The NHL and Disney have teamed up for a first-of-its-kind animated telecast that followed Tuesday’s game between the New York Rangers and Washington Capitals.
The “NHL Big City Greens Classic” broadcast used NHL Edge positioning data to recreate the real on-ice action unfolding at Madison Square Garden.
In addition to featuring characters from Disney’s comedy series “Big City Greens” skating alongside animated versions of NHL players, the telecast aired on ESPN+, Disney Channel, Disney XD, and Disney+. ESPN commentators Kevin Weekes and Drew Carter called the virtual game while wearing motion-capture suits that allowed full-body animations of themselves to appear in the Big City.
Facial recognition technology imitated the reactions of Chris Houghton, the animated series’ co-creator/executive producer, and actor Marieve Herington, who voiced Tilly.
The broadcast, which is a collaboration between ESPN, Disney Channel, and the NHL, featured real-time animation produced in association with ESPN Edge Innovation Center and NHL EDGE Innovation partners Verizon, Beyond Sports, and Silver Spoon.
The traditional telecast between the Rangers and Capitals was also available on ESPN and ESPN+.
Weekes, a former NHL goalie, expressed his excitement for the technology and animation used in the broadcast. He hoped that the broadcast would transport viewers and listeners into a different world.
The collaboration between the NHL, Disney, and ESPN allows for the integration of real-life on-ice action and animation, which Weekes said would create a unique storytelling experience.
»NHL and Disney Team Up for Animated Telecast Featuring Real NHL Game«
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