Lightyear may have been considered a flop at the box office, but its launch on Disney+ is still kind of a big deal.
Per statements by director Angus MacLane, Lightyear happens to be the first animated feature on Disney+ to be IMAX Enhanced. What this means is that viewers can enjoy an expanded aspect ratio, one that provides up to 26% more picture for select sequences of the film.
“We are thrilled that Disney and Pixar’s ‘Lightyear’ is the first IMAX Enhanced animated film launching on Disney+,” MacLane said in a statement picked up by publications that include TechCrunch. “Leveraging IMAX’s technology throughout the filmmaking process allowed us to create an elevated viewing experience for ‘Lightyear’ fans in theaters, at home, and beyond.”
Here’s a synopsis that Disney provided for Lightyear, which features the voice of Chris Evans as the eponymous space ranger:
A sci-fi action adventure and the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear, the hero who inspired the toy, “Lightyear” follows the legendary Space Ranger after he’s marooned on a hostile planet 4.2 million light-years from Earth alongside his commander and their crew. As Buzz tries to find a way back home through space and time, he’s joined by a group of ambitious recruits and his charming robot companion cat, Sox. Complicating matters and threatening the mission is the arrival of Zurg, an imposing presence with an army of ruthless robots and a mysterious agenda.
Disney+ subscribers can also find additional IMAX Enhanced features in the form of 13 Marvel titles. They include Iron Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange, Thor: Ragnarok, Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, Ant-Man and The Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, and Black Widow, although content availability varies by region.
Lightyear began streaming on Disney+ this Wednesday, August 3. The movie made around $222 million at the worldwide box office, according to Box Office Mojo.
Source: Disney (via TechCrunch)