Overview
Four custom-animated shorts reveal the attractions of Disney Cruise Line's seventh ship, Disney Destiny. These short stories star classic Disney Heroes and Villains as their hijinks unveil new announcements about Disney Destiny.
Before the reveal, Disney Live Entertainment was tasked to develop a graphic novel brought to life with animation featuring Captain Minnie and beloved Disney heroes and villains. The first video released the same day as the Disney Destiny's Keel Laying Ceremony on March 20th, 2024.
The pieces feature new voice acting from Tate Donovan (original voice of Hercules) and James Woods (original voice of Hades). Special care was made to properly include each Disney intellectual property in synergistic ways.
Before the reveal, Disney Live Entertainment was tasked to develop a graphic novel brought to life with animation featuring Captain Minnie and beloved Disney heroes and villains. The first video released the same day as the Disney Destiny's Keel Laying Ceremony on March 20th, 2024.
The pieces feature new voice acting from Tate Donovan (original voice of Hercules) and James Woods (original voice of Hades). Special care was made to properly include each Disney intellectual property in synergistic ways.
Motion Design
Compositing
Video Editing
My Role
On all four of the short films, I served as Animation Lead. I mentored and oversaw addtional animators, coordinated with external creative vendors, and was responsible for delivering final animated files. On a daily basis, I inspected and quality controlled all animated content ensuring visual consistency and error-free deliveries.
I designed and animated the "Heroes and Villains" title sequence used in all four videos, built the design and motion systems which all animators used in Adobe After Effects, and animated the majority of shots in the "Keel Coin" and "Cruella De Vil" shorts.
I designed and animated the "Heroes and Villains" title sequence used in all four videos, built the design and motion systems which all animators used in Adobe After Effects, and animated the majority of shots in the "Keel Coin" and "Cruella De Vil" shorts.
Blast from the Past
Traditional Disney animation used a multiplane camera, an invention popularized by Walt Disney Animation Studios which allowed the camera to capture parallax depth between layers. In keeping with that tradition, we frequently incorporated parallax techniques to add movement and depth to our 2D illustrated plates.
Precise Control
Using Adobe After Effects' robust Puppet tools in tandem with well-organized 2D layers, we were able to achieve a surprising degree of movement from a character's resting pose. The added movement, when tastefully applied, enriches the scene and helps bring the characters to life.
Examples of graphic novel treatment
A Homage to Graphic Novels
In animating the short films, we felt it was important to study modern interpretations of illustrated comic stories. We studied recent TV shows and films to learn techniques to bring toon/comic styles to life through motion design. We made use of cartoon impacts, speed lines, comic panels, and paper textures to evoke a graphic novel feel.
Side-by-side comparison, our animation vs. final construction
It's Actually Part of the Ship
During production, Walt Disney Imagineering shared construction drawings of the physical spaces on the Disney Destiny, allowing us to use the 3D CAD drawings as references for digital backdrops.
Using Unreal Engine, we modified and textured actual CAD drawings from the ship, capturing renders to serve as reference for illustrators.
Using Unreal Engine, we modified and textured actual CAD drawings from the ship, capturing renders to serve as reference for illustrators.
2025 People's Telly Gold
Our animated series won multiple Telly awards, including a People's Telly Gold award for General Branded Content in 2025.
Result
Disney Cruise Line debuted features of their newest ship in a way never done before, through bespoke animated shorts featuring real Disney voice actors. These shorts transcended standard advertising and received positive reception from Disney Cruise Line fans and multiple design awards. Executive leadership was especially pleased, resulting in repeat work and design requests for our department and establishing us as a high-quality, capable creative studio.
