We all know Herculesbut Disney Cruise Line’s new ship – the Disney Destiny – puts a twist on the classic film and story in several ways. Disney has been releasing cinematic versions of its animated films for years, but Hercules Aboard Destiny is not just another musical and is distinct from more recent adaptations.
On the one hand, it’s a showcase for some of the most advanced projection, tracking, and lighting technology currently used in live entertainment, and it also uses exoskeletons – more on that later, though. One moment in particular, during Meg’s “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love),” takes this technology further than one might expect in a cruise ship theater.
During the number, the five Muses stand behind Meg, their white robes enveloped in bold, lively stripes of light. In one of our exclusive images, the projection lands perfectly on their bodies and the columns below them. But Meg, who is directly in the path of the projection, remains completely unresponsive.
There’s no spill on her dress, no faint halo of color around her, nothing to suggest a spotlight is shooting directly at her torso. To the audience, it appears that Meg is “cut off” from the real-time projection – something one would expect to see in the visual effects of a film, not a moving performer on a moving ship.
The Walt Disney Theater achieves this by combining real-time LiDAR spatial tracking, multi-projector pixel masking and theatrical lighting. The cameras and sensors present in the room constantly generate a 3D model of the stage environment. As the artists move, the system tracks them and transmits this data to the projectors at the back of the room.
This is essentially live occlusion masking, the same principle used in mixed reality scenes and virtual production, but performed with theater projectors in front of an audience of hundreds of people. And yes, the theater lighting – custom built by Disney – contributes a lot to the effect.
Arin Dale, producer of Disney Live Entertainment, explained the basis for this effect: “We have cameras all around the Walt Disney Theater that allow us to project on the walls but also on the stage rooms. We have LiDAR technology… to really create this immersive environment and this really fun moment for our muses.”
Of course, such an effect is only as effective as the surfaces it touches. The Muses were costumed in a bright white fabric that reacted predictably to projected light.
Dale recalled how hard the team tested the concept early on: “Our video designer said to us, ‘Hey, I have this idea.’ And the directors loved it. We tested it in Los Angeles… We were working on it and wondering, “Is this going to work?” And it was like, “Yes, this is what we do.” » She added that the very first clothes tested were “makeshift suits that we cut by hand the day before.”
Destiny, like other Wish-class ships before it, was built with this level of projection technology in mind. Walls adapted for environmental projection, canvas-based illusions and dynamically mapped scenic elements have become iconic tools of Disney Cruise Line’s latest productions.
Dale noted that “Moana It was probably the first one we used [this technology] in a truly meaningful way. And then I would say Herculeswe took it and increased it further. You learn new things at every show.
It’s a perfect example of how we can combine technology and storytelling to bring joy and wonder to audiences.
Arin Dale, Disney Live Entertainment Producer
But the scene is not just a technological flex. It’s a storytelling choice. The Muses appear mythical and stylized, their light projections transforming them into something larger than life. Meg remains grounded, literally outside the light of the projection – a human unlike the goddesses who advise her.
Dale said it best: “The scene adds a whole new immersive layer…and gives us a way to tell Meg’s story that we’ve never tried before. It’s a perfect example of how we can blend technology and storytelling to bring joy and wonder to audiences.”
It also works because the production itself is very strong. Much like the experience with the Haunted Mansion Lounge on Disney’s Treasure — and even the new robot Olaf soon to roam the parks — the technology here elevates the immersion and complements the storytelling rather than competing with it.
Hercules on Disney Destiny is a modern tale that takes classic songs and spices them up with new arrangements, rhythm and a terrific cast that brings Hercules, Meg, Phil, Hades, Pain and Panic to life in a fresh, engaging and truly entertaining way.
It made me want to rewatch the classic on Disney+, one of the best streaming services.
Beyond the effects themselves, the Walt Disney Theater feels more like a modern Broadway house than a cruise venue. It is equipped with technology designed to immerse the audience in the orchestra or on the balcony. The Dolby Atmos soundscape is excellent, the projection system can extend images beyond the stage and onto surrounding walls, and the theatrical lighting and tracking projections create a surprisingly vast canvas.
Hercules was one of the highlights of the voyage – tight pacing, thoughtful staging and supported by a cast that delivers precise, coordinated movements even when performing on a constantly moving ship.
Specifically with Meg’s “I Won’t Say (I’m In Love),” this effect puts her in perspective with the Muses and adds immersion to the dialogue as she moves in front of them and ultimately into the audience with a single spotlight – all while continuing to embrace projection mapped across the stage elements.
And that’s exactly what the effect does. He disappears into the moment, supporting the narrative while relying on a level of real-time technical precision rarely seen in live theater. If this is where cruise ship entertainment is headed, the next era of stage technology will be far more ambitious – and far smoother – than most audiences realize.
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