There's A New Group Of Tools In Town, As Playhouse Disney Premieres A Short-Form Series, "HANDY MANNY SCHOOL FOR TOOLS," Monday, January 25 On Disney Channel

11 New Tools Introduced

A new group of tools joins Playhouse Disney with the premiere of the animated short-form series, "Handy Manny School for Tools," Monday, January 25 (8:25 a.m. ET/PT) on Disney Channel.  

Inspired by the Emmy-nominated hit series "Handy Manny," starring Wilmer Valderrama, the three-minute shorts feature Manny and his trusty tools alongside a set of 11 new tools: Beamer the laser level, Zip the power socket wrench, Pinzas the needle nose pliers, Sneeze the shop vac, Tick and Totts the socket wrenches, Roland the tool chest, Spinner the power drill and a family of crescent wrenches - dad Lefty, mom Lily and son Junior.

The stories are designed to provide young viewers insight into cooperation and the value of individual talent and contribution as Manny teaches his tools - Pat, Felipe, Dusty, Stretch, Squeeze, Rusty, Turner and Flicker - and their new tool friends how to complete simple jobs using their own unique skills.  

The first eight new shorts will premiere throughout the week of January 25, and an additional 11 episodes will debut through the rest of the year.

A Top 10 TV series with preschoolers age 2-5, the Emmy-nominated "Handy Manny," which is set in a multicultural, multi-generational community and follows a curriculum that models problem-solving, is available in over 140 countries and in 23 languages.  (Source: NTI, 4Q09 to date (9/28/09-12/6/09, U.S. ratings, most current), ranked among preschool targeted series.)

"Handy Manny" airs weekdays at 9:00 a.m., ET/PT and weekends at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., ET/PT during Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney programming block for preschoolers. The series carries a TV-Y parental guideline.

Playhouse Disney, seen in a daily programming block on Disney Channel U.S. and on 21 Playhouse Disney channels around the world, encourages preschoolers to imagine and learn through original series, short-form and acquired programming that includes song, movement and entertainment.  Guided by an established curriculum, Playhouse Disney supports multiple areas of child development:  physical, emotional, social and cognitive; thinking and creative skills as well as moral and ethical development through carefully constructed themes, storylines and endearing characters.