Hey A.J.! is an American animated children's television series created by Martellus Bennett, Jeff "Swampy" Marsh, and Michael Hodges, based on the book series of the same name by Bennett. The show revolves around a girl with a sprawling imagination named A.J., as she goes on imaginative adventures with her stuffed bunny, Theo, and her friends and family. It premiered on Disney Jr. on January 13, 2026, and was released on Disney+ the following day.
The series was officially announced in April 2022 during the Disney Junior Fun Fest event at Disney California Adventure. In August 2025, it was announced the cast and a first look at the series in the Disney Junior "Let's Play!" event.
Content related to the show had been released in the months preceding to the series' release, including the theme song in December 2025. The series premiered on January 13, 2026 on Disney Jr., and was released on Disney+ the following day.
Fernanda Camargo of Common Sense Media rated the series a four-out-of-five stars, praising the execution and overall upbeat presentation.
On February 17, 2026, the series suffered major backlash with the introduction of Captain Durag in the eighth episode, with many calling his character extremely disrespectful, as it highlights negative stereotypes, such as the character living in "Slime City". Some have even questioned Disney for choosing to make a new superhero rather than using an existing one from their Marvel franchise, such as Black Panther.
Writer Camille Corbett defended the character, stating he was intended to challenge "respectability politics" and serve as a "celebration of Black life". She described him as a homage to Blaxploitation films meant to give children a hero who reflects their world without apology. She also responded with surprise that people are finding the character problematic.