Listen to Disney Songs in American Sign Language in April

Enjoy three musical sequences from Frozen 2, Encanto, and Moana 2.

Disney Animation and Deaf West Theatre celebrate National Deaf History Month with Songs in Sign Language, three animated musical sequences from recent Disney features, "newly reimagined and animated in American Sign Language (ASL)."

The project will debut on April 27, directed by Hyrum Osmond, with “The Next Right Thing” from Frozen 2, “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” from Encanto, and “Beyond” from Moana 2.

"Osmond, along with producers Heather Blodget and Christina Chen, worked in collaboration with artistic director DJ Kurs and the team at Los Angeles’ Tony Award-winning Deaf West Theatre to create the new versions of these beloved songs. A special behind-the-scenes featurette will accompany the songs, taking viewers into the collaboration that made these reimagined songs possible," says the announcement.

This is a beautiful new art form, more than just "subtitles."

"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," Osmond shared.

The team created new animations to fit perfectly with the original material but also find the balance between art and intention "to ensure that the ASL serves the story, not just the transcript," as told by Daps Magic.

For We Don’t Talk About Bruno, for example, Disney decided not to sign the "I grew a gut" phrase because the team didn't want to "give the audience the sign before they’re going to see it, or also miss the joke in its entirety." So they allowed the movement to speak for itself.

Disney

You can see Songs in Sign Language on Disney+ on April 27.

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