Even as Apple has fixed its eyes on its Vision Pro 3D headsets to start a new narrative about the company and entertainment, Disney has said it’d be part of the Vision Pro gameplan with its varied content.
Keeping up with founder Walt Disney’s vision of keeping up with the times and constantly focussing on the future, the company said Disney+ will launch on Apple’s revolutionary spatial computing device — the Vision Pro.
“Disney stands out in the media industry because we’re a company that sits at the intersection of ground-breaking technology with unparalleled creativity,” said Aaron LaBerge, President & CTO, Disney Entertainment & ESPN in a statement yesterday.
“Now, with Apple Vision Pro, we’re able to bring the experience with our stories into a whole new realm of immersion,” he added.
So, the Disney press release asked: what does this mean for consumers? Imagine watching a drive-in movie of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘ from an X-34 landspeeder during a binary sunset or catching Tony Stark’s home movies of ‘Avengers: Endgame‘ in front of a sparkling midtown Manhattan skyline (not to mention, an imposing nearby Hulkbuster).
That’s the immersion that Disney+ environments offer on the Apple Vision Pro, because at launch, viewers can transform their space into one of four Disney+ environments, all brought to life by the amazing creatives at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM): There’s the aforementioned far, far away galaxy of Star Wars’ Tatooine and the heights of Marvel’s Avengers Tower. Those offerings are joined by the zany Scare Floor of ‘Monster Inc.’ and the opulent Disney+ Theater, inspired by Hollywood’s iconic El Capitan Theatre.
Viewers will be able to watch 42 Disney films in stunning 3D such as blockbusters Avatar: The Way of Water, Black Panther, Inside Out, and 2019’s The Lion King. Also, users who previously purchased Disney movies that include 3D versions from the Apple TV app will be able to access those versions on Apple Vision Pro at no additional cost, Disney said.
The 3D films will use Dolby Vision, Multiview High Efficiency Video Coding (MV-HEVC), UHD resolution in HDR, and at a high frame rate for several titles. This will ensure that the creator’s vision is intact and fully preserved for the best possible viewing experience.
“We’re so excited about the new frontiers of storytelling that platforms like Vision Pro will open to us,” said Jamie Voris, EVP and CTO at The Walt Disney Studios. “Spatial computing will allow us to bring our characters and stories to life in ways that were previously impossible – taking you to amazing places or enabling you to experience unbelievable things, all while bringing you closer to the people you care about.”
According to Alisa Bowen, President of Disney+, Apple Vision Pro “enables the most incredibly immersive experience of any in home device available”.
“We can’t wait to see the reaction to this technology, as it transports viewers right into the story like never before, up close to our characters, their emotions and all the action,” she said. “It will let them rediscover their favorites all over again,” Bowen added.
As exciting as the launch is, LaBerge noted that the partnership with the Apple Vision Pro represents another step in the future of how technology can enable experiences with stories.
“This is just the beginning,” he gushed, adding, “When you think about what we can dream up for new product elements and types of storytelling created with these capabilities in mind, or for sports, or next-generation park experiences… the possibilities are so exciting.”