Disney Interactive Studios has launched the latest addition to its slate of applications, The Muppets Animal Drummer for the iPhone and iPod touch.

Available now on the App Store for $1.99, The Muppets Animal Drummer puts users in the drummer?s seat for a game that will test the skills of every wannabe rock drummer out there. Watch and listen to Animal play then match Animal?s beat and timing to score points and unlock new songs.

?This app is really a first step to a broader mobile initiative for the Muppets brand,? said Stephen Saiz, director of marketing for digital publishing at Disney Interactive Studios, Glendale, CA.

?We not only saw an opportunity to reach the established fans that have loved the Muppets for decades, but also an opportunity to develop a new audience of gamers with a style of gameplay that?s been proven on the platform,? he said.

?Music has always played a key role for the Muppets franchise, so to develop a music-based game with Animal as the star was a great way to introduce the brand on the platform.?

Disney Interactive Studios, part of Disney Interactive Media Group, is the interactive entertainment affiliate of The Walt Disney Co.

Disney Interactive Studios self-publishes and distributes a portfolio of multiplatform video games, mobile games and interactive entertainment worldwide.

The company also licenses properties and works directly with other interactive game publishers to bring products for all ages to market.

The Muppets Studio LLC is a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Co. TMS plans to develop new content in all arenas, including television, feature films, Internet, music and theme parks, and to enhance the Muppets global licensing and distribution presence.

Mobile Muppet hero
The Muppets Animal Drummer application features a Free Play Mode where users with 3.0 OS or higher can rock out with Animal to original music or songs imported from users? iTunes music library.

Users can also score points and create combos to charge their Rock Meter and power their stage presence.

They can also use the application to create original music, then hit the record feature and watch Animal replay their jam session.

Disney said that it is bringing Animal and the Muppets to a broad mobile audience via the music-based application that taps into Animal?s wild personality and the unique functionality of the iPhone and iPod touch.

Disney will use various tactics to get the word out about this iPhone application.

?We typically implement various synergy and social media tactics, mobile Web and in-app paid media placement for all our apps,? Mr. Saiz said. ?The beauty of working with the Muppets team though is there are usually some surprises that happen along the way, so stay tuned.?   

In addition to this application release the Muppets have teamed up with legendary British rock band Queen to record a version of "Bohemian Rhapsody."

?The Queen and Muppets? version of ?Bohemian Rhapsody? was released digitally by Walt Disney Records on December 15, so users of Animal Drummer can actually rock out with Animal and the song in the app's Free Play Mode by first downloading ?Bohemian Rhapsody? through iTunes for $0.99 to their music library and then importing it into the app,? Mr. Saiz said.

?The track is also available as a ringtone on traditional mobile devices,? he said.