Disney and Apple break new ground with Disney+ on Apple Vision Pro including virtual environments and 3D content

Jan 16, 2024 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Disney and Apple Vision Pro

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Posted: Tuesday January 16, 2024 9:21am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney+ will launch February 2, 2024 on Apple Vision Pro, Apple's new spatial computer, offering Disney+ subscribers with a Vision Pro device a new way to stream entertainment at no additional cost.

"At Disney, we're constantly searching for new ways to entertain, inform, and inspire by combining exceptional creativity with groundbreaking technology to create truly remarkable experiences," said Bob Iger, CEO of The Walt Disney Company. "Apple Vision Pro is a revolutionary platform that will bring our fans closer to the characters and stories they love while immersing them more deeply in all that Disney has to offer. We're proud to once again be partnering with Apple to bring extraordinary new Disney experiences to people around the world."

Disney and Apple Vision Pro

At launch, viewers can transform their space into one of four Disney+ environments, bringing them even closer to the story. Each environment includes animations and sounds that make the space feel alive, including Easter eggs from films and franchises.

Available only on Apple Vision Pro, Disney+ subscribers will be able to stream the entire catalog – including thousands of TV shows and films, plus access to Hulu content for eligible Disney Bundle subscribers – including: the Disney+ Theater, inspired by the historic El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood; the Scare Floor from Pixar's Monsters Inc.; Marvel's Avengers Tower overlooking downtown Manhattan; and the cockpit of Luke Skywalker's landspeeder, facing a binary sunset on the planet Tatooine from the Star Wars galaxy.

Viewers will be able to watch dozens of popular movies in 3D, like Avatar: The Way of Water, Avengers: Endgame, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Elemental, and Encanto. More titles, including those available exclusively to Disney+ subscribers, will be announced at a later date. Apple Vision Pro users can also rent or purchase most 3D movies through the Store tab in the Apple TV app. Users who previously purchased Disney movies that include 3D versions from the Apple TV app will be able to access those 3D versions on Apple Vision Pro at no additional cost.

Disney+ on Apple Vision Pro is the result of collaboration between multiple technology teams at the Company, including Disney Studio Technology, Disney Entertainment & ESPN Technology, ILM Immersive, and Skywalker Sound.

Disney and Apple Vision Pro

Disney+ environments were developed using the Universal Scene Description (USD) format. Originally developed by Pixar and open sourced in 2016, USD allows developers to work simultaneously and collaboratively across creation tools and development pipelines to compose complex 3D experiences, at scale, across many applications, and in real time. The Alliance for OpenUSD – a group formed by Pixar and Apple, among others – is working to standardize the USD format across the industry.

Using Dolby Vision and Multiview High Efficiency Video Coding(MV-HEVC), 3D movies on Disney+ will deliver UHD resolution in HDR, unfiltered and independent for each eye, and at a high frame rate for several titles.

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GhostHost10005 hours ago

this is way different than a phone though... I just don't see it anywhere close to as popular no matter how it evolves I also don't wear my phone

wdwmagic5 hours ago

Apple is starting with MLS https://9to5mac.com/2024/02/21/apple-vision-pro-mls-film-8k-3d/

neo9999555 hours ago

They do have examples of this on the Vision Pro, but actually building this out so you can watch current games and such will take a long while and a ton of money. Plus, people need to actually buy the thing to make it worth it (a bit of a chicken and egg issue). Apple has the money and they see a future 5+ years down the road where this is cheap enough, good enough and light enough people will use in masse. I hope for it!

JD805 hours ago

Same thing was said about people holding phones all day. Form factor will change to make them more comfortable with ever iteration.

Rhinocerous5 hours ago

I’m late to this party, but if Apple really wants to break into the older casual market with VR, they should partner with sports. At my old job my team was sorting through (and trying out) a variety of VR headsets from a decommissioned tech lab. A coworker in his 50s was mostly underwhelmed and confused until I showed him a 360 video of a hockey game on YouTube. His mind was blown and he was immediately on board. Networks have tried it as a gimmick here and there, but if they committed to partnering with major sports leagues to put high quality 360 cameras in “the best seats” and sold season tickets for those feeds, the tech would have an instant audience. Plus, I wouldn’t have to watch Apple TV+ butcher a baseball broadcast anymore.

wdwmagic7 hours ago

Marvel Studios and ILM Immersive to Launch Groundbreaking' What If…? – An Immersive Story' on Apple Vision Pro https://www.wdwmagic.com/wdwmagic-plus/marvel-studios/news/08may2024-marvel-studios-and-ilm-immersive-to-launch-groundbreaking-what-if%e2%80%a6-%e2%80%93-an-immersive-story-on-apple-vision-pro.htm

sedati11 days ago

!!!

wdwmagic12 days ago

Tech YouTuber tries out WDI's HoloTile floor to explore a virtual Disney Park with Apple Vision Pro https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/walt-disney-imagineering/news/26apr2024-tech-youtuber-tries-out-wdis-holotile-floor-to-explore-a-virtual-disney-park-with-apple-vision-pro.htm

Tha Realest12 days ago

Yes, but they didn’t pump the brakes on iPad production a few months after it debuted. It was, and remains, a highly popular item.

UNCgolf12 days ago

I actually think the iPad is the best comparison. Obviously successful, but maxed out as a secondary device rather than something transformational that replaced existing tech. It's really a luxury item that gets significant use from a relatively small percentage of people, even among owners; most people I know (including me) who have an iPad or some other tablet hardly ever use it. VR/AR (mainly AR, IMO) may get to that replacement place eventually, but I think that's still a long way off. I don't see it as something that's close to happening in the next decade+.

GhostHost100012 days ago

As cool as it is, regardless of the pricing, I just don’t see mass people frequently wearing something physically on their heads for long periods of time to use it.

Notes from Neverland12 days ago

Those quickly dismissing this are forgetting how everyone laughed at the iPad or other somewhat recent technical achievements that went on to become huge once they found their footing.

wdwmagic13 days ago

Yes I've been around it for 40 years, and Apple Vision Pro is the most impressive of computer technology I've ever used. I think this is the start of what will become the standard for computing and the biggest computing shift we will see in probable our lifetime.

pigglewiggle13 days ago

I have to admit, it does sound a little scary, that instead of me actually being in the room with someone, they can have a virtual image of me and be satisfied with that instead. Will the virtual image show all the weight I will gain once I figure out I never need to leave the house? 😄 I'm (mostly) kidding.