Disney starts off Princess Week with the release of Once A Princess, Always A Princess: A Disney Short Film, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Alex Prager.
Available now on Disney+ and YouTube, the short film follows two young girls whose shared love of Disney Princess stories sparks a friendship that continues across their lives and eventually reaches the next generation.
The film serves as the emotional centrepiece of this year’s World Princess Week, an annual celebration of the Disney Princess franchise and the characters’ enduring appeal across generations.
Prager, who grew up with the Disney Princesses herself, brings a strong practical filmmaking approach to the project, with the production featuring handcrafted miniature “bigature” castles inspired by Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Little Mermaid, custom puppets, hand-painted backdrops and a 56-piece live orchestra.
For South African fans, the celebration also includes the premiere of a brand-new isiZulu dub of Sofia the First on Disney Jr., available on DStv Channel 309.
The Emmy Award-winning series follows Sofia, an ordinary girl who becomes a princess in the kingdom of Enchancia and learns that honesty, loyalty, compassion and grace are what truly make someone royal.
The local voice cast includes Busisiwe Mhlanga as Sofia, Monde Msutwana as King Roland, Cebile Mlaba as Queen Miranda, Senzeka Mnguni as Princess Amber, Nozizwe Zulu as Prince James and Brian Mkhombe as Baileywick.
There is more new content arriving throughout the week. Disney and Pixar’s Brave will air on Disney Channel on Friday, 21 August at 17:00 on DStv Channel 303, while LEGO Disney Princess: Magical Mayhem arrives on Disney+ on the same day.
The animated special brings together Ariel, Jasmine, Mulan, Moana, Rapunzel, Snow White and Tiana, alongside some familiar sidekicks, for a new adventure.
Fans can also stream Disney Princess: The Ultimate Concert Celebration on Disney+, featuring what Disney describes as the largest gathering of Disney Princess talent ever assembled.
World Princess Week will also extend into retail, with Disney Princess toys, games, fashion and accessories available from retailers across South Africa, alongside a new Moana LEGO docu-series highlighting the creativity of young fans.
With new content, local-language programming and experiences across Disney’s platforms, this year’s celebration is once again putting the spotlight on characters whose stories have remained part of audiences’ lives for generations.
