Disney and Sony Team Up to Present ‘Dunk the Halls’ — The First-Ever Animated NBA Game
Last month, Disney announced it was teaming up with the NBA and Sony’s Beyond Sports for Dunk the Halls, the first-ever real-time, animated alternate presentation of an NBA game.
Building on the success of Football Funday and the NHL Big City Greens Classic, Dunk the Halls will present the Christmas Day matchup between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs animated in real-time.
This time around, the game will be transported to Main Street, U.S.A., and Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, Pluto, Chip, and Dale will appear during the telecast.
Mickey and Friends Will Appear Throughout the Broadcast
In addition to their in-game appearances, where they will decorate a large Christmas tree, Mickey and the gang will also participate in a halftime slam dunk contest!
Dunk the Halls will be presented on ESPN2, ESPN+, and on Disney+. It will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024.
Finally, Santa’s Elves will operate the camera, while St. Nick himself will operate the ESPN SkyCam.
Alternate Broadcasts Continue to Thrive
Over the past couple of years, alternative sports broadcasts have surged in popularity. For broadcasters and advertisers alike, events such as Dunk the Halls provide a unique opportunity to attract a different audience.
“Real-time visualization and virtual alternate productions have clearly emerged from being a novelty into an established tentpole of broadcast and streaming programming,” said Sander J. Schouten, Managing Director and Co-Founder at Beyond Sports.
Photo: Disney
“Every time, we’re ready to deliver an innovative, immersive, and interactive altcast that puts viewers right in the heart of the action. This isn’t just the future of sports consumption—it’s the trend reshaping the industry today. With our latest telecast, fans can expect all of that, plus an added touch of Christmas magic.”
The Technology Behind ‘Dunk the Halls’
While Sony’s Beyond Sports technology has been used in other sporting events, Dunk the Halls will mark the first time it has been used for basketball.
According to Sony, the production will combine the Beyond Sports data processing and real-time visualization technology with Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations’ optical tracking. This allows every Spurs and Knicks player to appear as animated versions of themselves.
Beyond Sports Logo
“Adapting our data enhancement system to these new sports formats was essential,” said Nicolaas Westerhof, CTO and Co-Founder at Beyond Sports
“For example, the original ankle and toe data points can result in unnatural movements. By adding details like foot roll dynamics, we ensure smoother, more realistic visuals, significantly improving the viewer’s experience.”
When to Watch
Dunk the Halls will be presented on ESPN2, ESPN+, and Disney+. The fun kicks off at 12 PM ET on Christmas Day.
ESPN
