Forced Perspective...

Ignohippo

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Anyone else notice how great of a job Dis has done on the new concept art of pushing Beast's Castle up and far away as opposed to the photos coming out from Hogwarts at WWOHP!?

I'm shocked that Uni didn't build the mountain of Hogwarts taller to give it more of a look of being farther away. From the photos I've seen, the forced perspective doesn't work because it's too close to the ground and other structures/trees in the area. While Hogwarts is taller, you can tell from these pics that trees and other buildings in the area completely destroy the illusion that the building is tens of stories tall.

Look at how big the construction lights are compared to the actual structure (which isn't tall enough to give the illusion that the castle is far away):
http://www.screamscape.com/assets/images/2009_1229_Hogwarts1_400.jpg

While the structure is certainly big, look at how the trees and other buildings around it make it look tiny by comparison:
http://amoonshadow.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/hogwarts.jpeg

Had it been higher up, you'd never be able to tell. Your mind tells you that the palm trees are six feet across and the buildings next to it are 3 or 4 stories tall, so when next to Hogwarts, you can tell Hogwarts isn't very big.

By comparison, look at how Disney has pushed Beast's Castle higher up and farther away (with no buildings and probably fake tress in scale around it) to completely sell the illusion the castle is enormous:
http://.smugmug.com/Walt-Disney-World/Jose/11450070_L8yZg#805138484_mvbBK-A-LB

Hogwarts is the main selling point of WWOHP. While a large structure, if IOA's Hogwarts comes off as obviously out of scale – and people are going to IOA actually expecting to go inside Hogwarts (as you can Cinderella's castle at MK) – this could be an epic fail for Universal.
 

IWant2GoNow

Well-Known Member
I think there's still enough time left before opening to take down the taller of the palms. It's still a work in progress and those palms may not even be visible from inside the HP land. If they were... :dazzle: FAIL. The Beast's castle looks great on the concept art and I'm sure they'll do a great job with it but this will be a true test as to how good they really are with forced perspective. They are going to have to keep that castle relatively small in comparison to Cindy's and if they are trying to pass it off as actual size... it'll be something to behold if they get it right, I'll just say that.
 

fosse76

Well-Known Member
You also have to keep in ind that IOA has limited space. And I wouldn't go praising something Disney has yet to build. The perspective may be just as flawed with fantasyland.
 

Lee

Adventurer
You are only seeing concept art for Beast's castle. It's easy to use forced perspective there, not so much in person.
When complete, Hogwarts will work just as well as Beast's castle.

Cindy's castle...that's a whole different deal.
 

IWant2GoNow

Well-Known Member
You are only seeing concept art for Beast's castle. It's easy to use forced perspective there, not so much in person.
When complete, Hogwarts will work just as well as Beast's castle.

Cindy's castle...that's a whole different deal.

Yea at least with Cindy's you have all of MS to work with leading up to the hub. They won't have that much space to work with for Beast's will they?
 

Uncle Lupe

Well-Known Member
You have to be careful of going vertical, I think 200ft and over and you need a navigation light. That would ruin any effect.
 

Lee

Adventurer
Yea at least with Cindy's you have all of MS to work with leading up to the hub. They won't have that much space to work with for Beast's will they?
Well, from a distnce, I'm sure WDI will get the perspective looking great.
However, when you approach it, and you'll be able to go right up to the rockwork in front, I fully expect it to look like a little castle perched up there. Not a big deal, though. It'll still look good.

You have to be careful of going vertical, I think 200ft and over and you need a navigation light. That would ruin any effect.
Very true.
 

IWant2GoNow

Well-Known Member
Well, from a distnce, I'm sure WDI will get the perspective looking great.
However, when you approach it, and you'll be able to go right up to the rockwork in front, I fully expect it to look like a little castle perched up there. Not a big deal, though. It'll still look good.

Good to hear. Thanks for the insight, Lee. Aside from TLM, this is the area of the expansion that I'm most excited for. If that restaurant ends up being all they have explained I think it could possibly be one of the best restaurant experiences on site.
 

BigThunderMatt

Well-Known Member
You all have to admit that those palm trees behind Hogwarts definitely have to go....

Those palm trees are in the jurassic park section number one, and honestly, even up close the castle still looks pretty freakin' big. Universal isn't the best at having seamless theming, but I don't think Hogwarts was designed to be viewed to full effect from Jurassic Park anyway. The fact that you can see it FROM Jurassic Park was a necessary evil of its design.

I honestly don't think the size of the Beasts castle will be a huge issue. The key will have to be that you can't see it when looking at Cinderella Castle head on.
 

Wannabe Walt

New Member
I'm not sure if all the posters commenting on Hogwarts have seen it in person or not --- but I've been to IOA quite a few times during the construction of the WWOHP and I must say: Hogwarts looks phenomenal! From Jurassic Park, the effect doesn't work so well for a couple of reasons:
1. It wasn't designed to work from that island.
2. The entire showbuilding is completely visible at this point. *Hopefully they do more to hide it*

However, from most angles throughout the Lost Continent and the upcoming WWOHP, Hogwarts truly looks like a massive castle standing on a mountain in the distance. I am very excited to see WWOHP open this spring, to experience the full effect.

The only TERRIBLE angle I have seen Hogwarts from is the backside --- Turkey Lake Road.
 

Lee

Adventurer
However, from most angles throughout the Lost Continent and the upcoming WWOHP, Hogwarts truly looks like a massive castle standing on a mountain in the distance. I am very excited to see WWOHP open this spring, to experience the full effect.
Exactly. Seen from the intended angles, and without anything in view to throw off the illusion....Hogwarts looks fantastic.
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Rob562

Well-Known Member
Exactly. Seen from the intended angles, and without anything in view to throw off the illusion....Hogwarts looks fantastic.


So what'll be happening with the other half of the show building? Are there trees or buildings still to go in to block the bare building to the right?

That's one thing I noticed about Universal... In a lot of places they have really great theming that just kinda....stops...leaving a blank show building beyond. Walking from Seuess Landing toward Lost Continent, you can see the side of the Poseidon building that's great, until about halfway back, where the rockwork and stone end, and then it's warehouse.

And don't get me started on RRRI being seen from half of IOA...

-Rob
 

Wannabe Walt

New Member
Nix that --- Rip, Ride, Rock-It right?

I've seen HRRR used *Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit* that's why it looked strange to me.

But I agree, it is distracting to see the huge coaster looming over Seuss and TLC. I also find the Jurassic Park building to be quite annoyingly massive. Does anyone know what the rest of the building is used for? You go up, turn a corner, then drop down again. I'm really not a big fan of that ride -- cool the first time, but once is enough.
 

Lee

Adventurer
So what'll be happening with the other half of the show building? Are there trees or buildings still to go in to block the bare building to the right?
Yes. Trees will go in when the last of the big equipment is taken out through that gap.
 

Rob562

Well-Known Member
Nix that --- Rip, Ride, Rock-It right?

I've seen HRRR used *Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit* that's why it looked strange to me.

But I agree, it is distracting to see the huge coaster looming over Seuss and TLC. I also find the Jurassic Park building to be quite annoyingly massive. Does anyone know what the rest of the building is used for? You go up, turn a corner, then drop down again. I'm really not a big fan of that ride -- cool the first time, but once is enough.


Doah! I knew I was using the wrong acronym... Forgot that "Hollywood" was part of the title, and couldn't think of anything else at that moment.

-Rob
 

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