EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

To this day, I always say, it’s never a proper trip to EPCOT without seeing, after that aprox 15 second long scene of anything resembling the original ride, after enduring that baffling “Journey”, Dr. Nigel Channing Mooning us riders.

Will truly be the most heartbreaking day when we lose that experience.. *Right?* *Right?* *Anyone..??* *crickets*

 

[Dragonman]

A couple of those Figment finale puppets that were on eBay back in 2008 have resurfaced along with some arms, costumes, head forms, and other Imagination relics: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Figment&sort=-relevance&status=online

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

A couple of those Figment finale puppets that were on eBay back in 2008 have resurfaced along with some arms, costumes, head forms, and other Imagination relics: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Figment&sort=-relevance&status=onlineView attachment 893609

Some of these are quite nightmare-inducing.

 

[jah4955]

A couple of those Figment finale puppets that were on eBay back in 2008 have resurfaced along with some arms, costumes, head forms, and other Imagination relics: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Figment&sort=-relevance&status=onlineView attachment 893609

what the h*ck did they do to them????
PS: all these decades I thought they used the same puppet and kept changing costumes

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

A couple of those Figment finale puppets that were on eBay back in 2008 have resurfaced along with some arms, costumes, head forms, and other Imagination relics: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/search/?keyword=Figment&sort=-relevance&status=onlineView attachment 893609

Ooh!! At the Van Eaton Galleries?! Sounds like a trip there is on my calendar very soon. Will have to check these guys out in person. One thing I can say that I know for sure is Bob Baker Marionettes made these guys originally. Infact, in their book they did, they feature storyboards of that scene there and also, they have some of the foam molds in their own archives aswell.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Ooh!! At the Van Eaton Galleries?! Sounds like a trip there is on my calendar very soon. Will have to check these guys out in person. One thing I can say that I know for sure is Bob Baker Marionettes made these guys originally. Infact, in their book they did, they feature storyboards of that scene there and also, they have some of the foam molds in their own archives aswell.

PS: Forgive me for the poor photo quality, never the same as owning the physical book itself, but for those that are fans of both puppetry & Disney history, this book is for sure something I’d reccomend. There’s a heck of alot more in the book and something I’d highly recommend adding to your library if you ever get a copy:

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Btw, my sincere hope is, whoever is able to get ahold of those puppets and props, does their part in making sure they get them restored & archived properly. My hope is either someone from Bob Baker Marionettes gets a hold of them to ensure they’re part of the rest of their collection, or a kind theme park fan will ensure they work with Bob Baker Marionettes directly to get them restored & archived so they can be displayed/used for events and such in the future.
Truth be told, I’ve already spoken with some folks to possibly ensure this happens. No guarantees but praying it’ll work out the way we’d hope. I certainly wouldn’t want these to end up in the wrong hands where that won’t happen.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Btw, for those curious of where these appeared in the original attraction. They appear at 13:50 (Film Finale) and one (aswell as the arms I’m sure) are used here for the Magic Palette ImageWorks activity tutorial video that used to play by it (at 19:46)

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I find it funny how everyone love Billy Barty as Figment...But Gwildor from the Masters of the Universe movie...Not so much...

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

I find it funny how everyone love Billy Barty as Figment...But Gwildor from the Masters of the Universe movie...Not so much...

What do you mean? I thought he was great in that movie too. Sure, he wasn’t quite the Orko character from the animated series, ‘but’ he did a great job with what he was given. Also of course he was fabulous as Junn the High Aldwin in Willow and Screwball in Legend. He was a great talent all around. Also he & Chuck McCann (Dreamfinder) were former Sid & Marty Krofft show mainstays aswell

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Also, he did a couple other roles for Disney too. He was King Brian of the Leprechauns in the OG DuckTales series and the Baitmouse in The Rescuers Down Under. Very distinct actor with a great range & instantly recognizable voice.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Disney.. respectfully, we gotta stop doubling down on the controversial 1999 & 2002 Honey I Shrunk-themed Sham redo versions of Journey Into Imagination…
for the Disney Destiny rep..:
That cage used to have musical notes in there, to represent a birds’ singing escaping its cage in a whimsical abstract way… it got replaced with a square one with a butterfly in it.. (yeah.. uh.. they made it not make sense anymore...) And in regards to the new Festival of the Holidays AP slushy cups, I honestly love them, but the Pavilion’s original blue & purple building color scheme would’ve made much more sense in this context, with the winter theme and all. Also his sweater has the original ride’s spiral logo on it, so again, that color scheme on the building would’ve fit with it better.
And the new adult zip hoodie, totally would’ve bought but I was sadly deterred by the HISTA themed Institute inspired design on the front rather than it being anything from the original which would’ve complimented the back.:

Again, LOVE the bigger effort to include Figment on new merchandise in general, I couldn’t state that more. But, could we maybe make some more adjustments going forward to focus on scenes & iconography from the version folks ‘do’ like (not to mention, the one Figment’s creator approves of) rather than the weird Honey I Shrunk themed ones we/they don’t? Thanks!

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

One other piece of feedback too that I hope folks at Disney read here and takes into consideration.. some of the new mugs, shirts, and things. Those gears? That’s not from the Journey Into Imagination attraction, that’s from the Carousel of Progress and is taken from the 2023 “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Idea” line of merch where Figment was crossed over with the Carousel of Progress and some other attractions like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Mad Tea Party, etc. and while a very cute/fun idea at the time, it seems to have caused a mishap with future Figment merch released after that. They seem to have thought that, that was Journey Into Imagination’s iconography rather than the latter. If they’re going for more of a gear type design, it’d be best to reference the original ride’s opening scene with Dreamfinder’s Dreamcatching machine & the dreamport scene following it, aswell as the original Spiral logo going forward rather than the latter. The shirt on the bottom right on the top photo is the direction that ‘should’ be taken. Lyrics & iconography from the beloved original attraction

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

A couple merch design ideas that might be cooler to see would be something more along these lines. These are from some old coloring books. The top is from 1982 and the bottom 2019.
Again, if they were to use a gear design, it’d be best to directly reference iconography from the ride. Something along these lines:

But maybe use this Figment rendering in front of it:

with the words: “The Imaginometer: Where Dreams & Ideas Are Stored” and the original Journey Into Imagination sign text & spiral logo placed on the bottom of it

Another one that’d be really cute would be this, with Figment popping out of the hatch, his two tiny wings flapping (with the arrow pointing up to Full, the Full being brightened on the photo, with iridescent sparkles surrounding & on him, just like the OG introductory scene where this happens. Featuring the words “Figment - ‘Full of Childlish Delight!’ at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT” below it, also with the original Journey Into Imagination ride sign text & spiral logo on the bottom right hand corner :



Things like that Totally something I (and I’m sure many others, even here) would purchase. Right?!

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Well, compared to the Paul Rudish design..One I have liked and I hope they continue is making this version with the artwork style of Schoolhouse Rock Figment..This one I could see have seen being used in the 70's/80's..

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Well, compared to the Paul Rudish design..One I have and I hope they continue is making this version with the artwork style of Schoolhouse Rock Figment..This one I could see have seen being used in the 70's/80's..

While cute and a fun alternate design on merch. Why not they give the new Little Golden Book design a try? It’s simple & mimics the designs of the original Toshi Muto murals from the ride. (PS: if the merchandise folks are looking for ‘any’ design inspiration. That book is ‘the’ reference to use. Whether it be who the 2 character are, what happens in the ride, etc., besides classic ride POVs and classic era art & merch of course ):

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

A little about Toshi Muto btw, for those who aren’t familiar with her or her work:

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

One of the most beautiful murals done for a Disney darkride. An absolute crime it got painted over (sorry I don’t have the full mural photographs shared here, but there’s footage & photos you can find elsewhere).. just to be replaced.. with ‘that’:

and then, to “fix it”, ‘THAT’

The absolute “whimsy” & imagination (that’s what it says on the sign outside folks) I’m getting from this.. “The original ride’s spirit returned!” I swear man, the sooner we get to getting answers on ‘why’ they did what they did with this current horrible sham/fraud redo of this once genuinely iconic, favorite ride, the better. I really want folks (current Disney execs & Imagineers included) to see how much of an absolute screw up, how horribly unfair, baffling & scummy this Honey, I Shrunk-ified “upgrade” to the once 2nd most popular attraction in the park really was and still is to this day (despite its incredibly deceiving title & description) and why it ‘needs’ to be restored back to its former non-Film IP based glory with the tech & spfx enhancements we expected all those years ago.
And PS: yes, part of the current queue is like a small part of where your vehicles once traveled through. The current load area is where your vehicles once joined up with Dreamfinder & Figment flying on the Dreamcatching machine in the original

 

[jah4955]

View attachment 893735
PS: Forgive me for the poor photo quality, never the same as owning the physical book itself, but for those that are fans of both puppetry & Disney history, this book is for sure something I’d reccomend. There’s a heck of alot more in the book and something I’d highly recommend adding to your library if you ever get a copy:
View attachment 893736
View attachment 893737

I loved that sequence in 1975's Return to Witch Mountain...especially because of that sharp cut/juxtaposition to the bad guys creepily watching it all on CCTV ....it was one of the more underrated moments of WDP's 1970s "lull"

 

[jah4955]

While cute and a fun alternate design on merch. Why not they give the new Little Golden Book design a try? It’s simple & mimics the designs of the original Toshi Muto murals from the ride: View attachment 893793
View attachment 893794

If you're not a fan...then there's no such thing as a fan