A Spirited Valentine ...

[Bairstow]

Weekend Review #3: Let's Try Hard Not To Think About How The Cars Universe Works

Like seriously? This is the new "if Goofy and Pluto are both dogs, why does Goofy talk and stand on his hind legs?".

Recode's Peter Kafka interviewed Bob Iger's favorite analyst, Rich Greenfield of BTIG on the podcast Recode Media. Peter and Rich discuss the challenges facing legacy media companies in the quickly changing digital landscape and how they should navigate it. For those who've heard about Rich from reading Spirit's threads or have seen him on CNBC/Bloomberg, this is a good opportunity to hear him speak at length on his views. (Also, he is so right about Disney selling Pay TV rights to Netflix being a bad deal in the long run for TWDC.)

Essential Reading: Re-Imagineering
Going forward, this section of weekend review will be dedicated to writing from the past that is both informative for younger fans coming into the MAGIC scene and relevant to current events in the spheres of film and theme parks. Today's piece of essential reading comes from Re-Imagineering, a blog chock full of great critical essays from the mid-late aughts on the state of the Disney parks at the time. This essay about Ellen's Energy Adventure, titled "Audio Anarchronistics", really gets at the problems so many have with the Guardians overlay of DCA's ToT; how will this cheap, thematically inconsistent (ignoring the upcoming Marvel Land that could be much different than what has been proposed as a companion to M:B) attraction age in say 5-10 years? Disney has stood the test of time because it is timeless, but what are the implication of putting Marvel on the fast and cheap UNI IP multiplex model? Speaking of which...

Afrofuturism and "Black Panther"

So a trailer for this little movie called "Black Panther" came out last week and it was kind of a big deal. It is the first Marvel Studios film with a black protagonist with a largely black cast and crew, including director Ryan Coogler ("Creed" and "Fruitvale Station"). The film is also notable for being the first big budget Hollywood tentpole to be deeply influenced by Afrofuturism, a tradition that draws on African culture and combines it with science fiction and futurism which you can learn more about here, here and here. Wakanda is a product of this rich legacy and the production team on Panther has gone to great lengths to bring this world onto the big screen. The trailer offers us a glimpse into this world and Birth.Movies.Death's Siddhant Adlakha wrote a detailed break down of its contents, especially how it relates to Afrofuturism.

But to bring this back to the theme parks for a second, I want to visit this world badly. However, the current path that the Bobs have put us on will never get us there because they don't have the confidence in Marvel to truly recreate worlds like Wakanda for guests to explore and return to again and again. Themed entertainment, even if it's just adapting existing properties is capable of so much more than just being a highly profitable ancillary revenue stream. 'Tis a shame indeed.

Let's Dig Into The Design of BLACK PANTHER by Siddhant Adlakha BMD

Portfolio Review: The Personal Art of Bill Cone and Sharron Calahan
View attachment 210288

So to conclude this weekend review, let's take a look at the work of two the artists who helped create the look and feeling of the world of "Cars", visual development artist Bill Cone and cinematographer Sharon Calahan. Both are long time Pixarians who have been with the studio since "Toy Story". In addition to their work at Pixar, they are both prolific plein air painters. Here's a sample of their work.

Bill Cone

Pastel

Pastel

View attachment 210300
Sharon Calahan

The mystery of where the Cars come from is literally the only interesting thing about that series.

That and why they run on petrol but apparently eat horseradish.



Wait...

 

[BlindChow]

I was in New York and there's literally several within feet of each other. LOL

 

[Kman101]

View attachment 210341

LOL. I like The Onion.

 

[ford91exploder]

Ultimately this is true. It's a company issue. Right down the street these is a plethora of outdoor AAs on JP who have a heap load of maintenance issues and skinning issues to boot. Yet they still are maintenanced weekly and reskinned monthly in several cases. They do it when the park is closed and the AAs are just fixed.

Not that uni is infallible. There are plenty of effects and issues that haven't been repaired on plenty of rides. It ultimately comes down to budget and desire to repair certain things. But for Disney, it's another layer of red tape.
I believe @ford91exploder was simply mentioning the beurocratic layer exclusive to Disney, which is absolutely true.

The problem is Disney no longer has the DESIRE to maintain what they already have, Uni is roundly (and RIGHTLY) mocked for their overuse of screens. Yet what is the new boat ride in Pandora based on oh that's right SCREENS and to be fair one very impressive AA (but will Disney MAINTAIN this AA) or will it be in permanent B mode in 6 months. But I guess screens BAD at UNI GOOD at WDW.

 

[Kman101]

There's a few screens that ENHANCE the ride. It would no way be called a "screen ride"
IMO. You aren't stationed in front of a screen. Some hate screens in general but if used effectively I don't mind them.

 

[Cesar R M]

Continuing proof that you don't understand how things worked then or now.

Regardless of "understanding" or not.
There was a time where Disney repaired their AA's expedite and had an almost flawless repair/cleaning levels while not charging 100+ USD per day (which is a monstrous increase above the inflation rates and offset by huge crowds)

 

[Cesar R M]

Just because my local Mexican restaurant serves a burrito it doesn't mean it's the same thing as Taco Bell

It's not my argument anyway. I have no problem with Starbucks.

Now if people stopped called Taco Bell "mexican". Because it hardly has to do with Mexico (its mostly tex mex stuff and modified for cheapness)

 

[Cesar R M]

But I find people thinking to hard about the Cars Universe to be amusing. I think you're taking this to seriously.

I just like to imagine that CARS are the predecessors of the Transformers... before they completely wiped and mined their planet to death.

 

[Casper Gutman]

There's a few screens that ENHANCE the ride. It would no way be called a "screen ride"
IMO. You aren't stationed in front of a screen. Some hate screens in general but if used effectively I don't mind them.

Screens are tools, and they can be deployed effectively, particularly in concert with AAs. The trouble is, there aren't a lot of great examples of the two media being mixed well. Kong? River Journey? Both are a series of screens and then a fancy robot. SWL Escape ride might integrate them well, and I thought this was the direction the Mickey ride was headed before the recent dispiriting news.

So, what's the best existing example of the integration of screens and AAs? I'm not a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, but is that it? Was Timekeeper the pinnacle? Is Hong Kong's PoC the only truly great example of the mixture?

I also think that, if Kong is a screen ride, River Journey is a screen ride. RJ hides the edges a bit better, but it's a difference of degree, not of kind.

 

[mickEblu]

Screens are tools, and they can be deployed effectively, particularly in concert with AAs. The trouble is, there aren't a lot of great examples of the two media being mixed well. Kong? River Journey? Both are a series of screens and then a fancy robot. SWL Escape ride might integrate them well, and I thought this was the direction the Mickey ride was headed before the recent dispiriting news.

So, what's the best existing example of the integration of screens and AAs? I'm not a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, but is that it? Was Timekeeper the pinnacle? Is Hong Kong's PoC the only truly great example of the mixture?

I also think that, if Kong is a screen ride, River Journey is a screen ride. RJ hides the edges a bit better, but it's a difference of degree, not of kind.

What's the latest news on the Mickey ride? I haven't seen anything.

And yes I think Shanghais POTC is the only great example so far. I'm also not a huge fan of forbidden journey. I think it was way overhyped

 

[HMF]

Now if people stopped called Taco Bell "mexican". Because it hardly has to do with Mexico (its mostly tex mex stuff and modified for cheapness)

Never mind the fact Taco Bell is run by Australians.

 

[Casper Gutman]

What's the latest news on the Mickey ride? I haven't seen anything.

And yes I think Shanghais POTC is the only great example so far. I'm also not a huge fan of forbidden journey. I think it was way overhyped

I much prefer Gringotts to FJ - not a widely shared opinion.

According to our insiders, Mickey is going to be a bunch of screens and its unclear if there will be any AAs. It sounds like Ratatouille 2.

 

[BrianLo]

So, what's the best existing example of the integration of screens and AAs? I'm not a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, but is that it? Was Timekeeper the pinnacle? Is Hong Kong's PoC the only truly great example of the mixture?

Mystic Manor's penultimate scene is a great marriage, I think at least.

But, that's much more of a traditional dark ride than the hybrid PoTC is. Spider-Man is also just a generally great example of screen and scene integration, sans AA's.

 

[mickEblu]

I much prefer Gringotts to FJ - not a widely shared opinion.

According to our insiders, Mickey is going to be a bunch of screens and its unclear if there will be any AAs. It sounds like Ratatouille 2.

I haven't been in Gringotts but fromwatching the ride thru I'm convinced I would prefer it to FJ.

Sucks about the Mickey ride. I have a hard time believing their wouldn't be at least one Mickey AA. I think the whole gang should get at least one each. Mickey should have at least 3 and one Pete AA

 

[Casper Gutman]

Mystic Manor's penultimate scene is a great marriage, I think at least.

But, that's much more of a traditional dark ride than the hybrid PoTC is. Spider-Man is also just a generally great example of screen and scene integration, sans AA's.

Spidey and MM are both undeniable masterpieces, but as you said Spidey lacks AAs. MM and PotC are great marriages - MM is probably the best example of the full integration of every available weapon in the ride-makers arsenal, not just AAs and screens - so good.

Why can't we get a ride on the level of MM in Florida?

 

[TalkingHead]

Screens are tools, and they can be deployed effectively, particularly in concert with AAs. The trouble is, there aren't a lot of great examples of the two media being mixed well. Kong? River Journey? Both are a series of screens and then a fancy robot. SWL Escape ride might integrate them well, and I thought this was the direction the Mickey ride was headed before the recent dispiriting news.

So, what's the best existing example of the integration of screens and AAs? I'm not a huge fan of Forbidden Journey, but is that it? Was Timekeeper the pinnacle? Is Hong Kong's PoC the only truly great example of the mixture?

I also think that, if Kong is a screen ride, River Journey is a screen ride. RJ hides the edges a bit better, but it's a difference of degree, not of kind.

Seems disingenuous to call River Journey a "screen ride" and leave it at that - it's got plenty of physical props that add atmosphere. I think the combination of screens and props in that ride is closer to what Universal should have been doing post-FJ. Instead, they seem to have regressed.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

The problem is Disney no longer has the DESIRE to maintain what they already have, Uni is roundly (and RIGHTLY) mocked for their overuse of screens. Yet what is the new boat ride in Pandora based on oh that's right SCREENS and to be fair one very impressive AA (but will Disney MAINTAIN this AA) or will it be in permanent B mode in 6 months. But I guess screens BAD at UNI GOOD at WDW.

I criticize both Disney and Universal for that. The Navi ride has video screens (a couple anyways given the short length), and I wish there had been a lot more animatronics (i'm doubtful we'll ever see either Disney or Universal build another attraction with anything close to the quantity of animatronics from Disney's classic 60's-90's E tickets).

However I will diverge from your usual negativity to doll out some praise for Navi River. In a lot of areas it reminds me of what imagineers used to be capable of. I've found it more immersive and entertaining than anything WDW has built since Kilimanjaro Safari and Dinosaur. I enjoy the ride quite a bit. It's not some insane and technically sophisticated new E ticket (like Forbidden Journey), but it has an uncompromising attention to detail and artistry I feel hasn't been seen in a long time from a WDW ride.

And to be accurate, unlike Gringotts/Kong/Ratatouille, 95% of Navi River is actually physical. Navi's screens are relatively small compared with the theater sized projection rooms for Gringotts, Soarin, POTC Shanghai and Flight of Passage. They are layered with multiple "cells" and have 3-dimensional depth too (similar to the queue screens for Gringotts and FJ). There are no empty spaces surrounding the screens, they completely framed them with detailed physical scenery. My wish for more animatronics still stands. But truly, I can't really say there are "too many screens" when there aren't actually very many, there are just too few animatronics. But there is a LOT of physical scenery, the VAST majority of the ride IS comprised of real setpieces. They are very detailed too, with perfectly done lighting and no visible backstage elements (no mechanical crap all over the place like in Little Mermaid that shouldn't be seen, they even covered the ceiling with foliage). The effects that comprise the scenes are technically "simple" in terms of how they work, but the ride was clearly designed by talented artists who knew their trade well.

Again I wish Navi River was longer (10 minutes at least would have been good) and had more animatronics. But honestly I still can't help but really enjoy the ride. It has been a while since a Disney ride made me feel the way Navi River has.

 

[peter11435]

Regardless of "understanding" or not.
There was a time where Disney repaired their AA's expedite and had an almost flawless repair/cleaning levels while not charging 100+ USD per day (which is a monstrous increase above the inflation rates and offset by huge crowds)

This is correct.

 

[the.dreamfinder]

Battle Escape is rumored to have a considerable number of AAs.

 

[The Empress Lilly]

Battle Escape is rumored to have a considerable number of AAs.

Droids and stormtroopers make for cheap and easy AAs.

Not that I expect BE to be a cheap attraction, just that this could've influenced going into an AA-heavy direction.