Further strengthening its commitment to local production, Disney EMEA and LATAM have announced they’ve started production on a second season of Disney Channel’s original telenovela Violetta.

The new 80 x 45-minute season will continue to follow the teenage trials and tribulations of Violetta, who returns to her native Buenos Aires after spending many years in Europe. A new villain Diego, played by Spanish cast member, Diego Dominguez, will also be introduced.

Season one of the series, which is the first original live-action series developed by Disney EMEA and LATAM in association with Argentine prodco Pol-ka, has already broken ratings records since launching in Italy, Spain, Latin America, France and Israel.

After premiering on May 14, 2012, the first season also became Disney Channel Italy’s most-watched TV series premiere in the history of the channel with tweens ages eight to 14 and girls ages four to 14. Since launching in Latin America, Violetta continues to be the top-ranked show in Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Brazil, amongst basic cable networks within its target audience and timeslot.

The series, shot in Argentina, features European and international actors. Season one is set to launch across the rest of Europe from this month including Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and across the Middle East and Africa.