Disney Magic to Counter Childhood Fears During MRI Scans
The immersive setup uses lighting, sound and Disney imagery to help children stay calm during scans, and a study found stress fell 43%.
- On Thursday, Royal Philips and the Walt Disney Co. unveiled that beloved animated characters are being incorporated into the Philips Ambient Experience for MRI at medical facilities in 87 countries worldwide to support children undergoing imaging procedures.
- MRI scans can be fear-inducing for children, with around 200,000 kids undergoing procedures annually in the United Kingdom and roughly one in three requiring general anesthesia because they struggle to stay still or find the experience distressing.
- A multi-center study conducted across six hospitals in Europe found that children ages six to 10 saw post-scan stress levels reduced by 43 percent, with pauses during scans dropping by 63 percent.
- Calderdale Royal Hospital has become the first National Health Service site to introduce Disney-themed MRI scanners, with more than 100 NHS hospitals now eligible to use the characters at no additional cost.
- Illustrator Joey Chou designed the visual themes, stating, "If my art helps a child feel a little less alone on a hard day, then that means everything to me," while the experience helps children remain still for up to 40 minutes.
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Medical Device News MagazineDisney and Philips bring together beloved storytelling and innovative technology to support kids undergoing MRI exams
May 28, 2026
Spider-Man, Ariel, Mickey Mouse, or other Disney characters could soon make MRI scans more enjoyable for children in the Netherlands as well. Following a trial by Philips in six European hospitals, the collaboration with Disney is being expanded to 87 countries.
Disney brings its magic and storytelling to help calm children undergoing MRI scans in hospital
Calderdale Royal Hospital has become one of the first NHS sites to introduce Disney-themed MRI scanners designed to help make scans less frightening for children. Around 200,000 children in the UK undergo MRI scans each year, with many struggling to stay still or finding the experience distressing. The state-of-the-art scanners use lighting, sound and integrated Disney characters to transform the MRI environment into a more immersive, calming an…
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