The Walt Disney Company is working with Harmonix to create a new video game based on the 1940 classic Fantasia in the hopes that it will become the next big music gaming experience.
Fantasia: Music Evolved will be exclusive to Microsoft’s next XBox system, the XBox One, and the XBox 360, using the Kinect system, notes The Hollywood Reporter. Players have to move their arms around like a conductor to rearrange and remix songs. Disney announced the first five pop songs that will be available, including Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Bruno Mars’ “Locked out of Heaven” and Kimbra’s “Settle Down.”
VentureBeat reports that Disney and Harmonix have been working on the project behind-the-scenes for three years before they announced it today. Harmonix is the same company that developed Rock Band and 2010’s Dance Central.
“We went further than the film itself into the archives and got access to Walt Disney’s production notes,” Harmonix co-founder Alex Rigopulos told VentureBeat. “We never wanted to make a game of the movie. Instead, we looked at Walt’s creative ambitions. We’re updating those for a modern rendition.”
The full game will feature 25 tracks and gamers will get to try it out at E3, which starts on June 9 in LA.
While the iconic image associated with Fantasia is Mickey Mouse in “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” segment, the character isn’t a major part of the game. Mickey had starred in Epic Mickey, a game developed by Junction Point Studios, which Disney shut down recently.
Disney’s video game unit Disney Interactive has been put under incredible pressure lately, since it has been years since it produced a hit. It is hoping that Disney Infinity is a huge hit when it’s released on Aug. 18.
Fantasia: Music Evolved is set for release next year.