There are moments when animation stops being just “entertainment” and becomes a bridge. Disney Animation has just announced a groundbreaking new project that does exactly that.
Starting April 27, in celebration of National Deaf History Month, Disney+ will premiere Songs in Sign Language. This isn’t just a simple overlay or a picture-in-picture interpreter; Disney has actually re-animated three of its most popular musical sequences to perform in American Sign Language (ASL).
More Than Just Translation: It’s Performance
Directed by veteran animator Hyrum Osmond (Olaf Presents, Moana), the project features three iconic tracks:
- “The Next Right Thing” (Frozen 2)
- “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (Encanto)
- “Beyond” (Moana 2)
What makes this project special is the depth of the craft. Rather than “slapping” signs onto existing footage, Osmond and a team of over 20 animators went back to the original digital assets. They collaborated with the Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre to ensure the movements weren’t just accurate, but artistic.
A Personal Mission
For director Hyrum Osmond, the project is deeply personal. Growing up with a father who was hard of hearing, Osmond experienced firsthand the communication barriers that can exist even within a family.
“If ever there was a medium to showcase sign language, it was animation,” Osmond shared. He noted that ASL is a language of the face and body—much like animation itself. By re-animating the characters, the team was able to capture the specific facial grammar and emotional nuances that are vital to ASL.
The Art Form Adapting to the Audience
DJ Kurs, the Artistic Director of Deaf West Theatre, called the collaboration a “historic opportunity.” In many ways, this is the first time the characters themselves are “speaking” directly to the Deaf community in their own primary language.
In “We Don’t Talk About Bruno,” for example, the team had to navigate the “chaos” of a multi-character sequence. They ensured that each character—from Mirabel to the townspeople—had a unique “voice” in their signing style, reflecting the diversity of the Deaf community itself.
Why This Matters
For years, accessibility in film often meant captions or a small box in the corner of the screen. Songs in Sign Language change the narrative. It treats ASL as a beautiful, choreographic art form that deserves to be center stage.
As Kurs beautifully put it: “For so long, we have known and loved the art of Disney Animation. Here, the art form was adapting to us.”
Watch ‘Songs in Sign Language’ and a special behind-the-scenes featurette on Disney+ starting April 27.
Clint Gamache is the owner of ThrillGeek. He started ThrillGeek to share his love of theme/amusement parks and pop culture with the world. You can find him at Halloween Horror Nights. Also, be sure to follow him on Twitter/X, Instagram @iamcg83