‘Toy Story’ to make NFL debut with special ‘Toy Story Sunday Football’ telecast at Falcons vs Jaguars game; Details here

The NFL is about to get animated as Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the beloved "Toy Story" universe make their NFL debut. This unique spectacle will unfold during the Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars game at London's Wembley Stadium for "Toy Story Funday Football."

Where to watch?

The "Toy Story Funday Football" telecast will be available for streaming on ESPN+ and Disney+. Remarkably, this isn't the first time Disney characters have graced ESPN's broadcasts. In March, "NHL Big City Greens Classic'' enchanted viewers during a Washington Capitals vs. New York Rangers game. Now, "Toy Story" is set to add its enchanting twist to the NFL.


ESPN has previously experimented with alternate NFL broadcasts, with the "ManningCast" during "Monday Night Football" and playoff games proving quite successful. The "Toy Story" concept promises to tap into a broad audience, combining nostalgia for older generations and the charm that captivates kids.

This telecast will be entirely animated, with the characters' movements mirroring real-time NFL action, thanks to player-tracking data from the NFL's Next Gen Stats system and Beyond Sports, a Dutch company. Over 100 "Toy Story" characters have been animated for the broadcast, and Pixar Animation Studios has collaborated to ensure authenticity.

Drew Gallagher, the coordinating producer, described the approach as embracing "cartoon logic." Expect aliens dropping the ball from the sky, and even Duke Caboom attempting a daring motorcycle jump over double-decker buses during halftime.

Which Toy Story characters will be there?


It's not just Woody and Buzz; fans can look forward to appearances by Bo Peep, Bullseye, Forky, Green Aliens, and Slinky Dog. The announcer's booth is animated too, with Drew Carter, Booger McFarland, and 12-year-old Pepper Persley participating through motion-capture technology.

The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Sunday, with the replay available on Disney+ for 30 days. NFL fans worldwide, including the United Kingdom, Brazil, Mexico, and France, can enjoy this unique blend of sports and animation.


FAQs:


What is Toy Story?

"Toy Story" is a popular animated film franchise produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures. The franchise, created by John Lasseter, began with the release of the first "Toy Story" film in 1995, which was the world's first feature-length computer-animated film.



What is animation?

Animation is a multimedia technique that involves creating the illusion of motion and change in a sequence of images, typically through rapid display of a series of static images or frames. Each frame is slightly different from the previous one, and when these frames are played in quick succession, they give the appearance of movement or animation.