Disney Animation Reimagines Musical Numbers in American Sign Language with Deaf West Theatre

Disney Animation has reimagined three iconic musical numbers from its films in American Sign Language (ASL), marking a groundbreaking collaboration with Deaf West Theatre. The project, titled Songs in Sign Language, debuts today, April 27, 2026, exclusively on Disney+. The initiative brings together animation, music, and accessibility in a way that amplifies representation for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community while celebrating the universal power of Disney storytelling.

Three Beloved Songs Reimagined

The Songs in Sign Language collection features nearly all-new animation designed specifically for ASL performance, transforming musical numbers from Frozen 2, Encanto, and Moana 2. Each song has been meticulously adapted to ensure the visual rhythm, emotional expression, and narrative intent of the original music are preserved through sign language. The project underscores Disney’s commitment to inclusivity, offering audiences a fresh perspective on familiar melodies while making them accessible to a broader range of viewers.

The selected songs include:

• “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2
• “The Family Madrigal” from Encanto
• “We Know the Way” from Moana 2

These tracks were chosen for their emotional resonance and cultural impact, providing a rich canvas for ASL interpretation. The adaptations go beyond simple translation, incorporating expressive facial movements, body language, and spatial dynamics that are integral to sign language communication. The result is a fusion of animation and ASL that honors both art forms while creating something entirely new.

A Collaboration with Deaf West Theatre

The project is the result of a close partnership between Disney Animation and Deaf West Theatre, a Los Angeles-based theater company renowned for its innovative productions that blend ASL and spoken word. Founded in 1991, Deaf West Theatre has a long history of pushing boundaries in accessibility and representation, including its Tony Award-nominated revival of Spring Awakening and its groundbreaking production of Big River. For Songs in Sign Language, the theater company played a pivotal role in shaping the ASL performances, ensuring authenticity and artistic integrity.

Deaf actors and ASL consultants worked alongside Disney animators to bring the songs to life. The collaboration involved extensive rehearsals and feedback loops, with animators adjusting character movements to align with the natural flow of sign language. This process required a deep understanding of ASL’s visual grammar, where handshapes, facial expressions, and body positioning convey meaning as much as the signs themselves. The result is a seamless integration of animation and ASL, where the characters’ movements feel organic and expressive.

Behind the Scenes with Director Hyrum Osmond

Hyrum Osmond, the director of Songs in Sign Language, has been a driving force behind the project’s creative vision. Osmond, whose previous work at Disney Animation includes directing Moana 2, brought a unique perspective to the initiative, blending his expertise in animation with a passion for accessibility. In a behind-the-scenes interview, Osmond described the project as “a labor of love” that required rethinking how animation could serve both storytelling and inclusivity.

“When we first approached this idea, we knew it couldn’t just be about adding sign language to existing animation,” Osmond said. “We had to reanimate the characters from the ground up to match the rhythm and emotion of ASL. It was a challenge, but it also opened up new creative possibilities. The Deaf actors brought so much energy and nuance to the performances, and that’s what makes this project special.”

Osmond also emphasized the importance of representation in the project. “For many Deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers, This represents the first time they’ll see themselves reflected in Disney’s storytelling in such a direct way. That’s incredibly powerful. We wanted to create something that resonates with them while also introducing hearing audiences to the beauty of ASL.”

The Animation Process: A New Frontier

Adapting Disney’s musical numbers for ASL required a fundamental shift in how animators approached character movement. Unlike traditional animation, where lip-syncing and vocal performances drive the timing, ASL relies on visual cues that are often more complex and layered. Animators had to account for the spatial relationships between signs, the fluidity of transitions, and the expressive use of facial expressions—all of which are essential to conveying meaning in ASL.

For example, in the ASL adaptation of “The Family Madrigal” from Encanto, the animators worked closely with Deaf performers to capture the song’s playful, fast-paced energy. The original song features rapid-fire lyrics and intricate choreography, which the ASL version translates into a dynamic sequence of signs, gestures, and facial expressions. The animators adjusted the characters’ movements to emphasize the visual rhythm of the signs, creating a performance that feels just as lively and engaging as the original.

Similarly, the ASL version of “Into the Unknown” from Frozen 2 required a delicate balance between the song’s soaring melody and the introspective nature of the lyrics. The animators focused on the emotional weight of the signs, using subtle facial expressions and body language to convey Elsa’s sense of longing and discovery. The result is a performance that feels both familiar and fresh, offering a new way to experience the song’s emotional depth.

Why This Project Matters

Songs in Sign Language represents a significant step forward in making entertainment more accessible and inclusive. For the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community, the project offers a rare opportunity to see their language and culture represented in mainstream media. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of accessibility in storytelling, where language barriers can often exclude audiences from fully experiencing a film or song.

Beyond accessibility, the project highlights the artistic potential of ASL as a medium for storytelling. Sign language is a rich, visual language that can convey emotion, humor, and narrative in ways that spoken language cannot. By integrating ASL into animation, Disney has created a new form of artistic expression that celebrates the diversity of human communication.

The initiative also reflects a broader industry shift toward inclusivity. In recent years, studios and streaming platforms have increasingly prioritized representation, whether through casting, storytelling, or accessibility features. Songs in Sign Language builds on this momentum, demonstrating how creativity and inclusivity can go hand in hand to enrich the entertainment landscape.

What’s Next for Disney and ASL?

While Songs in Sign Language is a one-time project, it opens the door for future collaborations between Disney and the Deaf community. The success of the initiative could inspire similar adaptations of other Disney films or even original content designed with ASL in mind. For now, the project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the importance of making storytelling accessible to all.

Disney+ subscribers can stream Songs in Sign Language beginning today, April 27, 2026. The collection is expected to resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds, offering a fresh and inclusive way to experience some of Disney’s most beloved musical moments.

As Disney Animation continues to explore new frontiers in storytelling, Songs in Sign Language serves as a reminder that great art is not just about what we see or hear—it’s about who gets to experience it.