Disney+: a picture in IMAX Enhanced
In late 2021, Disney+ added IMAX Enhanced support to its catalog of Marvel movies. The goal was to provide viewers with an even more immersive movie experience, with images up to 26% larger than with the standard format. To do this, IMAX Enhanced closely adheres to the image settings done in the studio to ensure that the movie viewers are watching is true to the director’s vision. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to use a compatible Sony, Hisense or Philips TV, or an IMAX certified Sony projector.
Thanks to the support of IMAX Enhanced on certain content, Dinsey+ has been providing a visual experience as close as possible to the director’s expectations for over a year now. However, through the use of DTS tracks, the IMAX Enhanced license also promises optimal three-dimensional sound for users of a Denon, Marantz, Anthem or Pioneer AV receiver or an IMAX Enhanced certified soundbar (LG and Philips). Viewers were therefore only able to enjoy half of the promised experience, as the DTS format was absent from the IMAX Enhanced programs available on Disney+. Something that the firm has finally announced they will rectify.
The addition of DTS in IMAX Enhanced
Each IMAX Enhanced certified film uses a customized and optimized soundtrack. This exclusive IMAX audio mix, inspired by the multi-channel audio system used in IMAX theaters, is adapted for home theater installations and uses the DTS audio codec. The support of this format on Disney+ films means that the IMAX sound signature can be used to correctly reproduce the full dynamic range of the mixes and allow viewers to enjoy a listening experience as close as possible to that offered in movie theaters.
“We are excited to roll out the next evolution of IMAX Enhanced technology on Disney+ in the coming year. This unique collaboration extends our long-standing relationship between Disney and IMAX, and we look forward to bringing this new immersive audio experience and premium playback quality for current and future titles to our audiences around the world.”said Jerrell Jimerson, Executive Vice President of streaming at Disney.
DTS support on Disney+ IMAX Enhanced certified programs will be rolled out during 2023. For the moment, it is not known if it will be standard DTS or DTS:X, the audio codec usually present in theaters for IMAX films. The addition of the latter would be great news, as only Atmos tracks currently allow for 3D sound on Disney+.
IMAX Enhanced in DTS: which programs?
IMAX soundtracks will become available on the Disney+ platform sometime in 2023 for all IMAX content. No official list has been revealed yet, but in France, it concerns for the moment the following 10 Marvel titles:
- Guardians of the Galaxy
- Doctor Strange
- Captain America: Civil War
- Guardians of the Galaxy – volume 2
- Ant-Man and the Wasp
- Thor: Ragnarok
- Black Panther
- Avengers: Infinity War
- Avengers: Endgame
- Captain Marvel
The next Marvel movie to be released on Disney+ will be Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, which will be available starting February 1 (except in France due to media chronology). Will this movie have a DTS track? We will find out in a few weeks.
