The Bamboo Kite

"The Bamboo Kite" is the seventy-fourth upcoming episode of the Disney Junior animated series, Sofia the First. It is scheduled to premiere on July 8, 2016, and will be the twenty-second episode in the third season.

On July 4, 2016, the episode was made available on Disney Junior app before making its television debut.

Plot
Sofia arrives in Wei-Ling to celebrate the festival of kits with her friends Prince Jin and Princess Jun. Upon arrival, she finds everyone giving their kites and practice flight. While it seems like a festival worth looking forward too, Jin tells Sofia that Jun has the summer sniffles, and might not be able to attend the opening of the festival the following day. Sofia asks Wu-Chang if there is a way to help her get better. The elderly sorcerer brings up the legend of a ancient rare flower, known as Men-Saing, which could instantly cure the summer sniffles. However, Emperor Quon appears to no longer have any need for Wu-Chung's wisdom and now seeks advice from his Adviser, who says Jun needs to rest for six and a half days to get better. While the old sorcerer feels unwanted, Sofia on the other hand believes they can find the Men-Saing flower. She volunteers to go and so does Jin, along with Wu-Chung. After all three of them suit up, they set out on their journey to Mount Disharn.

For the trip, Jin has brought along all new gadgets to help them on their journey. He brought along a perfect pointer to show them which way they are go. They arrive at a huge wall that runs around central Wei-Ling, and there appears to be no way around it or a gateway. The only ways is to go over the wall, and while Wu-Chung uses a levitating spell, Jin and Sofia get over using a grappling slingshot. Upon making it to the other side, they meet a magical talking Panda named Kai who likes to dance. He offers to dance for them, but Jin declines because of their journey to get to Mount Disharn and help Jun. Kai sadly leaves, making Sofia and Wu-Chang feel sorry for him. So they decide to stay around to watch Kai dance. After an amazing performance, Sofia, Jin and Wu-Chang continue on their journey, until they hear from Kai that they won't make it to Mount Disharn before dark. However, he has a suggestion and presents them with a couple of bamboosts. They were very popular with the ancients because of their magical elastic properties.

Hopping from the forest on the Bamboosts, Sofia, Jin, Wu-Chung, and Kai make it to Mount Disharn in no time. Now they have to get to the top of the mountain inorder to reach the Men-Saing. They will not be able to get the top by using the Bamboosts and Jin's grappling hook cannot shoot far enough to reach. Wu-Chung has a suggestions, and with everyone on a log he uses his levitating spell to fly them to the top of Mount Disharn. However they are too heavy and Wu-Chang cannot hold them up any longer. They near a ledge and all four make it across just as Wu-Chung's spell give up. Wu-Chang apologizes for endangering everyone, but Jin assures him it is all right. Jin can now use his grappling slingshot to get them up the rest of the way. They finally reach the top and find the Men-Saing flowers, enough to brew a healing tea for Princess Jun. However, upon realizing how late it is getting their chances of getting back to Jun in time is slim. Wu-Chung steps forward to apologize to Jin because he feels responsible for causing so many delays with his old way. But Jin points out that because of his old ways, they made it to Mount Disharn along with the assistance of new ways. Kai believes their is a place for both ways, which gives Sofia an idea. Working together and fast, they build a bamboo kite big enough to carry everyone back to the palace. After attaching Jin's fan to the back to use as a propeller, Kai bids his friends farewell and dances home. Then Sofia, Jin and Wu-Chung take off in their kite and fly all the way back to the palace.

They soon make it back in time to give Jun her healing tea. Convincing the Emperor, Jun drinks the tea and is instantly cured of the summer sniffles. The next day, the festival of kites begins along with Kai joining the festivities.

Cast

 * Ariel Winter as Princess Sofia
 * Jesse L. Martin as Kai
 * Michaela Zee as Princess Jun
 * Keone Young as Wu-Chang
 * J.J. Totah as Prince Jin
 * James Sie as Emperor Quon / Advisor

Trivia

 * Sofia will visit Wei-Ling for the second time in the series. The first was in "Princesses to the Rescue!"
 * This episode was previously scheduled for July 10, but for some unknown reason this statement was incorrect.
 * This will be Wu-Chang's second appearance in the series.
 * Moral: Both old ways and new ways can be useful.