Disney’s beloved animated series, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, is returning for a fourth and final season, launching on July 29th, as it’s tied to the show’s 25th anniversary this year.

Produced by Disney Television Animation, part of Disney Kids & Family, with creator and executive producer Bruce W. Smith and executive producer Ralph Farquhar of BaR Productions, the series has garnered recognition and critical acclaim by winning a NAMIC Award, multiple NAACP Image Awards, including for Outstanding Animated Series, and a Children’s and Family Emmy Award for Outstanding Casting for an Animated Series.

This season of the show finds the Proud family at a life-changing turning point. Penny Proud is pulled into a series of unexpected adventures that test her courage and identity. With more action-packed, mind-bending, and heartfelt twists than ever before, the Prouds face every new challenge head-on, proving that no matter how chaotic life gets, they’re strongest when they face it together.

In addition to a star-studded core cast, new guest stars include Mariah Carey, Romany Malco, Chloe Bailey, Lorraine Toussaint, Kym Whitley, Ali Wong, Lashana Lynch, and more. At the center of the series, though, is award-winning actress Kyla Pratt, who’s voiced the show’s protagonist Penny Proud for decades. Pratt says the show’s 25th anniversary milestone is an amazing feeling. “I started the show when I was 14 years old, and to be able to play a character that I started over two decades ago. Not many artists get to have that experience, and luckily, my voice hasn’t changed that much. But just to be able to be a part of a show that has meant so much to so many people, is special, and we’re still here. Even though it's our last season, we have other things going on,” said Pratt to me.

What she’s referring to is the upcoming A Proud Family Wizmas, a stop-motion holiday special featuring six original songs by Kurt Farquhar, scheduled to premiere on Disney+ during Christmas 2026. Pratt credits her positive experience on the show to executive producers Smith and Farquhar. “The way that they’ve handled their baby with care has been amazing, and just to have the show reach another generation and keep it going is just so dope,” she said, smiling.

The actress is right to note the series’ generational impact, as it’s remained extremely culturally relevant. There are often video clips of the original series that continue to go viral on TikTok, as Gen Z and Gen Alpha analyze the episodes. Pratt credits the long-lasting power to authenticity and to having the courage to discuss complex topics as they relate to interpersonal relationships. “I think the series has lasting power because it is an authentic version of a Black family. I really feel like people can connect with a lot of things on the show, whether it’s your favorite character that reminds you of someone in your family. I love that it’s a cartoon so that we can be a little crazy and kooky with it. But I feel like people connected with it from the beginning. I didn’t realize as a kid working on the show that people weren't having shows about Kwanzaa or weren't discussing segregation or even how harmful rumors are, and that's the type of conversations that teenagers and kids need,” she stated.

The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder continues that tradition, especially this season, as it broaches important, current topics like cancel culture, social media, autism, and same-sex parent families. “There are so many conversations that need to be had that a lot of people want programs to shy away from, and The Proud Family refuses to. And I think that’s why people connect to it so much. It's a conversation starter for conversations that need to be started,” she said. “Representation matters so much, and I truly feel that being seen helps your mental health. And so, when you're able to watch a show that discusses things that help you not feel alone in this world. I'm excited to be a part of something like that. So for me, the new season is amazing as usual. I'm a small piece of the puzzle. So many people are doing amazing things on the show, like our dope writers and animators. I have a young animator at home who's just like infatuated with the process.”

As a mom of two small daughters, Pratt feels comfortable sharing her previous and current work on the show with her family, as it’s strengthened their family unit. They had the opportunity to see her work at the studio: “I remember when my babies were younger, I used to show them episodes of The Proud Family on DVD, before Disney+ started playing the show to see if my kids could recognize my voice, and they did right away,” she said.

Pratt continued, “When The Proud Family Louder and Prouder came out, my youngest daughter was just so excited every Wednesday for a new episode. Being a parent and doing things my kids can watch has been an amazing experience, and for them to have a show like that started conversations in my household, where my daughter’s like, ‘Well, what does that mean?’ I’m so big on that as a mom. I’m so big on having those conversations with our kids and being open to them. People have to be reminded sometimes to have conversations that other people don’t want us to have, and I believe watching The Proud Family starts conversations that possibly weren’t happening before; now you're going to have them. We're not going anywhere. This is legacy. This is something that's going to last forever.”

Pratt hopes the legacy of The Proud Family continues to bring families together. “The Proud Family is a show that unites families. It’s a show that everyone can watch, be entertained from six to 60, while learning at the same time. So many people put their love, talent, and work into this, and I’m just happy that this time around it’s getting the recognition it deserves. I believe playing Penny Proud helped mold me into the woman that I am. I started playing this character when I was 14 years old, and at that time, being loud and being boisterous, it just helped me become me,” she shared.