Valentine’s Day debut for Disney Junior

The Mouse’s latest television venture Disney Junior, a programming block set to morph into a US cable channel next year, will debut on Disney Channel next month.

The Disney Junior block, aimed at kids aged 2-7, will replace Playhouse Disney on Valentine’s Day, with feature film Finding Nemo leading off followed by new animated adventure series Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

New shortform shows Mickey Mousekersize, Special Agent Oso: Three Healthy Steps and Jennifer Garner-voiced A Poem Is will join full-length series Babar and the Adventures of Badou and Tinga Tinga Tales in the line-up.

“Disney Junior will be an entry point into the world of Disney for young kids, creating a world – online and on-air – that captures the magic of Disney and its classic heartfelt storytelling and timeless characters beloved by generations,” said Disney Channels Worldwide chief creative officer Gary Marsh.

Disney plans to launch Disney Junior as a full cablenet next year, replacing the outgoing SOAPnet.