Disney Junior's Ariel: The Cast

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Source: www.billboard.com/culture/tv-film/little-mermaid-disney-juniors-ariel-cast-taye-diggs-amber-riley-1235394892/

TV/FILM
Taye Diggs & ‘Glee’ Alum Amber Riley Cast in ‘Little Mermaid’ Animated Series ‘Disney Junior’s Ariel’
Mykal-Michelle Harris will voice the title character, while Diggs plays King Triton & Riley plays Ursula.

By Katie Atkinson

08/18/2023


Ursula and King Triton
Disney Junior

Three months after the release of the live-action Little Mermaid movie starring Halle Bailey, we now know who will bring the famous mermaid and her underwater pals to life once more in the upcoming animated series based on the film, Disney Junior’s Ariel.

Disney Junior announced Friday (Aug. 18) that 11-year-old actress Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) will voice the title character, while Taye Diggs will play her father King Triton and Glee alum Amber Riley will voice her sea-witch nemesis Ursula.

Diggs is a veteran actor of stage and screen, breaking out on Broadway in 1996 as part of the original cast of Rent and on film in 1998’s How Stella Got Her Groove Back. He’s gone on to star in dozens of TV shows, films and musicals since and previously guest-starred as a voice actor on the Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins and Elena of Avalor.

In addition to her six-year run as Mercedes Jones on Fox’s Glee through 2015, Riley also originated the role of Effie White in London’s West End production of Dreamgirls in 2016, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for best actress in a musical. Back in 2019, Riley was coincidentally involved in ABC’s The Little Mermaid Live!, playing the Emcee who introduces the Daughters of Triton.

Also joining the Disney Junior’s Ariel cast: kid actors Elizabeth Phoenix Caro and Cruz Flateau as Ariel’s friends Lucia and Fernie, respectively, and Gracen Newton as her original fish bestie Flounder.

In May, Billboard ranked the 100 best songs from throughout the Disneyverse, including movies, TV and theme parks, and three classic songs from 1989’s original Little Mermaid film made the list — and scored the No. 1 spot too. (Revisit the full list here.)

Disney Junior’s Ariel is set to arrive in 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+.


‘Disney Junior’s Ariel’
Disney

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Source: deadline.com/2023/08/mickey-mouse-clubhouse-revival-disney-junior-slate-ariel-animated-series-1235522073/

‘Mickey Mouse Clubhouse’ Revival Leads Disney Junior Slate; Taye Diggs To Voice King Triton With Amber Riley As Ursula In ‘Ariel’ Animated Series

By Nellie Andreeva

Co-Editor-in-Chief, TV

@deadlinenellie

August 18, 2023 9:30am


Amber Riley as Ursula and Taye Diggs as King Trident
Disney

Hot dog! A signature Playhouse Disney/Disney Junior animated series whose catchy opening and closing songs are likely engraved into the brain of every parent with children born in the 2000s, is coming back. Disney Junior has greenlighted Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0 (working title), a new incarnation of its former flagship series, to premiere in 2025. The announcement was made by Ayo Davis, president of Disney Branded Television, during the “Disney Junior & Friends Playdate” event at the Disney California Adventure Park in Anaheim.


Disney Junior Ariel,(inset) Mykal-Michelle Harris
Disney/Claudia Goetzelmann

Other Disney Junior programming news made at the event included the lead cast for the channel’s upcoming Ariel animated series, with Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) in the title role, Taye Diggs (Rent) as King Triton and Amber Riley (Glee) as Ursula. In the recent Disney live-action movie The Little Mermaid, the parts were played by Halle Bailey, Javier Bardem and Melissa McCarthy, respectively.

Additionally, Cynthia Erivo, Valerie Bertinelli, Alan Cumming, Susan Kelechi Watson, Ana Gasteyer, Alison Pill and Dulé Hill have been tapped for recurring guest star roles in new animated series RoboGobo.

A stop-motion Halloween special Mickey and Friends Trick or Treats also was announced, along with holiday-themed episodes of Disney Junior’ SuperKitties, Pupstruction, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse‘s successor Mickey Mouse Funhouse as well as Marvel’s Spidey and his Amazing Friends. Additionally, there were several premiere date reveals.

The CG animated Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, which aired originals from 2006-2016, anchored a Disney Junior – Live On Stage! show at Disney California Adventure.(You can watch the opening theme and the famous Hot Dog Dance closing song below at your own risk.)

Disney Junior is the U.S. linear home of the Australian animated series Bluey, which just notched two consecutive weeks of over 1 billion minutes on Disney+ domestically as the streamer’s most watched program.

“Disney Junior captures the hearts and imaginations of preschoolers and their families everywhere with stories and characters filled with magic, wonder, adventure and heart,” Davis said. “From providing early entry points into classic Disney franchises to introducing brand-new IP that becomes the latest kid obsessions, Disney Junior is always there with infinite opportunities to engage and play.”

Here are more details on the Disney Junior programming announcements:

NEW PROJECTS

MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE 2.0 (working title) — (New episodes coming 2025 on Disney Junior and Disney+)
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
Executive Producer: Rob LaDuca
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Kim Duran

In the next iteration of Disney Junior’s Emmy Award-winning global hit series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 2.0 (working title), Mickey and pals welcome everyone back to the clubhouse for all-new adventures filled with songs, laughs, handy helping, and fun new surprises. The new series will see the clubhouse expanding with a brand-new area just for Minnie and the addition of Duffy the Disney Bear, Mickey’s trusted teddy bear, who will make surprise appearances in multiple episodes.

Beloved by preschool fans and their families around the world, the series combines the rich heritage of Disney’s beloved classic characters with state-of-the-art CG animation and introduces a whole new generation of preschoolers to Mickey and his pals. The series originally premiered in 2006 and became a pop culture phenomenon that is still breaking records today with over 4 billion views on Disney Junior’s YouTube Channel, including for the iconic “Hot Dog Dance” video.


MICKEY AND FRIENDS TRICK OR TREATS — (Premieres Sunday, Oct. 1, on Disney Junior, Disney Channel and Disney XD at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming Monday, Oct. 2, on Disney+)
Produced by: Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Junior
Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
Supervising Producer: John Harvatine IV

In this new Halloween stop-motion special, Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald and Daisy are trick-or-treating when Donald spies the spookiest mansion he’s ever seen and assumes it has the best treats. After he convinces his friends to risk a visit, the owner, Witch Hazel, casts a spell that turns them into their costumes. The special features new original music from Emmy Award-nominated songwriter Beau Black (The Lion Guard).

SPECIAL HOLIDAY EPISODES


SUPERKITTIES – “Howloween Cat” (Disney) BUDDY, BITSY, SPARKS
SUPERKITTIES — (A full-length Halloween episode premieres Monday, Sept. 25, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; shortly thereafter on Disney+)
Produced by: Sony Pictures Television – Kids in association with Disney Junior
Creator/Executive Producer: Paula Rosenthal
Co-Executive Producer: Kirk Van Wormer

One of the hottest new series for preschoolers, SuperKitties follows the action-packed adventures of four fierce and furry superhero kittens — Ginny, Sparks, Buddy and Bitsy — who are on a mission to make their town of Kittydale a more caring and pawesome place. In the Halloween episode titled “Howloween Cat,” the pets’ Howloween treats go missing all over Kittydale, so the SuperKitties must track down the thief.

PUPSTRUCTION — (A spooky Halloween episode premieres Wednesday, Sept. 27, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming same day on Disney+)
Produced by: Titmouse in association with Disney Junior
Creator/Executive Producer: Travis Braun
Executive Producer: Vic Cook
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Robyn Brown
Supervising Director: Abigail Nesbitt

Pupstruction premiered in June 2023 and follows the adventures of the Pupstruction team — a doggone hard-working construction crew ranging from some of the brawniest breeds to irresistibly cute and playful puppies. It centers on Phinny, an innovative young corgi who might be the smallest pup on the crew but proves that you don’t need big paws to have big dreams or big ideas. In the Halloween episode titled “Happy Howl-o-ween/The House of Howls,” Bobby Boots (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) thinks he wasn’t invited to Pupstruction’s Howl-O-Ween party, and Tank doesn’t think he’s brave enough to help build a haunted house.


MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS – “ Rosh Hashanah” (Disney) THE THING, PETER PARKER, MILES MORALES
MARVEL’S SPIDEY AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS — (A Rosh Hashanah-themed episode featuring The Thing – aka Ben Grimm – premieres Friday, Sept. 15, on Disney Channel at 8:30 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney Junior at 1:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; streaming shortly thereafter on Disney+)

Produced by: Disney Junior and Marvel Studios in association with Atomic Cartoons
Executive Producer: Harrison Wilcox
Co-Executive Producers: Bart Jennett and Chris Moreno
Co-Producer/Story Editor: Becca Topol
Supervising Producer: Steve Grover

In a new “Web-Spinners” storyline introduced into the series this summer, Spidey, with the help of Iron Man (voiced by John Stamos), creates new hi-tech suits and gear that lets the Spidey Team stop baddies and help people —not just in their friendly neighborhood, but now all over the world. The storyline will continue into season three, debuting next year, and brings into the fold new characters joining the ranks of other well-known Marvel Super Heroes and villains who have appeared in the series, including The Thing (voiced by Andy Milder), Ms. Marvel’s teleporting dog, Lockjaw (voiced by Dee Bradley Baker), and the power-hungry robot supervillain Zola (voiced by Trevor Devall). In the episode titled “An UnBEElievable Rosh Hashanah,” Gobby steals all of the bees, so Team Spidey and The Thing must get them back and save Rosh Hashanah.


MICKEY MOUSE FUNHOUSE — (A Halloween-themed episode premieres Wednesday, Sept. 26, on Disney Junior at 7:00 p.m. EDT/PDT; a Dia de los Muertos-themed episode premieres Friday, Oct. 6, on Disney Channel at 10:00 a.m. EDT/PDT and Disney Junior at 12:05 p.m. EDT/PDT; both episodes streaming shortly thereafter on Disney+)
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
Executive Producer/Supervising Director: Phil Weinstein
Co-Executive Producer/Supervising Story Editor: Thomas Hart
Story Editor: Mark Drop
Producer: Steve Walby

The whimsical animated series Mickey Mouse Funhouse introduces preschoolers’ first pal, Mickey Mouse, and his friends — Minnie, Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Pluto — to Funny, an enchanted talking playhouse, who takes the Sensational Six on adventures of all types to unique worlds that inspire the imagination. In the Halloween-themed episode titled “The Curious Case of the Kooky Scientist,” premiering Sept. 26, Mickey and the gang are off to Halloweenville to see kooky scientist Von Drake’s newest invention. Then, in the episode premiering Oct. 6 titled “Stink, Stank, Stunk! /Día de los Muertos,” Mickey and the gang discover the Grand Pumpkin and must return it to Halloweenville before it rots away, and Donald’s pal Panchito invites the gang to celebrate Día de los Muertos in Mexico City.

CASTING NEWS

DISNEY JUNIOR’S ARIEL — (Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+)
Produced by: Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior
Executive Producer: Lynne Southerland
Producer: Ezra Edmond
Supervising Director: Kuni Tomita
Art Director: Chrystin Garland
Story Editors: Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner

Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) has been cast in the lead role of Ariel in Disney Junior’s Ariel, an animated musical series for preschoolers inspired by the beloved story of “The Little Mermaid.” Broadway, film and television stars Taye Diggs (Rent) and Amber Riley (Glee) will voice King Triton and Ursula in the series, which follows 8-year-old mermaid princess Ariel as she and her friends embark on fun-filled, action-packed underwater adventures throughout their Caribbean-inspired fairytale kingdom of Atlantica and beyond. In addition to Harris, Diggs and Riley, the series stars Elizabeth Phoenix Caro (The Christmas Chronicles) and Cruz Flateau (SuperKitties) as Ariel’s friends Lucia and Fernie, respectively, and Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals) as Flounder.

ROBOGOBO — (Premieres 2024 on Disney Junior and Disney+)
Produced by: Brown Bag Films in association with Disney Junior
Creator/Executive Producer/Director: Chris Gilligan
Developed for Television by: Matt Hoverman
Story Editors: Matt Hoverman, Andy Guerda, Brandon Violette

A plethora of noteworthy stars — including Cynthia Erivo, Valerie Bertinelli, Alan Cumming, Susan Kelechi Watson, Ana Gasteyer, Alison Pill and Dulé Hill — have been cast in recurring guest star roles for Disney Junior’s next new series RoboGobo. They join a talented roster of young voice actors, including Ja’Siah Young (Raising Dion), Brayden Morgan (Slumberkins), Azuri Hardy Jones (My Adventures with Superman), Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals), newcomer Leili Ahmadyar and veteran voice actor Dee Bradley Baker (Phineas and Ferb), who voice lead character Dax (Young) and his five adorable adopted pets, Booster, Allie, Hopper, Shelly and Wingo. After being given super-powered Robo-Suits by kid inventor Dax, the pets are on a mission to save other pets in trouble and learn how to become a family in the process.

PREMIERE DATE/MONTHS

DOC MCSTUFFINS: THE DOC & BELLA ARE IN! — (Premieres Wednesday, Sept. 6, on Disney Channel and Disney Junior at 9:25 a.m. EDT/PDT; streaming same day on Disney+)
Produced by: Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with Disney Junior
Executive Producer: Jamie Mitchell
Writer: Chelsea Beyl
Director/Producer: David H. Brooks
Supervising Producer: John Harvatine IV

In this brand new short-form series inspired by Disney Junior’s Peabody Award-winning Doc McStuffins, Doc welcomes Bella Bunnynose (voiced by Kate Micucci), an adorable plush bunny who dreams of being a toy doctor just like Doc. Bella joins the toys in the clinic and learns from Doc as her intern. The series’ lead voice cast, including Laya DeLeon Hayes (as Doc), Lara Jill Miller (as Lambie), Robbie Rist (as Stuffy), Jess Harnell (as Chilly) and Loretta Devine (as Hallie), will reprise their roles in the shorts.

FIREBUDS — (Season two premieres in November on Disney Junior and Disney+)
Produced by: Disney Television Animation
Creator/Executive Producer: Craig Gerber
Producer: Craig Simpson
Supervising Director: Robb Pratt
Story Editors: Krystal Banzon and Jeremy Shipp

From Emmy Award-winning creator and executive producer Craig Gerber (Disney’s Elena of Avalor and Sofia the First), Firebuds follows a group of friends, all children of first responders, who embark on adventures to help their community and learn what it truly means to be a hero. Building off the success of the series’ debut, season two features a forest rescue theme and finds the Firebuds crew back with some new friends and equipped with new gear to use in the great outdoors. Throughout the new season, the Firebuds embark on daring forest rescues while continuing to help their neighbors in Gearbox Grove.

STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES – (L-R): Lys Solay admires Johgeshakka’s family Life Day Orb
STAR WARS: YOUNG JEDI ADVENTURES — (New episodes premiering Nov. 8 on Disney Junior and Disney+; More new episodes coming 2024)
Produced by: Lucasfilm in collaboration with Wild Canary for Disney+ and Disney Junior
Showrunner/Executive Producer: Michael Olson
Executive Producers: James Waugh, Jacqui Lopez, and Josh Rimes
Supervising Director/Co-Producer: Elliot M. Bour
Consulting Producer: Lamont Magee

Set 200 years before The Phantom Menace, during the High Republic era, Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures follows Jedi younglings as they study the ways of the Force, explore the galaxy, help citizens and creatures in need, and learn valuable skills needed to become Jedi along the way. A new batch of episodes, including a Life Day holiday episode, will debut on Disney Junior and Disney+ on Wednesday, Nov. 8. The Life Day episode will follow Master Yoda, Master Zia and Jedi younglings Kai, Lys and Nubs as they take a trip to Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day and learn more about the Wookiee’s holiday traditions.

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Source: toonado.com/disney/ariel-first-look-at-the-little-mermaid-animated-spin-off-series-revealed-along-with-voice-cast-a7865#gs.42u66h

ARIEL: First Look At THE LITTLE MERMAID Animated Spin-Off Series Revealed Along With Voice Cast



We recently learned that an animated The Little Mermaid spin-off series was in the works for Disney Junior, and a first look at Ariel, King Triton and Ursula has now been revealed...
News
By MarkCassidy - Aug 19, 2023 09:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Disney

Disney Junior has unveiled some first-look images from its upcoming animated The Little Mermaid spin-off, Ariel, giving us a glimpse of the character designs for King Triton, Ursula the Sea Witch, and the aquatic heroine of the title.

The network has also announced the voice-cast, with Mykal-Michelle Harris (Raven’s Home) as Ariel, Taye Diggs (Rent) as King Triton, Amber Riley (Glee) as Ursula, and Gracen Newton (Puppy Dog Pals) as Flounder.

Though this show is billed as a spin-off, these are actually new takes on the characters, suggesting that Ariel takes place in a separate continuity to the recent live-action remake.

Check out the promo images below.







"Set in the fantastical Caribbean-inspired underwater kingdom of Atlantica, the series follows Ariel as she embarks on fun-filled, action-packed mermaid adventures with her friends. Driven by a deep and unending curiosity about the world around her, Ariel discovers land treasures, like a big floppy hat, squeaky rubber ducky, and whisk, that she collects and keeps safe in her crystal cavern. Sometimes, Ariel uses the treasures to help solve problems.

With each discovery, Ariel is filled with joy, and her mermaid tail, which changes colors depending on her emotions, lights up and shimmers.

Disney Junior’s Ariel is executive produced by Lynne Southerland. Norma P. Sepulveda and Keith Wagner are the story editors. Ezra Edmond is producer. Kuni Tomita Bowen is supervising director, and Chrystin Garland is art director. The series is produced by Wild Canary in association with Disney Junior.

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Source: boundingintocomics.com/2023/08/22/disney-confirms-live-action-the-little-mermaid-inspired-animated-series-ariel-will-race-swap-king-triton-and-ursula/

Home Television

Disney Confirms Live-Action ‘The Little Mermaid’-Inspired Animated Series ‘Ariel’ Will Race-Swap King Triton And Ursula
Nerdigans Inc. August 22, 2023 Television

Disney has revealed their upcoming Disney Junior’s Ariel will feature race swaps of both King Triton and the fan-favorite villainess Ursula.

This change, as ostensibly inspired by the company’s similar diversifying of Ariel in their recent live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, was first revealed by Disney during their August 18th Disney Junior & Friends Playdate event.

Unveiling the first official members of the series’ cast, President of Disney Branded Television Ayo Davis announced that Ariel will be voiced by Mixed-ish star Mykal-Michelle Harris, King Triton will be voiced by Murder in the First star Taye Diggs, and Ursula by Glee star Amber Riley.

Alongside these casting details, Ayo also released new concept art for both Diggs and Riley’s respective characters.

And while it was previously known that Ariel herself would be race-swapped for this new animated series, these pieces of concept art provided confirmation that both her father and her archenemy would be following suit.



As shared by the @disneybrandtvpr account, after being race-swapped from white to Hispanic with Javier Bardem’s casting in the House of Mouse’s 2023 The Little Mermaid remake, King Triton will once again undergo such a change and be portrayed as the Black king of the series’ Caribbean-inspired Atlantica.
Notably, unlike his predecessor, Diggs’ version of the aquatic ruler will wear a shorter beard and haircut than any of his predecessors.

[img src="" alt=" "]
triton
Disney Branded TV PR Twitter

Likewise, where the purple-skinned Ursula – as iconically portrayed by the late actress Pat Carroll – one carried herself with an aura of calculating, manipulative arrogance, Riley will voice a version of the villain who is prettier, slimmier, and friendlier than ever before.

Sporting a violet dress-esque body, gold accessories, and elegantly stylized hair, this latest iteration of Ursula looks more like a church-going, middle-aged version of Riley than the iconic Sea Witch.


Disney Branded TV PR Twitter

When the series was announced, Disney emphasized that “throughout the series, the multicultural diversity of the Caribbean is highlighted through music, food, festivals, fashion, language and folklore.”

“Dr. Patricia Saunders, professor of English and hemispheric Caribbean studies and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami and author of two books, serves as cultural consultant on the series,” the company detailed. “Sean Skeete, chair of Berklee College of Music’s ensemble department, is the Caribbean music consultant.”

Despite less than sea worthy race-swapped live action remake barely survived the global box office, Disney is continuing to dive deeper into milking their latest cash grab.

According to box office tracking outlet The-Numbers, The Little Mermaid live action remake the film made a total of $561,945,014 worldwide. While this take seems impressive on its face, the film has a reported budget of approximately $250 million.

Giving consideration to the generally accepted rule of thumb that a film’s true budget, marketing included, can be roughly estimated by doubling its production budget, The Little Mermaid‘s actual costs come out to $500 million – meaning the live-action remake is roughly breaking even.

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Italian article. Source: imperoland.it/ariel-svelati-i-personaggi-della-nuova-serie-animata-della-sirenetta/

ARIEL, SVELATI I PERSONAGGI DELLA NUOVA SERIE ANIMATA DELLA SIRENETTA
written by Irene Rosignoli 23 Agosto 2023

Deadline ha diffuso nuove informazioni sulla nuova serie Disney dal target prescolare Ariel, annunciata lo scorso giugno al Festival di Annecy e ispirata al franchise de La Sirenetta. Lo show andrà in onda nel 2024 su Disney Junior e Disney+.

Secondo la fonte, la piccola Mykal-Michelle Harris (A casa di Raven) doppierà la protagonista Ariel nella versione in lingua originale, mentre la star di Broadway Taye Diggs sarà suo padre Tritone e Amber Riley sarà la strega Ursula.

Mentre precedentemente la serie era stata annunciata come prequel del live action, a giudicare dalle immagini dei personaggi si tratta proprio di una “terza sirenetta”, del tutto nuova, considerato che l’etnia di Ursula e Tritone è diversa sia da quella del classico che da quella del film con Halle Bailey.

Ecco le foto ufficiali dei personaggi:








Questa la trama:

Guidata dalla sua curiosità per il mondo intorno a lei, Ariel raccoglie dei tesori dalla terraferma, che conserva nella sua caverna segreta. Quando trova qualcosa di nuovo, la sua pinna si illumina e risplende a seconda delle sue emozioni. I suoi tesori inoltre la aiutano a risolvere i suoi problemi e quelli dei suoi amici marini. Piena di gioia, grandi idee e con una voce stupenda, la Ariel di Disney Junior diventerà grande avventura dopo avventura, scoprirà il mondo intorno a lei e ispirerà con il suo coraggio le altre persone.

Disney Junior’s Ariel è prodotta da Lynne Southerland (Mulan 2). Norma P. Sepulveda (Elena di Avalor) e Keith Wagner (TrollsTopia) sono gli story editor. Ezra Edmond è il produttore, Kuni Tomita Bowen (Dora l’esploratrice) è il supervising director e Chrystin Garland (Solar Opposites) l’art director. La serie è realizzata dallo studio Wild Canary (Miles from Tomorrowland) in collaborazione con Disney Junior.

La nuova serie si avvale anche della collaborazione di consulenti culturali esperti della storia dei Caraibi. La serie infatti rappresenterà fedelmente la musica, i piatti tipici, la moda, la lingua e il folklore delle popolazioni caraibiche. Tra i consulenti troviamo la Dottoressa Patricia Saunders, professoressa di inglese e studi caraibici all’Università di Miami. Sean Skeete, capo del Berklee College of Music, è il consulente musicale.