DHS Disney Animation-Inspired Experience Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

[FerretAfros]

Because the entire area is based on a short? And they have those characters who appear in a different style than they would probably use literally steps away.

At risk of sounding glib, does the average guest care about Once Upon A Studio? Did they even see it? Do they remember it?

It was a perfectly serviceable sizzle reel for the company’s 100 anniversary, but it’s not one of their many beloved works. It has no conflict, no resolution, no greater message beyond “here are characters you recognize, existing (but not really interacting) together on screen.”

It feels more like something your overly-enthusiastic aunt posted on Facebook, than a timeless creation from a historic media company. It didn't seem to have an especially wide reach and was quickly forgotten by the relatively-few people who did see it, so it's an odd choice for the basis of a new attraction 3 years later.

And if Once Upon A Studio isn't a widely cherished source material, why does the drawing class have to be so strictly tied to it? Why not let someone else host it in a more natural way, one that might alleviate the hodgepodge of the art deco Kem Weber-style animation desk and fanciful Arendale-inspired audience desks? Instead of letting the cute promo piece gracefully fade away, they're treating in an overly-literal fashion like it was a smash hit that parkgoers have been clamoring to see.

 

[Casper Gutman]

It literally is getting a full redevelopment. You just don’t like what it is. This will be a much better offer g than what was previously there. All welcome additions to the park!

It’s being reverted to a massively less impressive version of what occupied the space a couple decades ago. Even compared to the awful Launch Bay, the space will feature LESS unique meet n greets and the same number of AAs. The project as a whole will eliminate live drawing lessons at WDW for the first time in years and is yet another cut to live entertainment. The main addition here is a playground.

Posters keep saying this is a win, but that really seems to me to be desperate hope not based on evidence or experience.

 

[Disney Analyst]

My only real concern is what happens when the AA Olaf inevitably breaks down.

 

[Gusey]

At risk of sounding glib, does the average guest care about Once Upon A Studio? Did they even see it? Do they remember it?

It was a perfectly serviceable sizzle reel for the company’s 100 anniversary, but it’s not one of their many beloved works. It has no conflict, no resolution, no greater message beyond “here are characters you recognize, existing (but not really interacting) together on screen.”

It feels more like something your overly-enthusiastic aunt posted on Facebook, than a timeless creation from a historic media company. It didn't seem to have an especially wide reach and was quickly forgotten by the relatively-few people who did see it, so it's an odd choice for the basis of a new attraction 3 years later.

And if Once Upon A Studio isn't a widely cherished source material, why does the drawing class have to be so strictly tied to it? Why not let someone else host it in a more natural way, one that might alleviate the hodgepodge of the art deco Kem Weber-style animation desk and fanciful Arendale-inspired audience desks? Instead of letting the cute promo piece gracefully fade away, they're treating in an overly-literal fashion like it was a smash hit that parkgoers have been clamoring to see.

I think the thought process is that you can watch the short inside the attraction, which has the scene with Olaf at the animators desk, then actually visit the location and see Olaf in real life whilst learning how to draw classic characters.

As much as it would be great to have the live animators back, if we arguing about which of the thousands of Disney characters to create an animatronic of for an animation academy show, the only one seen in an animator chair that I'm aware of is Olaf in the short? I can't think of any other Disney character interested at least in art other than Rapunzel, and that's more painting than drawing

 

[FigmentFan82]

It’s being reverted to a massively less impressive version of what occupied the space a couple decades ago. Even compared to the awful Launch Bay, the space will feature LESS unique meet n greets and the same number of AAs. The project as a whole will eliminate live drawing lessons at WDW for the first time in years and is yet another cut to live entertainment. The main addition here is a playground.

Posters keep saying this is a win, but that really seems to me to be desperate hope not based on evidence or experience.

Comparing to what was there originally and not even really reflecting on the very subpar launch bay is not at all clever. This will be a nice refreshment overall, and give some offerings to the younger crowd which are desperately needed in this park.

 

[Stupido]

At risk of sounding glib, does the average guest care about Once Upon A Studio? Did they even see it? Do they remember it?

It was a perfectly serviceable sizzle reel for the company’s 100 anniversary, but it’s not one of their many beloved works. It has no conflict, no resolution, no greater message beyond “here are characters you recognize, existing (but not really interacting) together on screen.”

It feels more like something your overly-enthusiastic aunt posted on Facebook, than a timeless creation from a historic media company. It didn't seem to have an especially wide reach and was quickly forgotten by the relatively-few people who did see it, so it's an odd choice for the basis of a new attraction 3 years later.

And if Once Upon A Studio isn't a widely cherished source material, why does the drawing class have to be so strictly tied to it? Why not let someone else host it in a more natural way, one that might alleviate the hodgepodge of the art deco Kem Weber-style animation desk and fanciful Arendale-inspired audience desks? Instead of letting the cute promo piece gracefully fade away, they're treating in an overly-literal fashion like it was a smash hit that parkgoers have been clamoring to see.

I wouldn't downplay Once Upon A Studio, I think it was a lot more special than you're giving it credit for. People at Disney clearly liked it enough to use it as an anchor for a new experience in the parks. Sure, I agree not enough people saw it, but I'm sure they will have it playing on loop so more and more people will fall in love with it every day.

 

[Casper Gutman]

Comparing to what was there originally and not even really reflecting on the very subpar launch bay is not at all clever. This will be a nice refreshment overall, and give some offerings to the younger crowd which are desperately needed in this park.

My post explicitly compares the new attraction to Launch Bay. Please read before responding.

 

[Casper Gutman]

I wouldn't downplay Once Upon A Studio, I think it was a lot more special than you're giving it credit for. People at Disney clearly liked it enough to use it as an anchor for a new experience in the parks. Sure, I agree not enough people saw it, but I'm sure they will have it playing on loop so more and more people will fall in love with it every day.

I suspect a lot of Disney executives liked it because it gave them a way to theme a hasty band-aid attraction without having to produce new content. Otherwise they might have had to produce new animation to structure the space.

 

[Andrew C]

This will be a nice refreshment overall, and give some offerings to the younger crowd which are desperately needed in this park.

Once again...."good enough"

 

[Gusey]

Once again...."good enough"

Sometimes "good" is enough compared to the "awful" of Launch Bay

 

[Andrew C]

Sometimes "good" is enough compared to the "awful" of Launch Bay

I get it. People are comfortable settling for mediocrity with Disney nowadays. Same story...

I had hopes for this one. What could have been...

 

[Gusey]

I suspect a lot of Disney executives liked it because it gave them a way to theme a hasty band-aid attraction without having to produce new content. Otherwise they might have had to produce new animation to structure the space.

The short is the only thing being added to new Animation building that was available before this year. In the video of Josh Gad recording his lines for the new Audio Animatronic, it's clear that each character class will has its own script so Olaf will interact with the onscreen animator. They'd also be creating 9 videos of each animator interacting with Olaf as they draw the characters. That's 9 different shows being created specifically for this attraction.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Olaf is a miss…. Guests love the live drawing “lessons” - they were just having them at Epcot arts festival in American Gardens and of course it had been a reason that guests took the train over to Rafikis.

Having an AA teach the class is a total miss. They should have an additional AA experience with Olaf in this attraction - but not here.

 

[Andrew C]

They'd also be creating 9 videos of each animator interacting with Olaf as they draw the characters. That's 9 different shows being created specifically for this attraction.

They are pre-recording live lessons...let's pull it back a bit.

 

[Casper Gutman]

The short is the only thing being added to new Animation building that was available before this year. In the video of Josh Gad recording his lines for the new Audio Animatronic, it's clear that each character class will has its own script so Olaf will interact with the onscreen animator. They'd also be creating 9 videos of each animator interacting with Olaf as they draw the characters. That's 9 different shows being created specifically for this attraction.

Wow! Nine videos. Good thing they decided not to pay a live performer.

 

[Gusey]

I get it. People are comfortable settling for mediocrity with Disney nowadays. Same story...

I had hopes for this one. What could have been...

What had you hoped for that's different compared to the announcement? When they announced this project, they said it was going to everything that they've provided more details on: an animation class, a playground, the Once Upon a Short short, and character meet and greets? How had you envisioned that that's different to what we know?

 

[Gusey]

They are pre-recording live lessons...let's pull it back a bit.

Wow! Nine videos. Good thing they decided not to pay a live performer.

I was responding to the claim from Casper that:

I suspect a lot of Disney executives liked it because it gave them a way to theme a hasty band-aid attraction without having to produce new content

They're clearly making new content and instead of settling on Olaf saying the same things for each character, they're doing 9 different versions of the show to increase repeatability. How are we going to move the goalposts now?

 

[Casper Gutman]

I was responding to the claim from Casper that:


They're clearly making new content and instead of settling on Olaf saying the same things for each character, they're doing 9 different versions of the show to increase repeatability. How are we going to move the goalposts now?

I was discussing the short which will structure the space, the equivalent to the Williams/ Cronkite video in the original attraction - that’s made clear by the bit you didn’t quote referring to “structuring the space.” That will not be new content - it is the equivalent to sticking the Pixar films in the Imagination pavilion. Nine new YouTube videos made to replace a live performer doesn’t change that.

 

[Gusey]

I was discussing the short which will structure the space, the equivalent to the Williams/ Cronkite video in the original attraction - that’s made clear by the bit you didn’t quote referring to “structuring the space.” That will not be new content - it is the equivalent to sticking the Pixar films in the Imagination pavilion. Nine new YouTube videos made to replace a live performer doesn’t change that.

And as I said, which you also ignored was that it was just the short that was not new content. I agree with the lack of live performer being a downgrade compared to other animation experiences. However, my point is that they could have just done 1 show where you learn to draw 1 character. Instead they're creating 9 different versions of the animation experience, with Olaf interacting with each video which should be seen as a positive for its repeatability and putting effort into making more content than needed for this experience

 

[gorillaball]

And as I said, which you also ignored was that it was just the short that was not new content. I agree with the lack of live performer being a downgrade compared to other animation experiences. However, my point is that they could have just done 1 show where you learn to draw 1 character. Instead they're creating 9 different versions of the animation experience, with Olaf interacting with each video which should be seen as a positive for its repeatability and putting effort into making more content than needed for this experience

I’m excited for it. A big improvement over what was most recently there. I can’t speak to the history of the space, first visit in 08.