Sofia the First

The series pilot episode "Once Upon a Princess", premiered on November 18, 2012, on Disney Channel, which featured Cinderella. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty were also introduced as the headmistresses of the royal school. The series itself premiered on January 11, 2013, on Disney Channel during its Disney Junior block. Disney Junior renewed Sofia the First for a second season on March 5, 2013,[5] and then the series was renewed for a third season on January 8, 2014.[6] The show's second double-length episode, The Floating Palace, aired on November 24, 2013, with an appearance from Ariel. The third double-length episode, The Curse of Princess Ivy, aired on November 23, 2014, featuring Rapunzel. On April 14, 2015, the series was renewed for a fourth season by Disney Junior.[7] Gerber clarified in December 2016 that it would begin in spring 2017 and have 24 22-minute episodes plus 2 60-minute specials.[8]

On January 29, 2015, a spin-off series was announced titled Elena of Avalor. The series premiered on July 22, 2016, on Disney Channel. In addition, a television movie premiered on November 20, 2016, titled Elena and the Secret of Avalor, which featured characters from Sofia the First.[9][10]

The series finale episode, "Forever Royal" was aired on September 8, 2018.[11]

A young girl named Sofia and her widowed mother Miranda have lived a peasant life in the kingdom of Enchancia, with Miranda working as a shoemaker. After Miranda serves business to King Roland II, they fall in love and marry. Miranda becomes Queen Consort of Enchancia, and Sofia becomes a princess.

The series follows Sofia's adventures as she eases into her new role and tries to get along with her new family, which includes step siblings James and Amber, as well as settling into her new royal school, where Flora, Fauna and Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty are headmistresses.

Roland gives Sofia an amulet, which she finds out can give her powers, be them blessings for good deeds or curses for wrongdoings; the most prominent of which is Sofia's ability to speak to animals. Rabbit Clover and birds Mia and Robin are recurring characters throughout the series. The amulet also links "all the princesses there ever were," calling them to help each other when one is in need.

Cedric, the royal sorcerer, is the recurring primary antagonist who attempts regularly to steal Sofia's amulet. Cedric plans to use the power of the amulet to overthrow the royal family and take over Enchancia.

In October 2012, Sofia was initially identified as Disney's first Hispanic princess when a producer spoke during a press tour.[12] A Disney Junior general manager later clarified that "...Sofia is a fairytale girl who lives in a fairytale world. All our characters come from fantasy lands that may reflect elements of various cultures and ethnicities but none are meant to specifically represent those real world cultures".[13] Sofia has a mixed fairy-tale heritage, as a Disney spokeswoman elaborated, "...Sofia's mother, Queen Miranda, was born in a fictitious land, Galdiz, a place with Latin influences. Miranda met Sofia's father, Birk Balthazar, who hailed from the kingdom of Freezenberg, and together they moved to Enchancia, the place where Sofia was born."[14]

Galdiz is based on Spain[15] and Freezenberg is based on Scandinavia.[16] The National Hispanic Media Coalition president/CEO interpreted Kanter's half-Spanish(-inspired) description of Sofia as her not qualifying as Latina.[17]

Series creator Craig Gerber later created the spin-off series Elena of Avalor, featuring a Latina princess as the protagonist. Gerber explains in an interview with ABC news: "What the experience from Sofia showed me was what a demand there was a for a Latina princess", Gerber said. "That a misstatement that was made by a producer could snowball virally into this announcement that was never made. And Sofia was not Latina and never meant to be the first Latina princess. But it did really illustrate the fact that people really wanted a Latina princess, and I think it certainly bubbled in my mind and was part of what inspired me to come up with this idea."[18]

Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess premiered on Disney Channel on November 18, 2012, garnering 8.17 million viewers (when the Live+7 ratings were tabulated), which made it the #1 cable TV telecast of all time for kids 2–5 and girls 2–5. It also set a record for the #1 preschool cable TV telecast ever in total viewers and for adults 18–49.[19]

Home media is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

• Disney Princess

Wikiquote has quotations related to: Sofia the First

• Official website
• Sofia the First at IMDb
• Sofia The First at the Big Cartoon DataBase