They’re cute, hairy, and sometimes very odd… and no we’re not talking about our kids! Chimps are joining Disney+ with a fun and interesting new series called “Meet the Chimps”. While you check out the details and new trailer below, don’t forget to schedule some TV time with the family on October 16th when this one premieres!
“Meet the Chimps” takes viewers into the secret life of one of the largest and most unique wildlife sanctuaries in the world – Chimp Haven—a 200-acre refuge tucked deep in the forested heart of Louisiana, which is home to more than 300 chimpanzees. Narrated by Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, this six-part series, from National Geographic, tracks the ups and downs of this extraordinary group of chimps that are given a second chance at life by a staff whose dedication, compassion and commitment knows no bounds. Through a seamless blend of natural history and observational-documentary filmmaking, “Meet the Chimps” puts the chimps – the heart and soul of the series – at front and center. A real-life drama with a full emotional range, the series gives unparalleled access to everything happening at Chimp Haven, including food squabbles, alliances, romances, ‘bromances’, tears, tantrums, high jinxes and heartbreaks.
“Meet the Chimps” premieres Friday, October 16 on Disney+. Anyone else planning a Friday night TV time with the Chimps?!
Happy holidays, Wildcats! Disney+ has announced the return of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series in the form of a brand-new Holiday Special.
Debuting on December 11, the “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series” cast is back to spread some holiday cheer in High School Musical: The Musical: The Holiday Special!
The special will also include a sneak peek of the second season of the Disney+ original series.
Get ready to watch your favorite Disney+ shows and movies with your friends. According to some new code that was added to the streaming service, and as first reported by DisneyPlusInformer.com, it looks like Disney has added the functionality for a “Group Watch” feature. This would allow viewers to watch a film in sync with another account or profile at a different location. The first user sends an email invite to the second user, who clicks to accept the invite. If the second user doesn’t have a Disney+ account, they can create one to join the show.
There will also be a running chat stream for the accounts to have a real-time commentary on the program. The feature will have a PIN code to prevent children or other unauthorized users from initiating a Group Watch session. Additionally, a child’s profile cannot initiate the Group Watch feature. This way parents are aware of when their child is Group Watching and with who.
No word on how, or if, this will work on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, or any other streaming devices. This is likely to be browser-specific, meaning it would have to be used on the computer. Also, no word on when this feature may be enabled. For now, the Group Watch feature is silently waiting within the code for everything else on the site, but it is not currently accessible or usable by viewers. The developers may still be working on this code to get to its final form, and then they will have to turn this feature on when it’s ready to launch.
“The One and Only Ivan” is now available on Disney+! Did you know Disney’s Animal Kingdom inspired “The One and Only Ivan” filmmakers? Check out the details and photos as shared below by Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks.
Gorillas have always held a special place in my heart, so I’ve been deeply touched by the award-winning book “The One and Only Ivan,” which tells the true story of Ivan, a 400-pound silverback gorilla who was raised by humans for the first 27 years of his life in a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall. While there were several other animals there, such as Stella the elephant and Bob the dog, there were no other gorillas. Ivan did not know what it was like to be a part of a gorilla family until he moved to Zoo Atlanta, a fellow Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) accredited institution that oversaw giving him the best possible care.
“The One and Only Ivan” has been adapted for the screen premieres August 21, streaming exclusively on Disney+
You may see some familiar sights from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park in the film, as the park served as an inspiration to the filmmakers. Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, with its lush greenery, was used as a model for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Filmmakers also spent time studying the behaviors of our western lowland gorilla troops, learning about their family dynamics and observing how they forage for food, play with one another, and sleep. We are very fortunate to have an exceptionally dedicated team of animal care experts who invest a lot of time in building trust with these gorillas, and all the 5,000+ animals in our care, which allows us to work closely with them.
In fact, our work with gorillas goes far beyond caring for the troops at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, through the Disney Conservation Fund, we support the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education Center (GRACE), the world’s only sanctuary for orphaned Grauer’s gorillas, a critically endangered species. GRACE provides the sort of storybook ending that Ivan dreams about in the movie. Rescued gorillas join an adoptive gorilla family and get to live together in spacious natural forest enclosures. Our animal care team members provide resources and share their expertise with staff at GRACE, which has been imperative in saving the lives of gorillas and helping ensure they thrive.
I’m very proud of the work our teams have done to support “The One and Only Ivan” and their dedication to ensuring gorillas are well cared for each and every day. I encourage you to watch this heartwarming story on Disney+, and be sure to check out our free downloadable activity packet with all you need to know about the care and conservation of these wonderful animals.
