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Disney, ESPN and the NBA described the presentation as their second annual real-time animated NBA game, using Sony’s Beyond Sports technology. ESPN’s announcement identifies the game, timing and production technology.
Quick facts about “Dunk the Halls”
| Detail | 2025 presentation |
|---|---|
| Game | Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks |
| Date and tipoff | Thursday, December 25, 2025, at 12:00 p.m. ET |
| Format | Live animated alternate broadcast of the real NBA game |
| Technology | Sony Beyond Sports |
| Animated-feed outlets | ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App |
| Replay listing | Disney+ listed replay access through February 23, 2026; that window has expired |
The distribution details were listed by ESPN’s Christmas Day schedule announcement, while Disney described the live and replay timing on its Disney+ event page.
What viewers actually saw
The Cavaliers and Knicks played a normal, official NBA contest at Madison Square Garden. In the alternate feed, live game information was translated into animated representations of the players and court action inside a Disney-themed virtual setting associated with Main Street, U.S.A. The result was a second way to watch the same game, not a fictional match or a prerecorded cartoon.
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One game, two presentations
| Standard broadcast | “Dunk the Halls” |
|---|---|
| Live athletes shown on the court | Animated player representations synchronized to the live action |
| Madison Square Garden presentation | Disney-themed virtual environment |
| Conventional NBA commentary and analysis | Special alternate presentation with character-driven elements |
| Official game result | The same official game result |
Animated characters and graphics changed the presentation, not the rules, score or status of the NBA game.
How the real-time animation worked
Disney, ESPN and the NBA said the production used Sony’s Beyond Sports technology. The system converted live player and game data into animated figures and placed that action in a rendered Disney environment. Because the animation followed the ongoing game, baskets, movement and other events could appear in the alternate feed while the real contest was being played.
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Official announcements do not fully document the production pipeline, including camera-tracking methods, rendering latency, data-feed architecture or the size of the production crew. It is therefore more accurate to describe the show as data-driven real-time animation than to label it an entirely AI-generated broadcast.
The NBA’s event summary provides the league’s description of the live animated presentation.
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Which Disney characters appeared?
The announced lineup included Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, with Stitch joining the returning characters for the 2025 edition. Daisy Duck was assigned a reporting role, including a planned sideline interview with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Characters were also planned for pregame and halftime segments and for decorating a large Christmas tree.
The official character and player details are listed by the NBA and Disney+. Featured players included Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns.
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Where could people watch it?
Animated alternate feed
For the 2025 event, the animated presentation was distributed on ESPN2, Disney+, Disney Channel, Disney XD and the ESPN App. Disney’s listing placed the live start at noon Eastern (9 a.m. Pacific) on December 25, 2025. Its stated replay period ran through February 23, 2026, so that specific replay window is no longer current.
Conventional game broadcast
The regular NBA presentation was available through the applicable ABC, ESPN and digital distribution arrangements. A Disney+ stream did not mean that every viewer worldwide could watch without a subscription, authentication or regional rights restrictions. Distribution can vary by territory and service.
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The complete 2025 NBA Christmas Day schedule
Christmas Day featured five games. Only the first received the “Dunk the Halls” animated alternate treatment.
| Tipoff (ET) | Matchup | Animated alternate? |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 p.m. | Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks | Yes: “Dunk the Halls” |
| 2:30 p.m. | San Antonio Spurs at Oklahoma City Thunder | No |
| 5:00 p.m. | Dallas Mavericks at Golden State Warriors | No |
| 8:00 p.m. | Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers | No |
| 10:30 p.m. | Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets | No |
The five-game schedule and platform distribution were published in ESPN’s release.
How 2025 differed from the first edition
The 2024 Spurs–Knicks presentation was billed as the first real-time animated NBA game. The 2025 Cavaliers–Knicks show was the second annual “Dunk the Halls.” Both editions used Sony’s Beyond Sports technology and a Disney-themed Main Street, U.S.A. setting, but they featured different matchups. The 2024 announcement is archived by ESPN, with an additional NBA summary.
Who was the alternate broadcast for?
- Families and Disney fans: Characters, a themed environment and lighter storytelling add a visual entry point for younger or casual viewers.
- Dedicated basketball viewers: The conventional feed is better for standard tactics, player detail and familiar analysis.
- Streaming viewers: The right choice depends on whether they already have Disney+, ESPN access or a live-TV service carrying ESPN2.
- Viewers outside the United States: Local rights and platform availability may differ, so U.S. distribution should not be assumed internationally.
The animated feed is not simply a normal broadcast with occasional Disney graphics. It is a separate alternate production whose spectacle can make the action more approachable, while character elements may compete with detailed basketball analysis and make player identification harder for some viewers.
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What “Dunk the Halls” did—and did not—mean
- It did turn one live Christmas Day NBA game into a synchronized animated presentation.
- It did integrate Disney characters and a themed virtual world into the alternate show.
- It did not animate all five Christmas Day games.
- It did not replace the standard Cavaliers–Knicks broadcast.
- It did not establish a permanent change to NBA broadcasts.
- It does not confirm a 2026 edition or its platforms.
Bottom line for viewers today
“Dunk the Halls” was a 2025 experiment in live sports presentation: one real Cavaliers–Knicks game, represented through animated avatars and Disney characters for a separate audience. The event has passed, and the Disney+ replay period identified for it ended February 23, 2026. Any 2026 return, schedule or viewing option would require a new official announcement.
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