Disney to Release Shorts Based on Big Hero 6 Series

Disney Television Animation has teamed up with Unity Technologies for Baymax Dreams, three shorts inspired by the movie-based animated show Big Hero 6 The Series.

Directed by Simon J. Smith (Bee Movie, Penguins of Madagascar, Shrek 4D), Baymax Dreams was created using Unity’s real-time rendering technology. The 2- to 3-minute shorts see the titular robot dreaming of electric sheet, bedbugs and duplicates of himself. They will premiere on DisneyNOW and Disney Channel YouTube on September 15.

“We are always looking at how our teams can innovate in ways that help move the industry forward—it’s in our Disney DNA,” said JR Grant, the senior VP for product and technology, direct to consumer and international at The Walt Disney Company. “Baymax Dreams and the technology used to create these shorts represent an evolution of the traditional animation production process that allows for greater freedom, creativity and the ability to easily produce content across multiple platforms.”

“Working in Unity is like having every department at your fingertips—it completely revolutionizes the production process,” noted Smith. “The results of Unity’s parallel, nonlinear workflow and real-time rendering meant we were able to make Baymax Dreams in half the time—allowing us to spend the other half on experimentation and the creative process.”

Clive Downie, the chief marketing officer at Unity Technologies, added: “It’s great to see the magic of real-time technology come to life with a collaborator like Disney Television Animation. Our tools allow filmmakers of all sizes, from small indie shops to blockbuster movie studios, to iterate at the speed of thought.”