ESPN Stars Get Animated for Disney's 'Toy Story 5'

The 'We're Going' gang as you've never seen them before

Eli Manning just works better for me as an action figure, OK?

A frantic, doll-sized version of the dude upstages Buzz Lightyear himself in an ESPN spot saluting Disney’s Toy Story 5.

And Eli’s joined by a bunch of similarly transformed personalities from the Disney-owned network. These include his brother Peyton Manning, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters, Pat McAfee, Adam Schefter, Randy Moss and Jason Kelce. Also on hand: Laura Rutledge and Marcus Spears, in flesh-and-blood form.

ESPN Creative Studios collaborated with ArtClass directors Vincent Peone and Ryan Ebner on the ad.

“The real challenge wasn’t the craft,” Carrie Brzezinski-Hsu, head of Disney creative execution, tells Muse. “It was orchestrating seamless handoffs across multiple studios and functions under a compressed timeline.”

“The audience is casual and avid NFL fans alike, as well as fans of Disney. Our message to them is an invitation to join us as we get ready to go to Super Bowl LXI and create excitement, with this being our first-ever Super Bowl.”

Breaking on Game 1 of the NBA Finals, the :60 slots into ESPN’s “We’re Going” campaign, a year-long Big Game celebration.

“It allows us to build momentum, create emotional connection,” Brzezinski-Hsu. McDonald’s employs a similar strategy around the FIFA World Cup, leveraging pop culture and nostalgia for maximum impact.

“We’re Going” initiative will generate more content through SBLXI on February 14, 2027 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.