BURBANK, CA – November 21, 2024 – Disney animation veteran Kevin deters returns to the world of holiday hijinks with Prep & Landing: The Snowball Protocol, a new special premiering on Disney Channel November 27, 2025, and streaming on Disney+ the following day. Deters, who previously worked on the original Prep & Landing specials with Stevie Wermers-Maxwell, expands the universe with fresh characters and a continuation of the beloved story.
The new special introduces Renato, a holistic healer from Spa Navidad, a character teased as early as 2011. Deters and Wermers-Maxwell have consistently aimed to broaden the prep & Landing cast with each installment.
“ever since we started working on the original Prep & Landing, Stevie and I talked about the many different characters that might exist in the world,” Deters explained in a recent interview. “We love the idea of expanding the cast with each new story, so we were thrilled to find opportunities to bring even more new faces to the screen.”
Prep & Landing first debuted in 2009 and has garnered a dedicated fanbase due to its heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters. Deters attributes the enduring popularity to the team’s dedication to earning audience investment.
“I am really grateful that Prep & Landing has maintained popularity and that we get to bring this new story to the fans,” Deters said. “I believe part of its appeal lies in its sincerity and relatable characters.We have always worked very hard to warrant the audience’s time and investment in our stories. Working on a project that viewers of all ages can enjoy together with loved ones, especially at the holidays, is something I will never take for granted.”
Addressing the evolving animation landscape, Deters remains optimistic about the future of storytelling. “The animation history has a long history of peaks and valleys, but I remain optimistic that ultimately stories that truly resonate with audiences and stand the test of time are those told by strong creative teams collaborating and nurturing each other. The spark of creativity cannot be replicated by a machine. The human connection with fellow filmmakers has always been the most gratifying aspect of my animation career, and that will never change for me.”
When asked about the possibility of a Prep & Landing feature film, Deters left the door open. “We have lots of different ideas for our characters, so you never know what may happen! Prep & landing is a fun sandbox (or snowbank in this case) to play in, so if the audience demands more stories, then hopefully we will be lucky enough to produce them!”