Disney Animation Partners with Deaf West Theatre to Create Songs in American Sign Language

Walt Disney Animation Studios has partnered with the acclaimed Deaf West Theatre to create "Songs in Sign Language," a groundbreaking short film that reimagines beloved Disney musical numbers entirely in American Sign Language. The film, set to debut on Disney+ on April 27, 2026, features new animation for sequences from Frozen 2, Encanto, and Moana 2 — created in celebration of National Deaf History Month.

Rather than simply adding a sign language interpreter in the corner of the screen — the standard approach for accessibility — Disney took an unprecedented step. Under the direction of veteran animator Hyrum Osmond, a team of more than 20 animators created entirely new animation for these sequences. The beloved characters themselves perform in ASL, communicating directly with Deaf and hard of hearing audiences in a way that has never been done before in mainstream animation.

“The film, set to debut on Disney+ on April 27, 2026, features new animation for sequences from Frozen 2, Encanto, and Moana 2 — created in celebration of National Deaf History Month.”

The three featured songs are "The Next Right Thing" from Frozen 2, "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, and "Beyond" from Moana 2. Each sequence was crafted using sign language reference exclusively created for Disney by DJ Kurs, Deaf West's artistic director, and sign language reference choreographer Catalene Sacchetti, working with a group of eight performers from the company.

Deaf West Theatre, founded in 1991, has long been at the forefront of accessible theatrical performance, staging acclaimed productions that seamlessly blend ASL and spoken English. Their partnership with Disney represents a significant expansion of accessibility in entertainment, moving beyond accommodation to true creative integration of sign language into storytelling.

The project has been praised by the Deaf community and accessibility advocates as a meaningful step toward representation and inclusion. By having the animated characters themselves sign, rather than relying on an overlay or subtitle, Disney acknowledges ASL as a complete and expressive language worthy of being central to the artistic experience.

The collaboration signals a broader shift in how major entertainment companies approach accessibility — not as an afterthought or obligation, but as an opportunity for creative expression that enriches the experience for all audiences. Disney has indicated that this may be the first of several projects exploring sign language integration in their animated content.