The Aracuan Bird
Well-Known Member
If they were to redo the ride, how could they honestly replace Billy Barty? The current voice (no disrespect to the actor) tries to imitate Barty, but it comes off as annoying rather than endearing.
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EPCOT Figment, well, to be replaced by Figment
- Thread starter Walrus from Paris
- Start date
DreamfinderGuy
Well-Known Member
Probably the same way they did in 2002? I wouldn't necessarily say that Dave Goelz reprises his role as Figment, but someone to imitate Billy Barty again for sure.
The Aracuan Bird
Well-Known Member
Hopefully they do a better job.
Homemade Imagineering
Well-Known Member
Exactly. With the VR Figment project being developed for (most likely) Play, it makes me wonder whether he’ll be accompanied by a new voice actor for new lines, or if they’ll simply reuse dialogue from the original or current attraction.
SonnyEcipse
Active Member
Something I never knew, until a few weeks ago, was the fact that Dave Goelz just did his regular voice for Figment and people edited it in post at a higher pitch to make it sound like it does.
The Grand Inquisitor
Well-Known Member
Personally I would love to see Dave come back. He's a great guy and a fantastic performer. Plus he does a lot for Disney as Gonzo so I could see him doing something with Figment.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
I personally like Dave's Figment, too.
The Aracuan Bird
Well-Known Member
No disrespect to him, I love his Gonzo, but his Figment is ear grating to me. Particularly the singing. Figment is the embodiment of childlike wonder. I don’t get that from him. He comes off as an annoying pest. If it’s true that Corey Burton did the voice in the JIYI queue, the replacement should be him. Or anyone that can capture that childlike sense of wonder in Barry’s performance.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
Didn't Corey also do one of Figment's lines at the end of the second version? "You're so smart! All of you!" or something like that?
The Aracuan Bird
Well-Known Member
It sounds like Barty. So does the queue one, but the end is unmistakably Barty.
DoleWhipDrea
Well-Known Member
There is absolutely an actor, somewhere out there, that can perform Figment's voice in the spirit of Barty. There are a great number of talented performers, especially voice actors, that are waiting to get the recognition they deserve. The question is whether or not Disney will make the effort to find them.
I respect Dave greatly for his performances, and I think he did a good job reading as Figment. For those feeling the lack of childlike wonder, I blame that far more on the script and direction of the current version - Figment is absolutely meant to be nuisance. You can thank WDI for being so ticked off at the fans of the original that they went a step further for revenge by actively trying to make him less likable. Ego knows no bounds. Heaven forbid they make things that, you know, actual guests will enjoy in these parks?
I respect Dave greatly for his performances, and I think he did a good job reading as Figment. For those feeling the lack of childlike wonder, I blame that far more on the script and direction of the current version - Figment is absolutely meant to be nuisance. You can thank WDI for being so ticked off at the fans of the original that they went a step further for revenge by actively trying to make him less likable. Ego knows no bounds. Heaven forbid they make things that, you know, actual guests will enjoy in these parks?
FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
Honestly, I think they should just stick with the original ride, thus the original Billy Barty recordings. But in regards to any additional or new dialogue for Figment, I’d definitley go with Corey Burton as he sounded spot on to Billy’s.
Brer Panther
Well-Known Member
I could see Ben Diskin pulling off Figment pretty well. His voice for Baby Gonzo in the Muppet Babies reboot has a Figment-y vibe to it.
He's just tormenting Dr. Channing because he hated the second version as much as everyone else did.
FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
It genuinely saddens me to tell you… but she’s right. They probably had that in mind when creating it too.. that nobody (particuarly most Figment lovers) would notice/catch on when they’re so preoccupied by the simple fact that Figment has a larger role compared to the last redo. They ‘did’ intentionally portray Figment as a nuisance due to their annoyance of the fans’ complaints.. (take a look at the “focus group” eye chart next time you’re on the ride…)
There’s also a reason why they have it setup that the “big stink” in the smell lab is what gets Channing to stop the tour (as opposed to a familiar scent of rose.. remember the ‘original ride’ ‘s scent of rose??) “, then shortly after (take a listen behind the closed Laugh Lab & Dream Lab doors you pass by.. with laughter coming out of the laugh lab and snoring recorded by Chuck McCann (original voice of Dreamfinder) before.. (hehe, Dreamfinder was put to sleep behind closed doors… LULZ, yeeeah, no kidding. With HONEY, I SHRUNK THE AUDIENCE, that is..) and Channing eventually caves into the Friends of Figment’s “Upside Down” way of thinking… ultimately concluding with “Imagination is a Blast” (Ohh yes, they ‘did’ Infact mean it that way..) don’t kid yourself. It’s gross what they did to that attraction..They were slick in what they did… took the Tiki Room: Under New Management route but reversed the roles… have the old character be the nuisance as opposed to the new.. to the point they even used the same type of sign. (Same Splattered paint they used for New Management is used for With Figment)
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FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
Very sad to tell you… but she’s right. They probably had that in mind when creating it too.. that nobody (particuarly most Figment lovers) would notice/catch on. They ‘did’ intentionally portray Figment as a nuisance due to their annoyance of the fans’ complaints.. (take a look at the “focus group” eye chart next time you’re on the ride…)
They were slick in what they did… took the Tiki Room: Under New Management route but reversed the roles… have the old character be the nuisance as opposed to the new.. to the point they even used the same type of sign. (Same Splattered paint they used for New Management is used for With Figment)
Trying to make it seem as if the “small Figment brains” are the ones who are wrong on what Imagination really is.. when infact.. if you Google the definition.. look who’s Infact right!
;
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Homemade Imagineering
Well-Known Member
Make of this what you will. I’m not convinced this is the truth. Just doesn’t seem realistic atm.
Haymarket2008
Well-Known Member
The thing about this narrative and the others that seem to corroborate it, is that it IS very much a thing that they are clearly seriously considering. I really do think it’s not “if” it’s just “when”. This seems to be the crown jewel of the Epcot overhaul, and they don’t want to mess it up so they keep pushing it further down the timeline. Imho.
FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Remember D’amaro’s response about it when he was asked? He said something along the lines of “give us more time”. My guess is he’s waiting for Chapek to get the boot, cause he & Iger simply refuse to greenlight a proper comeback as for some reason they’ve never felt it was worth the long term investment. They felt they “fixed it already” in 2002.. despite the actual credit going to Eisner for greenlighting that revamp, and well.. we all know full well that “comeback” wasn’t actually what it was hyped up to be. A poorly conceived band-aid to a much larger problem (an unfitting film IP themed attraction) is what that was. Anyway, here’s hoping for the best in the future! I genuinely feel D’Amaro gets, loves, and respects Disney (particuarly the parks) along with the creativity of WDI far more than Iger & Chapek ever did.
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FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
Also.. while I hate to make such a snarky comment about current management here.. can’t help but find that fitting.. As Iger & Chapek have only continued to repeat the very same mistakes Eisner has, just with an even ‘more’ narrow/synergistic viewpoint than he & Pressler had. Their claim to fame/“saving” of Disney has simply been their brand acquisitions like the Muppets, Pixar, Lucasfilm, etc... things Eisner was already planning to do begin with.. along with remakes.. so yeah..
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FigmentsBrightIdeas
Well-Known Member
A company literally founded upon free spirited creativity (the very damn thing Dreamfinder, Figment, and the Journey Into Imagination pavilion perfectly representated) that ultimately led to the iconic, impactful, long lasting works we know & love ‘needs’ that very same creativity to survive in the future. Following Dr. Nigel Channing’s (blatantly wrong I might add according to the dictionary) overly controlled, narrow, synergistic way of doing things simply isn’t going to last long-term despite what corporate wants you to believe.