Forced Perspective in the MK

[Mouse's Magic]

Hello. Today in my lighting design class we started talking about Forced Perspective. I brought up the shops on main street and how main street is sloped but couldn't express it in the full technical way that I wanted to. Does any one have a link to an explanation of the forced perspective on Main Street that is somewhat detailed? Thanks!

 

[General Grizz]

I'm probably not the best at describing it, but if you're on Main Street, you'll see long strings of multi-story buildings. In order to make the buildings seem taller (without actually MAKING them taller), the Imagineers made each level (from bottom to top) progressively smaller. For example, you'll see a balcony in Adventureland where you would expect a person to walk out of. However, if you were actually up on the top floor, you would realize the balcony is a whole lot smaller than what it seems on ground level!

Clear as mud?

 

[donsullivan]

There are countless sources out on the web but here is one that might give you the level of detail you're looking for.

http://ist-socrates.berkeley.edu:4050/ids-arc.html

 

[marni1971]

Nice link!

Also, look at MSUSA from an aerial perspective. Not only can you see its actual size, but looking closer the building fronts look `wrong`

 

[Mouse's Magic]

Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[mkepcotmgmak]

Brian, the castle is in forced perspective too, the bricks get smaller as the castle goes up... this makes the castle to appear taller than it really is.

in epcot, they reverse the forced perspection with the american adventure building, so it doesn't look as tall as it actually is...

 

[Mouse's Magic]

Thanks Josh

 

[Tom]

As far as sloping, I'm pretty sure Main Street is relatively flat, except for the obvious slope to each curb for drainage. Also, the street does not narrow from one end to the other.

They also put the buildings close to the train station, but then put a large space between the end of the buildings to the castle, at the other end of the street. This way, the castle looks a LONG way away, when you come in and first see it. But when you're tired at the end of the day, and walking out, the train station looks closer because it's actually 1:1 scale and right at the end of the side buildings.

Another note on the main street buildin facades: as others said, each story is a fraction of the height of the story below it. For example, the first story is 1:1, then the 2nd is 7/8 the height of the first, and then the 3rd (if there is one) is 7/8 or some fraction of the 2nd story. When you look in the upstairs windows you see curtains and a wall, or dark space. In reality, all of the Main Street buildings are 2-stories, with a basement (tunnels). the top two floor facades merely hide the 2nd floor offices and the A/C equipment on the rooves.

 

[ClemsonTigger]

edwardtc: As far as sloping, I'm pretty sure Main Street is relatively flat, except for the obvious slope to each curb for drainage. Also, the street does not narrow from one end to the other.

Actually Main Street is sloped toward the train station. You have the energy coming in, but it gives you a little boost on the way out.