Disney Research

Disney Research is the scientific research and development network within The Walt Disney Company. It combines academic research, engineering and technology prototyping to develop capabilities for entertainment, filmmaking and theme parks. Its research spans computer graphics, machine learning, computer vision, robotics and human-computer interaction, connecting scientific discovery with applications across Disney’s businesses.

Established in August 2008, the network began with collaborative laboratories associated with Carnegie Mellon University and ETH Zürich. Its university co-location model brought academic researchers and industrial development teams into close contact. A Cambridge laboratory followed in 2011. After that facility closed in 2016 and the Pittsburgh laboratory closed in 2018, the network concentrated its research activity in Southern California and Switzerland.

Research across physical and digital entertainment

Disney Research Los Angeles works on robotics, artificial intelligence, immersive technology and theme park engineering. Its research includes expressive robotic characters, autonomous aerial figures and systems that connect physical movement with interactive environments. This work brings together mechanical engineering, sensing, control and machine learning to explore new forms of entertainment interaction.

Disney Research Studios in Zurich focuses on visual computing and technology for digital filmmaking. Its researchers develop methods for facial and bodily performance capture, rendering, video processing and machine learning. The laboratory works closely with ETH Zürich and develops production technology for Disney’s filmmaking businesses, including animation and visual effects teams.

Across the network, research activities include novel algorithms, experimental systems, prototypes and technology transfer to Disney business units. Its portfolio extends from high-fidelity digital performances and image reconstruction to physical characters and interactive experiences. These activities support both foundational scientific investigation and the practical demands of entertainment production.

Disney Research also participates in the wider scientific community through peer-reviewed publications, academic partnerships, research datasets and intellectual property development. Its researchers publish at conferences including ACM SIGGRAPH, CVPR and IEEE venues, sharing findings while pursuing technologies that can move from laboratory experiments into creative and engineering applications.