A big slice of Tangled is coming to Disney Junior’s Sofia the First. November 23 the network will air a primetime special guest starring Mandy Moore as Princess Rapunzel.
Sofia the First is an animated program featuring Modern Family‘s Ariel Winter as Sofia, a young princess who learns day-to-day duties like kindness and compassion with the help of Sleeping Beauty‘s Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. The special, entitled The Curse of Princess Ivy, involves an evil princess overtaking Enchancia following Sofia’s magic amulet being taken by Amber. The episode also guest stars Anna Camp, John Michael Higgins, and Olivia Platt.
Disney Princesses hold cameos several times each season, appearing one at a time. Rapunzel follows in the footsteps of Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, and Mulan (the latter three all voiced by their original actresses and Belle interestingly played by her new official voice, Julie Nathanson). They typically show up to encourage Sofia and her friends through difficult decisions.
Rapunzel appearing seems natural, but is a big deal considering the newness Tangled still has, having released in 2010. Other princess films have been used in consumer products and television entities countless times, while Rapunzel is still experiencing all this for the first time. This marks the first time Mandy Moore will have voiced Rapunzel since the 2012 short Tangled Ever After. Moore currently plays the lead character on Sheriff Callie’s Wild West, also on Disney Junior.
Sofia the First isn’t the only Disney Junior series to delve into classic Disney lore. Just this month Jake and the Never Land Pirates aired a special featuring guest appearances by the Darling children and Tinker Bell. (Captain Hook and Mr. Smee are the show’s only regular Peter Pan cast.) Disney Junior is currently developing a series whose main character will be Simba’s son.
If Sofia the First is bold enough to revive Tangled, we’re all thinking what could be next… right?
The Curse of Princess Ivy airs November 23 at 7 p.m. on Disney Channel.
(Via The Wrap.)
