ESPN, Disney, the Simpsons, and the National Football League will introduce "The Simpsons Funday Football" on December 9. This animated version of Monday Night Football will transform real-time gameplay into the world of The Simpsons using Sony's Beyond Sports Technology. The event will take place at Atoms Stadium in Springfield, featuring a matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys.
The special presentation will be available for streaming on Disney+, ESPN+, and NFL+ on mobile devices. Traditional telecasts will air on ESPN, ABC, and ESPN Deportes with an alternate version featuring Peyton and Eli Manning on ESPN2. All broadcasts are set to start at 8 p.m. ET.
Internationally, the broadcast will reach over 145 markets live or via replay. These include Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, Australia & New Zealand, Netherlands, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Canada (TSN). Video on Demand will be accessible 12 hours after the live event ends in these regions.
Creators of The Simpsons have collaborated with ESPN and the NFL to ensure authenticity in this unique presentation. This marks the second year that ESPN, Disney, and the NFL have offered a Funday Football telecast.
The animated players from both teams will be brought to life through advanced tracking technology powered by NFL's Next Gen Stats combined with Sony's Hawk-Eye Innovations' optical tracking. Fans can expect to see every aspect of the game as it unfolds at AT&T Stadium.
Bart Simpson supports Joe Burrow and the Bengals while Homer backs Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in this family-oriented affair. Marge and Lisa Simpson are set to interview players during gameplay while Maggie operates SkyCam.
The broadcast promises numerous appearances from iconic characters voiced by Hank Azaria, Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, and Yeardley Smith. Additional content includes custom scenes written by Simpsons producers alongside music from the show.
ESPN commentators Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky will provide football strategy insights while Drew Carter calls game action. They will appear animated in The Simpsons style using VR technology facilitated by Sony's Beyond Sports' Virtual Commentator Technology.
Following last year's Toy Story Funday Football success which won three Sports Emmys among other accolades for its innovative approach as an animated NFL telecast—the biggest live event on Disney+—this edition aims to continue that legacy.
Traditional Monday Night Football coverage features Joe Buck along with Troy Aikman plus Lisa Salters reporting live from AT&T Stadium while Peyton & Eli Manning focus primarily on traditional presentations but occasionally check-in with "The Simpsons Funday Football."