MEET HANDY MANNY: Handy Manny, the popular Playhouse Disney character, is the newest member of the Disney-MGM Studios family. He will begin making regular meet-and-greet appearances in the Disney-MGM Studios theme park the week of Nov. 18, 2007. Also, coming in 2008 to the theme park, Handy Manny will debut as part of the cast in a new show entitled “Playhouse Disney-Live on Stage!” (Kent Phillips, photographer)
About Handy Manny:
On the Disney Channel’s multicultural animated series, “Handy Manny,” Manny Garcia is the best handyman in his town of Sheetrock Hills. He carries his trusty set of talking tools that help him do each job. Each one of his talking tools has specific strengths which allows the show to teach the importance of teamwork, problem solving, community and friendship. On the show, the voice of “Handy Manny” is provided by actor Wilmer Valderrama (“That 70s Show”). For English-speaking children, “Handy Manny” teaches simple Spanish words and phrases by putting them into a real-world context – such as Manny saying “abuelito” when referring to his grandfather or calling his tools “las herramientas” during conversations. In addition, the series introduces everyday aspects of Latino culture, including holidays and the importance of family. “Handy Manny” will also resonate with young Latino viewers, thanks to its authentic portrayals of culturally-relevant characters and customs. The series airs during the learning-focused Playhouse Disney programming block on Disney Channel in the U.S., and on Disney Channels and Playhouse Disney channels around the world
