CASE STUDY Disney Studios
Disney Studios’ StudioLAB partnered with Accenture to protect content security while enabling dubbing and translation artists to see clearly and deliver their best performances.
5-MINUTE READ
Disney films are enjoyed in dozens of languages, carried across the world by the work of dubbing and translation artists who bring stories to new audiences. Their craft depends on seeing on-screen lip movements clearly so they can match timing, rhythm and articulation in a way that feels seamless and natural.
However, because unreleased content must be heavily watermarked for protection, the very scenes artists rely on are often obscured. Disney Studios’ StudioLAB wanted to support these performers across the globe with a better viewing experience, while still maintaining the strict content protection required for pre-release material. The goal was to empower artists but not disrupt security.
To explore a new approach, StudioLAB partnered with Accenture.
StudioLAB and Accenture brought together a team of technologists and production specialists to experiment with new ways of making lip movements more visible without compromising the underlying watermark.
Over eight weeks, the team evaluated and refined more than 20 different approaches for identifying the active speaker in a scene and determining where watermark visibility should adjust. Through extensive testing and iteration, they developed a solution that dynamically reduces watermark opacity only around the speaker’s mouth—revealing lip movements while keeping the rest of the frame fully protected.
The solution was tested on a broad spectrum of content, from live-action performances to animated characters with highly varied designs. With each iteration, it became more robust, more adaptable and more aligned with the needs of the artists who rely on these visual cues.
Designed to fit naturally into existing post-production workflows, the solution improves localization quality without requiring changes to established security processes.
Dynamic Watermarking directly empowers dubbing and translation artists, giving them the clarity they need to deliver more accurate, expressive and aligned performances across languages.
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Enhances visibility of lip movements essential for timing and articulation.
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Helps performers match dialogue more naturally to on-screen action.
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Supports higher-quality localized versions of every story
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Maintains full studio-grade security protection
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Enables a smoother localization workflow
By focusing on what artists need to perform at their best, StudioLAB and Accenture created a solution that elevates both the craft of dubbing and the experience of audiences worldwide.
Dynamic Watermarking ensures that, no matter the language, performers have the tools they need to bring stories to life in a way that feels authentic, precise and true to the original.