Jeffrey Katzenberg Joins Kimbal Musk's Drone Entertainment Venture

Jeffrey Katzenberg, the visionary behind beloved animated classics like Shrek and The Lion King, is now setting his sights on a new frontier: aerial entertainment. In a strategic move, he has joined forces with Nova Sky Stories, a live drone entertainment company founded by Kimbal Musk, to explore the untapped potential of drones in storytelling.

On Friday, the announcement confirmed Katzenberg's role as a strategic advisor, alongside his tech investment firm WndrCo participating in a significant $50 million funding round. This partnership aims to leverage advancements in drone technology and programming, which Katzenberg believes will create a “completely new canvas for storytelling.”

“We’re going to create original characters and original stories that can only be told with this technology,” Katzenberg stated in an interview. “The only way you can tell these stories will be up in the sky, in dimension, hopefully engaging interactively with the audience.”

Founded during the pandemic, Nova Sky Stories made headlines last year by acquiring Intel’s drone business and its fleet of 9,000 drones. Since then, the company has focused on enhancing drone capabilities and the sophistication of aerial performances. One notable event was at the Burning Man festival in 2022, where Katzenberg witnessed a stunning display of a thousand drones forming a giant morphing face above festival-goers.

Kimbal Musk draws parallels between today’s drone entertainment and the early days of Disney animation. He recalls how Steamboat Willie, released in 1928, showcased the potential of synchronized sound with animation. Just a decade later, Disney produced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, marking a pivotal moment in film history.

As Nova Sky Stories aims for its own “Snow White moment,” Musk emphasizes the importance of integrating voice and interactive elements into their shows. “We’re innovating on an actual character that will speak to the audience or interact with them,” he explained. Unlike traditional screens, drones offer a physical presence that can engage viewers up close.

Katzenberg’s extensive experience in animation makes him an ideal collaborator for Nova Sky. The first drone show co-developed with him is set to debut in 2026. The company plans to build a library of intellectual property while targeting audiences of 50,000 to 80,000 people at stadiums worldwide with “branded family entertainment.”

“When you think of it today, those stadiums more often than not are empty,” Katzenberg noted. “There are pretty much two things in those stadiums today: great sporting events and concerts. Well, what’s to say that five years from now there isn’t a third leg to that stool?”

While Nova Sky has not disclosed the cost of its drones, Musk revealed plans to expand their fleet significantly—up to 25,000 drones by next year. The recent funding will support this growth. “This is a cash-positive business,” Katzenberg remarked. “So that capital is to go out and scale and build the fleet.”