Disney and ESPN score an NBA alt-cast

Disney and ESPN will be turning NBA players from the Spurs and the Knicks into toons for a live Christmas Day game.
November 21, 2024

On December 25, Mickey Mouse and his pals will be watching the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks take to the court—the animated court, that is.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is teaming up with Disney and ESPN for Dunk the Halls, an alternate telecast of the real-life match just as it plays out at New York’s Madison Square Garden. 

This first real-time animated NBA game will air on ESPN2 and stream on ESPN+ and Disney+, becoming the first NBA game to stream on Disney’s SVOD.

Set on a toon version of Main Street, USA (the themed land that welcomes visitors to the Magic Kingdom Park), this kid-friendly presentation will feature Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Chip and Dale, Pluto and Goofy cheering on the animated versions of the basketball players—whose images will be animated using real-time visualization tech and Hawk-Eye optical tracking technology from Sony’s Beyond Sports. Daisy Duck will serve as the sideline reporter, working with ESPN commentator Drew Carter and basketball analyst Monica McNutt (who will also both get the animated treatment).

To attract young viewers, Disney is adding fun segments and festive moments—for instance, Mickey and his friends will give speeches and compete in their own “slam-dunk contest” during halftime, and Santa and his elves will operate the cameras at certain points in the game.

These types of alternate telecasts are all the rage lately, appealing to co-viewing audiences and helping to age down sports. Last year, Disney found success with the NFL’s first fully animated telecast, Toy Story Funday Football, which became Disney+’s most-viewed live event and earned three Sports Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Production Design.

Dunk the Halls will also follow just weeks after another previously announced NFL alt-cast featuring The Simpsons that’s scheduled for December 9.

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