like Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, and The Marvels.
Marvel Studios shared the long-awaited trailer for the film back in October, giving fans a sneak peek at how powerful and action-packed it is. The trailer kept specific plot details under wraps but revealed that Boseman’s King T’Challa is no longer with us, and his character was not re-cast. Instead, the people of Wakanda are moving forward, despite their loss.
The new film features many landscapes of Wakanda, including an underwater scene (and someone’s baby being born) and what looks like some new villains. Marvel Studios’ synopsis read: [In] “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever,” Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M’Baku, Okoye, and the Dora Milaje, fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia and Everett Ross and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.”
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever was released in theaters on November 11, 2022.
Marvel Studios/YouTubeMarvel Studios
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Cast
Ryan Coogler returns as director, along with many cast members set to reprise their roles. Angela Basset, Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Martin Freeman, Winston Duke, Danai Gurira and Florence Kasumba will return. Newcomers to the franchise include Tenoch Huerta as Namor, the king of a hidden undersea nation, Dominique Thorne as Riri Williams/Ironheart and Michaela Coel as Aneka.
