In previous seasons, the youth-aimed Slimetime broadcast on Nickelodeon was a huge hit. But in the end, it was simply a simulcast with kid-themed scorebugs and graphics. This year, starting in Week 4, ESPN is producing an animated version of the game from Andy's Room in the Toy Story universe.
Both team's players are being real-time animated into Pixar characters.
The opening game testing this out will be the 9:30 ET a.m. kickoff between the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. The game, played in London, positions perfectly with that weekend cartoon hour, making it a good test case for the kids.
The broadcast is complete with motion capture suits for broadcasters Drew Carter and Booger McFarland. Here's a deeper look from the Walt Disney Company at how this idea came to be.
"I look good animated."@ESPNBooger and @Drewdle25 give us a sneak preview on the animated play-by-play booth for the Toy Story broadcast pic.twitter.com/RJ7FLqM8s7
— ESPN (@espn) October 1, 2023
Various Toy Story characters are playing a part. Slinky Dog is the first down marker, and the game also features the claw setting the ball for each down:
"The Claw" will be spotting the ball the entire game and Slinky is the first down marker 😂#ATLvsJAX | Toy Story Funday on @ESPNPlus: https://t.co/dTahXfHr11 pic.twitter.com/K1jH1Ppvio
— ESPN (@espn) October 1, 2023
Of course, the eternal kid Bijan Robinson gave us one of the first big plays on Andy's Carpet:
Here's what that @Bijan5Robinson juke looked like in Andy's room.
— NFL (@NFL) October 1, 2023
🏈 Toy Story Funday Football on Disney+ pic.twitter.com/g4eeZE2T8p
X (formerly Twitter) users had plenty of thoughts on the unique and experimental broadcast.
Twitter users having a field day with the fun of NFL in Toy Story universe
Unfortunately, the broadcast didn't work out of the gate...
It took less than a minute for the Toy Story broadcast to break pic.twitter.com/9jYDm8CyUF
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) October 1, 2023
Of course, even that prompted jokes, though:
Live look at the Toy Story broadcast truck pic.twitter.com/5sWh9PzyCw
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) October 1, 2023
Fans immediately went dark and recalled one of the most horrifying scenes of the Toy Story canon, involving a trash incinerator.
After this, Bears vs. Broncos will happen in Toy Story 3 pic.twitter.com/3F6Nve3RGY
— Jason Kirk (jasonkirk.fyi on bluesky) (@thejasonkirk) October 1, 2023
Adults tuning in were feeling their inner child:
Pulling up to sweat my Falcons-Jags bets on the Toy Story stream pic.twitter.com/42CzSgiWCV
— br_betting (@br_betting) October 1, 2023
Fans wondered what a capture might look like if players who have disdain for each other got in a scuffle. Maybe it was misguided to not put Buccaneers vs Saints in London this week?
Mike Evans and Marshon Lattimore if #TBvsNO got the Toy Story broadcast pic.twitter.com/Y2Jh1vnEgr
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) October 1, 2023
Here's one more reason they should have gotten the Saints on this game:
Huge missed opportunity not having the Saints in the Toy Story game pic.twitter.com/tmWXwe8EI6
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 1, 2023
Fans are definitely intrigued, at the very least, to watch football this way.