Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes the 2023 animated series on Disney Junior

Disney Junior and Hasbro's entertainment studio, eOne, have released the first trailer for the new animated series for children Kiya and the Kimoja Heroes (Kiya and the Kimoja heroes). Masterminded by Robert Vargas, adapted from characters created by South African talents Marc Dey and Kelly Dillon, the original action-adventure follows Kiya, a seven-year-old African girl whose passions in life are dance and martial arts, who also become her superpowers.

Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes will premiere in the United States on Disney Junior on Wednesday, March 22 at 16:00 pm EST/PST, and the first four episodes will premiere the same day on Disney+. The series offers great life lessons packed into 11-minute episodes, easily understood by young audiences.

History

 When Kiya, also known by her superhero name “Dance Ninja” and her two best friends Jay, aka “Flying Rockstar” and Motsie, “Tech Racer”, don their headbands adorned with mystical Kimoja crystals, they transform into superheroes and they can perform special moves inspired by their passions, such as Kiya's "POW pirouette". Together they form the superhero team known as Kimoja Heroes, ready to unite their community!

“In partnership with Disney Junior, Frog Box, Triggerfish and France Télévisions, we are very pleased to bring Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes to audiences around the world,” says Esra Cafer, SVP of Global Brand Management at eOne. “We have given a lot of thought and plan to develop fundamentally relatable characters who serve as great role models for young children. Kiya shows that you don't have to choose between learning to dance or being a soccer hero – you can be both! She is encouraging preschoolers to be whoever they want to be and to shine.

Kiya's World features a diverse cast of characters inspired by the landscape, natural beauty and culture of Southern Africa and focuses on the themes of community, empathy and unity. This mix of action, dance and music features African and Asian main characters, beautiful Southern African locations, and a diverse creative team, including writers, designers and composers from around the world.

In the show, three Kimojans, known as “Flawed Friends,” cause mischief and mayhem, motivated by classic preschooler foibles like jealousy, competitiveness, and envy. When these kids screw up, only the Kimoja Heroes can “shine and make things right” to restore harmony to the town.

“Our belief is that Kiya will represent and empower young girls to be leaders who can use their intelligence and skills to solve big problems,” says Tshepo Moche, writer and creative consultant at Triggerfish. “There is still tremendous opportunity for representation and there has never been a better time for the children's programming landscape to reflect the diversity and size of audiences.

Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes is the latest example of Hasbro and eOne's efforts to illustrate that diverse perspectives breed the best ideas and to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion across their brands and gaming experiences.

Fans can follow Kiya on Facebook e Instagram @kiyakimojaheroes.