After four years of no Cirque Du Soleil shows at Walt Disney World, an all-new one has finally taken flight at Disney Springs! And this time, it’s got the Disney touch.
Cirque Du Soleil – Drawn to Life premiered last night, November 18th, 2021. It replaces the long-running La Nouba, which closed in 2017 and ran for 19 consecutive years; totaling 9,000 performances!
Cirque Du Soleil + Disney
A first-ever collaboration between Cirque du Soleil, Walt Disney Animation Studios, and Walt Disney Imagineering, Drawn to Life takes you on a journey into a world of animation and Cirque’s signature acrobatic style. Years in the making, the show resulted from extensive visits Cirque du Soleil teams made to Disney theme parks, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Walt Disney Animation Research Library, Walt Disney Archives, and The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco.
The story is lead with 10 unique acrobatic acts alongside animation from beloved Disney films. An animator’s desk sets the stage for Disney-inspired drawings to come to life!
Animation and acrobatics are the perfect pairing. Animation is fascinating from the moment life appears in the drawings. As with an acrobat’s body, there is a visceral physicality in animation. Characters and moments from Disney Animation take form in Drawn to Life via extraordinary projections that transform regular-seeming set pieces into striking, moving artwork.
This all-new show is a celebration of life, featuring the mesmerizing movements of Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic mastery. This is the 50th original production from Cirque du Soleil (the perfect fit for Walt Disney World’s golden anniversary).
Located at the Cirque theater on the West Side of Disney Springs, Drawn to Life features an original musical score, brand new Disney animation sequences created especially for the show, incredible Cirque performers in colorful costumes and experiential storytelling – all bringing Disney stories to life in an unforgettable way.
Drawn to Life was originally set to premiere in spring 2020. But with park closures and the resulting setbacks, the show’s creators, performers, and production crew are especially grateful to finally end their long intermission.
The Official Backstory of Cirque Du Soleil: Drawn to Life
Julie, a courageous and determined 12-year-old, discovers an unexpected gift left by her late animator father: a letter urging her to complete a drawing he left unfinished. From his cluttered desk, Julie is suddenly whisked through a vortex into a world of wonder where comforts of her childhood have come alive and beloved Disney Animation characters serve as her guides. Throughout her quest to complete the animation, Julie learns to erase any self-doubt, to imagine new possibilities and to animate the story of her future.
Our Review of Cirque Du Soleil: Drawn to Life
I attended the November 18th grand opening of the new Cirque show. It reminded us of a Disney Cruise Line style production, but larger and with a touch of Cirque bizarreness, LOTS of stunt performances… and on land. The specially created Disney animation sequences were beautiful. (I particularly appreciate the heavy focus on classic and comfortable hand-drawn animated Disney films such as Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Bambi, and Cinderella.)
The story is inspiring, and will definitely tug at your heartstrings. It possesses that Disney charm and magic children of all ages will fall in love with. The animation projections add another layer of set enhancement, without distracting from the real stars… the oh-so-talented Cirque performers. Between the amazing stunts, mesmerizing acts, vibrant costumes, incredible music, and all of the DISNEY… we feel Drawn to Life is definitely worth adding as a special evening to your WDW trip!
Video of Cirque Du Soleil: Drawn to Life
Lots of spoilers here folks. Proceed at your own risk. But it’s just snips of the first two acts . . . go ahead and click play . . .
Visiting Cirque Du Soleil: Drawn to Life
Tickets range from $85-$185, depending on your seat location. (The theater was especially designed for Cirque shows, so there really are no bad seats! Even if you’re not “front and center” – the show is performed in various areas of the theater and all at different heights.)
Advanced reservations are highly recommended. Discounted group tickets are also available for parties of 10 or more. To purchase tickets for Drawn to Life, visit here.
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Let’s Hear From You
Are you a Cirque fan? Did you ever see La Nouba? Does the new Disney-inspired Drawn to Life tempt you? Let us know in the comments below!
