ESPN: Toy Story Funday Football

ESPN, The Walt Disney Company and the National Football League have collaborated on a first of its kind NFL game presentation – Toy Story Funday Football – as real time action between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars will be experienced in Pixar’s iconic ‘Toy Story’ universe live on Monday October 2.

Fans can immerse themselves in a fully animated offering, available live on ESPN2, where the action of Wembley Stadium, London is recreated simultaneously in Andy’s Room – one of Toy Story’s most recognisable settings.

This presentation is the latest in ESPN’s innovation strategy, providing alternate telecasts in signature events.

Andy’s room will replicate the on-the-field gameplay, where each Falcon and Jaguar player will have animated representation on a traditional looking field, catered to the Toy Story setting.

Fans will view every run, pass, score and all football-related-action through state-of-the-art tracking technology enabled by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats player tracking data and Beyond Sports.

In addition to gameplay, all the surrounding aspects of the game – announcers, graphics, scoreboard, penalty announcements, and celebrations will embrace the ‘Toy Story’ themed offering.

Woody, Buzz Lightyear, Bo Peep, Bullseye, Bunny, Ducky, Forky, Green Aliens, Jesse, Rex, Slinky Dog and many of the other characters from the animated series will be visible throughout, participating from the sidelines and in other non-gameplay elements.

The event will also include a Special Halftime Show where Toy Story’s Duke Caboom will attempt a motorcycle jump.

ESPN’s Drew Carter (play-by-play), Booger McFarland (analyst) and 12-year-old Pepper Persley (reporter) will commentate with all three fully animated and their body movements viewed through motion-capture technology.

This first of its kind presentation is made possible by ESPN, ESPN’s Edge Innovation Center, Disney, NFL, Pixar, Next Gen Stats, Beyond Sports and Silver Spoon.

ESPN and Disney’s ‘Toy Story’ alternate telecast will complement the primary game presentation of the Falcons-Jaguars clash, which will be available at the same time over on ESPN.

NFL fans will also be able to enjoy a full replay on the Toy Story Funday Football available on-demand via Disney+, as well as Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.

Monday October 2 will see almost 30 hours of live NFL across ESPN, ESPN2 and the ESPN App* – with five live NFL games, seven hours of NFL RedZone on the ESPN App and of course Toy Story Funday Football.

At 7.25am AEDT, the New England Patriots meet the red-hot Dallas Cowboys live on ESPN.

Monday’s NFL bonanza concludes at 11.15am AEDT when the Kansas City Chiefs travel to Metlife Stadium to tackle the New York Jets.

ESPN’s Week Four schedule ends on Tuesday October 3 where the Seattle Seahawks and New York Giants collide at 11.15am AEDT – also live on ESPN.

Monday October 2
12:30am AEDT, Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars, ESPN
12:30am AEDT, Toy Story Funday Football, ESPN2
4am AEDT, Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills, ESPN
4am AEDT, Baltimore Ravens vs Cleveland Browns, ESPN2
4am AEDT, NFL RedZone, ESPN App*
7.25am AEDT, New England Patriots vs Dallas Cowboys, ESPN
10.30am AEDT, SC: NFL Blitz, ESPN
11.15am AEDT, Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Jets, ESPN

Tuesday October 3
11.15am AEDT, Seattle Seahawks vs New York Giants, ESPN

ESPN and ESPN2 are available on Foxtel, Kayo Sports, Fetch TV and Sky NZ.