Spidey and His Amazing Friends (also known as Marvel's Spidey and His Amazing Friends) is an animated television series produced by Marvel Studios Animation (formerly Marvel Animation) and animated by Atomic Cartoons (who also produced Marvel Super Hero Adventures) which premiered on Disney Jr. on August 6, 2021. The show features young versions of the Marvel characters and is the first full-length Marvel animated series targeted at young audiences.
After the series premiere, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on August 19, 2022.[3][4][5] In June 2022, the series was renewed for a third season, which premiered on January 8, 2024.[6][7] In June 2023, the series was renewed for a fourth season.[8]
Peter Parker / Spidey (voiced by Benjamin Valic in seasons 1–2,[10] Alkaio Thiele in season 3–present)[7] - The titular web-slinging superhero. He often works on different science experiments and new types of webbing. When Spidey accesses his Dino-Web abilities during season 3, he can change at will into a Tyrannosaurus, alternatively referred to as Spidey-Rex.
WEB-STER (voiced by Nicholas Roye)[11] - A super-computer in Web-Quarters that assists Spidey, Spin, and Ghost-Spider.
TRACE-E (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker)[12] - A Spider-Bot who is Spidey's sidekick.
Miles Morales / Spin (voiced by Jakari Fraser)[13][12] - Peter's best friend who possesses invisibility and an arachno-sting ability. Miles is an expert artist. When he accesses his Dino-Web powers during season 3, he can change at will into a Stegosaurus, alternatively referred to as Dino-Spin.
TWIST-E (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker)[14] - A Spider-Bot who is Spin's sidekick.
Gwen Stacy / Ghost-Spider (voiced by Lily Sanfelippo in seasons 1–2,[10] Audrey Bennett in season 3–present)[7] - A friend of Peter and Miles. Gwen is an expert drummer and her Ghost-Spider outfit enables her with gliding abilities. When she accesses her Dino-Web powers during season 3, she can change at will into a Pterodactyl, alternatively referred to as Ghostosaurus.
TWIRL-E (vocal effects provided by Nora Wyman)[15] - A Spider-Bot who is Ghost-Spider's sidekick.
Supporting
Aunt May (voiced by Melanie Minichino)[16] - Peter's paternal aunt.
Ant-Man (voiced by Sean Giambrone)[4] - A superhero who can communicate with ants, change his size thanks to the Pym Particles he created, and possesses the strength of an ant.
Wasp (voiced by Maya Tuttle)[4] - A superhero who can fly and change her size with the same particles. She is Ant-Man's partner.
Reptil (voiced by Hoku Ramirez in season 2,[4] Ryan Lopez in season 3)[1] - A superhero who can become different dinosaurs. He granted Team Spidey their Dino-Web suits during Season 3.
Fake TRACE-E (vocal effects provided by Dee Bradley Baker)[28] - Doc Ock's evil version of TRACE-E. He was credited as "Bad Bot".
Green Goblin (voiced by J. P. Karliak)[29] - A male goblin-themed supervillain that rides on a glider and throws pumpkin bombs (referred to as "pumpkin pranks" in this show).
Marvel Animation announced its first preschool series Spidey and His Amazing Friends in August 2019.[9] Disney Jr. renewed the series for a second season in August 2021.[3] On June 15, 2022, Disney Jr. renewed the series for a third season.[6]Marvel Studios Animation took over production of the series starting with season 2.[4] On June 13, 2023, Disney Jr. renewed the series for a fourth season.[8]
Music
Patrick Stump of the pop punk rock band Fall Out Boy wrote, composed, and performed the theme song for the series.[53] A longtime Marvel fan, he used themes from previous Spider-Man media as inspiration.[54]
Release
Spidey and His Amazing Friends premiered with a series of 11 short episodes titled Meet Spidey and His Amazing Friends on June 21, 2021, on Disney Channel and Disney Jr.,[10] followed by Disney+ on July 16.[55] It also premiered on September 11, 2021, in Southeast Asia, but only lasted 20 days before the channel's closure on October 1, 2021.[citation needed]
The full series premiered on August 6 with a simulcast on Disney Jr. and Disney Channel,[10] later on Disney+ on September 22.[56]
The second season of Meet Spidey and His Amazing Friends premiered on July 18, 2022, on Disney Channel and Disney Jr., followed by Disney+ on August 17.[5]
The second season of the series premiered on August 19, 2022, with a simulcast on Disney Jr. and Disney Channel, followed by Disney+ later on.[4][5]
On October 10, 2022, it debuted on CBeebies in the United Kingdom, making this the first show based on a Disney property to premiere on said network.[57]
The third season of the series premiered on January 8, 2024, on Disney Channel and Disney Jr., followed by Disney+ later on.[7]
Reception
Critical response
Adam Levine of Looper ranked Spidey and His Amazing Friends 19th in their "Every 2021 Superhero Movie And TV Show Ranked" list, asserting, "Bright, colorful, and wonderfully animated, it doesn't get high marks from comic book diehards, but has been nonetheless well-reviewed by parents of its young target audience for its wholesome stories and message of teamwork."[58] Polly Conway of Common Sense Media rated the series three out of five stars, writing, "The whole "Marvel Babies" concept may be a little odd for parents, and more cynical viewers might see the show as a way to get even younger kids interested in the vast, lucrative Marvel franchise. But overall the show is charming, well-paced, and a solid choice for younger siblings who aren't ready for the movies or more mature cartoons."[59]
Marisa Lascala of Good Housekeeping included Spidey and His Amazing Friends in their "60 Best Kids' TV Shows and Family Series of All Time" list.[60] Dakota Mayes of MovieWeb ranked Spidey and His Amazing Friends 5th in their "Best Animated Spider-Man Series" list, stating, "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends is different from all others on this list in that it is geared towards toddlers. This modern update of the classic 80's cartoon left out Iceman and Firestar, and traded them with other popular web-slingers like Ghost-Spider/Gwen Stacy and Miles Morales, nicknamed 'Spin' to avoid confusion with Peter Parker's alter ego. This trio appeared in two computer-animated shorts per episode that were filled with youthful fun and adventures. Each adorably animated episode featured a classic Spider-Man villain committing some mild manner of mischief. More than that, the series even included an occasional appearance from Marvel superheroes like Black Panther and Captain Marvel to add to the age-appropriate fun. This show was such a hit with its targeted age group that it earned itself a second season", which aired in 2022."[61]
Spidey and his Amazing Friends (UPC75960620428100111, 2022-04-04/2022-05-04): Free comic with stories from My First Comic Reader. Free Comic Book Day issue includes 2-page preview.[64]
English version by Disney Books
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Panther Patience (ISBN 1-36806988-6/978-1-36806988-5, 2021-08-03)[65]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Meet Team Spidey (ISBN 1-36806990-8/978-1-36806990-8, 2021-08-03)[66]
World of Reading: Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Super Hero Hiccups (ISBN 1-36806992-4/978-1-36806992-2, 2021-08-03)[67]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: A Very Spidey Christmas (ISBN 1-36807404-9/978-1-36807404-9, 2021-09-07)[68]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Spidey Saves the Day (ISBN 1-36807605-X/978-1-36807605-0, 2021-12-28):[69] Includes World of Reading: Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Super Hero Hiccups, 5-Minute Spider-Man Stories, 5-Minute Marvel Stories, World of Reading: This is Miles Morales, World of Reading: Five Super Hero Stories!, Snow Day for Groot!, Marvel Storybook Collection.
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Team Spidey Does It All! (ISBN 1-36807607-6/978-1-36807607-4, 2022-02-01)[70]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Trick or TRACE-E (ISBN 1-36807890-7/978-1-36807890-7, 2022-07-05)[71]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Construction Destruction (ISBN 1-36807877-X/978-1-36807877-1, 2022-08-30)[72]
World of Reading: Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Housesitting at Tony's (ISBN 1-36807880-X/978-1-36807880-1, 2022-09-13)[73]
Spidey and His Amazing Friends: Let's Swing, Spidey Team! (ISBN 1-36808480-X/978-1-36808480-2, 2023-01-03)[74]
Live show
In 2023, the characters of Spidey and His Amazing Friends appeared in the touring live action arena show Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza.[75][76][77]