1 of 7
Kicking Tire Films
2 of 7
Kyle Flubacker
3 of 7
Lighthouse Immersive Studios
4 of 7
5 of 7
David Korins
6 of 7
David Korins
7 of 7
David Korins
Every Walt Disney fan dreams of flying through Neverland, swimming under the sea or watching the sun rise over Pride Rock. Now their dreams have come true through the new Immersive Disney Animation exhibit.
Led by J. Miles Dale, the Academy Award-winning producer of "The Shape Of Water," Immersive Disney Animation is the newest interactive show by Lighthouse Interactive, the same creative team behind Mozart Immersive and The Original Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit.
"I met [the producer] Corey Ross a year and a half ago, and he really proved the medium," Miles says. "He wanted to do something with moving pictures, and I said the obvious thing would be Walt Disney."
With this year marking the 100th anniversary of Disney, the Immersive Disney team was given access to 61 beloved Disney classics to use in their show, from Mickey Mouse all the way to "Encanto." Two exhibits take you behind the scenes of your favorite films with original storyboards, frames, character models and live reels demonstrating how animated sequences look through different layers, and illustration stations allow young animators to draw their own original creations as well.
When it’s time for the show to begin, families will make their way to the main theater for a 47-minute experience through Walt Disney’s animated history. The show takes you everywhere from the magical land of Arendelle in “Frozen” to the city of “Zootopia,” all while viewers sing along to their favorite songs including “A Whole New World,” “Let It Go” and “When You Wish Upon A Star.” Bubbles emit from the ceiling during some of the show’s underwater sequences, and interactive shells, leaves and flowers pop up on the floor for viewers to step on.
“If you’re singing under the sea, let’s be under the sea. If you’re listening to 'The Circle Of Life,' let’s see the sun come up on the savanna like we’re on Pride Rock. The idea was to come up with a narrative that feels like a Disney movie itself," Miles says.
Inspired by his childhood memories in Disneyland and taking his own children to Disney World, Miles knows just how much Walt Disney means to so many people. That's why it's been so special to bring this interactive experience to Dallas and 10 other cities.
"Not everybody gets a chance to go to the parks," Miles says. "What I love about this is that you can have a little bit of that Disney magic right here in your hometown. To be able to have people step inside these walls and spend a couple of hours in joy and with a smile on their face has been really special for me."
Immersive Disney Animation runs through Sept. 4 at 507 S. Harwood St. in Dallas, with tickets costing $21-$26 per person. To learn more or make a reservation, visit LighthouseImmersive.com.