EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[aladdin2007]

I just see that as “we’ll do anything with him but fix the ride” unfortunately.

The only thing that might be the saving grace to that theory (and I feel the same way) is Epcot's upcoming 50th. They are going to want it to be better than it is if they care anything at all about a 50th celebration which remains to be seen. After the MK's 50th flop, who knows except that was partially blamed to covid.

 

[Bocabear]

The only thing that might be the saving grace to that theory (and I feel the same way) is Epcot's upcoming 50th. They are going to want it to be better than it is if they care anything at all about a 50th celebration which remains to be seen. After the MK's 50th flop, who knows except that was partially blamed to covid.

the 50th is still 7 years away...SO we can be assured there will be nothing debuting for the 50th...With all the other plans currently in progress I would be very surprised if they could do much of anything with only 7 years with no current development on the project.... The Epcot Transformation project was first announced in D23 2016 and a second presentation in 2017.... Communicore Hall and Cafeteria flex space opened in 2024... so 7 years for a severely cut back plan to complete....If they are doing something amazing for the 50th , they should all ready have it in full development...

 

[The Leader of the Club]

the 50th is still 7 years away...SO we can be assured there will be nothing debuting for the 50th...With all the other plans currently in progress I would be very surprised if they could do much of anything with only 7 years with no current development on the project.... The Epcot Transformation project was first announced in D23 2016 and a second presentation in 2017.... Communicore Hall and Cafeteria flex space opened in 2024... so 7 years for a severely cut back plan to complete....If they are doing something amazing for the 50th , they should all ready have it in full development...

I don’t think that refreshes to Figment or SSE would be 7 year projects. Test Track was announced in 2022, closed in 2023, and will reopen in 2024. I could see a similar timeline here.

 

[Figments Friend]

Regarding the recent ‘Figment news…’ announced at the shareholders meeting yesterday….



Yeah…keep ignoring the real issue Bob.

(Fumes)



Bob the media guy…suggesting…new media for a character they have done little with besides merchandising since gutting his Original masterwork of an Attraction back in 1998.

We need more then just yet another Flash animation ‘animated’ series or attention span killing ‘short form video for the TikTok generation’ offering, Bob.
For the last 20+ years you know darn well what needs to be done, but yet AGAIN the real issue ( the Attraction ) is being ignored.

There really seems to be a backhanded push from within the Company to do absolutely nothing of any real substance related to the Attraction and the Pavillon that contains it.
This is incredibly infuriating.
So much potential there being wasted and utterly ignored…for over two decades now.


However - nothing exposes media better than tv and social media.
And of course Bob knows this.
Producing a new short series will get the character in front of millions of eager eyeballs and may even attract some new fans to the fold.
That means more merchandise sales.
Ca-Ching!

On a more positive note, it can also mean that if the series is a success, the Company may finally get serious about this matter and make some worthwhile changes.
Perhaps it could finally be the push that makes those in change seriously rethink the entire Pavillon.

Could be interesting…could be awful…..anything is possible with the imagination.

Remember when there actually used to be something imaginative in the Imagination Pavillon?
It has been a LONG, long time….but I was there when it was freshly opened and by the Gods it was spectacular and changed lives.
Today it is a total WASTE of interior space.
Even the gift shop at the exit is a shadow of it’s former self from just a few years ago.

If only today’s ’Disney’ still had some imagination…
As the years go by more and more of it seems to be slipping away.
Leaving with all the talent that has been purged or forced ‘into early retirement’.

There needs to be a imaginative experience with Figment within that Pavillon again.
TikTok shorts and a streaming series is just not that immersive, Bob.
Gotta take it to a higher (quality) level and outside of the square sized ( or rectangular sized ) viewing screen.

Get on it.

Wait, you need some help?

I know a man who could help.
Would make a real difference in the quality of the experience.
He has already proven himself…several times.

Too bad your Company has already destroyed and removed a few of his stellar efforts.
Jealously runs rampant in certain creative departments, I am well aware.

-

 

[aladdin2007]

the 50th is still 7 years away...SO we can be assured there will be nothing debuting for the 50th...With all the other plans currently in progress I would be very surprised if they could do much of anything with only 7 years with no current development on the project.... The Epcot Transformation project was first announced in D23 2016 and a second presentation in 2017.... Communicore Hall and Cafeteria flex space opened in 2024... so 7 years for a severely cut back plan to complete....If they are doing something amazing for the 50th , they should all ready have it in full development...

We dont know that yet, they could still have a park themed celebration with spiffed up attractions (not new builds) but for what's there. SE and Imagination can only limp along so much longer. Theres still time to get both done.

 

[Bocabear]

They completely flubbed the WDW 50th... and not all of that is because of the pandemic.... They didn't really have anything planned on the scale of Disneyland's 50th...or even Disneyland's 40th for that matter.... Epcot has never gotten anything of a celebration for any of it's anniversaries...always a half-hearted , too-little-too-late response. I have nofaith in them doing anything more than a popcorn bucket or T-shirt.... The idea of them all of the sudden doing something amazing for EPCOT's 50th seems impossible....

 

[Brer Panther]

Figment is now a character you can get in the Disney Magic Kingdoms app. That's worth noting, I think.

 

[Moth]

Figment is now a character you can get in the Disney Magic Kingdoms app. That's worth noting, I think.

Yeah between that and Speedstorm he's in 2/3 of their current "main" mobile games. Just need him in Dreamlight Valley.

 

[WeNamedTheDogIndiana]

Yeah between that and Speedstorm he's in 2/3 of their current "main" mobile games. Just need him in Dreamlight Valley.

He does have a topiary in DLV, so he's got at least minor representation there.

 

[Rodj]

Figment is now a character you can get in the Disney Magic Kingdoms app. That's worth noting, I think.

With one of the most cheaply done/low poly models of Figment I've ever seen, I'd say it's almost eerie looking in a way:

They also traced over this piece of art(right), which I still can't figure out if that was made by Disney or if it was fan art. Can't seem to find where the origin of it is from.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

With one of the most cheaply done/low poly models of Figment I've ever seen, I'd say it's almost eerie looking in a way:

They also traced over this piece of art(right), which I still can't figure out if that was made by Disney or if it was fan art. Can't seem to find where the origin of it is from.
View attachment 849456

That clipart was originally taken from the D23 Expo ‘09 drawing/artwork featuring him. Which generally looks pretty darn close to the way he looks in the animated segments of the original ride (in the Realm of Science scene). The trouble is the colors and linework are slightly off on the fan redraw/coloring of it. Though truth be told, the CG model (IMO) is much better/more on model in Disney Magic Kingdoms than the one featured in the ‘02-current era “Journey Into Imagination With Figment” ride. Something that’s always bugged me about the 02-current attraction model besides it looking generally off-model when compared to his 83-98 animated and audio-animatronic selves, and far below Disney Animation standards (then again, what else can you expect from Disney farming that out to the same animation studio that brought us FoodFight! rather than in-house (like Mickey’s Philharmagic. That actually looked pretty darn good) ) , is that the soles of his feet are the wrong color aswell. They’re orange. While thankfully in the Magic Kingdoms model they’ve been corrected to the proper pink color.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

then again, what else can you expect from Disney farming that out to the the same animation studio that brought us FoodFight! rather than in-house (like Mickey’s Philharmagic. That actually looked pretty darn good) ) , is that the soles of his feet are the wrong color aswell. They’re orange. While thankfully in the Magic Kingdoms model they’ve been corrected to the proper pink color. View attachment 849551

Threshold Animation did the animation for this? According to their site they only worked on that Armageddon effect show and Mission: Space.

MISSION SPACE | threshold-ent

www.thresholdentertainment.com

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Threshold Animation did the animation for this? According to their site they only worked on that Armageddon effect show and Mission: Space.

MISSION SPACE | threshold-ent

www.thresholdentertainment.com

Yep. My guess is it wasn’t deemed as successful of an attraction revamp for them to put on their resume of works they did (can’t say I blame em. Lol) .. so, there ya have it. lol

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

On that same note, during a presentation about Mission: Space, apparently they had Dave Goelz reprise his role as Figment to sing, announce or talk about it at an event done for when it (Mission: Space) opened. The presenter mentions it to Tony Baxter during this presentation about the creation of the original 83-98 Journey Into Imagination ride when the topic of Figment’s voice comes up: 37:45 :

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

My guess is they were also contacted to do the little animations for Figment for that Kodak photo lab activity they had in the 02-current downstairs “What-If Labs” ImageWorks aswell that we’d mentioned earlier in this thread. Not to mention the little animations in the short-lived 99-01 Journey Into >Your Imagination (w little to no Figment. LOL), for the overhead queue videos and finale.

 

[Gillyanne]

He does have a topiary in DLV, so he's got at least minor representation there.

And a motif, and a popcorn bucket (Parks Starpath, and craftable from the button/summer event IIRC)

Figment started as the tappers and then got his topiary with the club on DMK before he became a playable character. Fingers crossed DLV does do something similar. Or maybe as a companion or something.

 

[Rodj]

Is that the soles of his feet are the wrong color aswell. They’re orange. While thankfully in the Magic Kingdoms model they’ve been corrected to the proper pink color.

This is still outdated as the soles are supposed to be deep purple now(The best contrasting IMO), though the artwork/merch throughout the years has been so inconsistent that you can’t tell when this change occurred. I’ve seen it in some merch from the 90’s.

 

[Zak and Wheezie]

On that same note, during a presentation about Mission: Space, apparently they had Dave Goelz reprise his role as Figment to sing, announce or talk about it at an event done for when it (Mission: Space) opened. The presenter mentions it to Tony Baxter during this presentation about the creation of the original 83-98 Journey Into Imagination ride when the topic of Figment’s voice comes up: 37:45 :

I wonder if there'll ever be any footage/audio of that found :O

 

[Homemade Imagineering]

Threshold Animation did the animation for this? According to their site they only worked on that Armageddon effect show and Mission: Space.

MISSION SPACE | threshold-ent

www.thresholdentertainment.com

Foodfight! was peak cinema

 

[Moth]

Oh wow, the prestigious studio known for the cinema icon FoodFight! being behind the eternal PS2 Figment sure does explain a lot. Maybe next time we can upgrade to WiiU graphics for him.