Disney Unveils 'Sensational' New Versions of Beloved Songs — and Fans Are Here for It

Walt Disney Animation has released the first look at re-imagined musical numbers for National Deaf History Month. The animation company is working with Deaf West Theater to create new reanimated versions of songs from pre-existing films that will integrate American Sign Language. It is set to release on April 27, 2026, along with a behind the scenes featurette.

The project is led by Disney animator and director Hyrum Osmond, whose work includes Zootopia, Moana, and Raya and the Last Dragon, alongside Deaf West Theatre artistic director DJ Kurs and sign language reference choreographer Catalina Sacchetti. The new versions will not use direct word-for-word translations, but will focus on conveying concepts and emotions of the lyrics. The ‘Songs in Sign Language’ project re-imagines three beloved songs: "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto, "The Next Right Thing" from Frozen 2, and "Beyond" from Moana 2.

Osmond spoke about his special connection to the project in a press release; his father is Deaf, and growing up without learning sign language created a barrier in communication between them. "If ever there was a medium to showcase sign language, it was animation," he said. "This re-imagining of Disney Animation musical numbers helps bring down barriers and allows us to connect in a special way with our audiences in the Deaf community."

The announcement had strong responses online. Fans took to the internet to praise the project, with one user saying that it is a good step for representation as hard-of-hearing people are rarely seen in the media. Some expressed concern that AI had been used in production, but Disney addressed this by releasing behind-the-scenes footage showing artists re-animating the sequences, which fans appreciated. Other fans marveled at the concept itself, with one user calling it "quite possibly the most interesting and cool idea a major 3D animation studio has ever executed."

The idea felt like a "historic opportunity” for Kurs, he said it was an “immediate yes” for Deaf West Theater. “Disney stories are the universal language of childhood. The chance to bring our language into that world was a historic opportunity to reach a global audience,” said the artistic director. “Here, the art form was adapting to us. I hope this unlocks possibilities in the minds and hearts of Deaf children, and that this all leads to more down the road.”

‘Songs in Sign Language’ releases April 27 on Disney+.