Walt Disney Imagineering Reveals How The Curious Child Projection Show Was Created

How Walt Disney Imagineering Brought ‘The Curious Child’ Projection Show to Life

Walt Disney Imagineering has pulled back the curtain to offer a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how Disney Live Entertainment brought Grogu’s newest moment to life. The innovative experience, which features a projection show filled with whimsical shadow puppets, is a brand-new addition for guests to enjoy inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort.

The video, shared by the official Imagineering Instagram account, takes viewers into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park after dark, where crews are shown programming the nighttime projections on the spires of Batuu near the Millennium Falcon.

KC, a Video Systems Design Manager with Disney Live Entertainment, explains that the team was working on The Curious Child, a brand-new post-show connected to the upcoming theatrical release of Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.

This limited-time show plays immediately following Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga, the nighttime projection display that transforms the towering, rocky spires behind the Millennium Falcon into a massive storytelling canvas.

Rather than presenting the effect as a purely digital projection, KC describes the creative process as a modern form of traditional “shadow play.” The behind-the-scenes video highlights the team using simple physical cutouts and strategic light placement to create recognizable shapes, including Grogu’s signature silhouette. These physical shapes are then seamlessly translated into the larger projection environment, with the spires of Batuu effectively serving as the backdrop screen.

The behind-the-scenes footage pulls back the curtain on a specialized programming interface, showing how the unique rockwork and exact projector positions are meticulously mapped out on a computer. The display includes precisely labeled elements for both the physical terrain and the projectors, providing a fascinating glimpse into how the team perfectly aligns the digital show to the highly irregular surfaces of Galaxy’s Edge.

The video emphasizes a beautiful creative blend, illustrating how the team fused “ancient storytelling” techniques with cutting-edge modern show technology by seamlessly mixing practical shadow effects, animation, precise projection mapping, and dynamic lighting design.

One of the most compelling segments in the reel showcases the animation process behind Grogu’s silhouette. To ensure his distinct personality shines through, the production team utilized physical movement reference from animators and detailed choreography to help shape Grogu’s physical performance in shadow form.

Clocking in at roughly three minutes long, The Curious Child features Grogu (affectionately known as Baby Yoda) utilizing the Force to revisit fond memories of his vast travels alongside Din Djarin.

Watch the full video below:

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