Former Disney Animator Launches Free Interactive ASL Learning App

Former Disney animator Josh Staub has launched a free interactive app designed to help people learn American Sign Language (ASL), pledging that it will remain free permanently.

Staub, who worked on films including Frozen, Tangled and Wreck-It Ralph, created the Small Talk ASL app alongside Deaf, hard-of-hearing and hearing collaborators after becoming immersed in the Deaf community while developing an animated series featuring Deaf characters.

The app uses a fully animated Deaf character named Oscar to teach ASL. Unlike traditional video-based learning tools, users can rotate the character to view signs from different angles, adjust playback speed and observe facial expressions, which are a fundamental part of American Sign Language.

Staub has emphasised that the app is intended to complement—not replace—learning from qualified Deaf ASL teachers, whom he describes as the best way to learn the language. He said existing apps often lacked the expressiveness needed to reflect how ASL is naturally communicated.

The app has been developed with input from Deaf educators, animators, engineers and consultants, with the aim of making sign language learning more engaging and accessible.

Staub has also committed to keeping the app free, saying there should never be a financial barrier to learning ASL.

The project comes amid growing efforts to improve accessibility and awareness of Deaf culture through technology, education and animation, encouraging more people to learn sign language and build stronger communication with Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

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