DAK “Zootopia” is being created for the Tree of Life theater

[Brer Panther]

I’ve said before that I’m actually curious if a return to lower tech, cheaper animatronics with more filled in scenes (a la Mansion and Pirates) might actually solve this problem.

I think it would. There's very little point in using fancy A1000 animatronics if all they do is stand there flailing their arms.

 

[UNCgolf]

I think it would. There's very little point in using fancy A1000 animatronics if all they do is stand there flailing their arms.

Even beyond that, since there are usually only one or two per scene, the scenes have a tendency to feel empty and somewhat underbuilt compared to scenes from rides like Pirates and World of Motion (although that's not solely because of AAs; Disney doesn't seem to regularly build out elaborate physical sets the way they used to either). Those rides have/had little details and things to see all over the place as opposed to focusing all your attention on one specific thing.

 

[lazyboy97o]

As a kid in the 80s I was wowed by Peter Pan, today I think it’s a cute ride. That may be because I’m older, or it may be because animatronics of that sort still would have been visually very novel in the 80s.

Peter Pan’s Flight doesn’t have real animatronics and didn’t even when it was brand new in 1971.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Peter Pan’s Flight doesn’t have real animatronics and didn’t even when it was brand new in 1971.

Does mansion even have any?

 

[AidenRodriguez731]

Does mansion even have any?

I mean, where is our definition of animatronics. I would certainly atleast consider the Gravewatcher one and now the Hatbox ghost.

 

[lazyboy97o]

I mean, where is our definition of animatronics. I would certainly atleast consider the Gravewatcher one and now the Hatbox ghost.

Programmable motion versus fixed motion.

 

[HMF]

Does mansion even have any?

It has quite a few, actually.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

It has quite a few, actually.

Which ones?

wait… are small world AA’s I’m sure there is a site to research this on! Down the rabbit hole….. haha

 

[WorldExplorer]

 

[WondersOfLife]

And how much of this is because of exactly what @Tom Morrow has been saying about people just wanting to do this?

In a park of amazing authenticity and detail, something Disney park fans supposedly appreciate, many insist the park needs more obvious fakery. Completely missing how that gets us to lousy content such as Better Zoogether.

And I get berated for sharing the truth about generic park fans not caring about the art that makes Animal Kingdom, Animal Kingdom.

Reading a facebook comments reassures me that modern day audiences are ignorant. I'm not arrogant, I'm just aware.

 

[WondersOfLife]

I think the difficulty that Disney faces is that once audiences started having access to high quality digital media in their pockets, the animatronics became somewhat less impressive as design elements.

I disagree with this. Impressiveness of animatronics boils down to maintenance. Country Bears was amazing in the 70s, was terribly run down in the 2000s, and now they look brand new again. People still gawk in awe of the shaman animatronic.

As with the technology of screens improving, the technology of animatronics has equally improved to be just as impressive. Whether they can keep maintenance up just as good as their Tokyo counterparts is a whole other discussion, though.

 

[WondersOfLife]

curious if a return to lower tech, cheaper animatronics with more filled in scenes (a la Mansion and Pirates) might actually solve this problem.

This is also a good solution. A good quality attraction with older tech can still be impressive if done artistically and correctly. We don't get that level of Haunted Mansion and Pirates detailing anymore in newer dark rides.

Little Mermaid and Tiana's are case and point.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I disagree with this. Impressiveness of animatronics boils down to maintenance. Country Bears was amazing in the 70s, was terribly run down in the 2000s, and now they look brand new again. People still gawk in awe of the shaman animatronic.

As with the technology of screens improving, the technology of animatronics has equally improved to be just as impressive. Whether they can keep maintenance up just as good as their Tokyo counterparts is a whole other discussion, though.

I find the modern flailin’ figures, of which the Shaman is perhaps the main example, very unimpressive. The subtle, often comedic gestures and incorporation into complex scenes of Pirates has much more of an impact then the Shaman’s gesticulating. We know modern Disney can build fluid AAs, we don’t know that they can do anything meaningful with them.

 

[dmc493]

I find the modern flailin’ figures, of which the Shaman is perhaps the main example, very unimpressive. The subtle, often comedic gestures and incorporation into complex scenes of Pirates has much more of an impact then the Shaman’s gesticulating. We know modern Disney can build fluid AAs, we don’t know that they can do anything meaningful with them.

Agree, but of the "flailers" who throw their limbs around, the Shaman's movements feel the most realistic to the character. Tiana on the other hand just looks ridiculous

 

[jah4955]

I find the modern flailin’ figures, of which the Shaman is perhaps the main example, very unimpressive. The subtle, often comedic gestures and incorporation into complex scenes of Pirates has much more of an impact then the Shaman’s gesticulating. We know modern Disney can build fluid AAs, we don’t know that they can do anything meaningful with them.

lookin' forward to returning to WDW so I can give my "two cents" (oh wait, "two nickels") on this and all the "new" attractions I haven't been able to experience yet:

1. Avatar (X2)
2. Zootopia
3. Star Wars (X2)
4. Toy Story (X2)
5. Mickey's Runaway
6. Tron
7. TBA
8. Remy's
9. Moana
10. Gaudians
11. Beauty & Beast Singalong (ok maybe not that )
12. Test Track 3.0
13. New Canada 360

(nm the numerous attractions in 3 parks at various stages of development)...for what it's worth at least it can be said Disney hasn't been completely "stagnant")

Gee I gotta get back "in the loop" ...If nothing else, I'll be able to participate in many more forums

 

[WondersOfLife]

I find the modern flailin’ figures, of which the Shaman is perhaps the main example, very unimpressive.

......That is certainly a take...

The subtle, often comedic gestures and incorporation into complex scenes of Pirates has much more of an impact then the Shaman’s gesticulating.

I consider them two very different artforms of animatronics made for entirely different purposes.

 

[MrPromey]

......That is certainly a take...

I consider them two very different artforms of animatronics made for entirely different purposes.

I think to his point, it's not the tech that's unimpressive, it's how they've used them.

 

[𝐌𝖆𝖓 𝖎𝖓 𝐖𝖊𝖇]

I think to his point, it's not the tech that's unimpressive, it's how they've used them.

Case in point: Clawhauser vs Hopper.

 

[DisneyHead123]

I disagree with this. Impressiveness of animatronics boils down to maintenance. Country Bears was amazing in the 70s, was terribly run down in the 2000s, and now they look brand new again. People still gawk in awe of the shaman animatronic.

I’m not necessarily happy about this, but I stand by my stance that 2025 audiences need a bit more for the dopamine hit of “wow factor”. Moving characters (I won’t get into the semantics of animatronics for the sake of the semantically detail oriented, but you know what I mean) are common enough to be found in the Lowe’s holiday department these days.

To be fair, maybe I am just old and crabby and most of my dewy eyed wonder is gone. But that’s my take.

As with the technology of screens improving, the technology of animatronics has equally improved to be just as impressive. Whether they can keep maintenance up just as good as their Tokyo counterparts is a whole other discussion, though.

Sort of agree… I finally rode TBA and the high tech animatronic there was a little “blink and you miss it” for me. But if placed more strategically, maybe.

 

[WorldExplorer]

Case in point: Clawhauser vs Hopper.

I would also argue that the Flik animatronic popping in from the ceiling was better than copying the gag from PhilharMagic.