Go behind the scenes of ILM and LIMINAL Space’s ‘Real-Time Rocket’ activation at Disney Accelerator Day 2025.
By Patrick Doyle
At Disney Accelerator Day 2025, guests witnessed an extraordinary moment where the line between movie magic and real life all but disappeared. In a collaboration between Industrial Light & Magic and LIMINAL Space, attendees met a live, interactive version of Marvel Studios’ Rocket Raccoon, rendered and animated in real time and presented in fully dimensional 3D.
A Rocket Moment Like No Other
The activation, aptly named “Real-Time Rocket,” invited guests to step up to a large, glowing display, the kind of screen that instantly makes you curious about what’s about to happen. After donning a pair of polarized glasses, attendees found themselves face-to-face with Rocket Raccoon, who wasn’t just playing back a pre-recorded clip, he was there, moving, talking, and reacting live.
Rocket leaned forward, smirked and started chatting with the crowd. He cracked jokes. He called out a few attendees by their outfits. He laughed at his own punchlines. The energy in the room was electric as laughter, awe and a collective sense of “how is this even possible?” filled the air.
“What made Real-Time Rocket so special was seeing a beloved character come to life in a way that felt truly spontaneous,” said Christopher Jones, virtual production supervisor of Real-Time Rocket. “You could see the audience forget they were looking at a screen and, for a moment, they were simply having a conversation with Rocket. That’s the magic we aim for at ILM, where performance and technology meet to make something that feels real.”
Making the Impossible Possible
The “Real-Time Rocket” experience was powered by a creative combination of ILM’s real-time animation technology and LIMINAL Space’s Spirit Screen, an innovative display that uses polarized light to create a 3D effect without the need for headsets or holographic projection. Through this setup, Rocket appeared to step off the screen and into the same physical space as the audience, creating a shared moment of astonishment and delight.
“This activation was a perfect example of what happens when creative teams collaborate across disciplines,” said Alyssa Finley, Real-Time Rocket’s executive producer. “Working with LIMINAL Space allowed us to merge our real-time animation pipeline with an innovative display technology that gives audiences a live, shared, dimensional experience with a digital character that they’ll never forget.”
A Room Full of Wonder
As guests filed through the activation, the reactions were priceless. Attendees waved, Rocket waved back, and many leaned closer to see if there was a trick to it. Guests laughed when Rocket playfully teased them about their love of Baby Groot or asked if anyone had seen Star-Lord around. It was equal parts hilarious and jaw-dropping.
Throughout the day it was clear there was something unmistakably Disney happening. When Rocket waved goodbye at the end of each session, the sense of wonder lingered. For a few moments, the technology faded away, leaving only the feeling that audiences had truly met Rocket Raccoon in person.
“Standing in the room and watching people laugh and talk with Rocket was incredible,” said Michael Koperwas, creative director of Real-Time Rocket. “You could feel the energy shift the moment he appeared. Those moments of pure audience connection are what drive us at ILM to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”
For more on Real-Time Rocket, check out ILM’s “Behind the Magic” video from the D23 activation here:
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Patrick Doyle is a senior publicity manager at Industrial Light & Magic.
