Parents and kids who love all things superheroes are in for a fun summer treat, as Marvel Studios Animation and Atomic Cartoons are teaming up for a spin-off of the Disney Junior series Spidey and His Amazing Friends. Just like its predecessor, the new show Iron Man and His Awesome Friends reminds viewers that teamwork makes the dream work.
The new show features a young Tony Stark (Iron Man) who takes center stage alongside fellow super geniuses Riri Williams (Ironheart) and Amadeus Cho (Iron Hulk). The series is the first Iron Man installment geared toward a younger, preschool audience, but with an earworm of a theme song by Mark Hoppus from blink-182, grown-ups will also enjoy following the super team as they work together to make their city a better place for everyone.
Armor Up!
In the new series, each member has a special Iron suit and gear to aid them in their missions, like Iron Man’s Nano-Shield, Ironheart’s Heartbeat Bubble forcefield, and Iron Hulk’s Iron Boom clap and Iron Hulk Stomp. Under guidance from their superpowered android, Vision, they operate from their beachfront headquarters, the Iron Quarters (IQ). Gamma, the team’s adorable pup who comes with her own Iron Pup suit, also joins the crew on their adventures.
The benefits of having a series like this are simple: It’s a kid-friendly entry point into the Marvel universe that also teaches important lessons about friendship, teamwork, and personal growth.
“Something we really championed with the support of Marvel and Disney Jr. was being able to tell stories where our heroes could make mistakes,” says Sean Coyle, executive producer for Iron Man and His Awesome Friends. “Kids are kids, and they make mistakes all the time. So, having our characters show a vulnerable side when messing up, but then finding the strength to overcome, is one of my favorite takeaways. Also, celebrating friendship is a huge theme in our show. Our main cast of heroes are just kids who love each other and want to make each day the best it can be.”
Making Iron Man Kid-Friendly
For those who have read the comics or binged everything available in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Iron Man’s story includes some adult themes, villains, and challenges that might be a bit scary for younger fans. While the series will shift away from the canon and focus more on an episodic adventure series that’s easier for preschoolers to digest, it’ll still keep true to Iron Man’s character as a hero.
Coyle shares why the Marvel team decided on Iron Man to follow Spidey’s footsteps, and what the process of developing the characters for a younger audience was like: "[The Marvel Team] was drawn to the idea of Tony Stark as a self-made hero who uses his intelligence and creativity to build himself a suit of armor to protect the world,” Coyle says. “They have been instrumental in helping us [at Atomic Cartoons] choose which characters we’d like to include in the show, and then we work with the Disney Jr. team to come up with relatable story lines for preschoolers, while still remaining true to the essence of each character.”
Super-Powered Merch for Next-Gen Fans
Fans know that along with any Marvel content comes superhero-worthy merch, and the preschool content is no exception. Master toy partner Hasbro shared a first look at a toy line that will launch alongside the series during this year’s Toy Fair back in early March. From action figures to two-in-one mech suit vehicles to interactive playsets, the line is sure to have younger Iron Man fans hyped for new episodes and ready to create their own adventures.
Now, you may be wondering how product designers make entire toy lines for a show that hasn’t aired yet. If so much can change before the show airs, it might be difficult to keep up with on the toy manufacturing front. Greg Fisher, associate principal product designer at Hasbro, says it all starts with collaborating with the show’s creatives.
“We work closely to make sure the toys feel true to the show. Then we get sketching, throw around a bunch of ideas, and once we’re all on the same page, it’s off to the races,” Fisher says. “We create blueprints, pick colors, test everything, and sometimes go back to the drawing board if something doesn’t work. The whole thing can take up to a year. And in the end, the toy that was in our head is now on the shelf in a store.”
In developing the toy designs, designers often get sneak peeks of the show so that they can design the toys as close to the characters’ designs as possible. Fisher mentions that the process can be a bit of a balancing act: “We’re lucky enough to get an early look so we can start designing while the show’s still being made. But that also means things can change — like a costume design or a character’s role. So, sometimes we have to make quick pivots. It keeps us on our toes, but it’s also part of the fun!” With a brand new Iron Man show and toy line, the rest of the year is looking Marvel-ous for the franchise’s future fans.
Iron Man and His Awesome Friends is gearing up to be a fun series (with a little educational bonus) that inspires kids to embrace their uniqueness while positively contributing to their communities. Coyle hopes that kids come away from the show feeling that they can be heroes, no matter their strengths or weaknesses.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, or even if you have a superpowered armored suit or not,” he says. “What makes you a hero is what’s on the inside, and I want kids to know they all carry something truly awesome inside. As a parent, that’s really important to me.”
Fans can catch the premiere of Iron Man and His Awesome Friends on Aug. 11 on Disney Jr. The first 10 episodes of the series will be available on Disney Jr. on Demand and Disney+ on Aug. 12.
MARVEL IRON MAN AND HIS AWESOME FRIENDS ARMORED-UP AVENGERS PACK

This set of Iron Man action figures includes five hero figures: Iron Man, Iron Hulk, Ironheart, Captain America: Sam Wilson, and Gamma. Ultron joins the set as the one villain figure to face off with the Iron Friends and their superhero pals.
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MARVEL IRON MAN AND HIS AWESOME FRIENDS 2-IN-1 MECH SUIT & VEHICLE ASSORTMENT

These vehicle toys each come with a 3-inch action figure complete with hero reveal action. The toy vehicle converts from mech to vehicle or from vehicle to mech in a few steps. The collection includes Iron Man, Iron Hulk, and Ironheart (sold separately).
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MARVEL IRON MAN AND HIS AWESOME FRIENDS ACTION FIGURE TOY WITH ACCESSORY

Join Team Iron Man on the latest adventure with these collectible Marvel figures. The assortment includes Iron Man with a detachable jetpack, Iron Hulk with detachable Iron Hulk hands, and Black Panther with a detachable shield (each sold separately).
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MARVEL IRON MAN AND HIS AWESOME FRIENDS ACTION FIGURE & TOY VEHICLE

These 3-inch vehicle toys come with poseable figures that fit inside. Remove the detachable two-in-one spoiler accessory from the vehicle, attach it to the figure’s back to armor up, and pretend to smash into adventure. The collection includes an Iron Man Iron Racer figure and car, an Iron Hulk Iron Racer figure and car, and…
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MARVEL IRON MAN AND HIS AWESOME FRIENDS IRON QUARTERS PLAYSET

This epic two-in-one playset includes a removable Iron Man role-play mask that kids can wear while pretending to save the day. The set also features a falling monitor, a smashable wall, an armor-up elevator, a stairs-to-slide trap, a flight arm, poseable 3-inch Iron Man and Ultron action figures, and five accessories, including Ultron’s spear, two…
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This article was originally featured in the Summer 2025 issue of The Pop Insider. Read more articles from this issue and subscribe to The Pop Insider here!