Disney and ESPN Are Trying Something Wild With Upcoming Live NFL Game

What’s the one thing all sports fans pine for when viewing their favorite games between two professional teams? It’s obvious! They all wish Disney and Pixar could turn the live game into an animated spectacle in real time. As Disney returns ESPN and other stations to Spectrum, it hopes to bring new viewers to streaming via its latest strategy to turn live sports into a family affair.

Pixar’s Toy Story Charm

Pixar’s Toy Story franchise is one of the best examples of a cherished childhood film that today’s parents often pass down and share with their children. The story’s iconic characters, including Buzz, Woody, Rex, Mr. Potato Head, and Ham, are timeless and endearing to adults who grew up with them and children today.

Andy’s room is an iconic location for many fans, and Disney is taking advantage of this through a completely new opportunity utilizing impressive technology. On October 1, ESPN+ and Disney+ will each stream the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars live game, but a new option will include a twist. Instead of the traditional live-action affair, viewers can watch the game as a Pixar animated film.

Toy Story Funday Football

Specifically, the game will play out in the Toy Story location on the floor of Andy’s room. Disney is calling this new event Toy Story Funday Football. Using “state-of-the-art tracking technology,” everything that happens in the game will be displayed on screen and recreated in animated form. However, it is important to note that due to the technology, there will be a small delay between the real actions and the Disney+ animated version. Nevertheless, this is an impressive feat that will mostly be in real-time.

Toy Story characters will sit on the sidelines and comment on the game, including Woody and Buzz Lightyear. These toys will announce the plays in a child-friendly manner. The stream will also feature a halftime stunt show with the death-defying Duke Caboom, the extreme motorcyclist voiced by Keanu Reeves in Toy Story 4.

Disney and ESPN Try New Things

Disney and ESPN really seem to want to attract a wider audience and are willing to experiment to get families more involved with live sports. This NFL and Pixar Toy Stoy Funday Football collaboration is obviously a hook to get children to watch games with their parents. Nickelodeon did a similar event a few years ago by adding some wacky kid antics to their stream of the game on the network, and it proved successful.

You can see the announcement on the official ESPN YouTube below. While this mashup is a little strange, the charm is there. Furthermore, the American football game will be played at London’s Wembley Stadium early in the morning, making this a festive way to watch. Those who prefer their sports in classic format can still access the normal Falcons vs. Jaguars NFL match on ESPN+.

Will you be tuning in to the Toy Story Funday Football game, or is it too much of a stretch? It’s fun to see Disney and ESPN try some neat new things with technology. However, it remains to be seen if the show will be deemed a success. We will find out on October 1!