The new animated series Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes will debut in the US on Disney Junior and Disney+ on Wednesday 22nd March. 

Disney Junior and Hasbro’s entertainment studio, eOne, have released the first-look trailer for the new kids TV series Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes.

An original concept by Robert Vargas, adapted from characters created by South Africans Marc Dey and Kelly Dillon, the original action-adventure animated series follows Kiya, a seven-year-old African girl, whose passions in life are dancing and martial arts – which also become her superpowers. The show has been billed as the latest representation of Hasbro and eOne’s commitments to illustrate the belief that rich, varied perspectives generate the best ideas, and to reflect diversity, equity and inclusion across their brands and play experiences.

Kiya & the Kimoja Heroes will premiere in the US on Disney Junior on Wednesday, 22nd March 4pm EST/PST, and the first four episodes will premiere the same day on Disney+. Each 11-minute episode shares important life lessons in a way that’s easily understood by young audiences.

When Kiya, also known by her superhero name Dance Ninja, and her two best friends, Jay (AKA Flying Rockstar) and Motsie (AKA Tech Racer), put on headbands adorned with mystical Kimoja crystals, they transform into superheroes and can perform special moves inspired by their passions such as Kiya’s  ‘pirouette pow’. Together they are the team of superheroes known as the Kimoja Heroes, and are ready to unite their community.

Kiya’s world features a diverse cast of characters inspired by the landscape, natural beauty and culture of Southern Africa, and focuses on themes of community, empathy and unity. As a mashup of action, dance and music, the show will be visually stunning, with African and Asian-lead characters, Southern African locations and a diverse creative team, including writers, designers and composers from across the globe.

Throughout the series, three Kimojans known as the Flawed Friends cause mischief and chaos, motivated by classic pre-schooler traits including jealousy, competitiveness and envy. When these kids make a mess, only the Kimoja Heroes can restore harmony to the city by combining everyday pre-school experiences with their superhero awesomeness.

“In partnership with Disney Junior, Frog Box, Triggerfish and France Télévisions, we are so very delighted to bring Kiya & The Kimoja Heroes to audiences everywhere,” says Esra Cafer, senior vice president of Global Brand Management at eOne Hasbro. “We have given a lot of thought and intention to developing fundamentally relatable characters that serve as great role models for young children. Kiya shows that you don’t have to choose between learning to dance or being a kick-butt hero – you can be both. She’s encouraging pre-schoolers to be whoever they want to be and shine.”

“Our belief is that Kiya will represent and empower young girls to be leaders who can use their smarts and skills to solve big problems”, says Tshepo Moche, writer and creative consultant at Triggerfish. “There is still a tremendous opportunity for representation and there has never been a better moment for the landscape of children’s programming to reflect the diversity and size of the audience they serve.”