The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | |
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Genre | |
Created by | |
Based on | The Proud Family by Bruce W. Smith |
Voices of | |
Opening theme | "Proud Family" by Joyce Wrice |
Ending theme | "Proud Family" (instrumental) |
Composer | Kurt Farquhar |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 2 |
No. of episodes | 20 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producer | Jan Hirota |
Running time | 27–30 minutes |
Production companies | |
Original release | |
Network | Disney+ |
Release | February 23, 2022 – present |
Related | |
The Proud Family |
The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is an American animated television series created by Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar which premiered on Disney+ on February 23, 2022. [1] [2] [3] It is a revival of The Proud Family , which originally aired on Disney Channel from 2001 to 2005.
In April 2022, Disney+ confirmed that the show's second season was in production, which premiered on Disney+ on February 1, 2023. [4] The series made its linear premiere on January 7, 2023 on Disney Channel, and on Disney XD on January 8, 2023. [5]
The series follows Penny Proud, still a 14-year-old middle school girl and her family, as they navigate their lives in the 2020s. [3] Suga Mama returns, as do Michael, Dijonay, Zoey, and LaCienega. [6] Two new kids, Maya and KG, along with their adoptive gay fathers, [7] try to adapt to life in Smithville (renamed Emilyville after the season 2 finale, "Juneteenth").
Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
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First released | Last released | |||
1 | 10 | February 23, 2022 | April 20, 2022 | |
2 | 10 | February 1, 2023 |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [33] [34] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [33] [34] | Disney Channel airdate [33] [34] [35] | Prod. code [33] |
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1 | 1 | "New Kids on the Block" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | Ralph Farquhar | February 23, 2022 | January 7, 2023 | 101 |
Penny and her friends suddenly hit puberty with Michael embracing his pride and a saddened LaCienega getting hairier. When they go to see Sticky, they discover that he has moved away to establish himself in another city in Japan and that his house is occupied by the Leibowitz-Jenkinses. Penny tries to befriend the kids, Maya and KG, but Maya blows her off. Meanwhile, Oscar's incensed at the fact that Penny's becoming a woman and tries everything to keep her conservative. Penny tries a variety of ways to get Maya to like her, but she tells her that she doesn't like her because she's superficial. Taking her words to heart, Penny sneaks away from the school dance to help Maya save Shuggie the panda (CeeLo Green), only to learn that he doesn't want to be saved. When Maya insists otherwise, Penny calls her superficial and returns to the dance, with Maya conceding. Oscar arrives when he realizes that Penny's dressed up for the dance; forcing her to finally sit him down to tell him that she's becoming a woman. He finally accepts this as Penny dances with KG. | |||||||
2 | 2 | "Bad Influence(r)" | Tara Whitaker | L.J. Lawrence | February 23, 2022 | January 7, 2023 | 102 |
Penny's surprised that everyone's obsessed with the latest social media influencer Makeup Boy (Bretman Rock), but she sees through his salesman-like tactics. To prove a point, Penny creates a video called Growing Up Proud. The video goes viral and the Gross Sisters, who now want legitimate compensation to start their rap careers, "ask" Penny to play their track on her next video. Penny keeps up her series and begins to rack up followers to the point that she has power to control people's views. She cancels Makeup Boy, ruining his career, and soon uses this ability to cancel LaCienega, the teachers and send Suga Mama away. Maya confronts Penny on her behavior and uses KG's drone to catch Oscar getting paid off by Wizard Kelly; sending it out to the internet and causing Penny to lose all of her followers. Penny encounters Makeup Boy, now going by Sebastian, who thanks her for bringing him back to his roots. Upon returning home, Penny apologizes for her actions as a newly swollen Suga Mama punishes Oscar for helping Penny send her away. | |||||||
3 | 3 | "It All Started with an Orange Basketball" | Latoya Raveneau | Calvin Brown Jr. | March 2, 2022 | January 14, 2023 | 103 |
Oscar makes a foolish bet with Wizard Kelly that if his basketball team beats his, they have to switch lives for a week, but if he loses, his protégé Peabo has to work for him. Oscar inadvertently injures his star player, Michael, and tries to turn to Penny's new tall boyfriend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Brown (Asante Blackk), but he turns out to be horrible. He discovers that Penny is actually good, as he taught her when she was a little girl, and coerces her to join the team, despite her disliking the sport. Her devotion to the team causes her to miss study meetings with Kareem and allowing LaCienega to bud with him. Hurt and angry Kareem eventually approaches and confronts Penny and tells her to be true to herself, while also revealing that he is good at basketball. Oscar's team is outmatched and Penny has everyone forfeit the game. She stops by Kareem's recital where she reconciles with him and he leaves LaCienega to be with Penny. Oscar tries to back out of his deal with Wizard Kelly and is forced to work as a ticket taker at the Wizard Kelly theater with Peabo as his new boss. | |||||||
4 | 4 | "Father Figures" | Latoya Raveneau | Ralph Farquhar | March 9, 2022 | January 14, 2023 | 104 |
While Oscar tries to get a loan for a new theme park, Penny and her friends are upset over not getting tickets to see Pink-I in concert. Luckily, Maya and KG's father Barry, a police officer, gets them in. Upon arrival, Dijonay learns that Maya and KG have two dads, the other being Randall, a banker. Despite Penny telling her not to, Dijonay posts this fact online, causing everyone at school to shun them. Penny tries to help them, but unintentionally offends them over the fact that they are adopted. Oscar bans Penny from hanging out with the siblings, pushing her and the other Prouds away from him. Oscar goes to the bank to get a loan and impresses Randall, but upon seeing him kissing Barry, suddenly feels tense; losing the loan in the process. Penny and her friends stand up for Maya and KG in front of the Gross Sisters and get invited to their house for gumbo. The whole neighborhood arrives, including Oscar, who finally accepts the Leibowitz-Jenkinses and gets the approved loan; resulting in him buying a radioactive plot of land. | |||||||
5 | 5 | "Snackland" | Tara Whitaker | L.J. Lawrence | March 16, 2022 | January 21, 2023 | 105 |
Oscar finally builds Snackland where, to no one's surprise, it is poorly kept and has dangerously built rides. After a father and son get seriously injured, Oscar is about to close it, but the father and son reveal that they liked it and soon people return to Snackland. It is later revealed that Oscar stole the idea from Freddy Frito of Frito Snacks, but he shoos her away. Meanwhile, Bobby reforms LPDZ, but Penny discovers that her voice sounds like Tone Loc, which everyone keeps telling her. Her voice convinces her to own it, but the crew do not like it and it deters the crowd at Snackland. Soon, Bobby replaces Penny with Maya, changing the name to LMDZ, making her dejected. Lizzo, who was visiting the park, gives words of encouragement to Penny and tells her to embrace her voice. Lizzo goes to perform and has Penny take center stage with her group; winning the crowd over. Lizzo goes looking for Oscar after his check bounced, while Penny's friends apologize for dropping her from the group. | |||||||
6 | 6 | "Get In" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | Tiffany Thomas | March 23, 2022 | January 21, 2023 | 106 |
Oscar and Trudy keep forgetting to pick up Penny and her friends; forcing her to rely on Bobby. While helping him get some "gas station nachos" as payment, Penny gets the idea to create a ride service that can pick up kids after school with Bobby unintentionally contributing the name Get In. Penny and her friends manage to acquire the money, but the business quickly falls apart; forcing Penny to have to go on Crab Barrel with Bobby in order to get investors. Despite the hosts getting upset upon learning her relation to Oscar, she manages to get invested, again mostly due to Bobby, and her business explodes. Meanwhile, Oscar has trouble working his single employee Mr. Carmichael, who is actually a monkey, and gets confronted by animal services. Penny tells Oscar that it is because of him that she is a success. However, Carmichael, who started working at Get In, single-handedly tanks the company due to being a monkey and Oscar ends up in jail due to his association, though gets literally flushed out by a rat. | |||||||
7 | 7 | "When You Wish Upon a Roker" | Latoya Raveneau | Ashley Soto Paniagua | March 30, 2022 | January 28, 2023 | 107 |
After Oscar ruins a date between Penny and Kareem, even though the latter does not mind, Penny angrily bemoans having to put up with her family and wishes to be on her own. Al Roker appears to once again offer Penny his assistance and she, as well as her friends, accept his offer to wish themselves as Sophomores in college, though they are given one week to decide if they want the change permanently. Penny and her friends love campus life, but soon Penny finds herself unable to keep up with her classes and all her friends decide to return to their old lives. Penny stubbornly stays the week, but soon regrets it and has to pay off everything to get her old life back. Oscar, having been given Roker's offer by Dijonay, comes to talk sense into Penny and she agrees to return. They go up against Roker in a basketball game with Oscar indirectly winning and are both sent back home to their old lives. Oscar admits to Penny that the experience at the play earlier was because he wanted to be on stage. | |||||||
8 | 8 | "Home School" | Tara Whitaker | Tiffany Thomas | April 6, 2022 | January 28, 2023 | 108 |
The kids get the mean Ms. Hill (Tiffany Haddish) as their substitute teacher. In the evening, Penny realizes that she forgot her cellphone in detention and sneaks into the school to get it, only to find that Ms. Hill is homeless and lives in the teacher's lounge. She tells her friends the next day not to let anyone know, but Dijonay blabs about it; causing Ms. Hill to get fired and live in her car. Meanwhile, Zoey is made drum major, despite her not having any rhythm, and seeks out Bobby to help train her in the ways of the funk. Feeling guilty, Penny invites Ms. Hill to stay with her and her family, but quickly regrets it as she is a bossy teacher even when not working. She decides to hold a fundraiser to get Ms. Hill back on her feet, but no one at the school assembly will help, that is until Zoey uses what Bobby taught her to excite the crowd into donating. Ms. Hill happily thanks Penny for the donation and rekindles her romantic relationship with Bobby, who was her prom date back in high school. | |||||||
9 | 9 | "Raging Bully" | Latoya Raveneau | Kylee Evans | April 13, 2022 | February 4, 2023 | 109 |
LaCienega is getting prepared for her Quinceañera when her cousin LaBrea Avanúñez (Princess Nokia) and her mother Melrose (Eva Longoria) arrive. LaBrea, who was once a chubby jokester, is now thin and pretty while the self-entitled Melrose constantly undermines her sister Sunset. Penny and the rest of her friends like the new LaBrea while it is becoming increasingly obvious that LaCienega is becoming jealous. On the day of the Quinceañera, Sunset continues to add more things to impress Melrose, such as inviting Kid Capri, and LaBrea plays a prank on LaCienega that results in her getting trapped on one of the rides in Snackland. KG uses his drone to find her as Penny and everyone come to rescue her. LaBrea admits that she was jealous of her and that her mother puts pressure on her because they are broke (she is even wearing shape wear to make herself look thin). They get LaCienega down and make up while Melrose apologizes to Sunset for being so dismissive with her. Felix is flummoxed by the bill for the Quinceañera. | |||||||
10 | 10 | "Old Towne Road (Part 1)" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | Calvin Brown Jr. | April 20, 2022 | February 4, 2023 | 110 |
Trudy traces her Parker family history to its roots. When she tries to trace Oscar's roots, they do not seem to go anywhere. She does some digging and discovers that Oscar, Suga Mama and Bobby's family is from Oklahoma. The entire Proud Family, especially Suga Mama, reluctantly go to Towne, Oklahoma where they are greeted by Suga Mama's still living Pa (Glynn Turman) and her brothers who own a ranch. Pa wants nothing to do with Suga Mama, but another relative named Myrtle (Debbie Allen) invites them in where the rest of the family is very cordial and inviting. Oscar immediately picks up some wrangling habits that make Pa proud, Penny hangs out with her cousins where she learns to live without technology and Bobby makes music with June Bug (Lil Nas X). It becomes apparent that Suga Mama's discomfort comes from her father's blatant sexism of refusing to let her join in any activities. Following another put down, Suga Mama solemnly walks off without making a comeback; ending the episode on a cliffhanger. |
No. overall | No. in season | Title [33] [34] | Directed by | Written by | Original release date [33] [34] | Disney Channel airdate [33] [34] [35] | Prod. code [33] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11 | 1 | "Old Towne Road (Part 2)" | Tara N. Whitaker | Calvin Brown Jr. | February 1, 2023 | March 4, 2023 | 201 |
After being insulted by Pa Towne, Suga Mama decides to leave Towne and Penny joins her after she finds out that LaCienega is now dating Kareem. They wander the desert before encountering Native American Quanah (Wes Studi) and his grandson Tyee (Forrest Goodluck), who Penny falls in love with. Years ago, Suga Mama was set to marry Quanah, but laws at the time prevented them from doing so. They planned to run away together, but Quanah chose to stay because Pa Towne threatened him and because he felt he could do more for his community, which he has done so. The rest of the Townes brings the group back and the following day, they attend the rodeo. Oscar is doing well at first until the bull he is riding becomes too much for him. Finally answering his cries, Suga Mama tames the bull in front of everyone, finally making Pa Towne realize that Suga Mama could do anything. They finally make up with one another and Suga Mama and Quanah agree to remain friends. As the Prouds finally leave, Penny accepts her family history. In a post-credits scene, Kareem tells Penny that he and LaCienega are not dating. Penny tells him that's it's okay and puts on the hat that Tyee gave her when she left Towne and says it's "from a friend", leaving Kareem confused. | |||||||
12 | 2 | "Grandma's Hands" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | Tiffany Thomas | February 1, 2023 | March 4, 2023 | 202 |
Penny continues to arrive home late at night from hanging out with Kareem and continuously fails to do her homework. Fed up with her irresponsible behavior, Trudy locks Penny out of the house and refuses to let her in to teach her a lesson. Oscar gives Penny some bus money to go to Suga Mama's house. While she takes her in, she knows of Penny's misdeeds and subjects her to a variety of chores that tire her out. Even when her friends show up, they get dragged into helping out around the house. To further annoy her, Trudy announces that she, Oscar and the twins are heading to New York City to see her sister's new play for the week. Just as Penny finally gets used to her new routine, Suga Mama suddenly falls down the stairs and is stuck in a wheelchair. At first, she is scared that Penny will take her revenge on her, but she instead agrees to take care of her and Bobby. As the rest of the Prouds return home, Trudy is happy to see that Penny has improved as she admits that she did it all out of love. Penny and Trudy make up. | |||||||
13 | 3 | "Curved" | Latoya Raveneau | Ashley Soto Paniagua | February 1, 2023 | March 11, 2023 | 203 |
Penny is preparing for her and Dijonay's friend-iversary. At the same time, she is also on the debate team with Maya, Myron, and Zoey. However, Zoey has lost her voice and a new debate team member is randomly chosen by their teacher Brother Kwame (Leslie Odom Jr.), who turns out to be Dijonay. No one thinks she is up to the task, but to their astonishment, Dijonay is revealed to have an eidetic memory and is able to help the team win the debate. She soon meets Darrius St. Vil (Chance the Rapper), another debate member, and begins to spend more time with him. Penny becomes angered, especially when they both begin to openly mock her in front of them. While at the zoo, Penny voices her frustrations to Shuggie the Panda before discovering that Darrius has been lifting notes from Dijonay. She reveals this to the team and Dijonay is angered and quits. On the day of the debate, Dijonay returns and helps her team win. While angry at Darrius, she forgives him and opts to celebrate her win and friend-iversary with Penny. | |||||||
14 | 4 | "A Perfect 10" | Tara N. Whitaker | Annabel Feeney | February 1, 2023 | March 11, 2023 | 204 |
While taking gymnastics class, LaCienega realizes that her big feet allow her to be an excellent gymnast. This results in Penny and her friends pushing her into being a professional gymnast with Sunset and Randall backing her up due to their own unresolved issues. Meanwhile, Trudy gets a kangaroo out of a tree and Oscar takes him and names him Zapp when he proves to be a positive match for him. As LaCienega's Olympic star rises, tensions rise with the group as they feed off of her success. After turning down Wizard Kelly's offer to sign, LaCienega beats Laurie Hernandez to participate in the Olympics, much to LaCienega’s chagrin. However, Zapp is revealed to be JoJo, Laurie’s pet kangaroo, and while going over Wizard Kelly's new contract, a food fight breaks out, resulting in LaCienega breaking her leg. Wizard signs up with Laurie instead. As everyone argues with each other, except for a despondent LaCienega, Suga Mama calls everyone out for being greedy and taking advantage of LaCienega’s fame and they apologize to and makeup with LaCienega for taking advantage of her and for using her for greed. LaCienega continues to teach kids gymnastics as BeBe shows off his own physicality. | |||||||
15 | 5 | "Puff Daddy" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | Kylee Evans | February 1, 2023 | March 18, 2023 | 205 |
Felix and Papi arrive on the Prouds' doorstep with puppies that they claim to belong to Puff after he impregnated their dog, La Lupe. Oscar and Suga Mama deny the allegation and soon a war rages between the two trying to get rid of the puppies. Meanwhile, Penny gets an internship at Teen Rogue as the personal assistant to Talia Rogue (Gabrielle Union) who is strict and domineering. Penny is forced to take them to work as the adults fight over the puppies. Believing they were brought for her, Talia happily accepts the puppies and even promotes Penny to a better office, albeit still unpaid. After going on two different courtroom shows and getting different responses, Oscar, Suga Mama, Felix, and Papi go on Maury Povich who conclude that Puff is not the father of La Lupe's puppies. Penny manages to give them away to Talia, but they find out too late that the puppies are a rare breed and worth thousands. As Suga Mama and Papi makeup, La Lupe is seen interacting with the real father of the puppies. | |||||||
16 | 6 | "The End of Innocence" | Latoya Raveneau | Kylee Evans | February 1, 2023 | March 18, 2023 | 206 |
All the girls at school are excited to hear that Odder Things star Noah Barker (Andre Jamal Kinney) is transferring to their school. Upon his arrival, he immediately asks out Zoey, much to everyone's confusion. Maya informs everyone that he only dates white girls. In response, they kick Zoey out of their Disney Princess party. When Zoey crashes the party to confront them, she disbelieves the girls about Noah, and accuses them of being jealous. Meanwhile, Suga Mama reunites with her friend Celia (Jane Lynch) and heads out to Wiz Vegas. Celia is overly lucky and Suga Mama becomes Jealous and accuses her of stealing Papi from her. Zoey crashes the Disney party and Penny tries to have everyone express their feelings, but this causes a bigger rift between them. Penny and Suga Mama talk with Suga Mama making up with Celia. At the Valentine's Day dance, Zoey tells the girls that she broke up with Noah about his preferences and they apologize for ostracizing her. Myron asks Zoey to dance, admitting that he is attracted to her brain rather than her skin color and she accepts. | |||||||
17 | 7 | "The Soul Vibrations" | Tara N. Whitaker | Ashley Soto Paniagua and Calvin Brown Jr. | February 1, 2023 | March 25, 2023 | 207 |
Penny and her friends plan to camp out to get tickets to Young Toddler who will have singer Giselle (Normani) of the Soul Vibrations. Oscar and Suga Mama are oddly negative about her and Bobby reveals that he, Oscar, Cousin Ray Ray (Anthony Anderson), and Giselle used to be together as the Soul Vibrations with Suga Mama as their manager. Bobby and Oscar both give slightly conflicting stories about how "they" were the talented ones before getting invited to Merlin Kelly's party to perform. Giselle stole the spotlight from them, signed with Merlin behind their backs, and left. Ray Ray arrives and reveals that he got backstage tickets for them to see Giselle who gives her own side of the story. She was always the talented one and she quit because Suga Mama did not see her as family. Suga Mama arrives and reveals that Merlin betrayed them all and she and Giselle make up. Suga Mama finally admits that Bobby has no talent and Giselle admits that she was sweet with Ray Ray. She invites her former bandmates up on stage to perform with her again. | |||||||
18 | 8 | "Us Again" | Wolf-Rüdiger Bloss | L.J. Lawrence | February 1, 2023 | March 25, 2023 | 208 |
Penny invites Zoey to her house on a bad night when her family is arguing all the time. Zoey envies her family for their arguments, but Penny wishes her family could be better for once. The next day, Penny, Zoey, Oscar, and Trudy begin to notice that everyone in town is acting differently such as Suga Mama and Papi switching languages, the Gross Sisters and Wizard Kelly being nice and Penny and Zoey's friends acting the opposite of who they are. Zoey reveals that her whole family including herself has been replaced by clones. Penny runs home and discovers her family captured by more clones and the peanuts Macadamia and Pistachio. They want to learn about happiness but do not know how. The Prouds, with the help of Bobby, Suga Mama and Zoey, tell corny jokes to make them all laugh. Just as the Peanuts plan to get rid of them anyway, the events turn out to be a dream that Penny had, similar to the previous one where she had a driver's license, and accept her family's flaws. She wakes up again after having another fright from the peanuts. | |||||||
19 | 9 | "BeBe" | Latoya Raveneau | Travis Andres | February 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | 209 |
While Oscar faces legal ramifications over his factory, Penny is tasked with looking after BeBe and CeCe while hanging out with her friends at the museum. BeBe gets lost and climbs atop a plane and shows no fear when he falls. When Penny brings the twins home, BeBe does the same thing again, much to Oscar and Trudy's shock and concern. Dr. Payne believes that something is off with BeBe and sends them to Dr. Lord (Holly Robinson Peete) who tells them that BeBe is on the autism spectrum. She offers to have him attend her school, but Oscar refuses on the grounds that he believes nothing is wrong with him. Penny opens up to Dr. Lord as she believes that this will bounce back on her and stress her out, to which she agrees. Oscar is forced to take the twins to work with him where he fails the inspection and has his factory shut down for good. He finally relents in letting BeBe go to the special school and accepts that his son is different. Just as they leave, BeBe and his new friends are revealed to have superpowers. | |||||||
20 | 10 | "Juneteenth" | Tara N. Whitaker | Samira Fuller | February 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | 210 |
As Barry reveals that he is descended from Smithville's founder Christian A. Smith, Maya goes to school and meets Emily (Storm Reid), a girl who beckons her to inquire about Smith's history, learning that there is virtually no information about him prior to 1900. No one else seems to notice Emily, but Maya, who finds a journal from her buried in the dirt near the statue of Smith, whom the town plans on honoring later. Maya, Penny, and their friends take the journal to Brother Kwame and discover that it contains information revealing that Smith was a slave owner and that Emily is a ghost, and may have been killed for trying to celebrate the first Juneteenth. Wizard Kelly refuses to end the celebration and Barry refuses to believe his family history. Upset, the kids go to the celebration and march, resulting in them and their parents getting arrested for standing up. Barry admits that he was ashamed and apologizes. After a month of negotiations, Smithville is renamed Emilyville and a statue of Emily is erected instead of Smith. Maya then sees Emily appear as an old woman before her spirit disappears, implying she was not killed and lived to know freedom. |
In August 2019, Tommy Davidson stated that The Proud Family would be revived for a third season on Disney+. [36]
On January 1, 2020, the original series began streaming on Disney+, and shortly thereafter Disney executives approached Farquhar and Smith about reviving the series [37] On February 27, 2020, the show was formally ordered on Disney+. [8] [38] The original cast (minus Tara Strong, due to casting restrictions and Orlando Brown, due to his judicial processes) reprised their roles, and Keke Palmer voiced a new character introduced to the series named Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins, who is a 14-year-old activist. [39] Zachary Quinto and Billy Porter also voice her adoptive parents, Barry and Randall Leibowitz-Jenkins, and EJ Johnson replaced Phil LaMarr as Michael Collins. [1] In July 2021, Canadian studio WildBrain stated that they would be engaging in animation services for the series, [40] while it is produced by Disney Television Animation, a studio not involved with the original series. [38] The executive producers of the series, Bruce W. Smith and Ralph Farquhar, said that the "show never really went away" and called it the "perfect time to bring back this show". [41] Screen Rant argued that the revival will break down barriers through the inclusion of multicultural families and characters belonging to the LGBTQ+ community. [42]
On September 15, 2021, more cast members were announced, including Asante Blackk as Penny's new boyfriend, Kareem, Artist "A Boogie" Dubose as Maya's gamer brother Francis "KG" Leibowitz-Jenkins, along with returning cast members Raquel Lee Bolleau as Nubia Gross and Marcus T. Paulk as Myron. Additionally, some celebrity guest voices include Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Tiffany Haddish, Lena Waithe, Debbie Allen, James Pickens Jr., Marsai Martin, Jaden Smith, Glynn Turman, Lamorne Morris, Brenda Song, Tina Knowles (whose daughters performed the original show's theme music), Eva Longoria, Al Roker, and Bretman Rock. Guests for season two will include Chance the Rapper, Gabrielle Union, Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Anthony Anderson, Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, Jane Lynch, Holly Robinson Peete, Maury Povich, Storm Reid, Courtney B. Vance, and Liana Mendoza. [43] [44] The show also has Aldis Hodge returning as Frankie and Patricia Belcher as Principal Hightower. [14]
On November 12, 2021, it was announced the series was scheduled to be released in February 2022. [45] On January 14, 2022, the series was given a release date of February 23, 2022. [2] Eastwood Wong is the art director for the series, while Calvin Brown, Jr. is co-executive producer and story editor.
Before the show's premiere, Ralph Farquhar explained that the show will be more direct in discussing relevant social issues rather than using "coded language" as in the original show. He also explained that the introduction of LGBTQ+ characters is the "biggest change" people can expect to the show. [3] Farquhar revealed that in The Proud Family, they had to use "code to talk about if Michael was gay, to talk about sexuality" and to be "sort of underhanded about it". He said this changed with The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The biggest changes to the show were "gender identity, obviously racial identity and quote-unquote wokeness", and said that sexuality can be "sort of in your face with it a lot more", manifesting itself in the storytelling. Bruce W. Smith also said that the show has more than "just one gay person...representing the entire LGBTQ+ spectrum" and said that it is "not fair" to only have one LGBTQ character in the series. [46]
On February 17, 2022, Farquhar said that the show will portray more than "one view of Blackness or a Black family." Smith argued that the series is "blazing a path...[in] this animated sphere", saying it has parts of the horror, sci-fi, and Western genres. [47]
On April 18, 2022, Disney+ confirmed the show's second season was in production. [4] It was also reported that the second season would feature guest stars such as Normani, Leslie Odom Jr., Dominique Dawes, Gabby Douglas, Laurie Hernandez, and Maury Povich. [48]
The second season premiered on February 1, 2023 on Disney+ and March 4, 2023 on Disney Channel. [49] [50]
In June 2023, it was announced that the series was picked up for a third season. [51]
R&B singer Joyce Wrice sings the theme song for the series. [52] A digital soundtrack for the series became available on February 25, 2022. Composer, songwriter and producer Kurt Farquhar who composed and wrote the theme song of the original series returns as the songwriter and composer for this series. [46]
"Gas Station Nachos", performed by Bobby Proud (voiced by Cedric the Entertainer) in the episode "Get In", was released as a single on digital music platforms on March 25, 2022, with a lyric video posted to the Disney Music Vevo channel. [53] "I Sold Out, I'm Not a Sellout", from the episode "When You Wish Upon a Roker" and performed by guest star Lamorne Morris, was released similarly on April 1, 2022. [54]
According to review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 100% of 6 critics gave the series' first season a positive review, with an average rating of 7.50/10. [55]
Lapacazo Sandoval of the Los Angeles Sentinel said the series is filled with "sparkling dialogue" and "colorful colloquialisms" known by Black households. [56] Jessica Curney of The Michigan Daily said that the show "doesn't miss a beat" but that those used to the original show may take time getting used to the series due to change in story art and tone. Even so, Curney stated that the show is still wholesome while catering to modern sensibilities, teaching life lessons to viewers, especially the younger generation of viewers. [57] Bustle stated that the series is reason to have a Disney+ subscription, while praising the series for its new characters, changed theme song, and guest stars. [58] Some fans, however, sent the creators near death threats and warned them to not change the theme song from the original series. [59] In contrast, Taylor Lyles of IGN reviewed the first two episodes of the series 7 out of 10, and said the revival retains the charm of the original while focusing on new trends like smartphones, social media influences, and cryptocurrency. They also stated that although attempts at being hip "fell flat", the revival generally makes changes but for the better, while remaining goofy and funny, and shows a "lot of potential." [60]
Leigh Ann Jackson of the New York Times argued that the series revived a "beloved animated series" for a new generation, updating the themes from the original to trends of the 2020s. [37] Stephanie Snyder of Common Sense Media rated the series 4 out of 5 stars and said the series had "life lessons and lots of laughs" which provokes "heartwarming nostalgia" for those who watched the original series. While the animation system, soundtrack, and modern jargon and slang were praised, it was noted that there are stereotypes, but they compel viewers to reflect, and stated that the series offers representation of a Black family on television like its predecessor. [61] Nadira Goffe of Slate criticized the series, calling it "seemingly nostalgia-baiting revamp", voicing disapproval of the changed theme song, dialogue with modern slang, and stated that the series is not for old fans, but for a new audience instead. They also criticized the series for abandoning "many things that made it special" in the first place while praising it for its "beautiful, vibrant, and still entirely in tune" animation. [62]
The second season of the show attracted some controversy for its themes [63] particularly a performance scene which stated that "slaves built this country", advocating present-day reparations, and the season 2 finale episode, entitled "Juneteenth". [64] [65] However, others praised the season for its depiction of autism [65] [66] and Maya's character as adding a "layer of skepticism to the storylines". [67] Rendy Jones of Them said the series "upped the ante" from season one, focusing on "virtually unspoken topics" not touched by other all-ages animation, noting the original series also "dared to air social commentary" pertaining to Black culture, praised the season two finale as a "surprisingly urgent and LGBTQ+-inclusive story", and said the episode will "stand the test of time". [63]
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Animated Series | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Nominated | [68] [69] |
Outstanding Casting for an Animated Program | Tatiana Bull, Aaron Drown, David H. Wright III | Won | |||
Outstanding Voice Directing for an Animated Series | Ralph Farquhar, Bruce Smith | Nominated | |||
2023 | Annie Awards | Outstanding Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production | Karen Malina White | Nominated | [70] |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Animated Series | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Won | [71] | |
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) | Billy Porter | Nominated | |||
Cedric the Entertainer | Nominated | ||||
Kyla Pratt | Won | ||||
GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming - Animated | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Nominated | [72] | |
Children's and Family Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for an Animated Program | Tatiana Bull, Aaron Drown | Nominated | [73] | |
2024 | GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Kids and Family Programming - Animated | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Nominated | [74] |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Animated Series | Won | [75] | ||
Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance (Television) | Keke Palmer | Nominated | |||
Kyla Pratt | Won |
The Proud Family is an American animated television series created by Bruce W. Smith that aired on Disney Channel for two seasons from September 15, 2001, to August 19, 2005. The series centers on the life of the titular family, including the show’s main protagonist, Penny Proud, a 14-year-old African American teenager who navigates her adolescence while dealing with her friends and family. Episodes deal with Penny discovering her boundaries and struggling with family relationships and peer pressure. Penny Proud has strong relationships with her entrepreneurial father Oscar Proud and her veterinarian mother Trudy Proud, as well as her friends Dijonay Jones, LaCienega Boulevardez, Zoey Howzer, and Sticky Webb.
Kyla Alissa Pratt is an American actress. She's best known for providing the voice of Penny Proud in the first Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family, and portraying Breanna Latrice Barnes in UPN's One on One. After playing Maya Dolittle, the daughter of Eddie Murphy's character in the films Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2, Pratt became the main character in the spin-off series of the franchise which included Dr. Dolittle 3, Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief, and Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts. Pratt has also been in the films Fat Albert, Hotel for Dogs, and The Proud Family Movie. From 2012 to 2014, she appeared in the series Let's Stay Together. She was formerly a part of VH1's Black Ink Crew: Compton and the cast of Call Me Kat on Fox and is reprising the role of Penny in The Proud Family revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder on Disney+.
Tara Lyn Strong is a Canadian and American actress. She is known for her voice work in animation, websites, and video games. Strong's voice roles include animated series such as The New Batman Adventures, Teen Titans, Teen Titans Go!, Rugrats, The Powerpuff Girls, The Fairly OddParents, The Proud Family, Xiaolin Showdown, Ben 10, Chowder, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, Unikitty!, and DC Super Hero Girls. She has also voiced characters in the video games Mortal Kombat X, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Jak and Daxter, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2, Blue Dragon, and Batman: Arkham. Strong has earned Annie Award and Daytime Emmy nominations and won an award from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.
Cree Summer Francks is an American and Canadian actress and singer. She is best known for her extensive work in animation, voicing characters such as Elmyra Duff in Tiny Toon Adventures and related media, Susie Carmichael in Rugrats and Lizard in Spirit Rangers, for which she won a NAACP Image Awards and received two nominations at the Children's and Family Emmy Awards.
Albert Lincoln Roker Jr. is an American weather presenter, journalist, television personality, and author. He is the weather anchor on NBC's Today, and occasionally co-hosts 3rd Hour Today. He has an inactive American Meteorological Society Television Seal #238.
Jo Marie Payton is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as Harriette Baines Winslow on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters (1989–1998), a role she originated on its forerunner series Perfect Strangers. From 2001 to 2005, Payton provided the voice for Suga Mama Proud on Disney Channel's animated series The Proud Family and reprised the role in the 2005 TV Movie The Proud Family Movie and also on Disney+’s revival The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. The role earned her an NAACP Image Award nomination in 2005. Payton also had recurring roles as the personal assistant to Gregory Hines' character, Ben Doucette, during season two of Will & Grace (1999–2000).
Alisa Reyes is an American actress, best known for three seasons that she appeared on Nickelodeon's All That (1994–97) and providing the voice of LaCienega Boulevardez in the Disney Channel's, The Proud Family (2001–05) and its 2022 revival.
Raquel Lee is an American former actress who appeared on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show during the show's first season.
Ming-Na Wen is an American actress and model. Wen is known for her work in both film and television, as well as her work as a voice actress.
Karen Malina White is an American film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Kaneesha Carter in the 1989 drama film Lean on Me, Charmaine Brown during the two final seasons on The Cosby Show (1990–1992) and its spin-off A Different World (1992–1993), Nicolette Vandross on Malcolm & Eddie (1996–2000), and as the voice of Dijonay Jones on the Disney Channel animated comedy The Proud Family (2001–2005) and its 2022 Disney+ reboot The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.
Idina Kim Menzel is an American actress and singer. Particularly known for her work in musicals on Broadway, she has been nicknamed the "Queen of Broadway" for her commanding stage presence, powerful mezzo-soprano, and reputation as one of the most influential stage actors of her generation. Having achieved mainstream success across stage, screen, and music, her accolades include a Tony Award and a Daytime Emmy Award.
Bruce Wayne Smith is an American film and television producer, animator, character designer and film director. He is best known as the creator of Disney Channel's The Proud Family (2001–2005) and Disney+'s The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder (2021–present). Employed by Walt Disney Animation Studios since 1996, Smith has served as the supervising animator for Kerchak and Baboons & Baby Baboon in Tarzan, Pacha in The Emperor's New Groove, Dr. Facilier in The Princess and the Frog and Piglet, Kanga and Roo in Winnie the Pooh. He directed the 1992 animated film Bebe's Kids, which was met with critical and commercial failure.
Brenda Song Culkin is an American actress. Born in California, Song began her career at the age of six, working as a child model. She made her screen debut with a guest appearance on the sitcom Thunder Alley (1995), and went on to roles such as the children's television series Fudge (1995) and the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999). She starred in the Disney Channel original film The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000), which won her a Young Artist Award. She subsequently signed a contract with Disney Channel and earned widespread recognition for playing the titular character in the action film Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006), and London Tipton in the comedy franchise The Suite Life (2005–2011), earning her acclaim and two Young Hollywood Awards. She additionally played the character of Tia on Phil of the Future (2004–2005), and had starring roles in the television film Get a Clue (2002), the sports comedy film Like Mike (2002) and the comedy film Stuck in the Suburbs (2004).
The Proud Family Movie is a 2005 American animated comedy television film based on the Disney Channel animated series, The Proud Family. It premiered on August 19, 2005 and serves as the finale to the show’s original run.
Maria Pilar Canals-Barrera is an American actress. She is known for starring as Theresa Russo in the Disney Channel series Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012), Connie Torres in Camp Rock (2008) and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam (2010), and Daniela in the ABC comedy series Cristela (2014–2015).
Fish Hooks is an American animated television series created by Noah Z. Jones and developed by Alex Hirsch and William Reiss for Disney Channel. The show ran for three seasons from September 3, 2010, to April 4, 2014, airing a total of 59 episodes.
This article features the history of the representation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) characters in animated productions under The Walt Disney Company, including films from the studios Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar, and programming from the Disney Branded Television channels as well as the streaming service Disney+. From 1983 onward, Disney struggled with LGBTQ representation in their animated series, and their content often included LGBTQ stereotypes or the content was censored in series which aired on Toon Disney such as Blazing Dragons. Some creators have also criticized Disney studio executives of cutting LGBTQ scenes from their shows in the past, or criticized that their shows were not seen as part of the "Disney brand", like The Owl House.
Chibiverse is an American animated television series developed by Gino Guzzardo, produced by Disney Television Animation and premiered on Disney Channel on July 30, 2022. The series is based on the studio's Chibi Tiny Tales short series.