April is a bit of a slow month for Disney Plus, with no major new series premieres It begins with new episodes of two major Disney Plus franchise animated series Star Wars: The Bad Batch will conclude with its third and final season, which follows the missions of a squadron of clone troopers Marvel's revival of "X-Men '97" takes over from the classic "X-Men: The Animated Series" and continues its well-received first season [including "Secrets of the Octopus," the latest installment of the James Cameron-produced nature series "Secrets Of," narrated by Paul Rudd Here are Disney Plus' April highlights

"Wish," which was planned as a tribute to 100 years of Disney animation, opened in theaters in November 2023 to a mixed critical response and a lackluster box-office performance Disney Plus allows viewers to take a closer look at the Easter eggs and callbacks to past Disney animated films in a story that celebrates the studio's legacy of popular entertainment

That means playing with familiar Disney archetypes, including a young woman with big dreams boosted by magic, her cute but sarcastic animal sidekick, and a power-hungry ruler who tries to stop her Mixing traditional and CG animation, "Wishes" attempts to bridge the gap between Disney's past and present, and while not entirely successful, it is a lovely, comfortable watch, perfect for streaming at home

Premiered April 3 on Disney Plus

In the world of "Bluey," the extended special, which premieres as part of the show's latest season, will be the longest episode ever at 28 minutes Episodes of the Australian animated series are typically only seven minutes long and are focused on a pre-school audience that cannot be bothered with more time However, given the international popularity of "Bluey," even its youngest fans will be engaged during the running time of "The Sign"

The simple adventures of a family of blue heeler dogs have captivated audiences since 2018 with their positive and upbeat approach to family life and interaction with children As "Bluey" continues to expand as a phenomenon, "Signs" shows that creator Joe Bloom is exploring new storytelling possibilities for an ever-growing audience

Premiered April 14 on Disney Plus

As has become customary, Disney is celebrating Earth Day with the release of a new documentary feature film from the Disney Nature brand beginning with 2007's "Earth," the Disney Nature film was a theatrical releases, but in recent years the company has shifted to releases on Disney Plus, where the latest Disney Nature film, "Tiger," will debut The creative team is led by veteran director Mark Linfield, who has worked on numerous Disney Nature films and oversaw the 1,500-day filming of Tiger in India

The celebrity narrator for Tiger is Priyanka Chopra Jonas, joining the tradition of famous performers lending their voices to anthropomorphic animals in films The technique dates back to Disney's True Life Adventures of the 1950s, and "Tiger" is the latest in a series of Disney family films exploring the natural world

Premieres April 22 on Disney Plus

Synopsis courtesy of Disney Plus

April 1

- Theme Song Takeover (S3, 4 episodes)

April 3

- Alice's Wonder Bakery (S2 (S2, 5 episodes) - Tiny Tales (short story) (S4, 12 episodes) - Wish

Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episode 310 "Identity Crisis", Episode 311 "Point of No Return" Clone Force 99's battle to survive the new Empire comes to an epic conclusion

X-Men '97 - Episode 4 "X-MEN '97" returns to the iconic era of the 1990s The X-Men, a group of mutants who use their mysterious talents to protect a world filled with hatred and fear, are faced with unprecedented challenges and a dangerous and unexpected new future

April 7

- Bluey (Season 3) - New Episode Premiere "Ghostbasket"

April 10

- Firebirds (S2, 4 episodes) - The Incredible Dr Pol (S24, 10 episodes) - Shorts Spectacular (S2, 3 episodes) - Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episode 312 "Juggernaut" - X-MEN '97 - Episode 5

April 14

Bluey (Season 3) - New Special Premiere - Long Special "The Sign" (28 minutes) The new episode of "Bluey", "The Sign", will be the longest episode in "Bluey" history

April 17

- Dr Oakley, Yukon Vet (S12, 14 episodes) - Drain the Oceans (S6, 6 episodes) - PJ Mask, Power Heroes (S1, 8 episodes) - Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episode 313 "Into the Breach" - X-MEN '97 - Episode 6

April 22

- The Secret of Octopus (S1, Episode 3)

Tiger - Premiere Narrated by Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Disney Nature's "Tiger" unveils the most revered and charismatic animal on the planet and invites viewers to journey with Amber, a young tiger raising her cubs in the fabled forests of India Curious, rambunctious, and sometimes a bit clumsy, the cubs have much to learn from their wise mother, who does her best to protect them from pythons, bears, and marauding male tigers Directed by Mark Linfield; co-directed by Vanessa Barlowitz and Rob Sullivan; produced by Linfield, Barlowitz, and Roy Conli Combining fast-paced action with surprisingly intimate moments, Disney Nature's all-new original feature film will be available for streaming on Disney+ beginning Earth Day, April 22, 2024

Tiger on the Rise - Premiere Narrated by Blair Underwood, Disney Nature's Tigers on the Rise celebrates the remarkable resurgence of one of the world's most iconic animals, the tiger Tiger populations have made a spectacular recovery, and many big cats are moving out of India's forest reserves and into farms and villages The heroes of this story are the veterinarians, scientists, and community patrols who are committed to helping tigers and humans coexist Directed by Rob Sullivan, co-directed by Alistair Tones, produced by Sullivan, Vanessa Barlowitz, Mark Linfield, and Roy Conli, Tigers on the Rise is available on Disney+ on Earth Day, April 22, 2024

April 24

- "Abby's Ultimate Dance Competition" (S1, 11 episodes & S2, 12 episodes) - Bring It (S6, 10 episodes) - Dance Moms: Abby's Studio Rescue (S1, 7 episodes) - Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends (S3, 5 episodes) - Star Wars: The Bad Batch (Season 3) - Episode 314 "Flash Strike"