2020 Vision: Disney Channel Shows
As the decade is drawing to a close, let’s take a walk down memory lane to the beginning and end of an era. Many of us grew up watching the Disney Channel, which has helped define our childhood.
Good Luck Charlie began on April 4, 2010 and concluded on February 16, 2014. Over the course of close to four years, the Duncan family kept us interested and laughing. The show was centered around films that Teddy Duncan began for her younger sister, Charlie, with the show always ending with the signature,”Good Luck Charlie.”
Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam came out on September 3, 2010. The first Camp Rock came out in 2008, and after two long years, the second movie came out. The disappointing loss between Camp Rock and Camp Star devastated millions of young kids around the world.
Shake It Up! began on November 7, 2010 and concluded on November 10, 2013. There was never a more dynamic duo than Rocky and Cece. This was the show that caused Zendaya and Bella Thorne to become such a huge part of our childhood.
The Suite Life Movie came out on March 25, 2011. Although The Suite Life on Deck and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody cannot make this list, The Suite Life Movie shaped our childhood all the same. The Gemini Institute was one of Cody’s many dreams, but it is safe to say, that after that encounter, he isn’t ever going to want to go back.
A.N.T. Farm began on May 6th, 2011 and concluded on March 21, 2014. The most disappointing part of high school was walking in and nothing being similar to the Advanced Natural Talents school. A.N.T. Farm has been dubbed Disney’s version of Glee. Chyna, Olive, and Fletcher were definitely the oddballs out in high school, but that didn’t stop them, just like it isn’t stopping us.
Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure came out on May 22, 2011. High School Musical makes me change my last statement. The fact that high school is not a musical was the most disappointing part of high school. Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure is about Sharpay’s struggle with the “real world,” and it includes her dog is a main character, which was utterly inspiring.
Jessie began on September 30, 2011 and concluded on October 16, 2015. Jessie was the show that changed the way our generation viewed Debby Ryan. She looked so grown up from playing Bailey on Suite Life to playing Jessie. This was the show that brought Cameron Boyce into our lives (R.I.P Cameron Boyce, you helped define our childhood).
Austin & Ally began on December 2, 2011 and concluded on January 10, 2016. Austin and Ally was THE Disney singer-songwriter duo from back in the day. For over 4 years, Austin sang the songs Ally wrote, and those pops were always stuck in our heads during class. Austin & Ally gave hope to the age-old idea that opposites attract.
Radio Rebel came out on February 17, 2012. Tara, a shy high schooler, takes over her school radio as a mystery DJ, trying to help the clique issue in her school. The principal threatens to expel the DJ known as Radio Rebel when Tara comes out with her true identity to save the day. We all wanted to be the best DJ in Seattle after this show.
Teen Beach Movie came out on July 19, 2013. The popular musical “West Side Story” sounds like fun until you are actually living it. Brady and McKenzie are swept into the conflict between the surfers and bikers on the beach. Between the drama and dance numbers, Teen Beach Movie was a Disney-twist on the stereotypes of surfers and bikers.
Liv and Maddie came out on July 19, 2013 and concluded on March 24, 2017. Dove Cameron became one of our favorite Disney stars when she starred as both Liv and Maddie. Cameron also won an Emmy for her performance on this show. For almost four years, the Rooney twins were stirring up trouble in their polar-opposite worlds. Maddie was the tom-boy, who loved basketball more than anything else. Liv was the town’s shining star, who came back to her hometown after her “big break.”
Cloud 9 came out on January 17, 2014. Just six months after Liv and Maddie aired, Dove Cameron already had her next project coming out. Kayla wasn’t the best snowboarder, but because her dad owned the resort, she was included in everything until she crashes through the ski resort’s sign. She gets removed from her team for Fire & Ice, a huge snowboarding competition. Kayla gets help from Will after she gets removed from her team, and she wants to learn the trick Cloud 9 to win the competition. We were all holding our breath until they kissed, it has been five years, you can be honest.
Girl Meets World began on June 27, 2014 and concluded on January 20, 2017. Boy Meets World’s spinoff was one that young kids and parents alike enjoyed. After our parents had already watched Cory and Topanga’s story, we were now watching their daughter, Riley. In a nice nod to the original, Cory Matthews is the history teacher instead of Mr. Feeney, but he does the same thing Feeney did. Cory relates their present day story with history in a way that can make the viewer actually understand the War of 1812. Riley and Maya were ultimate friendship goals, and we all wanted a friendship similar to theirs.
K.C. Undercover began on January 18, 2015 and concluded on February 2, 2018. Zendaya was back at it with unparalleled Disney shows. We have all wanted to be a spy at some point in our lives, and we got to live out our dreams with this show. K.C. gets recruited for an undercover spy agency called The Organization. She had a robot sister with the best sense of humor, and she had the best fight scenes on Disney Channel.
Descendants came out on July 31, 2015. This show, about fairytale villain’s children, expressed the idea that young children do not have to turn out to be their parents, which some people may feel as they get older. Mal, Carlos, Evie, and Jay are all the children of villain’s and have been living on the Isle of the Lost since birth. The heroes live on the island of Auradon, and the King decided to bring over some children from the Isle to allow them out of their unfortunate circumstances. When Hades and Maleficent’s daughter makes Belle and the Beast’s son fall in love with her, we were all left confused when we found out the love spell had already worn out. Descendants also had the coolest, animated, purple, fire-breathing dragon of all time.
We grew up watching Disney shows and original movies, and they have helped define our decade.
This is Louise Bennett's third year as an editor for The Shadow, and she is now Editor-in-Chief. She is widely involved with the school, and she hopes...