Hey, Disney friends. There are some Disney projects that make you stop and think about just how many ways there are to tell a story, and Disney Animation’s Songs in Sign Language is certainly one of them. The project, which was released earlier this year, took musical moments from Frozen 2, Encanto, and Moana 2 and reimagined them through American Sign Language, with Deaf performers and artists from Deaf West Theatre working alongside Disney Animation to create sequences specifically for ASL. This goes well beyond simply adding an interpreter to an existing piece, with new animation created to make the signing, expressions, and movement part of the storytelling itself.
For me, this was such an interesting example of Disney finding another way to connect its beloved stories with a broader audience. ASL is specifically the language being used for this project, so it isn’t a universal sign language version that can simply be applied to Deaf communities around the world. But I think the idea behind it was an important one. Disney described the project as a way of bringing down barriers and connecting with audiences in the Deaf community, while Deaf West Theatre’s DJ Kurs described the opportunity to bring ASL into Disney storytelling as a chance to reach a global audience. Now, Disney is taking us behind the scenes to see exactly what brought this remarkable collaboration to life in the Making of “Songs in Sign Language”.
What I particularly enjoyed about the new Making of “Songs in Sign Language” featurette is getting to hear the human experiences behind the project. One of Director Hyrum Osmond’s parents is Deaf, and he speaks openly about growing up without learning sign language and the barrier that was created between them. Osmond says that personal experience inspired his desire to create something that could break down barriers and build connection. Hearing that story adds another layer to what could otherwise simply look like an impressive animation project.
And perhaps that’s what makes projects like this so interesting. The team didn’t simply translate the English lyrics word for word. They worked with Deaf West Theatre to consider concepts, emotion, rhythm, facial expression, and movement, creating new animation for approximately 95% of the shots. Disney is taking stories and songs that audiences already know and finding another way to communicate their meaning. For me, that is the exciting part of Songs in Sign Language: not changing what makes these stories special, but finding another way to help more people experience them.
The post New BTS: Enjoy the Making of Disney’s ‘Songs in Sign Language’ first appeared on The DIS.
