Firebuds

''Firebuds'' is an American animated television series created by Craig Gerber, produced by Electric Emu Productions and Disney Television Animation. The series premiered on Disney Junior on September 21, 2022. In January 2023, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 1, 2023. In June 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.

Plot

In a world where human and talking cars co-exist, a group of kids and their rescue vehicle buddies go through the communities of Gearbox Grove and Motopolis and help keep them safe from danger.

Characters

Main

* Bo Bayani (voiced by Declan Whaley) is a Filipino-American boy who is an aspiring firefighter. He is the leader of the Firebuds.
* Flash Fireson (voiced by Terrence Little Gardenhigh in season one and Carter Jones in season two) is Bo's firetruck vroom-mate. He gets very hyperactive, especially when rescuing people and vehicles.
* Violet Vega-Vaughn (voiced by Vivian Vencer) is an Japanese-American girl who is an aspiring paramedic. She loves gymnastics and going fast.
* Axl Ambrose (voiced by Lily Sanfelippo) is Violet's ambulance vroom-mate. She loves carkour and going fast like Violet. Axl has dyscalculia.
* Jayden Jamal Jones (voiced by JeCobi Swain) is an African-American boy who is an aspiring cop. He is an inventor who loves to eat.
* Piston Porter (voiced by Caleb Paddock) is Jayden's police car vroom-mate. He loves rules and being safe.

Recurring

* Chief Bill Bayani (voiced by Lou Diamond Phillips) is Bo's father and co-chief of the Gearbox Grove Fire Department.
* Chief Faye Fireson (voiced by Yvette Nicole Brown) is Flash's mother and co-chief of the Gearbox Grove Fire Department.
* Beth Bayani (voiced by Melissa Rauch) is Bo's mother who is a therapist.
* Floyd Fireson (voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson) is Flash's father who is a carchitect.
* Val Vega-Vaughn (voiced by Natalie Morales) is Violet's paramedic mother.
* Arnie Ambrose (voiced by Stephen Guarino) is Axl's ambulance father.
* Viv Vega-Vaughn (voiced by Allison Case) is Violet's mechanic mother.
* AJ Ambrose (voiced by Ian James Corlett) is Axl's semi-hauler father.
* Jenna Jones (voiced by LaChanze) is Jayden's mother and Deputy Chief of the Bureau of Community Support for the Motopolis Police Department.
* Pete Porter (voiced by Sean Kenin) is Piston's father and Jenna's M.P.D. partner.
* Jamal Jones (voiced by Brandon Victor Dixon) is Jayden's father who is a traffic cop for the Motopolis Police Department.
* Pam Porter (voiced by Hope Levy) is Piston's mother and Jamal's M.P.D. partner.
* Jazzy Jones (voiced by Lauren 'Lolo' Spencer) is Jayden's younger sister with spina bifida.
* Piper Porter (voiced by Sammi Haney) is Piston's sister and Jazzy's electric wheelchair vroom-mate.
* June (voiced by Tessa Espinola) is a news reporter and a friend of the Firebuds.
* Vance (voiced by Max Mitchell) is June's vroom-mate and news camera operator.
* Harry (voiced by Cameron Crovetti) is a friend of the Firebuds and Violet's biggest fan.
* Carly (voiced by Abigail Zoe Lewis) is Harry's vroom-mate and Axl's biggest fan.
* Iggy (voiced by Benjamin Valic) is the Firebuds' rude and obnoxious neighbor. Iggy’s full name is Ignatius.
* Rod (voiced by Henry Kaufman) is Iggy's rude and obnoxious vroom-mate. Rod’s full name is Rodrick.
* Chef Al (voiced by José Andrés) is the chef and co-owner of the Overdrive Cafe.
* Chef Fernando (voiced by Oscar Nunez) is Chef Al's food truck vroom-mate and co-owner of the Overdrive Cafe.
* Bang, (voiced by Gavin McCrillis), Pow (voiced by Grayson Boulom), and Zip (voiced by Nylan Parthipan) are three small rambunctious cars and brothers.
* Duck Family are a family consisting of a mother duck and three ducklings. They are seen walking around, sometimes causing traffic.
* Marina Ramirez (voiced by Aimee Carrero) is a newscaster.
* Vanessa is Marina's vroom-mate and news camera operator.
* Halo (voiced by Jack Stanton) is a helicopter.
* Corey (voiced by Kayden Alexander Koshelev) is Halo's vroom-mate. Corey is non-binary.

Villains

* The Riley Gang are a gang of young thieves and the Firebuds' arch-enemies.
** Wayne Riley (voiced by Atticus Shaffer) is the leader of the Riley Gang. He invents tools for his crimes and has heterochromia (green eye on the right and blue eye on the left).
** Grant (voiced by Cleo Berry) is Wayne's vroom-mate in crime.
** Wiley Riley (voiced by Luna Bella Zamora) is Wayne's sister and partner in crime.
** Gauge (voiced by Kensington Tallman) is Wiley's vroom-mate in crime. She gets annoyed when people do not credit her for a crime she and Wiley commit.
* The Wild Wheels are the sidekicks of the Riley Gang.
** Claire and Harley are disguised motorcyclists.
** Cruiser and Heat are Claire and Harley's vroom-mates in crime.
* Louis Lam (voiced by Sean Kenin) is a robber who loves the toy store.
* Throttle (voiced by Nat Faxon) is Louis' vroom-mate in crime who loves going fast.

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2022–23)

Season 2 (2023–24)

Release

''Firebuds'' premiered on Disney Junior on September 21, 2022. It was later made available to stream on Disney+.

Reception

Critical response

Alex Reif of ''Laughing Place'' asserted, "''Firebuds'' teaches kids that the colorful vehicles with lights and sounds that enchant them on the roads have an important job to do. They can do their part by following the rules and playing safe. And when someone needs help, offer a hand if you're able. While the show isn't the first to tackle this same theme, it sets itself apart by including kids as both relatable humans and fun vehicles, and it is more reflective of the world we live in today to inspire the next generation of forward thinkers." Ashley Moulton of '' Common Sense Media'' gave the series a grade of three out of five stars, complimented the educational value, saying the series teaches responsibility, and praised the positive messages and role models, stating the characters demonstrate teamwork and friendliness.

Accolades

''Firebuds'' received nominations for Outstanding Children's Programming at the 34th and the 35th GLAAD Media Awards.

In other media

Books

In June 2023, Disney Publishing Worldwide released a picture book inspired by the television series titled ''Firebuds: Meet the Firebuds''. In September 2023, Disney Publishing Worldwide released a Christmas-themed picture book titled ''Firebuds: The Christmas Car-Sled Race''.

Live show

In 2023, the characters from ''Firebuds'' appeared in the touring live-action arena show ''Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza''.

Notes

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Firebuds
2020s American animated television series
2020s American children's comedy television series
2020s preschool education television series
2022 American television series debuts
American children's animated adventure television series
American children's animated comedy television series
American children's animated fantasy television series
American computer-animated television series
American preschool education television series
Animated preschool education television series
Animated television series about children
Disney Junior original programming
Disney and LGBT
English-language television shows
Television series by Disney Television Animation