ESPN and Disney will produce the first-ever animated simulcast of a National Basketball Association (NBA) game on Christmas Day. The special broadcast, titled Dunk the Halls, will reimagine the matchup between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs in a whimsical Disney-themed setting.
The animated version of the game will transport viewers to Main Street, USA, a beloved feature of Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park. Iconic characters such as Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Donald Duck will join the action, adding a family-friendly twist to the traditional basketball viewing experience. While the main broadcast will air on ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN+, the animated simulcast will be available on ESPN2 and stream on both ESPN+ and Disney+.
The production is powered by Sony’s Beyond Sports technology, supported by Hawk-Eye Innovations for optical tracking. This advanced visualization will enhance the broadcast’s immersive quality, bringing the animated world to life in real-time. Commentators Drew Carter and Monica McNutt will also be animated and equipped with Meta Quest Pro headsets, using virtual reality (VR) to fully engage with the game through Beyond Sports’ innovative tools.
This collaboration marks the NBA’s first animated broadcast, although the league has previously experimented with themed simulcasts, such as a Marvel superhero event in 2021. Disney, too, has successfully produced animated broadcasts for NFL and NHL games, showcasing its ability to blend sports and storytelling. The Knicks-Spurs game will also be the first NBA matchup to stream on Disney+, a significant milestone for both Disney and the league as they aim to capture younger audiences.
The Dunk the Halls broadcast arrives as part of a packed Christmas Day NBA schedule featuring five games across ABC, ESPN, Disney+, and ESPN+. It follows Disney’s The Simpsons-themed broadcast of the NFL matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals earlier in December, signaling a broader push by Disney to explore creative and innovative approaches to sports broadcasting.
As basketball meets Disney magic, the animated simulcast promises to deliver a festive and family-friendly experience for viewers tuning in on December 25th.