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Jul 26, 2022 · Out of the Box was a show that ran from 1998 to 2004 on Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel's old morning program block for toddlers—these days, it’s called Disney Jr. As former Playhouse Disney-watching millennials remember, the series took place in “The Box.”. It just looked like a castle of boxes from the outside.
- Emily Brozyna
- Playhouse Disney
- History
- Final Programming
- Former Programming
- 2000
- 2002
Playhouse Disney was an American brand of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channels that were owned by the Disney Channels Worldwide unit (now Disney Branded Television) of The Walt Disney Company's Disney–ABC Television Group. It originated in the United States as a morning program block on the Disney Channel. Aimed mainly at children aged two to seven years old, its programming featured a mix of live-action and animated series.
The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel was rebranded as the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel on February 14, 2011. The remaining channels and blocks using the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US relaunched under the Disney Junior brand over the next two years, concluding with the rebranding of the Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel Russia on September 1, 2013.
Prior to Playhouse Disney's launch, Disney Channel had aired a lineup of preschool-targeted programs to compete with Nick Jr. (which were mixed alongside animated series aimed at older children) during the morning hours since its debut in April 1983.
On April 6, 1997, Disney Channel underwent a relaunch that signified the beginning of its full conversion into a commercial-free basic cable channel, and its preschool block now utilized a similar graphics package for its promotions as that used for the channel's afternoon children's programs. After Disney Channel's preschool block premiered three new original series in 1998 (PB&J Otter, Rolie Polie Olie (produced by Canadian animation studio Nelvana), and the live-action series Out of the Box), the block rebranded as Playhouse Disney on February 1, 1999.
One of the Playhouse Disney block's most popular series was Bear in the Big Blue House, an educational puppetry series from Jim Henson Television that debuted in October 1997, focusing on the adventures of Bear (performed by Noel MacNeal); the series was named by TV Guide as one of the "top 10 new shows for kids" that year. For the first three years of its run, the Playhouse Disney block originally aired each weekday from 8:30 am. to 2:30 pm. Eastern Time, and weekends from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Following each program, which usually ran 23 minutes (most of which, with the exception of films, aired without promotional interruption), the remainder of the time period was filled by either short segments and music videos (the latter of which were originally aired under the banner "Feet Beat") or an episode of an acquired short series.
On April 16, 2001, Playhouse Disney introduced a new on-air graphics package produced by motion graphics company Beehive; actress Allyce Beasley began serving as the U.S. block's promo announcer at this time, a capacity she would hold until March 30, 2007. Radio Disney cross-promoted the block by rebranding its "Mickey and Minnie's Tune Time" block as "Playhouse Disney", and in 2002, the TV block's "Feet Beat" interstitials were renamed "BB's Music Time" to promote the Radio Disney block. On June 25, 2001, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group (now Disney-ABC Television Group) announced plans to launch Playhouse Disney Channel, a companion digital cable and satellite channel that would have served the same target audience as the Disney Channel block; plans for the network were later scrapped, although Disney-ABC International Television would launch dedicated Playhouse Disney channels and blocks in international markets (including Canada, Afro-Eurasia and Latin America) between 2002 and 2007. The Walt Disney Company acquired the broadcast rights to The Wiggles as part of their purchase of the Fox Family Channel in 2001; The Wiggles moved to Playhouse Disney in June 2002 and became one of the block's most watched shows during its run.
Like on Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney's also a commercial-free service, but it did show short "promotional spots" (structured as short-form segments for Disney products targeted at the block's demographics) alongside – beginning in 2002 – underwriter sponsorships (with companies such as McDonald's) within breaks between programs (preschool-targeted programs that aired between 3:00 and 7:00 am. Central Time outside of the Playhouse Disney banner, included the promotional shorts for Disney entertainment products that were seen during Disney Channel's afternoon and nighttime schedule). On September 30, 2002, Playhouse Disney changed its logo to reflect Disney Channel's on-air rebranding. As part of the block's effort to phase out its older interstitial material, it introduced a mascot that month named Clay (voiced by Debi Derryberry), an anthropomorphic clay figure who often used the catchphrases "It's true!" and "Are you with me?".
On March 31, 2007, Ooh and Aah, two puppet monkeys (who served as the main characters for one of the short series featured on the Playhouse Disney lineup, Ooh, Aah & You) became the official hosts of the block, replacing Clay. Every summer since 2007, Playhouse Disney's end time was truncated to four hours on weekdays (from 6:00 to 10:00 am. Eastern Time). Episodes from Disney Channel's original series were aired during the late morning and early afternoon hours. However, the weekend schedule continued to air seven hours. By this point, the Playhouse Disney block had expanded to air from 4:00 am. to 2:00 pm. Eastern Time on weekdays, and 4:00 to 9:00 am. Eastern Time on weekends, each running a different schedule.
Original programming
•Little Einsteins (October 9, 2005 - December 22, 2009 first air; December 23, 2009 - February 13, 2011 reruns) •Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (May 6, 2006 - February 13, 2011) •Handy Manny (September 16, 2006 - February 13, 2011) •Imagination Movers (September 6, 2008 - February 13, 2011) •Special Agent Oso (April 4, 2009 - February 13, 2011) •Jungle Junction (October 5, 2009 - February 13, 2011)
Acquired programming
•Groove High (November 8, 1998 - September 15, 2006 Playhouse Disney; September 16, 2006 - February 13, 2011 Disney Channel) •Charlie and Lola (March 21, 2005 - December 27, 2008 first air; December 28, 2008 - February 13, 2011 reruns) •Chuggington (January 18, 2010 - February 13, 2011) •Timmy Time (September 13, 2010 - February 11, 2011)
Original programming
•Bear in the Big Blue House (October. 20, 1997 - May 6, 2007) •PB&J Otter (March 15, 1998 - April 8, 2005) •Out of the Box (October 7, 1998 - June 10, 2005) •The Book of Pooh (January 21, 2001 - September 4, 2005) •Stanley (September 15, 2001 - May 16, 2008) •JoJo's Circus (September 28, 2003 - January 4, 2009) •Higglytown Heroes (September 12, 2004 - March 29, 2009) •Johnny and the Sprites (October 9, 2005 - January 4, 2009) •My Friends Tigger & Pooh (May 12, 2007 - October 9, 2010) •Bunnytown (November 10, 2007 - January 4, 2009)
Acquired programming
•The Little Mermaid (April 6, 1997 - September 29, 2002) •Madeline (June 2, 1997 - September 4, 2005) •The Wiggles (January 28, 2002 - May 17, 2009) •Anatole (September 17, 2002 - September 13, 2004) •Koala Brothers (January 26, 2004 - May 16, 2008) •The Doodlebops (April 11, 2005 - January 4, 2009)
Co-productions
•Rolie Polie Olie (October 4, 1998 - June 4, 2006)
•May 1, 2000 - Sep. 3, 2000
•September. 4, 2000 - October. 27, 2000
•September. 17, 2002 - December. 2002
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Jan 27, 2024 · Disney Junior – first launched in 2011 as the replacement for Playhouse Disney – is The Walt Disney Company’s children’s network, primarily aimed at audiences between the age of two to ...
On April 4, 2009, Egmont Group launched a companion Playhouse Disney magazine in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland that focused on the channel's four most popular shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny and Little Einsteins. Each issue included "to do" pages and suggested activities for parents and children ...
MarketTypeFormerlyLaunch DateChannelMarch 23, 2012 (except for DirecTV a )Block (Mickey Mornings)PlayhouseFebruary 14, 2011 [26] (as Disney Junior) ...Channel (North)PlayhouseJune 1, 2008 (Playhouse) April 1, 2011Channel (South)PlayhouseJune 1, 2008 (Playhouse) April 1, 2011Playhouse Disney is a defunct brand for a slate of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channel that was owned by the Disney Channels Worldwide unit of The Walt Disney Company's Disney–ABC Television Group. It originated in the United States and Canada as a morning program block on the Disney Channel. Its programming was targeted at children ages 1–8 ...
The former Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel rebranded as Disney Junior on February 14, 2011, along with the existing international channels. Disney-ABC Television Group once planned to launch a Playhouse Disney Channel in the United States in 2001, however it never happened despite launching internationally. Disney XD
Oct 10, 2017 · What appeared to be just some cardboard boxes that they painted and stacked into a tower was actually a big magical, fun space inside. With a slide, instruments, costumes, and toys – it was literally a dreamland. It was every kid's playhouse fantasy, tbh. After all the fun wrapped up, Tony or Vivian would walk the children home from "The Box ...
