Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
Yeah, the Disneyland Brer Fox is pretty ugly. I think it's mainly the white hair...
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Animatronics: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
- Thread starter SplashThunder
- Start date
Ol' Br'er Fox
Member
I've seen the actual movie as well. I don't think a ride has to be 100% accurate to be good. And also, I don't think it's really fair to compare what Disneyland's Br'er Fox animatronics look like to Disney World's, because in all fairness Disney in general isn't very accurate with Br'er Fox. I mean, look at his walk around. The colors are completely off, and in official art they mess him up as well. Also I don't understand why you brought up the story, because both rides tell the same story, just with a different soundtrack.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
That's true... They can't seem to decide what color Brer Rabbit is, either.
SyracuseDisneyFan
Well-Known Member
I kind of find the Yeti creepy.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
The execution of the Yeti was far better. Still the greatest attraction experience I've had ever.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Simply a matter of opinion. I know that I escorted two mentally challenged brothers both in their 50's to Universal. Granted they weren't operating on a very mature level, but, when we got to that part I thought that they were going to die. They did too! That was something you didn't pass by at breakneck speed. It was right in your face and for quite sometime in theme park ride time. It was very real feeling even for those of us that knew better. Probably why it left such a lasting impression on me. The Yeti may well have had more range of motion when it was in motion, but, the time you got to experience it was a very small window. When I compare the two Kong wins hands down for me.
Chef Mickey
Well-Known Member
Did you ever see the yeti in full A-Mode action? It only functioned properly a very short time.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
Yes, I did and I blinked and almost missed it. It was good, I'm not debating that. I'm also not debating the fact that it had a range of motion that was unsurpassed, however, the experience was so short, even before it went all Disco on us, that I am hard pressed to feel all that impressed by it. Now perhaps if we had stopped and spent some time watching him move and reach out to get us, I might change my mind, but, perhaps one of the reasons that they haven't bothered to fix it is that even they realize that it is wasted technology considering the amount of exposure it actually got per rider. I'm glad you liked it, I just wasn't all that charged up by it. To me doing that or strobe lighting is almost the same individual affect.
brb1006
Well-Known Member
Also why does Brer Rabbit's fur keep changing from brown to grey?
brb1006
Well-Known Member
Glad I'm not the only person who noticed this.
Goofyernmost
Well-Known Member
He got old. It happens we get old, we get grey. Rabbits are not inclined to head for the Miss Clairol. Since he is a fictional character that was never really identified as being of a specific color, why are you trying to make an issue out of it when there more then likely is none.
JimW
Premium Member
Johnny Three-hats
Active Member
Say what you will about Splash Mountain's Br'er characters, the figures made specifically for SM, but I think that the America Sings figures and their WDW clones still look incredibly organic. The geese in the introduction in particular don't look like robots to me, they look like fluffy, anthropomorphic geese. Same with the gators and the chickens in the finale. I especially love the vultures, though, they are just as menacing and deliciously sinister as ever, especially in WDW where they have their hats in tact.
As for other good animatronics, Hopper in It's Tough to be a Bug has always impressed me with his sheer size and complexity. I distinctly remember seeing him as a young child, but I hadn't realized exactly how much he towers over the audience and how smooth his motions are. Ooh, or the carnotaurus figures in Dinosaur. I remember being on that ride in the seat closest to the thing and barely having the guts to look at that thing, it was so big and real and intimidating. Or even the dinosaurs at Universe of Energy. Outdated as they may be, I still think they're breathtaking and I'd be very sad to see them go.
I can't think of any really bad animatronics that haven't already been said, but as for ugly animatronics? The squid in Les Mysteres du Nautilus over in DLP. It's not technically ugly, but I am absolutely terrified of squids and its ugly mug isn't helping at all. Not to mention that I'm not sure if enough people have been subjected to its presence and I want more people to see it.
As for other good animatronics, Hopper in It's Tough to be a Bug has always impressed me with his sheer size and complexity. I distinctly remember seeing him as a young child, but I hadn't realized exactly how much he towers over the audience and how smooth his motions are. Ooh, or the carnotaurus figures in Dinosaur. I remember being on that ride in the seat closest to the thing and barely having the guts to look at that thing, it was so big and real and intimidating. Or even the dinosaurs at Universe of Energy. Outdated as they may be, I still think they're breathtaking and I'd be very sad to see them go.
I can't think of any really bad animatronics that haven't already been said, but as for ugly animatronics? The squid in Les Mysteres du Nautilus over in DLP. It's not technically ugly, but I am absolutely terrified of squids and its ugly mug isn't helping at all. Not to mention that I'm not sure if enough people have been subjected to its presence and I want more people to see it.
Lol! That's true!
OliveMcFly
Well-Known Member
I always thought the Tarzan looked like Conan O'Brian. It may have been one of the previous models.
A bump, but:
Best- Yeti (pre-disco)
Worst- DL's Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear. Br'er Fox doesn't resemble himself and Br'er Bear looks painfully fake
Ugly- Many of the GMR AA's. I just don't like realistic AAs. Messes with me big time
Best- Yeti (pre-disco)
Worst- DL's Br'er Fox and Br'er Bear. Br'er Fox doesn't resemble himself and Br'er Bear looks painfully fake
Ugly- Many of the GMR AA's. I just don't like realistic AAs. Messes with me big time
Cmdr_Crimson
Well-Known Member
The only thing they needed to steer clear of was this and why he got hit by the Beehive full of Honey rather than get stuck in Tar....
RobotWolf
Well-Known Member
A lot of these "low quality" bots begin life as static statues in a central shop-type location. They are cut apart and some very simple mechanics are installed; mostly without any show sync at all. They just have to be plugged in and they're good to go. Sound like a cheap "alternative," but I'd prefer minimal movement to none at all.
A few notable mentions of animatronic excellence:
The civil war family scene in The American Adventure. The sight-line alignment between the characters and the programming make this extremely memorable. Trivia: There are TWO Imagineers in this scene; both in bot and picture format. (I'll give you a hint: they argue the whole scene.) The scene where the family receives the coffin of the fallen son was filmed at a Disneyland train station. ("apparently", I'd love confirmation on this)
In fact, there's so much amazing showmanship in The American Adventure, I'll just refer to any of Marni's (freaking amazing) videos on the subject.
Sindbad's Storybook Voyage is definitely something you should look up if you like bots.
I've never seen it, personally, but anyone who's been to DisneySea says the lava monster bot is without parallel. It seems too quick of a look to be that impressive. But it always, consistently, described as "amazing." (I wonder if Croc-bot in China will have the same "you gotta be there" showmanship.) I think it may boil down to "focus." The ability for a bot to really look like he's focused on you. It's one thing for glowing eyes in the dark to be looking at you. But it's a little more scary when your presence prompts that focus. (See La Taniere du Dragon)
Being an animatronic fan first, I am able to appreciate the art in all its forms. Therefore bots like Stitch certainly rank "up there" but I look forward to when he joins Sonny Eclipse. (But I fear for S.I.R.)
A few notable mentions of animatronic excellence:
The civil war family scene in The American Adventure. The sight-line alignment between the characters and the programming make this extremely memorable. Trivia: There are TWO Imagineers in this scene; both in bot and picture format. (I'll give you a hint: they argue the whole scene.) The scene where the family receives the coffin of the fallen son was filmed at a Disneyland train station. ("apparently", I'd love confirmation on this)
In fact, there's so much amazing showmanship in The American Adventure, I'll just refer to any of Marni's (freaking amazing) videos on the subject.
Sindbad's Storybook Voyage is definitely something you should look up if you like bots.
I've never seen it, personally, but anyone who's been to DisneySea says the lava monster bot is without parallel. It seems too quick of a look to be that impressive. But it always, consistently, described as "amazing." (I wonder if Croc-bot in China will have the same "you gotta be there" showmanship.) I think it may boil down to "focus." The ability for a bot to really look like he's focused on you. It's one thing for glowing eyes in the dark to be looking at you. But it's a little more scary when your presence prompts that focus. (See La Taniere du Dragon)
Being an animatronic fan first, I am able to appreciate the art in all its forms. Therefore bots like Stitch certainly rank "up there" but I look forward to when he joins Sonny Eclipse. (But I fear for S.I.R.)
fractal
Well-Known Member
Agree on both counts. The way they switch scenes in the American Adventure is also impressive.
I also consider Hopper in ITTBAB as one of the best.