Animated versions of the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs will face off on a virtual Main Street, U.S.A. when Dunk the Halls returns on Christmas Day. The real-time animated presentation starts at noon Eastern on December 25 and will be available on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel and the ESPN App, Disney and ESPN announced.
The game itself takes place at Madison Square Garden. The alternate broadcast recreates the action in a virtual Magic Kingdom, using player-tracking data to animate the teams as they play.
Angel Joins the Disney Lineup
Angel, the character from Lilo & Stitch: The Series, makes her Dunk the Halls debut and headlines a halftime video dance party. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale and Stitch return for the presentation.
Drew Carter and Monica McNutt return as commentators, with Daisy Duck as the animated sideline reporter. The traditional game broadcast will air on ABC and ESPN.
This is the third Dunk the Halls presentation. Sony’s Beyond Sports will create the real-time animation using tracking data from Sony’s Hawk-Eye Innovations.