New Disney+ Special Reimagines Classic Songs From Beloved Movies

In honor of National Deaf History Month, Walt Disney Animation has partnered with the Deaf West Theatre for a brand new Disney+ animated special, which will premiere on April 27. The new special, titled Songs in Language, will feature popular songs from beloved Disney movies, which have been reimagined in American Sign Language.

Which classic songs will be featured in the new Disney + special?

Disney Animation’s Songs in Language special will include three animated musical sequences, featuring newly reimagined songs of “The Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, and “Beyond” from Moana 2 in ASL. In addition, a special behind-the-scenes featurette will accompany the songs, taking viewers into the collaboration that made these reimagined songs possible.

Veteran Disney animator/director Hyrum Osmond directed the special, with DJ Kurs serving as its artistic director. They worked together with the team at Los Angeles’ Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre, including sign language reference choreographer Catalene Sacchetti, to carefully re-imagine and choreograph lyrics into ASL by focusing on concepts and emotion instead of a word-for-word transcription. It is produced by Osmond, Heather Blodget, and Christina Chen.

“One, sign language is one of the most beautiful ways of communication on Earth. If ever there was a medium to showcase sign language, it was animation. The other big reason for doing this project is to connect with the Deaf community,” Osmond said on his reasons for wanting to do the project. “Growing up, I never learned sign language, and that barrier prevented me from really connecting with my dad. This reimagining of Disney Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and allows us to connect in a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community. I’m grateful that the Studio got behind making something so impactful.”

Kurs added, “When Hyrum approached me with a potential collaboration involving the integration of ASL into the fabric of Disney storytelling, it was an immediate ‘yes’ for us. Disney stories are the universal language of childhood. The chance to bring our language into that world was a historic opportunity to reach a global audience. Working on this project was very emotional. For so long, we have known and loved the artistic medium of Disney Animation. Here, the art form was adapting to us. I hope this unlocks possibilities in the minds and hearts of Deaf children, and that this all leads to more down the road.”

Source: Comingsoon.net