History
In this first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering, journey into a world where an animator’s desk becomes the stage and drawings come alive. The show is a celebration of life, accentuated by the delightful, mesmerizing movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery.
Originally composed of 20 street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group completely reinvented circus arts and went on to become a world leader in live entertainment. Established in Montreal, the Canadian organization has brought wonder and delight to over 180 million spectators with productions presented in 450 cities in 60 countries. Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group currently employs 4,000 people, including 1,300 artists, who originate from nearly 50 countries.

Disney Partnership
Cirque du Soleil has been a household name at Disney Springs for over 19 years! I remember a few years ago being able to enjoy La Nouba and it was an incredible show. So when it was announced that Cirque du Soleil would be forming a new show in time for the 50th anniversary, I hoped “Draw to Life” would live up to it’s expectations and it did!

Disney Animation
“Drawn to Life” focuses on the Disney animation in the show The show is a live acrobatic journey telling the story of Julie, a determined girl who discovers an unexpected gift left by her Disney animator father: an unfinished animation. As she dives into the inner world of animation, guided by a surprising pencil, Julie embarks on an inspiring quest filled with her childhood Disney memories.
But the show doesn’t just showcase older Disney films. Newer releases, like Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Big Hero Six,” are included in the show. And “Drawn to Life” doesn’t rely too heavily on Disney, as it also tells its own story. Fans of hand-drawn animation will delight in the small details that are shown off in big ways. There’s even a sequence that subtly teaches about how RGB light works to create white light. “Drawn to Life” places a history lesson of animation in the middle of its five star high-flying acrobatic performance.

Family Friendly
Performers become pages where hand-drawn Disney animations come to life and interact with each other. Classic Disney characters like Baloo, Mrs. Potts and Chip magically appear before. This show is perfect for the whole family to enjoy and really captivates the art of storytelling in that it revolves around family. Plus you get the sense of nostalgia from seeing older characters in the film that both young and old generations can relate to.
“Drawn to Life” was developed in partnership with Michael Jung, executive theatrical development for Walt Disney Imagineering. The story is driven by 10 unique acrobatic acts alongside animation from beloved Disney films, as well as all-new animation created by Disney artists led by Eric Goldberg, best known for his work on characters like the Genie in the animated classic, “Aladdin.”
“Drawn to Life” is the 50th production created by Cirque du Soleil. Its premiere coincides with the 50th anniversary celebrations at Walt Disney World Resort. I can confidently say that this is one of the best new offerings at Walt Disney World. This performance truly showcases peak Cirque and peak Disney and is a can’t-miss experience for your next Disney trip.
“Drawn to Life” performs Tuesday through Saturday in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort. You can purchase tickets here.

Leave a Reply