Everything We Know About The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder So Far

Everything We Know About The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder So Far

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at everything we know about “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” so far.

For this video, we’re looking at the information available on this new series from official press releases, cast interviews, and the words from the creators themselves. How do you feel about the return of The Proud Family to our screens? Let us know below!

Before we dive into further details about the family that made us want to scream and sing, let's take a look back at the cartoon that started it all.“The Proud Family” premiered on Disney Channel in 2001. This animated sitcom revolved around the adventures of a 14-year-old Black girl named Penny Proud. We also followed her eccentric family and her quirky group of friends as they tried to navigate the world together.

Audiences were immediately pulled into the show by a legendary theme song. Solange Knowles and Destiny’s Child delivered the vocals to an extremely catchy and soulful tune. “The Proud Family” was also one of the few animated shows in the early 2000s with a predominantly Black cast. This gave young children of color a great opportunity to see themselves represented in animation. The show also allowed its diverse cast to tackle difficult issues. There were episodes about body image, prejudice, and even racism. But even when the topics got dark, the show never lost sight of its humor and warmth.

During its original run, “The Proud Family” won several awards and accolades. The show was also praised for its excellent casting. Kyla Pratt as Penny Proud, Tommy Davidson as Oscar Proud, Paula Jai Parker as Trudy Proud, and Jo Marie Payton as Suga Mama were just a few of the strong vocal performances. Actor and comedian Cedric the Entertainer received an NAACP Image award for his voice work as Uncle Bobby. And in 2004, The Proud Family won a BET comedy award for outstanding animated series. After four years of good stories, critical praise, and an unforgettable theme song, “The Proud Family” ended with a movie in 2005. Nearly fifteen years later, fans were thrilled to hear that the series was coming back.

In February 2020, Disney confirmed that “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” was officially in development for Disney plus. Although the show will be on a new platform, it will feature a lot of familiar people behind the scenes. Bruce W. Smith, the original creator of “The Proud Family”, will return alongside executive producers Calvin Brown Jr. and Ralph Farquhar to lead the new series. In a recent statement, Smith and Farquar said they have plenty of new story ideas that they’re excited to share with fans.

But they're far from the only ones returning to the show. All the voice actors behind the titular Proud Family have confirmed that they will return. We've also heard that Soleil Moon Frye will reprise her role as Zoey Howzer, Alisa Reyes will voice LaCienega Boulevardez again and Karen Malina White will return to play Dijonay Jones. Although we don't know if the actors behind Wizard Kelly or the Gross Sisters will return, the biggest question mark is reserved for the character named Sticky.

Sticky Webb was one of Penny's closest friends in the original series. The character was played by Orlando Brown. Over the last decade, Brown has struggled to overcome addiction and mental health issues. Given Disney’s low tolerance for bad behavior, it’s very likely that he won’t be asked back for the new “Proud Family” series.

While we can speculate for days about who might return, there will definitely be one big addition to the cast when the series returns. In August 2020, Disney announced that Keke Palmer would lend her voice to the new show. She’ll play an original character named Maya Leibowitz-Jenkins. The creators have described Maya as a 14-year-old activist that pushes for social change. According to creator Bruce W. Smith, the character may clash with Penny before they establish a friendship. The presence of a dynamic character like Maya will open up the door to more story possibilities.

Palmer's character isn't the only thing that will change about the show. The writers hinted that time has passed since the original series. Creator Bruce W. Smith confirmed that Penny Proud will be a few years older. She'll also be trading in her iconic burgundy outfit for some new clothes. There are also some hints that the story will adopt a modern setting. In one of the promotional pictures for the show, Penny is holding a smartphone.

Moving the show closer to the present increases the chance the show will tackle modern issues. Over the last decade, there has been an increased awareness and support for social movements like Black Lives Matter. Since the series is adding a character whose defining trait is pushing for social justice, it seems inevitable the movement will be referenced in the continuation. The thought of having a children’s show explore the Black Lives Matter movement on a major network is huge. Overall, a modern setting will allow Penny Proud to educate and inform young viewers in a way she never has before.

The last major announcements we've heard about “Louder and Prouder” circle around the creative team. During “The Proud Family” cast reunion, the creators told fans they had an extremely diverse team of animators. They specifically mentioned that two Black female directors would be joining the team. The show’s commitment to diversity behind-the-scenes is both encouraging and inspiring.

As the series added new people to the creative team, they also made sure to get composer Kurt Farquhar to work on music again. As you might have guessed, this musician was responsible for the original theme song. He recently confirmed on Twitter that he would return to give fans some new music. He also hinted that there would be “really exciting guest stars”. The news of Farquahar’s return and the addition of new voices is all music to our ears.

So, when will we get to see “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder”? Unfortunately, the premiere date is still unknown. During the cast reunion, Keke Palmer hinted that the cast would be recording lines in the near future. If they get everything recorded while working on the animation, there may be a chance that we see the new series debut in 2021.

When the show returns, we know it'll feature the voices with which fans fell in love within new situations and a new setting. And it will be supported by a team that loves “The Proud Family” and wants to make it the best show it can be. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long to welcome Penny Proud back into our lives.