Animatronic heads??!!!

[DLP Fan]

On a recent trip to Disneyland Paris I managed to see their new(ish!) Lion King show. The main character in it is Timon who acts as a narrator almost. Anyway, the character looks just like he does when you see him in the parks for photos, or in WDW at the Festival of the Lion King show. The only difference is he speaks! His mouth moves when he is talking, and he blinks and closes his eyes throughout the show.

I was just curious to whether or not this technology was being used in WDW. It is also used in a show currently touring the UK called 'Disney Live!' with Winnie the Pooh. Most of the characters, (at least Pooh, Tigger and Owl anyway) all move there mouths and blink. It is a nice effect and it makes the characters more realistic (if that makes sense!).

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

On a recent trip to Disneyland Paris I managed to see their new(ish!) Lion King show. The main character in it is Timon who acts as a narrator almost. Anyway, the character looks just like he does when you see him in the parks for photos, or in WDW at the Festival of the Lion King show. The only difference is he speaks! His mouth moves when he is talking, and he blinks and closes his eyes throughout the show.

I was just curious to whether or not this technology was being used in WDW. It is also used in a show currently touring the UK called 'Disney Live!' with Winnie the Pooh. Most of the characters, (at least Pooh, Tigger and Owl anyway) all move there mouths and blink. It is a nice effect and it makes the characters more realistic (if that makes sense!).

there are a few around property at wdw. most are not as sophisticated as what you are talking about. i know in the commercials for FOLK, if you look at Timon, his mouth is moving... (at least a few that i've seen)
Other characters would be the hag (snow queen transformed) in Fantasmic!, Chewbacca, who blinks and moves his mouth, and maybe a few more that i'm not thinking of...?

 

[boo52]

This technology was used at The Legend of the Lion King at the Magic Kingdom years ago. Rafiki was the only one that had it because all the other characters were puppets. I have always wondered why FOTLK here never used it for Timon.

 

[djronnieb]

....Other characters would be the hag (snow queen transformed) in Fantasmic!...

Is the hag an animatronic???? I had no idea, I thought she was an actor? no? Please explain more.....

 

[Beany-Fantasmic]

Is the hag an animatronic???? I had no idea, I thought she was an actor? no? Please explain more.....

I think they are meaning that just the head is animatronic. there is still an actor/actress inside.

But why does the hag have this technology in Fantasmic!? Surely she is too far away for anyone to notice?

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

I think they are meaning that just the head is animatronic. there is still an actor/actress inside.

But why does the hag have this technology in Fantasmic!? Surely she is too far away for anyone to notice?

actually, i think i worded that wrong. she does not have the technology of an animatronic head, but her mouth still moves...

i could be wrong, maybe it is an animatronic, but i don't think so. think more of a spring coiled chin?

i didn't even know that rafiki was an animatronic in LOLK. i thougt it was more of a spring based chin too.

 

[Beany-Fantasmic]

a spring coiled chin meaning it wobbles when the head does?

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

a spring coiled chin meaning it wobbles when the head does?

yep, but that's just my speculation. i don't know that for sure. i know that a chin strap is how friends of Chewbacca works.

 

[venooch333]

I dont think they are actually anamatronic though becasue they aren't going to put wires that close to a person's face!

 

[Beany-Fantasmic]

I dont think they are actually anamatronic though becasue they aren't going to put wires that close to a person's face!

I appologise for contradicting, but fully animated heads are quite widely used in shows and such. I once saw a show on TV with a man in a gorilla suit and he really looked genuine. Right down to heavy breathing and eye twitches. Technology is amazing!

 

[boo52]

They are done with simple Servo motors. The witch in Fan! does not have these.