How do they do it?

[DizkneeBoi]

Ok I remember seeing a show somewhere where they were talking about the secrets of the Haunted Mansion. One of the things they wouldn't give away was how they did the whole Madame Leota in the crystal ball thing. They said that it definately wasn't a hologram. So how do they do it if it's not a hologram? I hope I don't sound stupid....

 

[marni1971]

Try posting this in the `How do they do that` forum.

If I recall the first DL and WDW versions consisted of a 16mm film loop projected onto (the blank) Leota head.

Later versions, (from DLP on I think, and rehabs), use fibre optic projection where they can actually project the image inside of the globe - hence the table can `float` with the image staying inside the globe. Apparently Disneylands globe has just started to now float off the table too (I wonder where they got that idea from...?)

 

[pilka214]

well if u wanna see a blueprint of the new head go to this sitehttp://www.doombuggies.com/secrets_seance.htm. Also it has the soundtrack and and video of madame leotas head, it's really cool.

 

[barnum42]

If I recall the first DL and WDW versions consisted of a 16mm film loop projected onto (the blank) Leota head.

They use the same technique for the singing busts in the graveyard scene. I also saw the safe effect used in the Eighties in a West End Musical called "Time" where it was used to create a character called Akash - a twenty foot high head played by Laurence Olivier.

 

[DizkneeBoi]

Also I heard that they use mirrors to make the ghosts in the ballroom scene. Is that true as well?

 

[imagineer boy]

No, they're actually reflections of small annimatronics on glass. As you go over the walk way in the scene, underneath are small animatronic figues painted white and lit up. And in between the pillars in front of you is clear glass that you can't see, and the reflections of the figures are on there.

 

[Captain Hank]

No, they're actually reflections of small annimatronics on glass. As you go over the walk way in the scene, underneath are small animatronic figues painted white and lit up. And in between the pillars in front of you is clear glass that you can't see, and the reflections of the figures are on there.

I thought they were full sized.

 

[Tom]

I thought they were full sized.

They are full-sized. Since there are no mirrors or lenses used, and its just a reflection off of glass - the figures are the same distance from the glass on the DoomBuggie side as they want them appear to be on the Ballroom side. They use figures that are exactly as tall as they want them to appear in the room. Everything in a "Pepper's Ghost" illusion is 1 to 1 aspect ratio.

 

[NIU EE]

They may dislike you for it, but shine a small flashlight, watch light, or cellphone into the room and you will see multiple reflections. its what i did when i was a little kid and couldn't figure the room out.

 

[SpectroMan]

They use the same technique for the singing busts in the graveyard scene. I also saw the safe effect used in the Eighties in a West End Musical called "Time" where it was used to create a character called Akash - a twenty foot high head played by Laurence Olivier.

Also, it was also used for Buzz on Space Ranger Spin

 

[barnum42]

Also, it was also used for Buzz on Space Ranger Spin

It's a variation on it - using back projection from within the figure so that the head can move.

 

[marni1971]

This variation is also used in the DLP and new DLC Leoatta`s. Fibre optic projection.

 

[unkadug]

So the new floating Leota in California is done with fiber optics?
Can you give me more details on the working of this?

 

[S_Grise]

This past Halloween, the shops that pop up just for the season had a kit you could buy to make your own talking crystal ball illusion. It looked exactly like the way it is done in HM.