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

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

Can Eli Manning upstage Buzz Lightyear? In animated form, it just might happen, thanks to an ESPN spot saluting Disney’s Toy Story 5.

Eli and other Super Bowl commentators from the Disney-owned entertainment and sports platform appear as animated action figures.

These include 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 & ESPN Creative Studio, 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 LIX 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.