Help Save Figment Campaign

[General Grizz]

Do you think we should start a campaign to help save the original Figment? After all, we can really tell from riding the new attraction that the real Figment isn't present! He is obnoxious, self-centered, and rude in many aspects. Here's some breakdown:

(1) In the opening, he won't stop asking. He pesters Channing in gets a bit annoying.
(2) In the sound lab, he "warned" Channing he would interfere. He smiles at us as if we're playing a trick on him.
(3) Sight Lab. He just can't stop pestering the experiments!
(4) Smell Lab - the "posterior imagery", popular among kids these days, is displayed by Figment. Kinda like Shrek...that's why I don't really like the film. As a reviewer put it, "et tu, Figment?" Again, he won't apologize or be polite - he just pops out.
(5) Touch and Taste Labs - after Channing apologizes, Figment only examines his Fingernails and nods, VERY similar to Kuzco from "The Emporer's New Groove". He refuses to listen to Channing so he makes Channing listen to him and goes to his open house - ALL about himself. These shows us Figment's a little self-centered...and his house is full of himself!

By the end, we can say that Figment isn't annoying because he got his way. But compare all of these scenes to the original Figment - that childlike creature. "Can they imagine, too?"

The two are totally different. Let me know if anyone thinks we should write letters to change some dialog. It's really an insult to the original Figment to say "Figment's Back". And I am not doing this just to complain. I don't always complain, complain, complain, but we have to realize this version of Figment isn't the same. I guess it's okay if he's different, if the public likes it, but here's my question to you:

Would you rather have the ORIGINAL Figment back, or the current one?

To rally some support, I posted the image below, a screen grab taken off Dean Higgins' computer. (Dean is an Institute Professor).

(NOTE: This was not made by Disney or the Institute, nor is it real, but was a small way to show how Figment is still actually captured. It's our job to free him!)

 

[General Grizz]

Oh yes, and please! Post comments!!

 

[General Grizz]

OK, those voting for the new one, let me know why you like him!

 

[JLW11Hi]

wow, don't you think youre being rough on the new guy?

 

[General Grizz]

Lol, I just want to know what every one else things. But the new Figment isn't Figment...it just makes me pretty darn mad...and sad.

 

[JLW11Hi]

I like the new one better because you can still see him at Epcot! I think we must move on and if we don't like the new guy, then we can wait another decade or so for them to change the attraction again and change figment yet again. mabey it will be sooner??

 

[General Grizz]

Don't think of it practically or because he was here. If you had a choice of the two, and you know you like one more than the other, you're saying it's the new version? (Just a question)...

 

[popkid]

seems like the new attraction shoves figment in your face! dont get me wrong, i'm glad the little guy made it back - but i agree, the little cute and cuddly 'love-able fellow' appears to be a little wired. maybe he's in his teen years now, and is just more rambuncious (how the hell do you spell that?)

 

[Quentin Disney]

O.K. Disney, goofed a bit, kept Figment down in a new version, then got a gazillion complaints about it, shut the attraction down, added a lot of Figment and there are still people upset?

I never did the original Imagination, but don't you think this is a bit too much? I'm not meaning to flame here, but after all the massive guest dissatisfaction on the lack of Figment, people are still not satisfied with the renovated attraction?

Hey, I get upset when things change at WDW, but I learn to cope with those changes.

 

[General Grizz]

I know how you feel. But the fact is, Figment didn't really return. He's back in a totally different way...and he's not the same. I wouldn't ask for this ride to totally be changed again (until it is its time), but certain scenes really are insulting.

I know exactly what you mean, though. But it doesn't take much to change it...just dialog work. (They can get a better vocalist, also)...

Deep down, the characters are our family. We know if they're really who they are. This isn't Figment...

What if your someone who looked like your long lost brother who got lost for a week in an avalanche came to your house? What if his attitude was obnoxious, when he was the nicest person you've ever met...he sounded totally different, had features that you could tell were different, and he bothered the heck out of you for the rest of his life? What if this person wasn't really your brother? Would you be satisfied and accept this person as your brother?

If it has to do with growing up, will Mickey Mouse one day become a really old man who can hardly say a word? No - because Mickey's immortal...characters don't really grow up - it's not really THEIR nature. Each character has a spirit - a virtue of sort - which forms that character. Yeah, Figment's 20...but he's still Figment - he's a spirit that never ages - the spirit of the curious discoverer - or the imaginative child in all of us. Not a sneaky (and a bit obnoxious) critter that runs around... In fact, it looks like he "grew down" in maturity, that is, if it is the real Figment...

A lot of this you might reply to "what the heck is he talking about?" I try to keep what I say as unconfusing as possible.

So remember, when you vote, don't vote for "which is more economical" or "which is easier to recreate". Forget that. All of it right now. That's not what this thread is about.

Think about if YOU had a choice to have Figment over at your house, or if you had an open choice to have Figment star in a new ride, etc. - which one would you like better? The original or the new?

What I would also like is to know WHY you like the new Figment - no one has done it yet. Don't say "because he's here". This is a choice - do you want the old or new one here? Please explain!!

Thanks so much...

 

[J.E.Smith]

I already discussed this in the AIM, but here I go again. Remember how Dreamfinder explained that Figments of the Imganiation were made from "two tiny wings, eyes big and yellow, horns of a steer...etc. Maybe this is the basis for creating all Figments! In other words, perhaps you could create a whole slew of Figments that would all look the same, but would have different personalites. However, Dreamfinder added a touch of childish delight to the Figment he created-the Figment we've all know and love. Then, the Insitute drops in, "discovers" Figment and tries to make their own, the result being the Figment in JIIWF, but they don't add in the childish delight. This could also explain where all those Figment clones come from in the finale, perhaps Channing creates the whole lot of them when he sets his Imagination free. At least that's my explaination for it...

 

[General Grizz]

LOL, that's neat! I also put a similar idea into the storyline above which explains why Channing is "inventor of Figment"...but a nice story, J.E.!

5 votes for the NEW Figment, can someone please tell me why? I am really interested in your opinions! Or is it one of you trying to make me mad??! Whatever it is, I really like qualitative counts; the quantitative ones are not satisfying!

 

[General Grizz]

Oh yes, and only vote if you know both VERY well!! :lol:

It won't be good just to have someone to vote for the new one when never even meeting the original...

 

[tenchu]

I finally tried the ride again this year after last trying it in 1998, when i absolutely hated it. I was plesently surprised. I don't know enough to comment properly though.

And nice to see you back grizzly.

 

[Fievel]

The question is would a campaign like this ever work? No.

Not worth the effort.


Sorry.

 

[figdragon]

Hmmmm....all I can say is hmmmm.... there are many valid points presented here! Now, granted that my website was created out of love for the original Figment, and for years, that is what has been feeding it. Yes, I wanted Figment back as did thousands of other guests. And yes, I was thrilled to see and hear that a new attraction was going to open. Now I did indeed vote for the original Figment because as stated, he is the Figment I know and have loved for years.

Points have been presented that new Figment isn't the same as the old...and they are valid observations. But the public did cry out that they wanted to see Figment again, and the public as a whole (at least who I've talked to), seem to be very happy. In general, I am very happy! Times do change and what entertains the masses today, will not tomorrow. Figment has been modernized by today's standards. It's a harsh reality, but it happens all the time.
Everyone loved the Genie in Aladin, no one liked him in the second! It's still Genie so what went wrong?? Different voice talent and different writers! Same thing here...an entirely new crew was brought in to redesign Imagination and the story is based on this team's storyboard, not the people before them. So we are seeing the end result of this team's vision of Figment and granted it's different, but it's not bad. It's not bad by any means. It is indeed a matter of taste and everyone is entitled to an opinion. I don't believe it was a plot to get even with the public and shove Figment down our throats, but rather a new story for a new generation.
I would personally rather have the original Figment visit my home, but I'd spend time with this one too. We're all people with a mischievious side and attitudes at times, no one is perfect. That doesn't excuse Figment's behavior...but it demonstrates we have more in common with him then we thought.
So this is my 2 cents on the topic. I will continue to support Figment regardless of the role Disney asks him to play. I do like the original better, but I am not going to reject to new one or the creative team behind his design.

 

[General Grizz]

That doesn't mean I'm not interested in the general Disney Fan public. This is where it all starts...

So did you vote, Fievel?

 

[General Grizz]

Nice reply, Figment! I guess I can't face that reality...but, heck, it wouldn't hurt to bring the original Figment back...that's what we were originally asking for anyway!

Please - those people who voted for the new Figment, I'm just interested in why...Maybe you can convince me so far as I can like him!

 

[Don L Duck]

I think the old ride was better.
I didn't like the new ride without him and I don't really like the new one with him.
I think Disney should have made a whole new ride from scratch

 

[General Grizz]

I agree. However, budget was very low...

Don't worry, one day...one day...