WALT DISNEY TELEVISION ANIMATION 'DISNEY'S DAVE THE BARBARIAN' Disney Channel takes silliness back to the Middle Ages with the new animated comedy series "Disney's Dave the Barbarian," from Walt Disney Television Animation, scheduled to premiere in January 2004. The announcement was made today by Rich Ross, President, Entertainment, Disney Channel, and Barry Blumberg, President, Walt Disney Television Animation. (PRNewsFoto)[AS] BURBANK, CA USA

          Walt Disney Television Animation and Creator Doug Langdale
                   Stage Offbeat Comedy in the Middle Ages

    BURBANK, Calif., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Disney Channel takes silliness
back to the Middle Ages with the new animated comedy series "Disney's Dave the
Barbarian," from Walt Disney Television Animation, scheduled to premiere in
January 2004.  The announcement was made today by Rich Ross, President,
Entertainment, Disney Channel, and Barry Blumberg, President, Walt Disney
Television Animation.
    (Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031110/LAM102 )
    Created by Doug Langdale, "Disney's Dave the Barbarian" follows the title
character's comedic adventures with his offbeat family -- including his
primping older sister Candy and his fierce younger sister Fang -- as they
protect themselves and their kingdom from a world of hilariously odd foes.
Complicating matters is brawny Dave's non-barbarian demeanor -- he prefers the
finer things in life, like origami, bird watching and gourmet cooking.  But
with a combination of Dave's brute strength and his fine art skills, villains
don't stand a chance.  The majority of the episodes are split into 11-minute
cartoons with two comedic adventures per episode.
    "Dave, Candy and Fang will fit right in with all the great Disney Channel
characters in our lineup," Ross said.  "In this case, we use the atypical
setting of the middle ages to tell the comedic stories of kids in their middle
ages."
    "Through Doug Langdale's approach to animation, 'Dave' represents a true
departure for Walt Disney Television Animation in its presentation of wacky,
off-the-wall comedy," Blumberg said.  "This series' melding of Doug's
improvisational comic nature and Disney Channel's sensibilities of fun and
family has proven a perfect example of the growing partnership between Walt
Disney Television Animation and Disney Channel."
    Langdale is a highly regarded improvisational comic in Los Angeles with an
equally distinguished career in animation.  Twice nominated for Emmy Awards,
Langdale created and executive-produced the popular series "Disney's The
Weekenders."  He also co-created and co-executive-produced the Saturday
morning cartoon "Project Geeker," and served as executive producer and writer
on "The Mr. Potato Head Show."  He has a pair of Annie Award nods for his
writing on "Disney's House of Mouse," "Hercules," "Disney/Pixar's Buzz
Lightyear of Star Command," "Aladdin," "Darkwing Duck," "Quack Pack" and
"Pinky, Elmyra and the Brain."  He also story-edited "Earthworm Jim" and wrote
most of the episodes.
    "Dave the Barbarian" is directed by Howy Parkins.  The animation veteran
most recently directed the tremendously successful series "Disney's Recess"
and "Disney's Lloyd in Space," as well as the upcoming Disney DVD/Video
releases "Disney's Recess: Taking the Fifth Grade" and "Disney's Recess: All
Growed Down."
    Danny Cooksey ("Terminator 2: Judgment Day," "Disney's Pepper Ann") heads
an ensemble cast as the title character.  Joining Cooksey is Estelle Harris
("Seinfeld") as Lula, Dave's magical talking -- well, nagging -- sword; Tress
MacNeille ("Disney's House of Mouse," "The Simpsons") as Fang, Dave's small-
yet-fierce little sister; Erica Luttrell ("The New Ghostwriter Mysteries") as
Candy, Dave's medieval "material girl" big sister; Kevin Michael Richardson
("Like Family") as Uncle Oswidge, a curmudgeonly sorcerer and the kids'
misguided guardian; Frank Welker ("What's New Scooby-Doo") as Faffy, the
family's miniature, lightning-spitting pet dragon; and Jeff Bennett ("Johnny
Bravo") as the stately narrator.
    Recurring episodic voice cast members include Joan and Melissa Rivers as
an evil empress and princess; and Paul Rugg ("Disney's One Saturday Morning")
as Dave's chief foe, The Dark Lord Chuckles, the Silly Piggy.  Metallica's
James Hetfield and Lars Ulrich make their animation debut in a single episode
as rogue teenage dragons.

    Now in its 19th year, Walt Disney Television Animation remains atop
industry leaders in the production of quality animated properties, including
television series, feature films, video premieres and primetime television
specials.  Disney Channel, available in more than 83 million homes, is a
division of ABC Cable Networks Group, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company.

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