DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION BEGINS PRODUCTION ON "PICKLE & PEANUT," A BUDDY COMEDY FOR DISNEY XD STARRING JON HEDER AND JOHNNY PEMBERTON

-- Studio Also Receives Season Pickups for "Mickey Mouse" Cartoon Shorts and "Wander Over Yonder" --

Adding to the creative strength that helps fuel Disney-branded channels and platforms worldwide, Disney Television Animation has begun production on "Pickle & Peanut," a buddy-comedy series about two unlikely friends - an emotional pickle and a freewheeling peanut - voiced by Jon Heder ("Napoleon Dynamite") and Johnny Pemberton ("21 Jump Street"), respectively.

The animation studio, led by Eric Coleman, Senior Vice President, Original Series, and Lisa Salamone, Senior Vice President, Production, also received a third season order of the Emmy and Annie Award-winning "Mickey Mouse" cartoon shorts and a second season order of Craig McCracken's comedy series "Wander Over Yonder."

Scheduled for a fall 2015 premiere on Disney XD, "Pickle & Peanut" employs an innovative mix of 2-D animation and live-action clips to tell the small-town adventures of two underdogs who dream up plans to be anything but ordinary. The series was created by Noah Z. Jones ("Fish Hooks") and developed by Joel Trussell ("Yo Gabba Gabba!"). Both Jones and Trussell serve as executive producers. Mark Rivers ("Jimmy Kimmel Live!") is the story editor.

Coleman said, "We see very few pitches that are as funny and original as 'Pickle & Peanut.' We instantly fell in love with these characters, and Noah and Joel have built a world with a visual style and sensibility unlike anything on TV."

Salamone added, "We have the best and brightest production talent in the animation industry to help deliver the inspiring stories and enduring characters that will entertain kids and families and uphold Disney's unparalleled animation legacy."

The "Mickey Mouse" comedic cartoon shorts, spotlighting Disney's #1 star, have reached over 135 million unduplicated viewers worldwide, in 34 languages. Emmy Award-winning artist and director Paul Rudish ("Star Wars: Clone Wars") is the executive producer and supervising director. Aaron Springer ("SpongeBob SquarePants"), Clay Morrow ("Dexter's Laboratory") and Dave Wasson ("Making Fiends") are directors. The series airs daily on Disney Channel and Disney XD.

The Annie Award-nominated "Wander Over Yonder" follows best friends, eternally-optimistic intergalactic traveler and constant do-gooder Wander (voiced by Jack McBrayer) and his quick-tempered but loyal steed, Sylvia (voice by April Winchell). Together, they travel through the cosmos, happening upon one freewheeling adventure after another, making new friends (and foes) and all while battling numerous forces of evil, including the infamous Lord Hater (voiced by Keith Ferguson) and his army of Watchdogs, led by Commander Peepers (voiced by Tom Kenny). Emmy Award-winning Craig McCracken ("The Powerpuff Girls") is the series creator and executive producer. The series airs daily on Disney XD and Fridays on Disney Channel beginning July 1.

Disney Television Animation is an industry leader in the production of quality animated properties for television. Disney Television Animation is part of the Disney/ABC Television Group at The Walt Disney Company.