''Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure'' (known as ''Tangled: The Series'' in its first season) is an American animated television series developed by Chris Sonnenburg and Shane Prigmore, and produced by
Disney Television Animation
Disney Television Animation (DTVA; also shortened to Disney TVA), formerly known as Walt Disney Pictures Television Animation Group and Walt Disney Television Animation, is an American animation production company that serves as the television a ...
. It premiered on
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
as a
Disney Channel Original Movie
Since its launch on April 18, 1983, American cable and satellite pay television channel Disney Channel airs and/or releases/distributes original first-run television films under the banner names of Disney Channel Premiere Films until October 1 ...
titled ''
Tangled: Before Ever After'' on March 10, 2017. Its regular episodes premiered on March 24, 2017. The series is based on the 2010 film ''
Tangled
''Tangled'' is a 2010 American animated musical film, musical Adventure film, adventure fantasy comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. Loosely based on the German fairy tale "Rapunzel" in th ...
'' and features the returning voices of
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame with her 1999 debut single "Candy (Mandy Moore song), Candy", which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot ...
and
Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi Pugh ( ; born September 29, 1980) is an American actor. He starred as Chuck Bartowski in the action comedy series ''Chuck (TV series), Chuck'' (2007–2012), and as Captain Marvel (DC Comics), the titular character in the superher ...
, alongside
Eden Espinosa
Eden Erica Espinosa (born February 2, 1978) is an American actress and singer who is best known for her performances as Elphaba for the Broadway, Los Angeles, and San Francisco productions of the musical '' Wicked''. In 2022, she was nominated f ...
,
Clancy Brown
Clarence James Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
His film roles include Rawhide in ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Ban ...
,
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer; March 3, 1970) is an American actress. She starred as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom '' Modern Family'' (2009–2020), for which she received widespread critical acclaim. She won the Primetime Emmy A ...
,
James Monroe Iglehart,
Jeff Ross
Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer. Nicknamed the "Roastmaster General" for his insult comedy, his multiple appearances at celebrity Roast (comedy), roasts held by the ...
,
Paul F. Tompkins, and
Jeremy Jordan.
In February 2017, ahead of the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on June 24, 2018. In May 2018, ahead of the premiere of the series' second season, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a third and final season, which premiered on October 7, 2019,
and concluded on March 1, 2020.
Plot
Six months after escaping
Mother Gothel and reuniting with her birth parents, King Frederic and Queen Arianna of Corona,
Princess Rapunzel is unable to properly adjust due to her father's constant protection. When she and her handmaiden Cassandra sneak out of the castle, they come upon some black rock spikes that magically restore Rapunzel's long blonde hair. Rapunzel, Cassandra,
Eugene Fitzherbert
Eugene Fitzherbert, born Horace and known by the alias Flynn Rider, is a fictional character who appears in Walt Disney Animation Studios' animated film ''Tangled'' (2010), its short 2012 film ''Tangled Ever After'', and the 2017 television ser ...
,
Pascal the chameleon, Maximus the horse, and a young alchemist named Varian uncover the mystery of her hair's return and its connection to the black rocks growing around Corona. Eventually, Rapunzel learns that the Sundrop Flower's power resides in her with the black rocks directing her to the Dark Kingdom.
The second season centers around Rapunzel's group traveling to the Dark Kingdom while accompanied by Lance, Hook Foot, and Shorty and joined by the mysterious sword-wielding Adira of the Dark Kingdom. The group soon learn that the rocks are created by the Sundrop's counterpart, the Moonstone Opal. During the journey, Rapunzel gets the chance to explore the world and learns the origins of the Sundrop and Moonstone as two halves of an ancient power seeking to be rejoined. At the end of the season, Cassandra betrays Rapunzel and absorbs the Moonstone's power for herself.
The third and final season involves Rapunzel returning to Corona to act as queen upon finding out that her parents were overthrown, while also dealing with the threat of Cassandra and Zhan Tiri, an ancient demon that plots to use the Moonstone and Sundrop's power to take over and destroy Corona.
Characters
*
Rapunzel
"Rapunzel" ( ; ; or ) is a German fairy tale most notably recorded by the Brothers Grimm and it was published in 1812 as part of '' Children's and Household Tales'' (KHM 12). The Grimms' story was developed from the French literary fairy tale ...
(
Mandy Moore
Amanda Leigh "Mandy" Moore (born April 10, 1984) is an American singer-songwriter and actress. She rose to fame with her 1999 debut single "Candy (Mandy Moore song), Candy", which peaked at number 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot ...
) is the long-lost Princess of Corona who adjusts to her new life as a princess while trying to uncover the mystery of the Black Rocks and her destiny.
*
Eugene (
Zachary Levi
Zachary Levi Pugh ( ; born September 29, 1980) is an American actor. He starred as Chuck Bartowski in the action comedy series ''Chuck (TV series), Chuck'' (2007–2012), and as Captain Marvel (DC Comics), the titular character in the superher ...
), formerly Flynn Rider, is a reformed thief. He is Rapunzel's boyfriend who finds his place in Corona as a royal guard instructor and later becomes Captain of the Royal Guard. He is later revealed to be the son of King Edmund and the long-lost Prince of the Dark Kingdom.
*Cassandra (
Eden Espinosa
Eden Erica Espinosa (born February 2, 1978) is an American actress and singer who is best known for her performances as Elphaba for the Broadway, Los Angeles, and San Francisco productions of the musical '' Wicked''. In 2022, she was nominated f ...
) is the adopted daughter of the Captain of the Guards. She is Rapunzel's best friend and
lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting (alternatively written lady in waiting) or court lady is a female personal assistant at a Royal court, court, attending on a royal woman or a high-ranking nobility, noblewoman. Historically, in Europe, a lady-in-waiting was o ...
, but over time grows tired of constantly being in Rapunzel's shadow and later learns she is the biological daughter of Mother Gothel herself. She is manipulated by the evil demon Zhan Tiri to turn on Rapunzel by wielding the all-powerful Moonstone before reforming at the end of season 3.
*
Pascal and Maximus
Pascal and Maximus are a pair of animals who first appear in Walt Disney Pictures' animated film ''Tangled'' (2010) as supporting characters, and subsequently star in its short ''Tangled Ever After'' (2012), television film ''Tangled: Before Eve ...
(
Dee Bradley Baker
Dee Bradley Baker (born August 31, 1962) is an American voice actor. Much of his work has consisted of vocalizations of animals and monsters. Baker's roles include animated series such as '' Adventure Time'', ''American Dad!'', '' Avatar: The Las ...
)
**Pascal is Rapunzel's pet chameleon. His backstory is revealed in Episode 11 "
Pascal's Story".
**Maximus is a white stallion said to have the nose of a
bloodhound
The bloodhound is a large scent hound, originally bred for hunting deer, wild boar, rabbits, and since the Middle Ages, for tracking people. Believed to be descended from hounds once kept at the Abbey of Saint-Hubert, Belgium, in French it is ...
. He is originally owned by the Captain of the Guard and later by Eugene.
*King Frederic (
Clancy Brown
Clarence James Brown III (born January 5, 1959) is an American actor. Prolific in film and television since the 1980s, Brown is often cast in villainous and authoritative roles.
His film roles include Rawhide in ''The Adventures of Buckaroo Ban ...
) is the King of Corona and Rapunzel's overprotective yet loving father.
*Queen Arianna (
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen (born Julie Bowen Luetkemeyer; March 3, 1970) is an American actress. She starred as Claire Dunphy in the ABC sitcom '' Modern Family'' (2009–2020), for which she received widespread critical acclaim. She won the Primetime Emmy A ...
) is the Queen of Corona and Princess Rapunzel's mother.
*Captain of the Guards (
M. C. Gainey) is the head of the Corona royal guard and adoptive father of Cassandra. He retired at the end of Season 3.
*Lance Strongbow (
James Monroe Iglehart)
is Eugene's childhood best friend and former partner-in-crime from his thieving days. He adopts Kiera and Catalina at the end of "
Plus Est En Vous".
*Hook Foot (
Jeff Ross
Jeffrey Ross Lifschultz (born September 13, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, director and producer. Nicknamed the "Roastmaster General" for his insult comedy, his multiple appearances at celebrity Roast (comedy), roasts held by the ...
) is the hook-footed younger brother of Hook Hand. He accompanies Rapunzel on her adventure in Season 2 until "
The Brothers Hook" to go on a world tour with his brother.
*Shorty (
Paul F. Tompkins)
is a crazy drunk who joins Rapunzel and Eugene on their adventures in Season 2.
*Varian (
Jeremy Jordan)
is a clumsy but smart alchemist who uses his skills to help others. Later on in the series he becomes an antagonist after his father got encased in amber, but reforms in the Season 3 premiere episode "
Rapunzel's Return" after his father is freed. At the end of "
Plus Est En Vous", he becomes the Royal Engineer and is finally able to give Corona hot water which is something that he wanted to do to in the first episode of season one.
*Angry and Red (Vivian Vencer and Ruby Jay) are a pair of young former thieves who appear as minor characters, later as major characters and revealed that their true names are Kiera and Catalina.
*Quirin (
Jonathan Banks) is leader of the small village of Old Corona and Varian's father. Later in the series he got encased as a result of Varian's attempts to destroy the black rocks but was eventually freed in the season three premiere.
*Adira (
Kelly Hu) is a mysterious warrior who serves as Rapunzel's guide to the source of the black rocks.
*King Edmund (
Bruce Campbell) is King of the Dark Kingdom who keeps the Moonstone Opal from harming the world and is Eugene's long-lost father.
*Hector (
Kim Coates
Kim Frederick Coates (born February 21, 1958) is a Canadian-American actor who has worked in both Canadian and American films and television series. He has worked on Broadway portraying Stanley Kowalski in ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' and in th ...
) is a dangerous and sadistic member of the Brotherhood. He is the antagonist in the special episode "Rapunzel and the Great Tree".
*Lord Demanitus (
Timothy Dalton
Timothy Leonard Dalton Leggett (; born 21 March 1946) is a British actor. He gained international prominence as the fourth actor to portray fictional secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, starring in '' The Living Dayli ...
) is an ancient engineer and inventor who lived in ancient Corona when the Sundrop Flower and Moonstone Opal descended from the heavens.
* Zhan Tiri (
Jennifer Veal and
Tara Fitzgerald in her demonic form
) is an ancient and powerful demon sorceress from another reality who serves as the series' main antagonist. She personally appears in a child-like form to manipulate Cassandra in season 3 after acting through her minions in the first two seasons. She is vanquished in the season 3 finale.
Episodes
Production
On June 3, 2015, Disney Channel announced that the series was in development. On February 15, 2017, it was announced that the series had been renewed for a second season ahead of the series premiere.
The series features new songs from
Alan Menken
Alan Irwin Menken (born July 22, 1949) is an American composer and conductor. Over his career he has received List of awards and nominations received by Alan Menken, numerous accolades including winning eight Academy Awards, a Tony Awards, Tony ...
and
Glenn Slater. Menken previously scored the original film, while he and Slater wrote the film's songs.
On May 31, 2018, it was announced that the second season would premiere on June 24, 2018, and that the series had also been renewed for a third season. Additionally, it was also announced that the series would be re-titled ''Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure''.
Release
Broadcast
On March 10, 2017, Tangled began airing on the
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
. It was titled ''Tangled: The Series'' for its first season. On May 21, Tangled began airing on the
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American pay television television channel, channel that serves as the flagship (broadcasting), flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney Entertainment business segment of the Walt Disney Company ...
in Southeast Asia.
Then on September 12 of the same year, it began airing on
the Disney Channel for Latin America. Also in 2017 it aired as part of the Disney Channel Saturday morning block, then named "Get Animated".
Home media
''Tangled: Before Ever After'' and the first four ''Tangled: Short Cuts'' were released on DVD on April 11, 2017. ''Tangled: Queen for a Day'' was released on DVD on December 12, 2017. The entire series was released on Blu-ray on December 28, 2021 as a Disney Movie Club Exclusive.
Ratings
Awards and nominations
Reception
Reviews of the series were relatively positive. Klaudia Amenábar of ''
The Mary Sue'' argues that the show has "relatable themes" for
Millennials
Millennials, also known as Generation Y or Gen Y, are the demographic cohort following Generation X and preceding Generation Z. Researchers and popular media use the early 1980s as starting birth years and the mid-1990s to early 2000s a ...
and those in
Generation Z
Generation Z (often shortened to Gen Z), also known as zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2 ...
, with focus on
emotional abuse,
trauma, friendship, and creating relationships. Amenábar also argued that Eugene represents "healthy and supportive
masculinity
Masculinity (also called manhood or manliness) is a set of attributes, behaviors, and roles generally associated with men and boys. Masculinity can be theoretically understood as Social construction of gender, socially constructed, and there i ...
", and described the series as a Millennial
sitcom
A sitcom (short for situation comedy or situational comedy) is a genre of comedy produced for radio and television, that centers on a recurring cast of character (arts), characters as they navigate humorous situations within a consistent settin ...
which parses out "uniquely adult issues for kids.". Emily Ashby of
Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media (CSM) is an American nonprofit organization that reviews and provides ratings for media and technology with the goal of providing information on their suitability for children. focused on the appeal of the series to
kids and families, argued that there was
romantic chemistry between Rapunzel and Eugene, prevalence of frightening moments, and argued that younger kids may not have "the attention span to see it through," while praising the fun character adventures. Furthermore, she stated that series is episodic, better suited "for a
slightly older audience" and is good "family fare." Ian Goodwillie of ''
CBR'' criticized the series for being
aimed at kids, while deviating from the
fairy tale
A fairy tale (alternative names include fairytale, fairy story, household tale, magic tale, or wonder tale) is a short story that belongs to the folklore genre. Such stories typically feature magic, enchantments, and mythical or fanciful bei ...
, having an overbearing king, classic good vs. evil conflict, differing "from the animated movie it's based on", and having an evil demon antagonist that didn't fit with the tone. Goodwillie also praised that the actors who voiced Eugene and Rapunzel, said that the series is fun, and has an interesting story.
Notes
References
External links
*
{{Portal bar, Cartoon, Disney, Animation
2017 American animated television series debuts
2020 American television series endings
2010s American animated television series
2020s American animated television series
American children's animated action television series
American children's animated adventure television series
American children's animated fantasy television series
American children's animated musical television series
American sequel television series
Animated television series about princesses
Animated television shows based on films
Disney Channel original programming
American English-language television shows
Tangled (franchise)
Television series based on Disney films
Television series based on adaptations
Television series by Disney Television Animation