They are giving
The first NHL animated telecast is coverage of Tuesday’s game between the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals.
The “NHL Big City Greens Classic” broadcast uses NHL Edge location data (puck and player tracking) to recreate the real action on the ice as it unfolds at Madison Square Garden.
Airing on ESPN+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and Disney+, the series also features characters from Disney’s comedy series “Big City Greens” skating, along with animated versions of NHL players.
ESPN commentators Kevin Weekes and Drew Carter are calling the virtual game wearing motion-capture suits that allow full-body animations to appear in the Big City.
The show features characters from Disney’s comedy series “Big City Greens” skating alongside animated versions of NHL players. NHL
Facial recognition technology is being used to mimic the reactions of Chris Houghton, co-creator/executive producer of the animated series, and actress Marieve Herington, who voices Tilly.
“I really want my curiosity to be deep, my enthusiasm,” former NHL goaltender Weekes told NHL.com.
“Hopefully, to end up bringing that back on the show itself because they transport us, without a doubt, for me, they will take me to another world. And what is even more important, we want to transport the viewer, the listener, to another world.”
The animated broadcast mirrors the real action on the ice at Madison Square Garden. NHL
ESPN commentators Kevin Weekes and Drew Carter are calling the virtual game.NHL
“Players are not just artists, they’re characters, and now we’re going to bring those two together and integrate them into the story through animation and that technology,” added Weekes.
The broadcast special is a partnership between ESPN, Disney Channel and the NHL. The real-time animation is produced in conjunction with the ESPN Edge Innovation Center and NHL EDGE Innovation partners Verizon, Beyond Sports and Silver Spoon.
The traditional telecast of the Rangers vs. Capitals is available on ESPN and ESPN+.