Walt Disney – A Magical Life

[mickEblu]

The motion looks super good — he kinda looks like a human being in a way that I didn’t expect. Agree that the audio sounds off, but to be frank, that’s the part I’m least interested in. Hope I get to see this in person this weekend

I’m sure part of this reason we are so critical is because we have so much footage of Walt Disney ingrained in our brain and this robot was never going to match up. Obviously not the case with Lincoln. So while it may have been an impossible standard to meet I think they fell way short. I mean, they can’t even get the audio right?

 

[mickEblu]

Dammit, they just don’t have IT anymore. Seems like all they can do these days is build coasters in boxes and soulless trackless rides that over-rely on tech. All the more concerning when they keep getting rid of true Disney parks gems.

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

I’m not 100% sure what folks were expecting the animatronic to look like. It’s the Hall of Presidents problem: any time they’ve done an AA of a real person that we’re all incredibly familiar with the appearance of, it’s come across as uncanny valley. There’s no real way around that. The best AAs in the world can’t get over that psychological hurdle. We are conditioned to notice falseness in recreations of individuals we’re deeply familiar with.

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

At least happy to see some of the classic AA figures in the lobby moving around instead of sitting there stagnant

 

[brettf22]

 

[mickEblu]

I’m not 100% sure what folks were expecting the animatronic to look like. It’s the Hall of Presidents problem: any time they’ve done an AA of a real person that we’re all incredibly familiar with the appearance of, it’s come across as uncanny valley. There’s no real way around that. The best AAs in the world can’t get over that psychological hurdle. We are conditioned to notice falseness in recreations of individuals we’re deeply familiar with.

While not perfect, I think they did a much better job with the new Trump.

 

[Professortango1]

So is Disney going to update old footage of Walt to look like whoever that guy is? Do to their own history what Lucas did to the OT?

 

[Disney Analyst]

I think the stand and step forward looks pretty good and definitely takes a Walt pose




I think the video is looking better than the still shots

Meanwhile I think that looks very impressive.

 

[FiestaFunKid]

I’m not 100% sure what folks were expecting the animatronic to look like. It’s the Hall of Presidents problem: any time they done an AA of a real person that we’re all incredibly familiar with the appearance of, it’s going to come across as uncanny valley. There’s no real way around that.

Maybe I'm nit picking a bit, but this is Walt after all. I'd say the new Trump is a better overall likeness

Am I crazy to think the voice sounding more familar should have been a slam dunk?

 

[DCBaker]

Here is an official video from Disney:

 

[Too Many Hats]

That's less Walt and more "Animation Mouse Guy" from the Party City clearance bin.

“We have Walt at home”

 

[Professortango1]

Meanwhile I think that looks very impressive.

If it was an original character, sure. But as Walt Disney, it doesn't look like him nor speak like him.

Can they just put a Hondo face on him and have Jim Cummings tell us about the legend of Walt Disney?

 

[Mr. Sullivan]

While not perfect, I think they did a much better job with the new Trump.

View attachment 870707

It’s better than the first one for sure but there are still key parts of it that don’t really match up to him. I guess I don’t necessarily consider that a fault of their design as much as this is just an inherent issue with making animatronics of people we have real, tangible photo and video of. They will always fall short because the average human brain is too good at detail recognition. I do think there are some areas the Walt AA can be improved for sure, but overall I don’t think it was ever gonna be much closer than what we’ve got.

 

[DisneyLee74]

I’ve gone from feeling queasy about a Walt AA to being kind of excited. Really hope they pull it off.

Do we think they will eventually clone this at WDW? Or will it remain a Disneyland exclusive?

They didn’t

 

[tanc]

Yeah idk I feel like this is something they shouldn't have attempted. Maybe in another 20 - 30 years or so but something just feels off. Maybe it is innately a thing with animatronics but it's just strange.

 

[Disstevefan1]

To be fair, its very difficult to get a contemporary personality; someone we see often and know so well, looking right.

Lincoln, is someone from the far past we saw a few pictures and paintings of so we have less of a mental reference.

The best contemporary personality was of course Captain Jack Sparrow, but lets face it, Captain Jack is really a character in make up and less a real person.

 

[JohnD]

Here is an official video from Disney:

I like it. Of course, as they say, "people's mileage will vary." I agree that he's more convincing in the wider shots and not the close ups. I was hoping to see him May 17 when I was in DL but then just before my trip they postponed the opening to July 17.

 

[flynnibus]

I feel like this is a bit of an elvis problem.. in that you gotta decide which 'version' of the individual you want to portray.. and which version you pick isn't always the same that people have in their mind.

I mean, the 1920s thin dapper Walt.. the fatherly Walt of the 40s and 50s.. or the grandfather Walt of his final years.

But man, I saw this and was like.. eww. They went some weird Robert De Niro version of Walt.

It's like his head is oversized... and his chest is too pronounced. If you're aiming for the 'final' version of Walt, which is what I think their style aludes to.. the build and proportions just seem wrong. Walt was more lanky.. and in his final years much more thinner on top with a slight belly.. broad and flat.. not chest forward.



Not whatever this is..


And unlike HoP which needs to convey features over a VERY large theatre.. the Lincoln theatre is pretty dang small.

Just say No to Walt De Niro...

 

[VJ]

What's with his voice in the video recording they posted? We have actual footage of him saying these things, and yet it sounds robotic or like AI or something. They couldn't have just used the actual audio recordings of him speaking?

disney themselves said that they wouldn't be using AI for the voice so when they have the actual audio of the real walt disney saying this stuff, it makes me more than a little disappointed to hear they went that route

 

[Too Many Hats]

To be fair, its very difficult to get a contemporary personality; someone we see often and know so well, looking right.

Lincoln, is someone from the far past we saw a few pictures and paintings of so we have less of a mental reference.

I agree completely. Which is why maybe this entire project was misguided.

I’m still holding out hope Walt looks okay from 40 feet away and the show is a respectful tribute.