Disney and ESPN Collaborate for First Animated Presentation of NBA Game

In an unprecedented move, Disney and ESPN have announced a groundbreaking collaboration for the National Basketball Association (NBA)’s first animated real-time presentation of a game. This special broadcast, named «Dunk the Halls,» is scheduled for Christmas Day, December 25, and will feature the New York Knicks competing against the San Antonio Spurs.

This innovative telecast will be aired on ESPN2, Disney+, and ESPN+, integrating player-tracking technology from Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations and Beyond Sports. The real-time animated game is set in a virtual recreation of the iconic «Main Street, USA» at Magic Kingdom Park, where popular Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Goofy will virtually cheer from the sidelines.

«Dunk the Halls» will utilize Sony’s state-of-the-art visualization technologies to translate the live actions of players on the court at Madison Square Garden into animated counterparts. This means that fans will witness three-pointers, dunks, and passes via animated avatars that move in sync with real players such as Knicks’ Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns, and Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul.

ESPN’s Drew Carter is set to provide the play-by-play commentary, joined by analyst Monica McNutt and animated sideline reporter Daisy Duck. Both Carter and McNutt will don Meta Quest Pro headsets, enhancing viewer engagement through Sony’s Virtual Commentator Technology.

The traditional broadcast for the Knicks versus Spurs matchup will remain available on ABC and ESPN with commentators Ryan Ruocco, Cory Alexander, and Cassidy Hubbarth. As part of ESPN and the NBA’s long-standing commitment to innovation, this event follows previous initiatives like the «Marvel’s Arena of Heroes» alt-cast.