Primos (TV series)

Primosis an Americananimated television seriescreated by Natasha Kline and produced byDisney Television Animationthat debuted on July 25, 2024, onDisney Channel.
The series centers around a largeMexican-Americanfamily living in the neighboringLos Angelestown of Hacienda Hills. Told through thediaryof eccentric 9-year-old Tater Ramirez-Humphrey, the series centers on her as she discovers the "it factor" that makes her special alongside her cousins, consisting of Cousin Bud, Big Nacho, Lita, Tere, Tabi, Toñita, Scooter, Lot Lot, Gordita, Nachito, ChaCha, and Lucita, who moved in with her for the summer as she prepares for her upcoming tenth birthday and tries to figure out her "final form".
Another recurring character is Hector, the local streetvendorof different foods who never utters a word yet and is said to be fluent in Spanish and French.
Also in the series is Javier Ramirez, ChaCha's father and Bibi's brother who is abikerand has no speaking role yet.
These shorts primarily focus on Disney Channel characters meeting their various creators and learning how the concept of their shows were created.
Shortly after the series premiere,Primosjoined theChibi Tiny Talesseries.
As part of a promotional campaign, Disney Channel began airing the Disney Theme Song Takeover, wherein supporting characters from different shows performed the theme song to the series they were in.
On November 3, 2021, it was reported that Natasha Kline, a long-time storyboarder and character designer,is developing an animated series titledPrimosforDisney Television Animation(DTVA).The series was inspired by Kline's childhood summers living with her cousins alongside her extendedMexican-Americanfamily and she wanted the lead characters to also be of Mexican-American heritage due to the lack of Mexican-American representation on television during her childhood.Meredith Roberts, a senior vice president atDisney Television Animationsaid the series bears the "authentic voice" of Kline and "her family's culture and values", saying the series will be aimed at kids and families.Edward Mejia, a DTVA executive, oversaw the series.Prior to being greenlit,Primoswas in an intense bidding war between Disney andNetflix, with Disney ultimately winning out.
On June 15, 2022, at the 2022Annecy International Animation Film Festival, it was announced that the show's first season would have an order of 30 episodes. Philip Cohen was announced as series producer.In March 2023, Kline toldAnimation Magazinethat the series was inspired by an adult short she had created for an Upright Citizen's Brigadestand-up comedyshow in 2017, was inspired byPeanutsandCalvin and Hobbes, and said she loved working with the show's crew, praising their "intense passion, drive, and talent".
On July 8, 2024, the series' official trailer was released.The series airs half-hour episodes that are divided into 11-minute stories.
Primospremiered onDisney Channelon July 25, 2024, and the first nine episodes were released onDisney+the following day.The series was originally scheduled to premiere on January 19, 2024, before being postponed to June 6, and later to its eventual premiere date.By October 28, 2024, the first nineteen episodes were available to stream on Disney+.
On June 13, 2023, the series' opening sequence was released byDisney Branded Television.It received criticism onsocial media, largely fromMexicansand otherLatin-Americancommunities. Some criticized the show's premise by drawing similarities to that ofNickelodeon'sThe Loud Houseand, more specifically, its spin-off seriesThe Casagrandes.Other viewers criticized the opening sequence for presenting variousnegative stereotypesassociated with Latin-American culture, argued the names of the setting and some characters could be considered offensive, and the Spanish grammar used was incorrect.Also criticized was the use of a "Mexican filter", a technique frequently used in American media to invoke a "foreign" atmosphere in Hispanic settings.
Online complaints were further fueled when social media posts were made by Tater's voice actress, Myrna Velasco, which included a comment onInstagramwhere she said critics of the Spanish used in the show were "grammar nazis"and astoryin which she described the Spanish language as being "forced upon Latin American people" bySpanish conquistadors.In her comment, which was later deleted, she also wrote that people can be angry at her for misspelling Spanish words or mispronouncing them, but she was aNative AmericanandMexican-Americanwoman, and argued they were trying to make a "good show for kids" and said that if people are angry at the latter, then "be mad then."
In an interview on June 16, 2023, Kline said the series is based on her personal experiences of growing up with amulticulturalMexican-American family in Los Angeles in the 1990s, being bicultural,biracial, and said that the project's relatability attracted well-known individuals likeMelissa Villaseñor. She also stated that Tater doesn't speak Spanish, which is why her grammar is incorrect; emphasised the importance of cousins in her life; and  stated that the art style showcased the environment in L.A. She additionally hoped the series would make people proud of their roots.
Later in production, the name of the fictional town was changed from Terremoto Heights to Hacienda Hills, as the original name drew criticism for alluding to theearthquakes common in the region.The name of one of the characters was changed from Cookita to Lucita, as the former is similar toa vulgar termin several dialects of Latin American Spanish.As a result of online criticism, the series premiere was delayed several times, with reports this was done to make edits to already-completed episodes.Changes were made to emphasize that the show is set inLos Angelesand not in Latin America.
Prior to the show's release, Tara Bennett ofCartoon Brewdescribed the series as a "perfect summer show for kids and families" and argued that it captures the fun of attempting to "co-exist inside a largeextended family" for an entire summer.Victoria Davis ofAnimation World Networkinterviewed Kline, who was glad to get feedback from the series, calling it an "amazing experience" to hear people's thoughts, saying it was "initially painful" but said that later responses honed her empathy, made her realize that the series could mean "so much to so many, in many different ways", and argued it gave her "strength to keep going."
The series received mixed reviews from critics. Fernanda Camargo ofCommon Sense MediaratedPrimos3 out of 5 stars, said the show depicts positive messages and role models such sharing and teamwork, and acknowledged the diverse representations among the characters, but noted the presence of stereotypes.
Tony Betti ofLaughing PlacegavePrimosa grade of 4 out of 5, praised the show for its humor and relatability, especially for those from large, multicultural families, complimented the diversity among the characters and said the series manages to be a distinct and entertaining addition to Disney TV Animation.
The show has been nominated anAnnie Awardfor "Best Animated Television/Broadcast Production for Children" in 2024 for the episode "Summer of Tater Luna".