LPWire: Disney's Kim Possible Premieres on Canadian Family Channel in August

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Girl-next-door turned superhero foils global archenemies in "Disney's Kim Possible," premiering in August on Family Channel

Superspy action meets teen angst in new animated action-comedy series

A typical high school teenager just happens to save the world from evil villains in her spare time in Disney's Kim Possible, premiering in Canada on Family on Sunday, August 25 at 4:35 pm. Produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, the half-hour original animated series will air on Saturdays and Sundays at 4:35 pm, as part of Family's Non-Stop Weekends (all times ET/PT).

Described as "Alias: The Early Years" by TV Guide in the U.S., Disney's Kim Possible was the most-watched original series premiere ever on the Disney Channel when the program launched in the U.S. last month. The series stars Christy Carlson Romano (Even Stevens; Cadet Kelly) as the voice of Kim, animation's newest, most fashion-conscious superhero who "doesn't need a gimmicky mask or a jolt of testosterone to get the job done," according to The New York Times.

Thwarting evil isn't Kim's intent when she creates a Web site proclaiming, "I can do anything." She's actually hoping for babysitting and lawn mowing gigs. Instead, e-mails pleading for help arrive from around the planet, and Kim quickly finds herself foiling archenemies as a global crime fighter. With the help of her goofy pal Ron Stoppable, his pet mole rat Rufus (voiced by Nancy Cartwright; "Bart" on The Simpsons) and Webmaster buddy Wade, Kim quickly discovers she's capable in ways she never imagined. On the flipside, she realizes that defeating the bad guys comes easier to her than typical teen pressures like dating and homework.

"Kim's mix of tenacity, intelligence and heart makes for a very strong female role model for kids," says executive producer Bob Schooley. "Still, we balance her heroics with a decidedly grounded high school experience. Sure she can save the world, but that doesn't help her a bit when she comes face-to- face with her latest school crush."

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(c) Disney

Disney's Kim Possible also features mainstays of today's youth, particularly in the use of the Internet and all of Kim's techno-gadgets. The centerpiece of our heroine's operation is the "Kimmunicator," a supped-up hand- held device that keeps Kim linked -- usually through her Webmaster, Wade -- to virtually any information or resource necessary to the situation.

"Using the Internet theme in the series became an easy launching pad partially because it is such a major part of the fabric of teen life and the interactive possibilities are endless," says executive producer Mark McCorkle. "We've had a lot of fun with the gadgets, too -- from sunglasses that are actually scanners to a jetpack backpack to super elastic-firing lipstick. It's as though we get to play James Bond's 'Q' for each episode -- the more imaginative the toy, the better."

Yet the series' central focus is on the humor and heart behind the action. "There's no material reward for Kim in any of these situations -- she doesn't get paid for her heroics," Schooley emphasizes. "She answers the call because she believes in helping others simply because it's the right thing to do."

The voice cast of Disney's Kim Possible also features Will Friedle (Boy Meets World) as Ron Stoppable, Kim's bumbling yet loyal best friend, and Tahj Mowry (Smart Guy) as Wade, Kim's Webmaster, who is arguably the most intelligent kid on the planet. Other core characters include Jean Smart (Designing Women) and Gary Cole (Cadet Kelly) as Kim's brain surgeon mother and rocket scientist father; John DiMaggio (Futurama) as Kim's chief nemesis, the nefarious Dr. Drakken; and Nancy Cartwright (The Simpsons) as Ron's resourceful pet naked mole rat, Rufus.

Created by Mark McCorkle and Bob Schooley (Disney/Pixar's Buzz Lightyear of Star Command; Disney's Aladdin), Disney's Kim Possible is executive produced by McCorkle, Schooley and Chris Bailey (Inspector Gadget).

The Family Channel Inc. is a premium, commercial-free network offering the best in family television entertainment in more than 4.5 million homes across Canada. Dedicated to celebrating family life and providing a fun experience for all, Family airs a unique mix of movies, specials and series, with a large portion of programming supplied by Disney. A Canadian company, Family is wholly owned by Astral Media Inc. Visit us at family.ca.