Kingdom Keepers

The Kingdom Keepers is a series of novels for young readers, written by Ridley Pearson and published by Disney Hyperion. The first novel, Disney After Dark, was published in 2005, and the second, Disney at Dawn, was released on August 26, 2008,[1] and the third, Disney In Shadowwas published in 2010.[citation needed] According to Pearson's blog, The Kingdom Keepers was submitted to Walt Disney Pictures for a film in August 2006 and was resubmitted again around July 2008. Pearson has announced that there will be several Kingdom Keepers books coming out sometime in the future. The franchise also includes Kingdom Keepers Online, a collaborative online game. {| class="toc" id="toc" style="font-size: 12px; color: black; background-color: rgb(249, 249, 249); border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-right-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-bottom-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); border-left-color: rgb(170, 170, 170); padding-top: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; "

Contents
[hide]*1 Disney After Dark
 * 2 Disney at Dawn
 * 3 Disney In Shadow
 * 4 Future installments
 * 5 Kingdom Keepers Online
 * 6 Characters
 * 6.1 The Kingdom Keepers/DHIs/Main Characters
 * 6.2 Overtakers
 * 6.3 Additional characters
 * 7 References
 * 8 External links
 * }

[edit]Disney After Dark
Main article: Disney After Dark==[edit]Disney at Dawn== Main article: Disney at Dawn==[edit]Disney In Shadow== The third Kingdom Keepers book, Disney in Shadow, was released April 6, 2010. It takes place primarily in Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The main characters battle the overtakers to find their hidden friend, Wayne Kresky. The book features an augmented reality component, allowing readers to hold their book up to their computer to see a virtual 3D map overlaid on the book.

The release date was pushed back from August 2009, to April 6, 2010. The cover for the book was illustrated by Tristan Elwell and is now on Pearson's web site.[2] The volume of the book has hugely increased to 547 pages, according to Ridley Pearson's blog/website.

[edit]Future installments
Fourth, "Kingdom Keepers IV Power Play"- to be released in April 2011, as stated in Ridley's Blog on July 5, 2010.The fourth is also said to be 560 pages long. fifth,and sixth installments are currently being planned. Ridley has announced that he wants to involve the readers in the fifth book, using what he called the "Big Plan".[3]

At a book signing, he said that he was contracted with Disney for ten books.[4]

It was told via Ridley's twitter that the fourth book will take place in Orlando, MK, Epcot, and Disney Hollywood Studios.

[edit]Kingdom Keepers Online
On April 6, 2010, the Kingdom Keepers Online game was launched[5]. Gameplay is single player, but all players are collaboratively working to clear a single map of levels. The game features 2500 levels which are each procedurally generated, and gameplay is action-based.

All five main Kingdom Keeper characters are playable, each with different strengths:


 * Willa: Extremely fast, able to move across the level quickly or outrun enemies.
 * Charlene: The tank. High HP.
 * Finn: Balanced. Regains Charge quickly, thus able to trigger special attacks more frequently.
 * Maybeck: Strongest attack. Highest DPS.
 * Philby: The sniper. His attack has an extremely long range.

The game tells a new story in the Kingdom Keepers universe; the Overtakers have taken over the internet and are threatening to escape into the real world. Players must clear out the network from the Overtaker infection. Special videos are unlocked on the website as players make progress in the game [6].

[edit]The Kingdom Keepers/DHIs/Main Characters

 * Lawrence Finnegan "Finn" Whitman: Finn Whitman is the leader of the DHIs/Kingdom Keepers. He's not sure why he is the chosen leader, and sees himself as an equal to the other DHIs. As the series progresses, Finn realizes it's his responsibility to lead the group. He seemingly has a crush on Amanda, and is very protective of her. He is very brave and confident.
 * Dell Philby: Philby is an Orlando teen who, during one point of book 2, he and Willa seem to have a special connection, which Maybeck might be slightly jealous of. He is great with technology and is very smart, even referred to as "making everyone else seem dumb" by Maybeck. He is mildly seen as second-in-command. His first name has never been told in either book, but has been confirmed by the author, and also appears in the "Keeper Profiles" on KKO. He has a British accent and fire red hair.
 * Isabella Angelo (Willa): Willa is the smart girl of the group. She knows a lot of Disney facts, which is helpful to Finn and the rest of the team. She is either asian or native american, and described as very sweet. She seems to be the most shy and quiet one of the group. But she also can pack a mean punch. She seemed to have a crush on Finn at first. Then she moved on to Philby, much to Maybeck's dismay.
 * Charlene Turner: Blonde hair. blue eyes. Amazing athletic ability and awesome gymnasic. Charlene has it all. Beautiful and lithe, she helps the keepers in many tight situations with pulling them out of trouble. In the first book she is very soft spoken and quiet.
 * Terrence Maybeck (Donnie): Maybeck is an African-American boy who lives with his Aunt Jelly, tends to swear, and looks older than his age (14 years old). He believes many girls are attracted to him. He is skeptical about almost everything that is in Jez's diary, and is the first Kingdom Keeper to disagree with Finn (though he does follow through with Finn's orders). Willa calls him "Terry" in desperation when the two are in the Dinosaur ride under Philby's orders. Terry is his real name. Donnie is his stage name.
 * Wayne Kresky: an elderly Imagineer who acts as the group's mentor and guide. He speaks in mystical clichés. He helped come up with the idea of DHIs to save the Magic Kingdom. Finn thinks he knows more than he lets on to, but learns to trust him. Wayne also has come across many meetings with Walt himself, which makes him a great addition to the Kingdom Keepers team. He is in fact a real cast member at Walt Disney World, and was put into the novel after he showed the author Ridley Pearson around the Magic Kingdom.
 * Amanda Lockhart: a girl of the same age who helps Finn locate the other four DHIs in their real life aspects; seems to have a few secrets of her own. She is very good with people and seems to be interested in Finn. She is described as having "exotic eyes, a deep, natural, tan, and freckles on her cheeks." She is about an inch taller than Finn. Finn seems to have a slight romantic interest in Amanda, though the topic isn't discussed much in any book in the series (though the third one is close to that). She is considered an honorary Keeper, and in the third book even becomes a DHI that can still use her powers to move things with her mind and control wind. She is also a "Fairlie" as described in the second book. This, although not fully described in the book, is a person who is human but has magical abilities.
 * Jez (Jezebel, real name Jessica but more commonly known as Jess) Lockhart: also referred to as Jez a mysterious, dark-haired girl who first appears in Disney After Dark. Not much is initially known about her until it is revealed she is somewhat of an apprentice to Maleficent, possessing magic of her own. Towards the end of Disney after Dark she is revealed to be Amanda's sister, by the real name of Jess, cursed by Maleficent to prevent her from using her powers. Though Jess is not biologically related to Amanda, since they were little they have always referred each other as sisters. Although her name is revealed to be Jess, she is always referred to as 'Jez', when the author is referring to her in thought throughout Disney At Dawn. However, in "Disney in Shadow", she is Jess. The author mentions that her name changes as often as her hair. She is considered an honorary Keeper. She also becomes a DHI in the third book. She is also a fairlie, with the ability to see the future; Wayne sometimes uses her ability to send the Keepers messages.

[edit]Overtakers
The Overtakers are the main antagonists of the series. Not much is known about the Overtakers, other than their intentions of ruling the park and the world outside. The one thing that seems to have the potential to defeat them is Walt Disney's first pen, "The Stonecutter's Quill", for a reason not yet revealed.


 * Maleficent: the dark fairy from Sleeping Beauty who acts as the antagonist in the story. She gives off a large chill wherever she goes and possesses abilities of a high caliber. While the park is still open, she is derived from the Fantasmic! show. Despite her power and reputation, Maleficent is not the leader of the Overtakers.
 * Blackbeard: A minor overtaker, he and his crew of pirates serve Maleficent in their goal to rule the world. They were first seen by Finn, salvaging carts from the Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin ride to help with their cause. They came from the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. He appears only in Disney after Dark.
 * Stitch: Playing only a small role in the beginning this gigantic blue alien confused as a dog, as Finn described it chases Finn followed by some of the earlier pirates. Thought to have come out of Stitch's Great Escape, he apprehends Finn and Maybeck. He was supposed to lead a bigger part in this novel but was never fulfilled.
 * Chernabog: He is the true leader of the Overtakers, and according to Philby, "The baddest of the bad. The most powerful demon Walt Disney ever created." At the beginning of the second book, Disney at Dawn, he was supposed to be on the Disney Villains float at the DHI-Day Celebration, but he disappears. He is also the demon from the Disney classic Fantasia, as well as a powerful boss in the Kingdom Hearts video game series.
 * Frollo: Said by Ridley to be an Overtaker in the 4th book. Not much is known as of this moment.
 * Small World dolls: The Small World dolls are mindless assistants to the Overtakers. In Disney After Dark the kingdom keepers look for clues on the ride It's a Small World; the dolls attack and bite the Kingdom Keepers.
 * Crash Test Dummies: These Overtakers are mentioned in the 3rd book. They ride segways and come after the Keepers in Epcot. Also, they are seeming to guard the area of France.
 * Gigabyte: This giant python is mentioned in the 3rd installment. An overtaker in EPCOT that has escaped from the attraction, Honey I Shrunk The Audience
 * Jesters: The two court jesters attack Jess and Charlene while they are at Epcot's France Pavilion.
 * Country Bear Jamboree Bears: Are seen kidnapping Willa in Disney at Dawn after she falls asleep, and bringing her to Maleficent.
 * Gargoyle: It comes alive in Disney in Shadow but Charlene destroys it after it attacks Jess and Willa.
 * Vikings: This father and son duo escaped from Maelstrom and tried to attack Jess in the Mary Poppins Lounge at the Wonders of Lifepavilion.
 * Cavemen: Another father and son duo they also attacked Jess at the Wonders of Life pavilion.
 * Dinosauar Skeleton: It attacks Finn and Philby at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Disney After Dark.
 * Trolls: Attack Charlene at the Wonders of Life pavilion. Came from Norway ,most likely.
 * Stone Lions: They corner Charlene at the Wonders of Life pavilion.They came from China and were trapped by the water sprinklers, because they hate getting wet.

[edit]Additional characters

 * Wanda Alcott: the daughter of imagineer Wayne, helps the Kingdom Keepers reach places and areas unaccesible without employee keys. Is introduced in the 3rd installment.
 * Dillard Cole: Finn's best friend, although Finn begins pushing him aside as he gets drawn further into his adventures as a DHI. Physically he is somewhat overweight. He always questions Finn's adventures, offering the logical explanation of a dream. He isn't referred to whatsoever in Disney At Dawn. He is mentioned once in Disney in Shadow although it mentions Finn doesn't see Dillard that much anymore.
 * Peter Pan: Said by Ridley to be in the 4th book (Decent into Darkness)
 * Chip and Dale: Finn sees them when he first arrives the Magic Kingdom.
 * Goofy: Finn sees him when he first arrives the Magic Kingdom.
 * Tigger: Mentioned by a security guard in Disney in Shadow to have been seen spying on Ursula.